Basic types of cloth diapers:
Every cloth diaper has two main parts: an absorbent inner
material and a waterproof outer material.
Flat diaper –
these are the oldest, most basic diapers still used today. They are simply a
large square of a single layer of cotton fabric that you fold up to use as a
diaper. Flats can be fastened on your baby using diaper pins or a Snappi, which
is pictured below. Flats can also be simply folded into a rectangle and placed
inside a diaper cover, which is how I use them. Flats are often sold as one
single size to use from birth to potty training, but some brands offer a small
and large size. A diaper cover is needed to make these waterproof. They do require
folding, but they wash and dry very easily since they are a single layer. These
are typically the least expensive cloth diapers, generally $1-2 each.
Some popular options:
Prefold diaper –
one day someone took a flat diaper and folded it into layers and sewed it down,
giving these the name “prefold.” It does still require some folding to put on your
baby. Prefolds can be fastened on your baby using diaper pins or a Snappi.
Prefolds can also simply be folded in thirds and laid in a diaper cover. