Thomas is just a few days shy of turning 13 months and we recently switched to cloth diapers. I had received a package of cloth diapers for my baby shower but they didn’t fit Thomas so I donated them. I’ve been dabbling with the idea of cloth diapers for a while but I was always concerned with how much maintenance goes into them. I finally made the switch this month simply because of the cost. We were spending on average $120 a month on diapers and wipes. It has been KILLING our budget so I decided enough is enough and I had to do SOMETHING.
Luckily I came across The Cloth Option and they are such a phenomenal organization.
So, What Is The Cloth Option?
The Cloth Option is a nonprofit that is dedicated to advocating for and providing access to cloth diapers.
- Ran by a collective of cloth diaper advocates who work to distribute cloth diapers and other reusable hygiene products to families in need.
- Work with like-minded nonprofits, and as well advocate and educate about the use of cloth diapers.
- They envision a world where cloth diapers are accessible to all regardless of race, socioeconomic status, gender, or family structure.
Cloth Diapers CAN be pricey so that is where The Cloth Option comes into play.
Since Oct 2018, they have over distributed 66,000 cloth diapers to hundreds of families in need across the United States. Which has replaced at least 13.3 million disposable diapers.
Why Use Cloth Diapers?
Cloth Diapers not only help your budget, but they are also better for the environment as well as your baby. Many disposable brands contain common allergens which will trigger skin reactions in sensitive babies. Cloth diapers are made from skin-safe cloth which means no chemicals and are more breathable!
Even if we had purchased cloth diapers out of pocket, add in the cost of the water/electricity and we STILL wouldn’t be spending half of our monthly diaper budget!
But Are They Hard To Wash?
My first worry was how easy are they to wash? They are actually incredibly easy to wash. There are tons of tutorials online and it seems everyone has a different method. How I do it is super simple! I handwash wash or soak them immediately, get all of the soiled material out of them, and then run them through our portable washer, run through the spin dryer, and then hang dry them.
If you are considering cloth diapering, but cost or accessibility is an issue, PLEASE apply for diaper assistance.
Program Details*:
- Open to residents in the United States, U.S. Territories, and to U.S. Military families stationed abroad.
- Newborn diapers are distributed as a loan and must be returned to the program before the next size up can be provided.
- Larger sizes may be kept for as long as your family needs them, and then returned back to TCO.
- If you are able to build your own stash of cloth diapers, return the TCO diapers so that they can be provided to another family in need.
- Children who are three years old are approved only with accompanying documentation of special needs.
- Newborns receive 20 cloth diaper changes, infants 15 changes, and potty training toddlers 10 changes
Required Documents:
- Proof of address
- Proof of Child
- Proof of special needs requiring extended diapering (if applicable).
*Information has been taken directly from theclothoption.org