Care

We recommend having enough diapers on hand to allow you to wash them on alternate days (approximately 24 diapers for newborns, 20 for infants and 18 for toddlers). This makes good use of the energy used to launder them while not overloading the washer so that it cannot clean the diapers thoroughly.

Unless the baby is exclusively breastfed, solids should be removed from the diaper and dumped in the toilet when the baby is changed. Diapers should be kept in a dry pail until it's time to wash them. See Getting Started for more information on storing diapers until wash day.

When choosing a detergent for cloth diapers, avoid enzymes, dyes, fragrance, brighteners and fabric softeners (residue from any of these ingredients can irritate baby’s skin or interfere with absorbency). Do not use natural soap, bleach or fabric softener.

1. Cold rinse cycle (if your machine does not offer a cold rinse cycle, consider a short cold wash cycle).

2. Hot wash (50C/120F) with about ½ of the manufacturer’s recommended amount of detergent (slightly less if your water is very soft, slightly more if your water is hard). Do not use the sanitary cycle as the very hot water temperature will damage the fabric and elastic.

3. Warm or cold rinse. An extra rinse may be required to remove detergent residue, more commonly if your water is hard. After washing, diapers should have no odour.

4. Machine dry at medium heat or hang to dry.

Diaper Rash Creams: Changing wet or soiled diapers promptly and allowing time for baby’s bottom to be exposed to air reduces the likelihood of a diaper rash developing and aids in healing should a rash develop. Occasional use of a thin layer of moisture barrier cream will generally not cause problems with our natural fiber diapers. Never use diaper rash products containing fish oil with cloth diapers (it inhibits absorbency and leaves a bad smell behind). Should you need to use a heavier diaper rash cream, we recommend using disposable diaper liners to protect the diaper.

Return to Diapers.