The Benefits of Cloth Diaper Liners

Cloth diapering is experiencing a resurgence from health-conscious, eco-friendly new parents. And along with that trend, we’ve embraced a modern method to make cloth diapering a little more practical. Our favorite method is the cloth diaper liner which provides a convenient, mess-free way to address the poop problem with cloth diapering.

Cloth diaper liner use is as easy as adding a small towel inside the diaper. Here, we’ll dig into the benefits of cloth diaper liners to help you make an informed decision that fits your specific diapering needs.

What is a Cloth Diaper Liner

A diaper liner is an extra piece of material–in our case, made from cloth–between the baby’s bum and the diaper. It’s an extra layer of protection that is removable, keeping your baby comfortable and diapering relatively mess-free.

How to Use a Cloth Diaper Liner

Using reusable diapers and liners is as easy as placing a piece of fabric inside the diaper during a change. Simply lay your diaper out, place the cloth liner on top, and slide under the baby’s bum. Fasten the diaper as usual and go on about your day.

When it’s time for a change, open the diaper and pull out the liner. For solid poop, dump the content in the toilet and roll the liner up with the mess-side on the inside. Place the soiled liner in your wet bag and complete your diapering process as usual.

Cloth Liners Vs. Disposable Liners

Diaper liners come in cloth and disposable varieties. The cloth options are typically made from absorbent wool, soft terry cloth, flannel, bamboo fiber, or another material that can provide a balance between comfort and absorbency. Disposable liners are often made from bamboo and are often designed to be flushable and biodegradable.

With cloth, you tend to get a little more bang for your buck. If you’re new to cloth diapering, it can be tempting to try paper towels or baby wipes as a cost-effective substitute for disposable liners. We recommend against it. Babies tend to have sensitive skin, and chemicals like fragrances and bleaches that are used to prepare paper towels or wipes might cause sensitivity issues that worsen diaper rashes.

Why Use Cloth Diaper Liners

You’ve already decided to invest in cloth diapering. The benefits, including cost-savings, environmental impact, and promotion of good health make that choice feel easy. Now, you’re trying to decide if you really need to use liners or if that’s another extra that you can afford to skip.

Here’s the deal–cloth diaper liners aren’t required, but they do come with benefits.

1. Easier Clean Up
2. Prevents Stains on Cloth Diapers
3. Adds Comfort for Baby
4. Inexpensive Way to Make Cloth Easier

Easy Clean-Up

The main reason that parents use cloth diaper liners is to solve the solid poop problem that nobody wants to talk about. With disposable diapers, you can fold it up and throw it away. But with cloth diapers, you have to figure out what to do with the poo.

Do you scrape it? Do you rinse it? Do you put it in the washer?

With a cloth diaper liner, you reduce the number of layers you’re working with. The liner provides an easy way to remove the poo and plop it in the toilet for convenient disposal.

Prevents Stains on Cloth Diapers

Many parents opt for cloth to save money. So, when a bad blowout threatens to stain their cloth diapers, they feel defeated. They’ll either have to live with poop-stained diapers that never really look clean, or they’ll have to spend more money to replace diapers that will just get pooped in again.

When you add a cloth diaper liner, the poop sits on that layer, protecting the diaper from stains. Since cloth diaper liners are inexpensive, the comparison of replacing liners versus diapers makes the choice to use a liner, easy.

Adds Comfort for Baby

Cloth diapering materials all balance comfort and absorbency. But, let’s be honest–absorbency is more important. While a cloth diaper might not be noticeably rough, it’s not usually as soft as a liner which can afford to prioritize comfort. For babies with frequent chafing problems or other skin sensitivities, liners are an easy way to add comfort.

Inexpensive Way to Make Cloth Diapering Easier

One of the biggest deterrents for cloth diapering is to get everyone who will help with the baby on board. This is especially true when it comes to daycare providers. If cloth diapering is a sticking point, consider cloth liners as an inexpensive way to make using cloth easier.

How to Clean and Care for Cloth Diaper Liners

The good news is that cloth diaper liners don’t require a different process–the care instructions are the same for all reusable diaper and liner components. You will need to discard solids before transferring dirties to the washing machine. Once in the laundry, take advantage of the pre-rinse cycle and stick to baking soda or mild detergents.

Cloth diapers and liners should be washed every day. Avoid using harsh chemical detergents or strong fragrances found in commercial laundry detergents, fabric softeners, or bleach. Instead, rely on a generous amount of water using pre-rinse, wash, and post-wash rinse cycles.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for cleaning cloth diaper liners:

1. Dump solids into the toilet and flush.
2. Place soiled diaper liners into the washing machine and pre-rinse with cold water (no detergent).
3. Add baking soda and/or a mild detergent and run a warm wash cycle.
4. Use a second rinse cycle if available on your machine.
5. Transfer to a drying line or clothes dryer on low heat. Do not use dryer sheets.

Final Tips for Success with Cloth Diaper Liners

Cloth diapering provides a health-conscious, eco-friendly alternative that can save you money over time. And cloth diaper liners are one addition that can make the process a little easier to manage. Choose cloth diaper liners to make diapering easier and prolong the life of your cloth diapers. It’s as easy as placing an extra cloth inside the diaper during changes. Babee Greens is a certified organic cloth diaper manufacturer providing high-quality cost-savings that are healthy for the planet and healthy for your baby. See our selection of cloth diapering products today.