Esembly Cloth Diapers Review: Our Honest Experience After 10 Months of Full-Time Use
When we were preparing for our daughter’s arrival, one of the biggest choices we faced was how to diaper sustainably without making daily life harder than it needed to be.
We’d already explored the environmental tradeoffs of diapering (you can read that breakdown here: What’s more sustainable: cloth diapers or disposable diapers?
Cloth made sense for waste reduction, but like many parents, we worried about logistics. Would it be complicated? Would it work for daycare? Would we stick with it?
Now, after 10 months of full-time cloth diapering with Esembly, we can confidently say:
Yes, it works. And we actually love it.
This review is based on real daily use. No influencer hype, just honest feedback from parents who rely on these diapers every single day.
Why We Chose Esembly
Our priority was finding a cloth system that:
Was simple enough for exhausted new parents
Worked smoothly with childcare providers
Offered serious leak protection
Avoided unnecessary chemicals
Aligned with our goal of reducing plastic waste
Esembly’s system immediately stood out because of its simplicity and quality-of-life design:
Cloth inners + waterproof outers (no folding or contorting)
Adjustable snaps for growing babies
Natural cotton absorbency
Machine-washable ease
Dye-free, plastic-minimal materials directly on baby’s skin
Our Setup
Our full rotation:
24 Inners
6 Outers
Esembly Agitator + Washing Powder
Laundry routine:
Wash every 3 days
Standard washer + dryer
Dry once, then hang dry overnight to finish
This setup has been enough to avoid running out of diapers most of the time
Performance: Blowouts & Leaks
This was our biggest surprise.
Esembly diapers have been essentially blowout-proof for us.
In fact, we realized something unexpected:
The only times our daughter had blowouts were when she was in disposable diapers.
Now, even when we do use disposables for travel or the occasional convenience swap, we put an Esembly outer on top for containment because it works so well.
That level of reliability gave us immediate confidence. Cloth does not mean more mess. For us, it has literally meant less mess than disposables.
Laundry Reality
This is the question most parents worry about.
Our honest experience:
Laundry with cloth diapers has not been burdensome.
When you have a baby, your laundry increases either way. Whether it's burp cloths, outfit changes, or swaddles, you're already running loads constantly.
Adding diaper washing into the rotation was surprisingly easy.
We use Esembly’s two-step detergent system, and it’s been fantastic:
No residue buildup
Gentle on skin
Gets diapers truly clean
One note:
Because the inners are highly absorbent cotton, they do take a little longer to dry than regular laundry. Our solution has been simple:
Dryer once
Hang dry overnight
By morning, they’re fully dry and ready to restock.
Fit & Ease of Use
The fit is genuinely excellent.
Esembly’s snap sizing system grows with your baby, and we’ve never had trouble achieving a snug, leak-proof fit.
Even better:
Our daycare uses them without issue.
Cloth compatibility was actually one of our daycare screening criteria. We wanted to normalize sustainability in our child’s daily environment, and it’s been a non-issue for caregivers.Family caregivers adapted easily.
The system is straightforward. If you can snap a diaper and fasten an outer, you can use Esembly.
We apply a thin layer of booty balm at each change, which keeps skin healthy and prevents irritation. We’ve had far fewer rash issues than we experienced during brief disposable phases.
Cost & Value
This is where cloth shines long-term, even though the upfront sticker price can feel intimidating.
We were hesitant at first. It’s hard to commit when you don't know whether you’ll stick with it. Esembly’s Try-It Kit helped reduce that mental hurdle.
Now, looking back, the financial picture is clear:
Disposable diapers cost $2,500–$3,500+ per child
Our cloth system cost far less
Every diaper we use now is saving future purchases
And if we have another child?
We already own the diapers.
That’s thousands of dollars we simply won’t need to spend again.
Even if this ends up being our only child, we’ve already come out far ahead financially.
Sustainability & Health
For us, this was about more than cost or convenience.
Cloth diapers have allowed us to:
Avoid sending thousands of plastic diapers to landfill
Choose materials free of unnecessary synthetics and microplastics
Keep chemicals away from our baby’s skin
With Esembly’s cotton inners and minimalist design, the diaper touching our child all day is made from breathable natural fiber, not petroleum-based liners.
That peace of mind matters.
What We Love Most About Esembly
Pros
✅ Blowout prevention that outperforms disposables
✅ Simple system anyone can learn
✅ Cute designs (yes, it matters)
✅ Chemical-minimal, plastic-reduced materials on skin
✅ Excellent long-term cost savings
✅ Compatible with daycare and caregivers
✅ Genuine waste reduction
Cons
⛔ Longer drying time for inners
⛔ Higher upfront cost (though far cheaper long-term)
Who Esembly Is Perfect For
Parents serious about reducing waste
Families looking for long-term cost savings
Anyone wanting a simple cloth system without folding
Homes with daycare or babysitters
People who want natural materials against their baby’s skin
Who Might Struggle
Parents with no access to laundry
Families who rely heavily on air-dry only without indoor space
Those not emotionally ready to commit to any washing at all
Transparency Note
We became an affiliate partner with Esembly after already purchasing and using the diapers ourselves. This review reflects our real paid experience, not promotional scripting.
Our Verdict After 10 Months
We would choose Esembly again without hesitation.
They have turned what we thought might be an eco-sacrifice into something genuinely easier than expected, cheaper than disposables, better for the environment, and surprisingly superior at preventing messes.
Cloth didn't complicate parenthood for us.
It simplified it.
Want to Try Esembly?
If you’re curious about cloth diapering or ready to commit:
✅ Save 20% on your Esembly order with our code: CFBABY20
Your baby, your wallet, and the planet all benefit.
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