Cloth Diaper Accessories That Make Life Easier

You don’t need much to get started with cloth diapers, but there are plenty of cloth diaper accessories you can add to make it an easier and more fun experience. 

There are two types of cloth diapering mom’s out there. The minimalist who’s set on the economical benefits of cloth diapers and uses only the bare necessities, and the enthusiast who wants to experiment and make cloth diapering as fun (and easy) as it can be.

This post is for the latter – the ones who don’t mind splurging a little to elevate their cloth diapering experience. For those minimalist mamas, there’s really nothing fancy needed to cloth diaper. You only need the basics!

RELATED: See our simple beginners guide to getting started with cloth diapers.

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RELATED: Do you know how many cloth diapers you actually need for your unique circumstances?

1. Disposable Liners

Not fond of dealing with cloth diaper poops? Disposable liners minimize the need to handle solids and protect your cloth diapers from stains or rash creams. 

If you’re in a position where your baby gets a rash and your only choice is a zinc-based, cloth diaper unfriendly rash cream, a liner will help protect your diapers from the damage they can cause.

To use them, simply grab the liner, knock any solids into the toilet, and throw the leftover liner into the trash! Replace with a fresh one with every change.

Please note that no disposable liner can be flushed down the toilet, even if they are advertised as “flushable.” 

My favorite? I had tried a few at the beginning of my cloth diapering journey and ultimately my favorite was the Bumkins disposable liners, though I’m a full advocate of fleece liners now.

2. Reusable fleece liners

You might be thinking “huh? liners again?” Yes! Because reusable fleece liners function differently than disposable ones. 

In addition to protecting against stains and being more sustainable, reusable liners provide a “stay dry” effect for your baby’s bottom, making them one of the best cloth diaper accessories. This is amazing for babies who are prone to moisture-caused rashes. 

If you’re using pocket cloth diapers you can likely skip this since most pocket diapers use microfleece for the pocket material.

These fleece liners by Esembly have some great reviews, though I haven’t tried them personally. Reusable liners are so easy and cheap to make it’s quite hard to find commercially. Simply cut any fleece fabric into the desired shape and size and voila!

RELATED: Learn all the differences and benefits of disposable and reusable liners.

3. Cloth wipes & wipe solution

When you’re already using cloth diapers, why not upgrade to cloth baby wipes as well when considering your cloth diaper accessories? 

Where maybe 7-9 disposable wipes are needed to fully clean a poopy mess, reusable cloth wipes only need about 2-3 –  they’re simply more effective at cleaning and save time. 

Not only that, but they require no adjustments to your wash routine since you can throw them into your diaper pail along with your dirty diapers for washing. 

Use the diaper to take as much poo off your baby as you can, then use a damp wipe or two to clean your baby’s bum before throwing it into the pail – that’s it!

You can store your wipes dry and spray them with a solution at changing times, or store them pre-moistened with your preferred wipe solution. I’ve tried both and personally prefer the pre-moistened method.

For the wipe solution, you can mix water with a touch of gentle soap or you can purchase a pre-mixed cloth wipe solution like this Baby Wipe Juice by LuSa Organics.

After trying a few reusable cloth baby wipe brands, I’ve settled on cotton cloth wipes paired with a homemade water-and-soap solution (sometimes I add in a couple of drops of essential oils). 

In reality, you could use any fabric for reusable wipes, but the Osocozy unbleached flannel wipes are a fantastic economical choice. If you’re up for upping the quality I’d highly suggest the Esembly organic cotton wipes.

4. Diapering lotion

This all-natural, french-inspired cleansing lotion by La Petite Creme is perfect for babies who are prone to experiencing rashes. No water is required and it works wonders with cloth wipes or cotton pads! 

Diapering lotion is a cream alternative to using wet wipes. It combines diaper rash cream, wipes, and ointment into one step that cleanses, protects, heals, and nourishes your little one’s sensitive skin with simple ingredients. 

To use it, put some onto your cloth wipe or directly onto your baby’s bottom and wipe away any mess (poopy explosions included.) It leaves your baby with a clean, protective barrier that soothes and heals the skin, and yes, it does get all the gunk off! It’s also cloth diaper safe of course, making it a perfect addition to your cloth diapering accessories.

RELATED: See our 6 top-rated baby push walkers for hardwood floors.

5. Cloth wipe storage pouch or dispenser

These are completely unnecessary but very cute. Place your cloth wipes into a cute wipe pouch or boxed wipe dispenser to keep them protected. 

