Who knew there could be so many methods when it comes to diapering your baby? From disposables to cloth to no diapers at all, you’ve got options! But how do you know which one is best for your family? Easy…test them all out! There’s no wrong way to do this. And the best part is you don’t have to pick just one! You can do a combination of all of the options if you want. All that it comes down to is what works best for YOU.

Disposable Diapers

These are the diapers you’ve probably known about your whole life. There’s so many different brands, with some of the big name brands being Huggies, Pampers, and Luvs.

These days there’s so many other brands that tout different perks like overnight long-wear, leak-proof, or environmentally-friendly materials. Your baby will be going through lots and lots of diapers in their diaper-wearing-lifetime, so you’ll have plenty of time to try out the different brands to find the ones you absolutely love.

Your favorite may not be the same as someone else’s, but that’s why it’s YOUR opinion! Find what you like best and go with it. You can always change your mind later if you want…this isn’t a lifetime brand contract.

One of my favorite brands of disposable diapers is Dyper. They’re non-toxic, made from responsibly-sourced bamboo, absorb as well as the big name brands, and can be ordered online in a convenient subscription delivery based on your needs. They also have an awesome service called REDYPER where you can return your used diapers to have them composted. Diapering your baby AND helping the environment? Yes, please!

Cloth Diapers

The thought of using cloth diapers may feel “old school”, but they’ve grown in popularity in the last decade for very good reason: they’re environmentally-friendly and sustainable. No more disposable diapers in the trash to add to a landfill somewhere!

Cloth diapers also come with other great benefits to you and your baby. By using cloth diapers, your baby feels when they’re wet and can potty-train much sooner than babies in disposable diapers. With organic cotton cloth diapers, you’ll also never need to worry about toxic chemicals or skin-irritating scents on your baby’s sensitive skin.

When it comes to cloth diapering, you still have a few options to choose from. You can use a diaper service like Dy-Dee Diaper Service (for those local to the Los Angeles area), where they’ll not only provide you with cloth diapers, but they’ll also take your dirty ones and clean them for you (no need to rinse)!

You can purchase cloth diaper covers like these, or if you’re planning to try Elimination Communication (detailed below) you can order a belt like this to hold on your cloth diaper for quick removal. They’ve also created really easy diaper fasteners like these to replace the old fashioned diaper safety pin.

Again, try them out and see if you prefer cloth over disposable. You can even do a combination of, say, cloth diapers during the day and disposables at night. Whatever works for your family.

Elimination Communication (“EC”)

If you’ve never heard of this, don’t feel left out. This way of “potty training” your baby from the beginning is just starting to gain some popularity in the US. And, yes, you read that right…potty training your newborn baby!

EC is all about learning and following your baby’s natural cues. It sounds more difficult than it actually is. You’d be surprised how quickly you’ll be able to “time” your baby’s potty breaks and pick up on their cues that they need to “go”. You’ll still be using diapers in this time, but only as a precaution in case you miss a pee or poop.

By implementing EC early, you can have your baby fully potty trained by 12 months old (or maybe even earlier)! See? It may seem crazy, but it’s so worth trying!

The best program I’ve found that teaches you all about EC and how to implement it into your baby’s life (at ANY age) is Go Diaper Free. They’ll help you implement tools into your everyday life, whether you’re starting from birth or when your baby is older, and whether you’re wanting to do EC part-time or full-time!

Also, check out Tiny Undies to purchase potties, underwear, and other items to help you through your EC journey.

Make a Plan

Just like everything else in life, it’s best to start with a plan. Take all of these options, find the one(s) you like best, and start making a plan for how to implement these into your daily life. You can stick with one diapering method, do a mix of two, or, hey, why not all three! I can’t say it enough: there is no wrong way to diaper your baby!

Reach out to friends and family to see what worked for their family or what their favorite brands were and go from there. Get on a Facebook parenting group in your area to connect with families that are doing the same diapering method as you. This will open you up to getting invaluable information and support!

What method are you most excited about? Tell me below in the comments!