Some of the most popular reasons parents choose to diaper with cloth include:

• Environmental concerns
• Purity for baby
• Budgetary constraints

If your reason is one of the top two, then diapering with eco-friendly, sustainable fibers would help you further accomplish your goal. Even if you fall under number three, there are ways to use natural materials in your cloth diapering without offending your bank account.

TYPES OF FABRICS COMMONLY USED IN CLOTH DIAPERS

Let’s start with a primer on the basic types of cloth used in most natural-fiber diapers:

Wovens (fabrics with no stretch)

• Flannel (left) – medium to thick fabric, lightly brushed and fuzzy
• Birdseye (right) – gauzy, lightweight fabric woven into a geometric pattern that resembles birds’ eyes, absorbent and trim when used in layers

Knits (fabrics with stretch)

Pictured above from left to right; first row, then second:

• Jersey – smooth and stretchy, commonly recognized as t-shirt fabric
• Interlock – like jersey, but double-knit so it looks the same on both sides, usually thicker
• French terry – terry with unbrushed loops; looks almost scaly in texture
• Terry –stretchy toweling-like fabric; looped pile is usually on one side of fabric only
• Fleece – often used in sweatshirts: smooth on one side, fuzzy on the other
• Short Loop Velour – a velvet-like fabric with a dense, cut pile, luxuriously soft
• Long Loop Velour – like short-loop, but loops are knitted longer before being cut, results in a denser, slightly bulkier, fabric
• Sherpa – stretch knit terry with looped pile that has been brushed to resemble fleece

TYPES OF FIBERS COMMONLY USED IN CLOTH DIAPERS

All of the fabrics listed above can be milled from a variety of fibers, including:

• conventional cotton,
• hemp,
• bamboo, and
• organic cotton.

Perhaps the most commonly found fiber in cloth diaper fabrics is conventional cotton, but use of hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton is definitely on the rise. Why are more and more parents choosing them? Read on.

A CLOSER LOOK AT SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY FIBERS

What does sustainable mean? Simply put, sustainable fibers are grown in a way that does not negatively impact the soil, water, air, or cycles involved in its growth. It has the future ramifications of current growing practices in mind.

All of the fibers below are environmentally friendly because of their sustainability and biodegradability. They are naturally pure and hypoallergenic, mainly because the fibers are not chemically treated during the growth or harvesting process.

Hemp

Sustainability

• Pesticides are unnecessary in the growth of this vigorous insect- and disease-resistant plant
• As it grows, hemp returns valuable nitrogen to the soil, rather than depleting it

Purity

• Breathable
• Naturally resistant to bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungus

Budget-friendly

• Stronger than cotton: 8 times the tensile strength and 4 times the durability
• More absorbent than cotton, requiring fewer layers
• Often blended with cotton to keep costs down

Downsides

• Some report that hemp is prone to detergent build-up and must be specially laundered occasionally to remove resulting odors
• Not the softest fiber, but does soften up with washing
• Ironically, the US is the fastest growing market for hemp fabric, but it is illegal to grow here because of hemp’s unfortunate association with its cousin, the marijuana plant. Therefore, all hemp fabrics are imported.

Bamboo

Sustainability

• A fibrous grass that requires no pesticides or irrigation
• Some bamboo varieties can grow to maturity at 75 feet tall in 2 months or less
• Each plant sends off 4-6 new shoots a year
• Generates more oxygen than trees

Purity

• Hypoallergenic fiber
• Antibacterial, due to naturally occuring agent, "bamboo kun" which is still present even after 50 washes
• Odor-resistant
• Extremely breathable: one study shows that bamboo clothing can keep the wearer up to 2 degrees cooler in the summertime
• Lightweight fabric that is softer than cotton, comparable to silk or cashmere

Budget-friendly

• Fast drying fabric
• Very high tensile strength makes it durable
• 3 times the absorbency of cotton, requires fewer layers

Downside

While bamboo appears to be the perfect fiber in every way, it does have one minor flaw – availability. The other hemisphere has been keeping this great fabric a secret from us here in the US. Although it's been around for a while, we are just now discovering it. I predict that as more people discover bamboo's properties which are so uniquely suited to diapering, it will soon become more widely available in the US, both in ready-made diapers and in fabric yardage for sewing them.

Organic Cotton

Have you ever wondered why people would pay extra for organic cotton? I mean, what is it, and what’s the big deal?

Organic cotton is cotton that has been certified by an independent third party to meet stringent sustainability requirements in its growth, harvesting, and processing, as defined by federal guidelines.

Unfortunately, cotton is not as easy to grow as hemp or bamboo. It is highly susceptible to insects, disease, and weeds. Because of this, the farming of conventional (non-organic) cotton is one of agriculture’s most environmentally damaging processes:

• 1/3 pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used for every pound of cotton harvested
• 4 of the pesticides and fertilizers commonly used are on the EPA’s most toxic list
• 25% of all pesticides manufactured in the world are used on cotton in the USA

These toxic chemicals are absorbed by the cotton fiber, as well as the soil and groundwater, spreading themselves far and wide into the environment, the marketplace, and ultimately, your home.

