Many parents assume that cloth diapering has to start the moment their baby is born, but the truth is that it's never too late to start cloth diapering your baby or toddler. Whether your little one is six months or sixteen months, starting cloth diapers with an older baby or toddler comes with it's own unique set of advantages. 

If you've been curious about making the switch but weren't sure if it was worth it to start cloth diapering now, here's why making the change now might be easier than you expected. 

1. You already know your baby's routine. 

When you first bring your newborn home, everything is unpredictable, feeding, naps, diaper changes… But life with a toddler is much more routine. You know when they're likely ready to eat, and maybe even poop. 

This predictability makes it easier to plan your cloth diaper stash. Instead of buying 40-50 reusable diapers for round-the-cloth newborn diaper changes, you can start smaller. Many toddlers only need 6-8 diapers per day, so even a small set of cloth diapers can work well for toddler families. 

2. You're doing less laundry. 

Newborn days are full of outfit changes, for you and the baby. Between spit-up, blowouts and who know what's else. Toddlers are a little cleaner, on their clothing at least. 

With fewer daily laundry piles, adding a few loads of diaper laundry to the schedule doesn't feel nearly as overwhelming. Many families wash cloth diapers every 3-4 days. 

3. Solid poops make clean up easy

Welcome to the plop stage of cloth diapering! Once your baby starts eating solid foods, their poop is likely to become more predictable but also firmer and, well, ploppable! This means removing the poop before washing becomes much easier. Simply know the solids into the toilet before tossing the diaper into your storage pail or bag. 

4. You're a more confident parent

By the toddler stage, you've survived the newborn fog. You're sleeping more, they're sleeping more… and you've mastered the diaper change dance. You're more well suited to try and troubleshoot new parenting practices, like cloth diapering. 

That added confidence can make your cloth diapering journey smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. You're no longer just reacting, you're experimenting and finding a rhythm that works well for your family. 

It's never too late to start using cloth diapers.