If you’re storing your wipes dry, keep a wipe solution spray bottle nearby. If you’re using them pre-moistened, be sure to pick a waterproof wipe pouch or dispenser that retains wetness like the two I linked above. You can even just upcycle a disposable wipe dispenser for a DIY alternative.

My absolute favorite is the Bumkins diaper clutch bag. It’s small and holds diapers and wipes all in one using multiple pockets. Though, it’s larger than a standard wipe pouch.

6. Cloth-diaper-safe rash cream

Your first instinct, when faced with your baby’s red sore bum, is to lather it in a soothing rash cream – but wait! Using standard zinc-based rash creams will transfer oils and block the fabric in your cloth diapers from absorbing as well, which will cause them to repel liquid.

Some rash creams are designed to wash out of your cloth diapers easily and are most often made with all-natural ingredients.

Here are 3 all-natural cloth diaper safe rash creams I‘ve tested that work wonders:

• The forever popular Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm
• Esembly Organic Rash Relief Cream
• Dr. Brown’s Natural Diaper Cream

RELATED: Run into a build-up issue from using the wrong rash cream? Learn the best available options to reset your diapers from natural methods to stripping.

7. Snappi or Boingo fasteners

For those cloth diapering parents who use flats, prefolds, preflats, and other 2-step cloth diapers, this one’s for you! Both Snappi or Boingo fasteners work by grabbing fabric with their “teeth” to hold the fabric tightly in place, similar to a bandage fastener. 

The main difference between the two is the shape. Snappi’s are “T” shaped with teeth on all three ends, whereas Boingos are straight short strips with teeth on either end. Both hook onto the hip area of the diaper fabric, but Snappi offers the additional support of a bottom hook. Boingo’s are also to be used in pairs (one at either hip), whereas you only need one Snappi across the waist to secure a diaper.

These make using flats, prefolds, or other diapers that require fastening an absolute breeze to put on!

RELATED: Using flat diapers? Check out my favorite diaper flat folds for newborns.

8. Diaper storage caddy or rolling cart

Especially in the earlier days of peak diaper changes, using a portable diaper caddy or cart was a huge time saver. Instead of going back and forth to the nursery, you have all your diapering needs with you, allowing you to quickly change your baby anywhere, anytime. 

If you love organizing all of your diapering products in one place and want something portable, a storage caddy or cart might be perfect for you. It becomes less helpful as your baby ages, but you can repurpose it later on for organizing other items (I now use mine to organize my current crochet projects.)

I used both a rolling cart and a storage caddy at different points and found the caddy to be best for portability around the home while the rolling cart was great for creating a complete semi-portable diaper-changing station.

9. Diaper sprayer & splash guard

I’m the dunk, swish, then rinse kind of cloth diaperer, but I can definitely see (and slightly envy) the benefit of having a diaper sprayer. It essentially adds a hose with a spray nozzle to your toilet to allow you to spray solids off the diaper. People also use them as a bidet!

I’ve heard SO many great things about the Spray Pal diaper sprayer system. It’s consistently ranked in the top 3 spots in every review I’ve read and they’ve specifically catered their product to cloth diapering parents.

You hold the soiled diaper over the toilet and spray the mess down into the toilet. As you can imagine, unless you perfect the technique water can splash everywhere, so a splash guard is often paired with them. If you need to purchase a splash guard separately from your sprayer, the all too famous spray pal splash guard is the most well-known on the market but there are others as well.

If your sink is close enough to your toilet, you can use a sink bidet instead which would allow you to use hot water to spray your cloth diapers down with.

10. Agitators (silicone washer & dryer balls)

Getting cloth diapers fully clean can be challenging for some, especially those with soft or hard water. Your choice of cloth diaper accessories can make a big difference.

These agitators by Esembly will help give your cloth diapers a deeper clean in the wash and help dry them faster in the dryer. I use these for washing and use wool dryer balls for quicker drying.

11. Wool dryer balls

Wool dryer balls are a perfect addition to any cloth diaper accessories stash and laundry routine. In addition to speeding up drying time, they absorb static without the need for dryer sheets. 

All natural and so easy to use, I use them for all of my family’s laundry and they’re still going strong 5 years in!

DID YOU KNOW? Wool diaper covers repel leaks, absorb moisture, and offer a stay-dry feel even when wet. It’s all-natural and AMAZING, especially for overnight cloth diapering.

