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This is post number two in the Best Cloth Diapers Series. Here are the other posts in the series:

Many people fear that cloth diapers are far too much trouble to make giving any serious consideration to them worth it. I’ve had people say directly to me that there is absolutely no rhyme or reason to use cloth nowadays, and that it was far too cumbersome when it was the only option, and that disposables are so much better and a welcomed invention in recent decades.

I won’t disagree that it was a welcomed invention. It’s hard to argue against the convenience of disposables. I do believe there is a time and place to use disposables, and that it is one of the perks of living in a modern time.

However, single-use disposable products have put the health of our planet in jeopardy. The plastics in a disposable diaper will sit around in a landfill for 500+ years. It’s time we reconsider everyday convenience in favor of doing what is responsible for the care of the earth. It doesn’t mean we have to be “all or nothing” with cloth diapers, but it does mean that maybe we consider using disposables only when needed, and use cloth the rest of the time. I believe that could make a huge difference.

I’m not going to get into environmental stuff too much in this post. I just wanted to point out there is indeed rhyme or reason to use cloth diapers in this day and age, even if you need to make sure the diapers you use are as easy as possible.

If you have considered using cloth diapers but are simply overwhelmed by the amount of work you are worried it might be, this post is for you. Here we will take a look at the top 5 diapers for those who need a low-maintenance diaper collection and washing routine. I will also recommend a few accessories that will make the use and care of your diapers even simpler for you.

You can also read this post for more information on keeping cloth diaper usage simple for your family.

1. Blueberry Simplex All-in-One

All-in-one diapers are probably the best choice for a low-maintenance diaper stash. They are all one piece and require no stuffing, folding, wrapping, or messing with additional covers. There are some amazing all-in-ones out there to consider.

The Blueberry Simplex is my all-time favorite all-in-one diaper. Click here to read a detailed review on this diaper.

The Simplex gives a cozy fit around baby’s legs and waist. Its absorbency comes from 10 layers of 100{9994046f29331ee04cc0b5e07eb28364315ea03ccc2f01b5a43e8b85b372d1e9} cotton. It has a very soft stay-dry liner over one half of the inner absorbent insert. Should you need extra absorbency, there is an opening on the diaper that allows you to stuff in an insert, but I have never felt the need to do that.

The inner insert can be stuffed inside the pocket area if you wish for only 100{9994046f29331ee04cc0b5e07eb28364315ea03ccc2f01b5a43e8b85b372d1e9} natural fibers to touch your baby’s skin. I personally lay the insert on top of the inside of the diaper so that the stay-dry microfleece shows. There is no need to un-stuff the insert before washing–it will agitate out on its own. This allows for a faster dry time.

You can get the Blueberry Simplex All-in-One at Nicki’s Diapers by clicking here. It’s also available at Amazon.

2. Bambino Mio Miosolo All-in-One

The Bambino Mio Miosolo all-in-one is a popular one-size diaper that has many fans. It has a cozy, snug fit and a wealth of adorable prints available. This diaper is as easy to use as a disposable, so it’s the perfect choice for those who want a low-maintenance diaper stash.

People love how soft these diapers are. The velcro closures allow you to get a very precise fit. The Bambino Mio Miosolo runs a little bigger compared to some other brands, so that’s something to keep in mind. For me, that is awesome for my bottom-heavy son because we have tried diapers in the past that leave a “plumber crack” on him. This one is perfect. But if you have a lanky kid, you might prefer one of the other options in this post.

You can get the Miosolo Diaper at Nicki’s Diapers by clicking here. It’s also available at Amazon.

3. Thirsties All-in-One

The Thirsties All-in-One is a superb choice for the family that wants easy-to-use diapers. This diaper has 4 layers of microterry with a stay-dry microfleece layer on top. You can get them in snap closures or hook & loop. They are very trim compared to some other diapers, and that is an important factor for many parents. Another bonus is that the all-in-one is one of Thirsties’ fastest drying diapers! They are available at Amazon or Nicki’s Diapers.

If you are more interested in using natural fibers, Thirsties has a Natural All-in-One. The Natural All-in-One has 11 layers of natural fibers (cotton and hemp) that give it top-of-the-line absorbency.

The prints are great and I love the quality of Thirsties’ products. Their price is reasonable compared to other all-in-ones, and the best part is Target carries them online, so you can add these to a Target baby registry. You will love having some Thirsties diapers in your stash!

