Traveling with Cloth Diapers – How Many Diapers Do I Need for Vacation?

Photo by @isabelplett

The first vacation with a baby is always particularly exciting. Suddenly, everyday life revolves entirely around the new family member, your child seems to need twice as much luggage as you do, and you wonder: "Cloth diapers on vacation, does it work?" Absolutely! With a little planning, it is quite easy to use cloth diapers on vacation just as you do at home.

But how many diapers do I need on vacation? Depending on your washing routine, you will need five covers and about 18 to 25 inner diapers for a week-long vacation. For safety, you should plan for two to three additional diapers.

In this article, you'll learn everything you need to know when your first vacation with cloth diapers awaits. We'll show you what to consider and give you some insider tips. This way, changing diapers on vacation remains as easy as at home.

Which diapers should I take on vacation?

With modern cloth diapers, you can travel effortlessly. Below, you'll find out which cloth diapers are best suited for vacation and why.

The best suited for vacation are simply designed cloth diapers, like Judes. These consist of an inner diaper, which is firmly sewn to an absorbent insert, and a waterproof cover. This concept is particularly simple as it requires little preparation to change your child, nothing needs to be folded, and it takes up little space in the suitcase. Moreover, the system is highly absorbent and stays leak-proof for up to twelve hours- making Judes the simplest solution for day and night.

Thanks to the intelligent design, the diapers adapt perfectly to your baby and its movements without adding bulk. With our cloth diapers, you remain flexible, as no preparation time is needed to put on a new diaper for your baby. Changing is just as quick as with disposable diapers, yet cloth diapers are more sustainable and cloth diapers are healthier for your baby.

The least suitable for longer vacations are wool diapers, as washing and lanolizing take significantly more time than with cloth diapers, which you can simply wash with the machine.

Photo by Lawrence Crayton from Unsplash

How many diapers do I need on vacation?

The number of diapers you need depends, among other things, on the age of your baby or toddler. While a newborn still needs eight to ten diapers within 24 hours, a one-year-old child only needs five to eight diapers. The number of diapers needed, of course, depends on the individual needs of your child. Since you know your child best, you can best estimate how many diapers are needed per day. Your child should always feel comfortable, and by changing diapers regularly, you can prevent diaper dermatitis.

Now back to the question of how many diapers you should take on vacation. At Judes, we distinguish between:

• Covers: The Cover forms the outer layer and thus the moisture barrier of the diaper. It ensures that what should stay inside, stays inside. At Judes, the cover is made of 100% certified recycled PUL. The cover only goes in the laundry when it is actually necessary. Otherwise, you hang it out to air and continue to use it. For that reason, you need fewer covers than inner diapers.
• Inner Diaper: It doesn't get simpler than with Judes – when changing, you take the inner diaper out of the pants and put it into the diaper bag as it is. The diaper bag, along with the used diapers, later goes into the laundry.

It is best to choose the number of diapers you use at home per day. So, if you're planning a week-long vacation, you will need about five covers. If you generally wash your covers more frequently, then take an additional one or two.

During my last vacation, I overdid it out of ignorance and took a total of 15 covers. In the end, at least half of them stayed in the suitcase. However, personally, I find it handy to have one or two prepared diapers in reserve in the backpack or car.

Therefore, you will need a larger number of inner diapers. A one-year-old child needs five to eight diapers in 24 hours. The amount needed during the vacation depends on various factors. Expecting a lot of sun accelerates the drying of the diapers. With freely accessible washing facilities, you'll save on additional diapers as well. Depending on your washing routine, you should have about 18 to 25 inner diapers with you. To be on the safe side, count your diapers for 24 hours and multiply the number by three to four days, depending on the interval at which you usually wash.

Even though I had far too many covers and inner diapers on my trip, I would still advise you to take a little more with you. This way, you are on the safe side in case something goes differently than planned, and you do not have to meticulously count the used diapers.

Comparison to Disposable Diapers

If you convert the number of needed diapers into disposable diapers, you will need 35 to 56 diapers for a seven-day vacation, depending on usage. Depending on the diaper brand, this equates to additional costs of about €25.00, which you can save by using cloth diapers. Moreover, you protect your child's skin and also help the environment by avoiding waste.
Doing good has rarely been as easy as with Judes.

What else do I need?

Make sure that a washing machine is available at your accommodation. Alternatively, public laundromats are also suitable. Pack some of your laundry detergent, so your washing routine can be just like at home.

If you don't have access to a washing machine, you can hand wash the diapers for a short period. However, once you return, you should thoroughly machine wash the absorbent materials.

Just having covers and inner diapers is not enough. Here, we summarize what additional items you should have with you on vacation.

• Liner: Our Poo Paper is perfect for catching your child's stool. This allows you to conveniently dispose of it and protect your diapers.
• Wet Bag: Our Wet Bag is essential for your trip. It optimally stores used diapers. It also allows for a hygienic wash process – just place it in the washing machine and open the zipper at the bottom, so the diapers tumble out by themselves during the wash.
• Cleaning Cloths: Our Washcloths are a perfect alternative to traditional wet wipes. Slightly moistened, they gently clean your child's skin.
• Laundry Detergent

Tips and Tricks for Cloth Diapers on Vacation

Despite good preparation, everything naturally goes a little differently on vacation than at home. Perhaps you lack a dryer or suddenly run out of diapers. Below, we summarize the most important tips and tricks.

1. Diaper Bags in Large and Small

Unlike a diaper pail, diaper bags are incredibly space-saving. Bringing several of them in different sizes on vacation offers you great flexibility.

On my trip, I had a large diaper bag in the accommodation and two small ones in my backpack and car. Besides diapers, these bags are also perfect for storing wet clothes from the beach or dirty laundry in general.

2. Clothesline and Clothespins

Especially on a camping vacation, you should consider the best way to dry your diapers. However, even in a rented accommodation, there is no guarantee that there will be a drying rack or similar. A clothesline and clothespins take up hardly any space in your luggage and allow you to dry everything wherever you find it suitable.

If no dryer is available on your vacation, feel free to get creative. Perhaps you’re often on the move with a bike trailer, so secure your absorbent inserts there and let them dry in the wind while biking. Or use the sun and spread your diapers on stones at the beach, so they dry in no time while you enjoy the water.

3. Diaper-Free

Summer vacations are ideal for diaper-free time. Especially at the beach and in the garden, little ones love to run around naked. Just bring a foldable potty with you or find a suitable spot for potty time.

4. Don't Put Pressure on Yourself

Vacations are for enjoyment. If everything goes wrong, relieve some pressure and switch to disposable diapers for a short time. Especially for longer trips with rental cars and sleeping in unfamiliar beds without moisture protection, you can make your vacation a bit more relaxed this way.

Photo by @madame.vio

Conclusion

As you can see, cloth diapers are also well-suited for vacation. Judes has set itself the goal of being the simplest cloth diaper in the world and has brilliantly achieved this intention. It's best to count how many diapers you use in 24 hours and calculate your needs for your vacation accordingly. Also, consider all the accessories you need for diapering with cloth diapers. The most important thing: Have a great vacation and create memories! If your child wears a disposable diaper in some of these memories, no one will hold it against you.

What experiences have you had with cloth diapers on vacation? Feel free to tell us in the comments!