Looking for information about cloth diapers online can be intimidating–to put it mildly. Among the thousands of sites offering information and resources on cloth diapers, where should you go first? Most online stores and many information sites offer overviews of diaper types and reviews of specific diapers. But if you’re looking for more unique services and information, here are three of the most useful.
1. Diaper Swappers. The forum at Diaper Swappers is a place to buy and sell used diapers. Whether you’re looking for a specific brand at a good price, searching for a deal on a new diaper you’d like to try, or just trying to move up to the next size of diaper, you can probably find what you need in the DS for-sale-or-trade forum. The Diaper Chat forum is also a great place to ask questions and get answers from five or ten expert cloth diapering moms.
2. Diaper Jungle Detergent Chart. The experts at Diaper Jungle have researched the ingredients in over 70 detergents to determine which are best for cloth diapers. They continue to add more detergents regularly. Diaper Jungle’s simple rating system lets you see at a glance which detergents are best for cloth diapers. You can also read user-submitted reviews on many of the detergents. If you think your detergent may be causing residue or buildup, this chart will give you a list of options to try. It’s also a valuable resource if you’re traveling and left your cloth-diaper-friendly detergent at home: this chart will help you find a detergent you can buy in any store that should work for your diapers.
3. Re-Diaper / Giving Diapers, Giving Hope. Both of these sites collect used cloth diaper donations and distribute them to families who can’t afford to buy a stash. If you are done with diapering and would like for your old diapers to go toward a good cause, or if you want to use cloth but can’t afford the upfront cost, these sites are the place to go.
Lisa C. Baker is a full-time mom and part-time writer in Atlanta, Georgia. She writes about green parenting topics at Organic Baby Atlanta andteaches workshops on cloth diapers and elimination communication. She’s been a mom since 2008 and has never bought a disposable diaper; she hopes she’ll never need to!
I’m Julie, a former cloth diaper retailer who discovered a passion for the industry. Now, instead of selling cloth diapers, I advocate them and promote small businesses I love who sell and manufacture them.
I’m the wife of a fireman and mother of three. I have a daughter and identical twin sons.