12. Special detergents

Though regular powdered Tide and other conventional detergents are commonly great options for cleaning cloth diapers, sometimes they don’t work, or sometimes parents want something more natural. 

Two detergents I’ve heard wonderful things about from other cloth diapering moms are the Rockin’ Green Organic Laundry Detergent and the Esembly Washing Powder.

It can take time to crack the perfect wash routine. Just keep an eye on your baby and your diapers – if your baby gets a rash, or if the diapers start to stink or leak, try something different.

13. Odor removers

Sometimes you run into smelly diaper pails or wet bags. A good cleaning or a sprinkle of baking soda will usually do the trick, but sometimes you want something with a little more scent. 

That’s when Munchkin Arm and Hammer Nursery Fresheners come in. They use baking soda to zap odors away but introduce pleasant smells like lavender into the room. However, it’s worth noting that it does contain fragrances. 

For a fully natural, frugal, and non-toxic option, put a half cup of baking soda in a small container, then add drops of lavender essential oil to your desired potency. Shake it up, then poke holes in the top of the container and put it at the bottom of your diaper pail. 

14. Drying rack

The best way to ensure your cloth diapers last a long time is to air dry them. Cloth diapers can be dried in the sun, which not only saves you on energy bills but also disinfects and removes stains naturally. If drying PUL covers in the sun, be sure not to leave them out for more than 2-3 hours to avoid damaging their PUL or elastics.

I do machine dry most of the time, but when the weather permits I absolutely love air drying out in the sun! A drying rack like this or clothesline brings in maximum airflow for faster drying, plus they fold away nicely for tight spaces. 

You can still dry your diapers indoors in colder months, too! Hang the diapers near the window or on a drying rack where the sunlight falls.

15. Stain removers

After each diaper change, it’s helpful to rinse any residual solids off the diaper to avoid staining. Stains still happen over time though, it’s pretty much inevitable. Drying in the sun helps this dramatically, and spraying a 50/50 mixture of lemon juice and water on them before laying in the sun boosts the sun’s natural bleaching power.

Sometimes though, we just need simple convenience and help. For times like this, cloth diaper accessories like the non-toxic Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray are so helpful. This spray always seems to be out of stock so hurry up and grab it if you get the chance!

16. Cloth diaper pods

For storing cloth diapers, Cloth Diaper Pods are so versatile and practical. They’re also waterproof and trap unwanted smells. 

You can use it to store clean dry diapers and boosters stacked in a neat manner for travel or hang it for easy access at home. Alternatively, it’s often used as a replacement for flat wet bags to store soiled diapers since its opening is so much larger and reduces the risk of getting anything on your hands. 

I seriously love these! & when you’re done with cloth diapers it’s so easy to repurpose them for other uses like packing cubes or toy storage. 

Cloth diaper pods are not necessary to cloth diaper – you can stick with traditional wet bags or simply wrap soiled diapers in a plastic bag or stick them in a Ziploc! They do however make things much more pleasant for us parents handling soiled diapers since we can throw the whole wet bag or diaper pod right into the wash with the diapers. Plus, it’s reusable and sustainable.

You can even learn how to make your own! Here’s a great video tutorial.

17. Rubber spatula

Rubber spatulas are so versatile but especially helpful for cloth diapering parents dealing with those “peanut butter” poos. If you’re not using a diaper sprayer, a spatula does wonders for scraping off stubborn poops into the toilet!

When you’re not dealing with peanut butter poops, you can use it to spread diaper rash cream, preventing any from getting stuck under your fingernails.

The silicone spatula by Dr. Talbot has a suction base to keep it secure in place & a travel case which makes it perfect for cloth diapering on the go.

18. Diaper pail liner

Pail liners are waterproof bags that are placed inside your diaper pail or can be left to hang behind a door (if you prefer not to use a diaper pail). They are odor-resistant and a great option for storing your dirty diapers between washing.

When it’s time to wash your diapers just empty the liner inside out into your washer and throw it in, too!

I highly recommend having two diaper pail liners so that you always have one in your diaper pail even if the other is in the wash.

Conclusion: cloth diaper accessories

As I mentioned earlier, you don’t need a whole lot to have a good experience. If I had to choose my top 3 most impactful cloth diaper accessories, I’d have to say: cloth wipes, dryer balls, and Snappi’s.

What are your favorite cloth diapering accessories?