In real life, it’s often hard–or even impossible–to find cloth diaper supplies.  Big box stores like Target or Babys-R-Us sell a few cloth diapers, but these are generally the flimsy varieties that are better used as burp cloths.  If you want to get started with cloth diapers, your best bet is to find a brick and mortar store in your town.  Here in Portland, I’ve had good luck at Mother Nature’s (for new supplies) and The Children’s Exchange (for used supplies).  Joy purchased all her cloth supplies at Bambini’s in Eugene, which carries both new and used items.  In your local shop, it’s possible to look at the diapers, ask the shopkeepers questions, and avoid shipping costs.  Many stores will offer starter kits so you can get everything you need for less than buying everything piecemeal. 

If you don’t have a shop nearby, you will probably turn to the Internet for help.  So where do you begin?

Diaper Companies

The companies below sell their own diapers.  Their websites are also great places to find tips on washing diapers, weigh-ins on the environmental debate, and disposable vs. cloth cost-comparison analyses.

Diaperaps offers basic diaper covers to go over prefolds.  You can also get diaper liners through this company.

Cottonbabies is the company that brings BumGenius diapers, which are adjustable diapers that can fit your baby from birth to potty-training.  Cottonbabies also sells prefolds and an all-in-one.

Happy Heinys also has adjustable pocket diapers with great prints.

Fuzzibunz is a very popular pocket diaper.

Mother-ease has a leak-free system and offers one adjustable diaper style which can be paired with a waterproof cover.

Online Stores

You can go through the brands directly, using the links above, or go with an online store.  Here are a few online diaper stores to check out:

Baby Bunz & Co.

Baby Naturale

Better for Babies

Cottontail Baby

Diaper Junction

Eco Baby

Green Mountain Diapers

My Baby First

Diaper Tips and Cost Comparisons

Check out the Cloth Diaper Blog for tips on using your cloth diapers.  It’s your “all-in-one cloth diaper resource.”

Consumer Reports has an article about average diaper costs.

This site shows how Fuzzibunz end up cheaper than disposables.

Here is a detailed cost comparison chart of all the different cloth diapers compared to disposables.

And of course, The Green Baby Guide wrote an excellent cost comparison article.  Here’s where you can read all of our diaper posts. 

Greener Disposables

G-diapers are a hybrid diaper, available at many supermarkets.

Tushies offer a gel-free disposable and can be found at Whole Foods.

Moltex aren’t available in the U.S. (as far as we know), but are compostable.

Seventh Generation make widely available chlorine-free disposables.

If you have your own recommendations–or anti-recommendations–for online diaper resources, let us know by posting a comment or emailing us at greenbabyguide@gmail.com.  You’ll save yourself hours of Internet browsing by visiting a local diaper shop, but sometimes that isn’t an option.  The links above should give you a head start on the great eco-diaper hunt.