You can get the Natural All-in-Ones at Amazon or Nicki’s Diapers, too.

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4. Grovia Hybrids

The last two options are hybrid/all-in-two options. These have one added step from an all-in-one (hence the “all-in-two”), but are still incredibly easy to use. On top of being easy to use, they are a little more wallet-friendly than a whole stash of all-in-ones.

Hybrids also offer the convenience of disposable inserts if you want to make using cloth easier when you are traveling or on the go. Having options is important for low-maintenance families. Most of the disposable liners sold to go with the hybrid diapers are biodegradable, which is a perk for some people.

Grovia Hybrids are one of the top options for this style of diaper. As you can see in the photo, you can use a cloth insert that snaps in the diaper whenever you’re at home. But when you are out and about, you can switch to disposable inserts that are easy to toss but still give you some perks of cloth. Check out a more detailed review I wrote on these here.

These are seriously an amazing diaper, and I highly recommend having some in your stash, especially if you ever plan on leaving the house! 😉 You can get Grovia Hybrids at Grovia’s website by clicking here.

5. BumGenius Flips

BumGenius Flips are another hybrid diaper option very similar to Grovia, but instead of snapping in the insert, you tuck it in the flaps at either end of the diaper. Some people don’t like the flaps while others love that it gives them the option to use other types of inserts with that shell.

I really love the Flip diapers, and I’ve written a more detailed review of them here. They are so practical and easy to use. There are options for a stay-dry microfiber insert (with a top layer of skin-safe microsuede), an organic cotton insert, and a newborn insert.

Yes, you can even use the Flip diapers on newborns! They were one of the first one-size shells to work on my skinny, chicken-legged baby. The one-size shells might be a bit big at first, but I found that my son grew into it faster than other one-size diapers.

Whether you go for the Grovia hybrid or the Flips, I highly recommend at least one hybrid option in your stash to make busy days and traveling easier. You can get Flip diapers at Amazon or at a smaller cloth diaper retailer like Nicki’s Diapers by clicking here.

Cloth Accessories to Lighten the Load

To make using cloth diapers as low-fuss as possible, consider these accessories:

  • Disposable/Biodegradable Liners

If you don’t want to worry about scraping or rinsing poop from the diapers, consider some disposable liners on top of the diapers to make poop removal extremely easy.

Naturally Nature’s Bamboo Disposable Diaper Liners are made from 100{9994046f29331ee04cc0b5e07eb28364315ea03ccc2f01b5a43e8b85b372d1e9} bamboo fibers. They are unscented & fragrance free, non-toxic, and chlorine-free. Fluids will pass through the liner to be soaked into the diaper, but solids will stay on top for easy removal.

They are significantly cheaper and much more eco-friendly than disposable diapers, so if you would much rather not have to deal with the poop too much, these are a great option. You can get these awesome bamboo liners at Amazon.

  • Diaper Sprayer

If you would rather avoid disposable products completely but you’re still envisioning a poop nightmare, you can try out a diaper sprayer. There are many people out there that believe their sprayer to be a lifesaver. The Spray Pal is the most common sprayer, but you can also DIY your own if you’re somewhat handy. Here is my detailed post on diaper sprayers if you want more information.

You can get the Spray Pal (plus a spray shield) at Amazon by clicking here.

What About the Newborn Stage & Nighttime?

I recommend simply using disposables for the newborn stage. Finding a good fit with newborn cloth diapers can be some trial and error you’re probably not up for if you’re looking for low maintenance. Go for a good quality disposable (I found many of the newborn size disposables leaked when my sons wore them, and it was worth the money to spring for higher quality). You can move into your one-size stash whenever your baby is around 12 lbs.

As for nighttime, I also recommend disposables when the time comes that your baby starts to out-wet their daytime cloth. They might be able to get by just find at night for awhile, but if they start to leak it can be some trial and error to find the right diaper for you (though here is one easy-to-use cloth option to consider if you’re up for it!) At that point, if you’re not up for experimentation, try disposables (but make sure you buy a size larger than where your baby falls in the weight ranges for heavy wetters).

It is still definitely worth using cloth diapers even if you don’t use them 100{9994046f29331ee04cc0b5e07eb28364315ea03ccc2f01b5a43e8b85b372d1e9} of the time.

How do these suggestions sound to you low-maintenance parents out there? Do you have any questions? Or are you a low-maintenance cloth diaper parent that has some recommendations? Let me know in the comments!