By Laura Forrest Hopfauf
Author and mother
When I announced my plans to cloth diaper during my first pregnancy, the reactions were immediate: eye rolls, warnings about time constraints, and predictions of failure. Despite the unsolicited advice, I wanted to try cloth diapers because I understood what they were made of, cared about environmental impact, and honestly? I wanted to reduce waste.
The reality? I use both cloth and disposable diapers – and that's perfectly okay.
My Original Cloth Diaper Plan (Spoiler: It Changed)
I started with good intentions: use disposables only until the umbilical stump fell off, then switch to cloth full-time. But when my tiny newborn came home and I saw how massive those cloth diapers looked on her, reality hit differently.
Then came the poop. So. Much. Poop.
I once went through three diapers in a single change because infant poop doesn't follow normal timelines. It's a warning shot, an aftershock, and then one more just to be sure. Some sessions lasted thirty minutes.
By three months, I was still using disposables, and the "I told you so" crowd was circling.
When I Actually Started Cloth Diapering (And Why I Modified My Approach)
Around four months, when my daughter's digestive system settled, I committed to cloth. I went all-in for about a week before discovering some hard truths:
Sleep became impossible. Cloth diapers feel wet when they're wet – there's no moisture-wicking technology. One small pee at naptime meant a 20-minute nap instead of two hours. At night, I changed her every feeding (3-4 times), and each change meant an hour of ceiling-gazing in my arms instead of sleep.
The laundry timing was tricky. I prefer line-drying cloth diapers because the sun naturally bleaches stains and they smell fresher. But this required washing on sunny days, and cloth diapers need extra attention: one cycle with a deep soak, then a quick wash to eliminate that bathroom smell. With baby brain, this "simple" process could drag on for days.
Within two weeks, I ran out of clean cloth diapers and had to use disposables. I felt momentarily ashamed, then realized: my daughter was healthy, happy, and thriving. The diaper material didn't matter.
The Hybrid Solution That Worked
My 18-month-old daughter now wears cloth when awake and disposables when sleeping.
This combination has unexpected benefits:
Potty training has started naturally. She feels uncomfortable when wet in cloth diapers and stands at the bathroom door to signal she's peed. This awareness doesn't happen with disposables.
We handle rashes easily. If disposables cause irritation, we switch to cloth and the rash clears within a day. Vice versa works too.
Outings are simpler. I use disposables when we're out so I'm not carrying soiled diapers in a wet/dry bag all day.
Laundry pressure is gone. If I don't finish diaper laundry, we have disposables as backup.
I still reduce waste. While not completely green, we're using significantly fewer disposables than full-time disposable users, and I'll reuse these cloth diapers for my next baby.
The Financial Reality of Hybrid Diapering
I invested about $125 in 25 cloth diapers. I've already avoided buying at least three giant packs of disposables, meaning I've broken even. Now every diaper change in cloth represents money back in my pocket.
This approach is accessible because you don't need a huge upfront investment. Start with one small pack and experiment.
What Changed People's Minds About Cloth Diapers
Interestingly, friends and family who initially called cloth diapering "disgusting and impossible" now recommend it to new parents. I think it's because I failed at my original all-or-nothing plan and openly adjusted my approach.
Being honest about the challenges made cloth diapering feel achievable to others.
My Tips for Successful Hybrid Diapering
- Start with 20-25 cloth diapers, not a massive investment
- Use cloth during wake windows when you can change frequently
- Keep disposables for sleep, outings, and backup
- Line-dry when possible for natural stain removal and freshness
- Run two wash cycles: deep soak, then quick wash
- Don't force it – some days you'll use more disposables, and that's fine
- Watch for early potty training cues that cloth naturally encourages
The Truth About Cloth Diaper Culture
For some reason, cloth diapering is presented as all-or-nothing. You're either fully cloth or fully disposable with no middle ground.
But like most of life, the sweet spot is in the middle.
Parenthood means being adaptable and letting plans evolve into what works for your actual life, not your imagined one. The hardest compromises we make are often with ourselves and our expectations.
Should You Try Cloth Diapers?
If you're even remotely interested in cloth, buy one starter pack and see how it feels. If you're drowning in cloth diaper laundry, using some disposables doesn't make you a worse parent.
Your baby won't remember what they pooped in. They'll remember that you were always there to clean it up.
About the Author: Laura Forrest Hopfauf lives in West Virginia with her husband, young daughter, and dog. Her debut novel is represented by Jennifer Lyons of the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. She shares honest perspectives on motherhood without the pressure to be perfect.
Our next reco: What's Great (and Not So Great) About Cloth Diapering
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