Here are some things you need in order to cloth diaper your baby.

Cloth Diapers
There are many styles to choose from. How many you purchase is up to you. You should have at least 15 diapers because newborns go through many diapers every day. Most people like to have at least 30 on hand so that they can do a wash every other day. Depending on the style of diaper, you may need to purchase more in the future as your baby grows. You can find cloth diapers in major department stores but there is definitely more variety available in small boutiques (i.e. Diaper-Eez in Toronto) and on-line. Many people sell their used diapers so if you’re looking to save money, you can purchase your diapers that way.

Covers
If you choose to use diapers that require a cover, you will need to purchase some covers of various sizes. It is convenient to have at least 5 to start. Covers can be worn multiple times before rinsing or washing them. You want some extra on-hand in case of diaper leakage as well. Bummis and Motherease make some great covers and you can have fun picking out patterns if the white ones are too dull for you.

Diaper Pail
Some people just use a large wet bag but diaper pails really seal in the smell of the dirty diapers. You can have a dry pail or a wet pail. A dry pail is very simple–you just toss the diapers into it and then dump them in the wash. A wet pail requires a liquid mixture for soaking the diapers in the pail before they are washed. For a wet pail, you would fill half of it with water and add one of the following: Borax, white vinegar or a hydrogen peroxide bleach. Soaking is really not necessary, unless you are set on keeping those diapers as white as possible

Wet Bags
You will want to have some wet bags to hold the dirty diapers. A large one to line the diaper pail works wonderfully as you can just toss the bag and diapers right into the washing machine. A small one is perfect for your diaper bag.

Wipes
It’s your choice if you go with disposable or cloth wipes. Some people prefer disposable wipes when they’re out and about but use cloth at home. It is really cheap and easy to use cloth wipes. When you wipe your baby’s bottom, you just toss the wipe in the diaper pail with the diapers. You can use wash cloths or buy really inexpensive cloth wipes at a store. People use different methods of wetting the cloths such as a warm thermos of water or a spray bottle. If you do use disposable wipes, it can be inconvenient to make that trip to the garbage can when your diapers are easily tossed into a diaper pail. Not to mention that it’s less work to use cloth since you’re washing them with the diapers and you don’t have to run out and buy more. It’s also really cheap as you tend to go through a lot of wipes in a baby’s lifetime. If you want to use disposable at home or on the go, there are chlorine-free wipes from Seventh Generation.

Essential Oils
A nice-to-have item is an essential oil to keep your wet bags smelling nice. A tea tree lavendar oil works really well. The diaper pail keeps odours locked inside but when you open it there can be a smell from the dirty diapers inside. Just add a drop to the bag and you’ll be happy when it comes to opening up the bag again. Some people use essential oils to create scented wipe solutions as well.

Laundry Detergent
You will need some detergent that works well with cloth diapers. Not all detergents are equal, including environmentally friendly brands. Stay away from Seventh Generation as it has enzymes that coat the diapers and cause the absorbency to decrease as well as causing the diapers to have an odour. We love Ecover and many Americans swear by Charlie’s Soap. White vinegar is really handy as a fabric softener because it not only keeps the diapers feeling softer, it removes any amonia smell from the diapers.

Biodegradable Paper Liners
Biodegradable paper liners for solid waste are nice to have. When your baby is eating solids, you will need to dump the solid waste into the toilet before placing it in the diaper pail. You won’t need to do this earlier when the baby is only ingesting milk since the theory is liquid in = liquid out. The newborn diapers just get tossed into the washing machine as they are. For your older baby, you can make your life easier by placing a paper liner in the cloth diaper and simply removing the paper and flusing it after it is soiled. This is most convenient when you are out and don’t want a stinky wet bag.

Snappis or Other Accessories
There are many accessories and fun diaper items that you may find useful such as Snappis which are used to hold a prefold together. Try out different products and see what you like. A lot of it is a personal choice. Some people, for instance, love their Snappis while others, like ourselves, prefer using the liner to hold the prefold in place.
Non-toxic Diaper Cream
Babies get rashes from time to time and you want to be able to sooth and protect your baby’s skin when this happens. The best remedy is air so diaper-free time is a must but a cream comes in handy too. Some diaper creams leave residue on the diaper, reducing the absorbancy. Some great brands include Lunar Eclipse and Wellskin.

Large Diaper Bag
Cloth diapers can take up a lot more room than disposable diapers. A lot of diaper bags are not designed to accomodate the bulkier cloth diapers. Find one that has a lot of room because you need to fit the diapers in there along with other items.