You can make a difference by bolstering demand for organically grown cotton, thereby supporting the shift that is slowly beginning to occur in the cotton industry. Not only does the use of organic cotton help the environment, it also protects our families from over-exposure to some of the most toxic chemicals used in farming.

WHAT ABOUT THE COST?

Well, the easy, trite answer is to point out the cost to humans, animals, and the environment, of NOT going with eco-friendly, sustainable materials. But that doesn’t really address the monetary concern of a parent on a tight budget.

Here are some practical suggestions to cloth diaper naturally and frugally:

For those who sew or are willing to learn:

Consider making your own diapers using sustainable fabrics. This would greatly control cost, and flats and prefold diapers are very simple to sew. Even fitted diapers can be sewn by the novice seamstress.

Buy eco-friendly diapers that have been well-used (gasp!), and repair them, if necessary. These often go for very little on eBay. Elastic costs pennies to replace, and holes can often be easily mended or patched, giving these well-loved diapers a new chance to serve. Remember, "reduce, reuse, recycle."

For the non-sewing crowd:

If sewing is not an option, then decide on your per-diaper budget, and shop for deals that meet it. Add terms like "organic diaper," "bamboo diaper," and "hemp diaper," to Your Favorite Searches and watch auctions you think may end in your price range. If a seller has a Best Offer option on her auction, then don’t hesitate to make an offer. I’ve often been pleasantly surprised to have a seller accept an offer in my conservative price range, both for used and new diapers.

Consider buying stained diapers. I know, I know, initially this sounds gross and disgusting. But if you can get the stains out using my tips below, then you’ve saved yourself a bundle on perfectly serviceable diapers. Diapers that are listed as stained usually go for very little at auction, and I’ve yet to meet a stain that I couldn’t persuade to disappear. As far as the idea that stained diapers are unsanitary – all used diapers have been on another baby’s bottom doing, well, what diapers do. I would hope that any purchaser of a used diaper would sanitize it before using it on her child regardless of whether it is stained or not.

And if buying used or stained diapers gives you the willies, then think about this – how many times have you slept on hotel sheets, or used hotel towels and washcloths? If you’ve ever used hotel linens, then somewhere in your heart of hearts, you must foster the belief that fabric can be sanitized.

NATURAL MOISTURE BARRIER FOR YOUR NATURAL DIAPERS

All cloth diapers need some sort of wetness barrier. Many parents turn to synthetics for this purpose. There is an overlooked natural alternative – wool! For more information on using wool to cover your diapers, please take a look at my wool guide, which reveals wool’s unique properties, what types of covers are available, how to care for them, and so much more.

NATURALLY LAUNDERING CLOTH DIAPERS

Chemical-free diapers deserve chemical-free laundering. There are some great products available for purchase, or you can even make your own.

Commercially-prepared natural detergents:

Here's a few brands of powdered and liquid laundry detergents that are naturally formulated, gentle, and clean beautifully:

• Ecover
• Bi-O-Kleen
• Seventh Generation
• Charlie's Soap

Common household substances

It is also possible to customize your own laundry soaps using common household items. Just experiment with your specific water type to see what amounts and combinations work best for you.

• White vinegar – up to a 1/4 cup per load  can be used as a detergent, fabric softener, and/or "bleach"
• Baking soda – a few tablespoons or so makes a nice detergent
• Castile soap– not recommended to use every wash, because it could cause build-up, but a small squirt once every few washes will cleanse and condition the fibers nicely

Disinfectants and stain fighters

Stay away from harsh chemicals, including bleach. They are hard on the enviroment; they are abrasive to baby's delicate skin; and they shorten the life of the diaper by damaging the fibers. So, what are you to use?

Why, ultra-violet radiation, provided as a free service by the sun, of course! Did you know that ultra-violet radiation is a powerful disinfectant and stain fighter? Simply hang or lay your diapers outside to dry. You’ll be saving money and energy while you disinfect and brighten your laundry.

Most stains will fade their first time in the sun, but for really tough stains, several sunnings may be necessary. If you don’t have the patience for that, a spritz of lemon juice on the stubborn stain can speed the sun’s ability to erase the stain.

If the utilizing the sun’s ultra-violet radiation is impractical, perhaps due to weather or location, Bi-O-Kleen makes an enzyme-based stain and odor eliminator called Bac-Out which is also very effective while also being gentle to baby and environmentally friendly.

CLOTH WIPES

The perfect complement to your sustainable, eco-friendly, chemical-free diaper collection would be wipes that also share this description.

Squares, rectangles, odd scraps of fabric, even baby washcloths, make great wipes. In most cases, you don’t need any special solution, either. Just moisten with some water, and they’ll get the job done. Toss ‘em in the laundry with your diapers, and you’ve saved yourself and the environment a bunch!

If you simply cannot fathom using water alone on your wipes, and are looking for a natural recipe for a wipes solution, here’s one I recommend:

In a large bottle, combine

• 1-2 tablespoons of organic liquid castile soap, like Dr. Bronners
• 1-2 drops of organic tea tree oil
• 1-2 drops of organic lavender essential oil
• 3-4 cups of water

Shake to mix. You can either attach a spray head to your bottle and spray on each wipe as needed, or stack wipes in a bowl or wipes warmer, and pour over wipes.

Diapering naturally is do-able. The environment, your baby, and yes, even your wallet, will thank you!