The amount of cloth diapers needed depends on the age of your baby. Newborns go through more cloth diapers then an older baby. A good rule of thumb is 10-12 cloth diapers per day for the amount of days you won’t be washing. Should wash every 2-3 days.

* 24-36 cloth diapers per size
* 4-6 cloth diaper covers per size (unless solely using All-In-One/Pocket Cloth Diapers then you need zero)
* 4-6 doublers (especially for nights)

The different choices confuse me, can you explain

A simplified way to explain cloth diapers, is by comparing the three different cloth diapering systems available. Remember, there is a system to fit every lifestyle and budget!

NOTE: You can mix and match any of the below systems. For example use System 2 when at home and System 1 when on the go.

1) All-In-One (AIO) Cloth Diapering System

* Most convenient
* Great for working parents and daycares
* Most like disposable diapers

2) Fitted Cloth Diapers With Covers System

* Two piece system
* Still convenient yet less expensive then AIO system

3) Prefold Cloth Diapers With Covers System

* Two piece system
* Cheapest overall system

Also see this great page on different mom's reasons for using each type of diaper system: ClWhat Cloth Diaper Systems Work - Get Mom's Opinion!

There is also a wealth of information in our Cloth Diaper Dictionary.

My diapers are leaking. Please help?

Your diapers are leaking, have no fear! Leaks are not completely unusual when first starting out. With a little bit of troubleshooting, we are confident you will join the many other families who have found SmallSprout™ Diapers the very best in leak-proof protection.

Below we offer a few of the most common reasons for leaks & their appropriate solutions:

1 - The fit may be too big. It is tempting to purchase diapers a bit larger than what you need in order to get longer use out of them. But our diapers are very generously cut and if you size-up, they will not fit properly and will end up leaking. Solution: Use smaller size

2 - Using the wrong detergent can lead to build-up and will make your diapers repel. Read our Diaper Care info for complete washing instructions and safe detergents list. Solution: Strip your diapers by replacing your detergent with 1-2 Tbs Dawn dish soap or a ball of RLR.

3 - Fabric softeners and diaper rash ointment can coat the fibers of your diapers and make them leak. Solution: Strip your diapers by replacing your detergent with 1-2 Tbs Dawn dish soap or a ball of RLR.

4 - The diapers may be worn for too long between changes. Solution: Cloth diaper changes need to be more frequent than disposables and on average will need repacement every 2 hours. If you need to go longer than that, you will need to add a good cotton or hemp doubler or insert.

5 - The diaper does not meet the absorbency needs of your baby. Solution: In this case, consider adding a cotton or hemp doubler or insert to every change. Cotton and Hemp are both stable absorbers that pair very nicely with the fast absorbing power of our microfiber terry soakers.

6 - The waterproof lamination on your diaper or cover needs to be resealed. Solution: An occasional full-cycle tumble in the dryer on high is actually beneficial to the waterproofing layer.

7 - And finally, if you have a baby boy, be sure to point his privates downward when changing his diaper. If he is aiming to the side or up, he will leak out of the diaper or cover.

How much money can you really save?

You can save thousands of dollars by cloth diapering your baby! Remember that this is only for one baby and that you can reuse your cloth diapers on your next babies too! This makes cloth diapering your next babies free! Many are concerned about the initial cost of quality cloth diapers but please remember that this is a one time cost (no more late night runs to the store for expensive disposable diapers)! It is also important to buy good quality cloth diapers instead of the discount department store diapers, leave those diapers for burp cloths! SmallSprout™ has many different cloth diapers.

How much money can you really save?
Cloth Diapers Disposable Diapers Diaper Services
1st year $300 $800 $660
2nd year $300 $600 $660
3rd year $100 $600 $660
TOTAL $700* $2000 $1980
*Can be reused for baby 2, 3, etc. for free! Could be even less!

I have a stubborn stain on my diaper. What is a safe way to lift it out?

Cotton and other natural fibers tend to hang onto stains a bit more than polyester. Here are a few tips for lifting stains.

1. Do a prewash with COLD water. HOT water tends to set staining. Prewash in COLD and then do a full cycle in HOT.

2. Always hang to dry in the sun. A stain may still be visible after once wash and dry in the sun, but over time, it will continue to fade.

3. A spritzing of lemon juice on the stain and then sunning will also help.

4. You can try commercial stain lifters, but you will need to wash with 1 Tbs of Dawn after to strip away the residue left behind.

5. Also, hydrogen peroxide may help...but do a small test spot first to be sure that it doesn't yellow the fabric.

6. Never use a wet pail. Soaking for too long soaks the stains and stink right in.

I have been using the same SmallSprout™ diapers for months without any problems. In the past week, we seem to be leaking more often. Why is this?

Usually this is an indication your baby is growing and so is her bladder. You may need to increase the absorbency by adding an insert or doubler.

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