From Skeptic to Advocate: My Journey with Cloth Diapers

When my wife and I had our first child in late 2021, we were faced with countless decisions as we prepared to become new parents. Among them, my wife expressed a strong desire to use cloth diapers. At first, I was highly skeptical. Diapers, for me, were the least appealing aspect of parenting. With a weak stomach, I’d always dreaded handling anything smelly or messy. Prior to our son being born, I’d changed fewer than five diapers, and one particularly bad experience with my nephew had left me dry heaving, terrifying him in the process. Needless to say, cloth diapers—which I imagined involved even more handling of waste—sounded like a nightmare.

I agreed to keep an open mind, though privately, I was against the idea from the start. But, like many things in life, my initial resistance would turn out to be misplaced. Looking back now, with our son fully potty-trained, I can confidently say that using cloth diapers was one of the best decisions we made as parents.

Here’s how I went from a skeptical observer to a full-fledged advocate.

How I Got On Board

I initially agreed to use cloth diapers on a trial basis. My wife and I had a deal—if it turned out to be a disaster, we’d switch to disposables. What made it easier for me to agree was the fact that we were given almost everything we needed, thanks to the generosity of family and friends, as well as our neighborhood Buy Nothing group. (Side note: If you haven’t heard of Buy Nothing groups, they’re fantastic for saving money as a new parent, and we’ve also been able to pass on many items to help others.)

During what I saw as a “trial” phase, here’s what I discovered:

1. It Wasn’t As Bad As I Feared - I was bracing myself for the worst, but it never came. We used a waterproof drawstring bag that kept the smell contained. When it was time to wash, I could easily empty the bag directly into our front-loading washer without touching anything gross. What I’d imagined would be a revolting process turned out to be surprisingly clean and manageable.

2. The Diapers Cleaned Easily - My wife assured me the cloth diapers would clean well, but I was still doubtful. Yet, after following the company’s simple, step-by-step washing instructions (with their special detergent), the diapers came out spotless. I had no complaints—especially since the detergent was both affordable and effective.

3. No Blowouts - Horror stories from friends about diaper blowouts were plentiful. Thankfully, our experience was different. We never had to deal with the dreaded “blowout” situation except once, during a trip when we used disposable diapers. The two-layer system of the cloth diapers, with an inner and outer shell, proved highly effective at keeping messes contained.

4. Significant Cost Savings - Using disposable diapers while traveling gave me an eye-opening look at how expensive they are. We went through them quickly, and the costs added up fast. With cloth diapers, however, we saved hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over time.

5. Environmental Benefits - A benefit that helped us feel like better stewards of our earth was the environmental impact. On days when we used disposables, the trash bag would fill up quickly and become incredibly heavy. Knowing we were keeping all that waste out of landfills made a big difference.

Cloth Diapers Aren’t What They Used to Be

When my mom visited, she was shocked at how easy the cloth diapers were to use. She remembered cloth diapers from my infancy as being difficult to put on, even harder to clean and prone to leaks. The modern systems, like the brand we used, Essembly, have completely changed the game. With easy-to-use snaps, a reliable two-layer system, and a straightforward cleaning routine, these diapers were nothing like the cumbersome versions my mom remembered.

The Unexpected Perks

Aside from the practical benefits, cloth diapers had one completely unexpected outcome: they helped us form friendships. While at the playground, we noticed another family using the same brand of diapers as us, and we struck up a conversation. Their son and our son became fast friends, and their family became an integral part of our social circle.

Interestingly, their son was one of the first in our group to potty train—successfully completing the process over a long weekend. Shortly after, our son, who was two months younger, began showing interest in potty training as well. I believe cloth diapers played a key role in this. Unlike disposables, which wick moisture away from the skin, cloth diapers allow children to feel when they’ve gone, helping them become more aware of their body’s signals.

As our son neared potty training, he would often stay dry for long stretches, signaling to us that he was holding it in and going all at once—something many parents using disposables don’t see as often. Because of this, transitioning to the potty was remarkably smooth for us. We, too, successfully potty-trained our son over the course of a long weekend.

Why I’m Now a Cloth Diaper Advocate

Months after potty training, I still believe cloth diapers made all the difference. Not only did they help our son recognize his body’s signals, but they also made the entire transition from diapers to the potty easier than I could have imagined.

Looking back, I’m grateful to my wife for standing by her convictions and for patiently walking with me through my initial skepticism. I went from being staunchly against the idea of cloth diapers to a fan, and now, I’d recommend them to any new parent who’s on the fence.

Cloth diapers may not be for everyone, but for us, they were the perfect choice.