The decision to cloth diaper is as exciting as it is nerve-wracking! It’s overwhelming enough to choose a type of diaper, and once you do, the choices still aren’t done. As you browse cloth diaper shops and Facebook groups, you’ll find dozens of cloth diaper tools and accessories. With everything out there, what do you really need?
Today, we’re dedicating our post to cloth diaper accessories! We’ll explain the function of each item and help you decide if it’s a tool for you. Here’s a list of handy cloth diaper accessories:
Cloth Diaper Accessories - Which Do I Need
Fasteners
Pockets, all-in-ones, and other fitted diaper options, usually come with snaps or velcro that allow you to fasten the diaper to your little wildling. But, when you use flats, prefolds, and preflats, the diapers need to be fitted to your baby with a fastener.
There are three options for fasteners:
A snappi or a couple boingos are easier to fasten and safer, but your hold won’t be quite as tight. A snappi or a couple boingos are easier to fasten and safer, but your hold won’t be quite as tight. Luckily, all the options are relatively inexpensive. We recommend trying all three before deciding which one you like best!
But, are fasteners a cloth diaper accessory YOU need? If your diapers already have snaps or hook and loop fasteners OR you plan on padfolding your prefolds and flats into your covers, you do not need fasteners. If you’re going to wrap your prefolds, flats, or preflats around your baby, then you’ll definitely need some!
Diaper Sprayer
This next tool is a favorite! Diaper sprayers easily attach to most conventional toilets. (No plumbing experiences necessary, we promise.) And, they provide a mess-free way of getting rid of poop from diapers!
Regular sinks and tub drains cannot take solid waste. The pressure and pipe structure isn’t made for feces or solids, so pushing poo down the drain can mean catastrophe on your home’s plumbing! But, dunking, swishing, and scrubbing diapers in the toilet bowl grosses some people out. (Rightfully so. Yuck!)
A diaper sprayer offers an easy solution! You hold the diaper in the bowl or use a diaper shield, and simply spray the poop away! The pressurized stream of water tosses that waste into the toilet, so you can flush it and be rid of it. We admit, it’s still a little messy. But, it saves a lot of time too! And, you can get a splatter shield for further convenience and cleanliness!
So, do you need a diaper sprayer? While it is true that exclusively breast-fed baby poop is water soluble and therefore can be put straight into the washer, we still recommend a sprayer. Why?
Well, as soon as baby starts eating solids, removing poop before washing is essential.
So, by 4-6 months, you’ll be wishing you had that sprayer! Plus, diaper sprayers are great for other laundry and cleaning purposes. You’ll probably find you use it for more than just cloth diapers.
Wet Bags
When you’re on the go, there’s no reason you can’t continue to cloth diaper. But, you’ll need some place to put those diapers before you head home. Wet bags are the solution! Wet bags are waterproof like your covers and will hold in any wetness from diapers or clothes.
Many wet bags even have two pockets: one for dry items and one for wet. If your child soils a bib, you can put it in the dry pocket. If they have a wet swimsuit or diaper? Drop it in the wet pocket. These little bags are really handy and come in lots of sizes! You can even get small wet bags to store cloth wipes.
Like a diaper sprayer, you’ll probably use wet bags for lots more than diapers! The bags are great for almost anything. We’ve seen moms use them as packing cubes, sports bags, utensil cases, and even gift wrap!
Are wet bags essential? DEFINITELY! Wet bags mean you can cloth diaper anywhere. So, grab a few for your cloth diapering journey. Don’t forget to grab different sizes. You’ll find wet bags big and small make your cloth diapering journey easier.
Pods
Wet bags are for storing dirty diapers, pods are for storing clean diapers! Many modern diaper bags and diaper clutches are meant for thin rectangular disposable diapers. Obviously, these don’t work well for chunky square cloth diapers.
Pods are squarish sleeves that hold about 10 stuffed pockets or AIOs. They slide perfectly into your diaper bag for a day out or in your luggage for an exciting trip. Much like wet bags, many moms find themselves using pods for other purposes too!
Are pods a must? Not necessarily. But, they are really fun and make organization a cinch! If you want to try one out, our handy pods at Alaskan Wildlings are only $9. Throw one in with your next order and tell us what you think.
Doublers and Boosters
Doublers, boosters, and inserts . . . what’s the difference? Inserts are the main form of absorbency in your diapers. Our Alaskan Wildlings inserts are made of a hemp and bamboo blend that holds a LOT of liquid and absorbs it fast. Doublers and boosters, on the other hand, add thin layers of extra absorbency.
Doublers and boosters are useful if as your little wildling grows and needs more layers to avoid leaks. They’re also great for naps and overnight diapering options. No mama wants to be greeted in the morning by a baby laying on a mattress soaked in pee. Boosters and doublers help prevent that!
Are they vital? Nope! But, as your little wildling gets older, it’s likely you’ll have to add an extra insert or layer on a booster. You don’t need to buy them out the gate, but know that doublers and boosters are an option when you’re experiencing leaking issues.
Liners
Liners are different from doublers? Yes! Liners aren’t meant to hold liquid. Instead, liners are meant to pass it through. There are two main types:
First, a “stay-dry” liner that’s usually made of fleece is meant to keep your little wildling feeling dry. If you feel like your child is prematurely waking up from naps or getting up too often in the night because they’re uncomfortable with wetness, stay-dry liners are the answer!
The other type of liner is a disposable liner. The purpose of these is catching poop. These eliminate the need for spraying or scrubbing poop off of diapers. You peel the liner off after a diaper change and toss it in the trash. If there’s poop on it, you dump the poop in the toilet, and throw the rest of the liner away.
Are either of these liners a must-have baby product? We don’t think so. Both might be nice to have, but they are not vital for your diapering journey! If removing poop isn’t sustainable or your child struggles with wetness sensitivity, try them out. But, there’s no reason to add them to your starting stash.
Cloth Wipes
If you’re cloth diapering, you might as well use cloth wipes too! You’re already going to be doing diaper laundry, so cloth wipes won’t be any extra work. Plus, lots of moms find cloth wipes work much better than the textureless, chemical-filled disposable wipes from the store.
You can buy all sorts of cloth wipes, or you can make your own! Either way, we highly recommend getting cloth wipes. Store them in a cheap, reusable container and wet them by soaking them, using a peri-bottle, or using a spray bottle. You can use a wipe solution or just plain water. We think cloth wipes are a must-have cloth diapering accessory!
Cloth Safe Products
Did you know not all your products are cloth safe? Specifically, be cautious of laundry products and diaper creams. Diaper creams containing petroleum jelly will cause your diapers to repel liquid rather than absorb it. So, make sure you use a cloth safe diaper cream like Boudreaux's Butt Paste Natural Aloe or Motherlove Organic Diaper Balm.
(Note: Cloth safe diaper creams often contain Zinc Oxide. It’ll stain the inside of your diapers with bright white streaks. But, the stains will fade after a few washes and do not hinder the effectiveness of the diaper.)
For laundry products, ensure you’ve got the right detergent. Here’s a resource to find a detergent that works for your family! Also, never use dryer sheets or fabric softener with your diapers.
This will create lots of problems with your diapers. It’ll be hard to remedy the problem, and it could even ruin them. If you want something to soften the fabric and quicken drying speeds, try wool dryer balls! Cloth safe products are a MUST when cloth diapering.
These handy accessories will help make cloth diapering easier and more effective!
Cloth diapering is meant to be minimalist, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have tools that make the experience better for your family! We hope this post helped you sort through the must-haves and the nice-to-haves. Building your stash and preparing for your cloth diapering journey is no small task. Take a moment to consider your lifestyle, process, and child and use this article to finalize your shopping list. Good luck!