If you're thinking about cloth diapers, you might wonder how many cloth diapers do I need? We're going to cover all of that right now!
How many cloth diapers do I need?
First, you’ll have to decide what type of cloth diapering system you'll be using. If you don't know about the different types of cloth diapers, just read my post to compare and contrast your diapering options.
Next, you'll need to decide how often you want to do laundry. If you can wash every day then you don’t need as many cloth diapers. Most people (myself included) will tell you to wash every other day – this keeps the stink factor to a minimum. I wouldn’t ever try to push it past every 3 days unless it was really necessary.
If you are planning to start with a newborn you’ll probably need about 36 newborn cloth diapers (meaning pockets or all in ones, if you're choosing prefolds you'd need 36 prefolds and maybe 4 covers per day). Newborns pee and poop all. the. time. Most go through about 12 diapers per day so you’ll need at least 24 and then some to wear while the laundry is going. Most one-size cloth diapers (abbreviated as OS most times) don’t start to fit until 8 (more like 10) pounds so you’ll likely need specific diapers for the newborn stage unless you just want to use disposables until your baby fattens up a bit and fits in OS diapers.
Older babies go through about 6-10 diapers a day. Keep in mind that cloth diapers should be changed about every 2 hours during the day. There are heavy duty or pocket diapers that you can stuff with more absorbent materials (hemp doublers, etc) for naptime and overnight though. Another thing to think about - the smaller your stash of diapers is the more use each one will get. That means if you only have 20 diapers and they are washed every other day then each one will get washed over 150 times per year. So, don't be mad at anyone if your diaper doesn't last through 3 kids. I'd say 24 cloth diapers would get you through washing every other day or so.
What else do you need?
Depending on the cloth diapering system that you choose you may need things like:
Pins, Snappis, or Boingos: These are products that will hold the prefolds, flats, or fitteds on your baby.Wetbags: These are waterproof bags that come in a slew of different sizes – some that you can carry with you in your diaper bag, some that hang off a doorknob or your changing table. Basically, it’s a bag to hold your dirty diapers until wash day. And, on wash day turn it inside out and throw it in with your diapers.
Pail liners: These are waterproof bags that go inside your diaper pail to store your dirty diapers until wash day. On wash day, turn it inside out and wash it with your diapers. You’ll want 2 of these – that way when one is in the wash you’ll have the other to use.
Cloth Diaper Safe Creams: Regular diaper creams (i.e. Desitin, A&D, other zinc containing creams) are NOT cloth diaper safe. I repeat, these creams are NOT cloth diaper safe. The whole purpose of these creams is to create a moisture barrier, so if you slab that on your baby and then put him in a cloth diaper it will coat your diaper and make it repel (read: LEAK). There are cloth diaper safe creams available like That’s BALM! BABY, CJ’s BUTTer, and the Grovia Magic Stick, among others.
Cloth wipes: These are optional of course, but it makes good sense to use them. That way when you are done wiping up a mess you don’t have to fish the disposable wipe out and throw it in a separate trash can. You can cut up receiving blankets or use baby wash cloths as wipes if you'd like to save money.
Now that you know how many cloth diapers you'll need,
check out my other cloth diapering posts:
Disclosure: How many cloth diapers do I need contains Amazon links to contribute to the cost of maintaining this website. Thanks!
Ashley says
I am so glad that I read this. I am planning on cloth diapering my baby due in April and I thought I would be set with 20 diapers. I think I might invest in some newborn sizes since I have only been purchasing one sized!
Beth R says
I was definitely prepared my first time for the amount of diapers I would need, but I definitely wasn't aware of all of the other things that would be helpful to have! With #2 I felt so much more prepared and can't wait to cloth diaper #3!
Bekah Kuczenski says
My friend is pregnant and want to cloth diaper and is always asking me lots of questions on what she does and doesn't need. I am going to show her this post, I think it will be very felpful 🙂
janie vezina says
i love that you put this up- but as with alot of other cloth diapering moms will know, you can never have enough, once you start you are addicted.lol
Lfulks516 says
I have two large wet bags, two on-the-go wet bags, about 15 pocket diapers and about 25ish inserts. I am finding that it's enough for my 10-month old daughter and I do laundry every other day.
ChristelLovesBeauty says
This was awesome!! Thanks for all of the tips. Hubby won't like the amount of diapers we will need...Ohh well! Haha
Keara B. says
Yet another great cloth diapering post. 🙂 One of the reasons I was hesitant to cloth diaper in the beginning is because it seemed like I would need SO many diapers, and the price tag scared me! But thankfully I discovered there are ways to make the upfront cost a little easier to bear. (Registering for cloth diapers, buying gently used, etc.) Thanks for an awesome post!
Michelle Lee says
If you plan on line-drying your covers/pockets/aios then I'd get more like 30 diapers. That's a good amount for every-other-day washing and never running out. 🙂
Adrienne Geyer says
i'm expecting my first baby in june. i'm glad i read this! very helpful.
Zuel O'malley says
My MIL is going to test out some cloth I made on my niece, I figure 5 pockets for a day trip to Grandmas should be okay for starters. Hope she doesn't get overwhelmed.
Kyliegh says
I've never tried clothe diapers, but would love to. What's one thing you wish someone told you about them before you started using them?
Ruth V. says
Hi Kyliegh! I wish someone would have told me to not stress so much about diaper laundry. If you read a lot of forums and threads on cloth diapering it seems overwhelming. Once you get the hang of it it's really not hard at all. Hope you make the switch! Let me know if I can help you in any way 🙂
Gina Hodges says
I just switched to cloth diapering 2 weeks ago and haven't found a large enough wet bag I have 3 but they do not hold enough because my son uses about 18 diapers in a day! Do you know of any that are larger?
Ruth V. says
Hi Gina! When we're at home I use a diaper pail with a Planet Wise pail liner. It would probably hold 18+. Boy, your little one uses a lot of diapers!!! Also, the large hanging Planet Wise Wetbags hold 20-24 diapers. This is the pail I use: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2373657&CAWELAID=111750385&pla=plab&cagpspn=pla
Gina Hodges says
Thank you!! Yes he hates to be wet and insists on finishing his pee in a new diaper! Hopefully potty training will be early and simple
Kristen Kozik says
Where can I get the adorable giraffe cloth diaper you have pictured here?
Ruth V. says
That diaper was from Little Monsters Cloth Diapers. It was about 3 years ago, so I'm not sure if they'd have anymore.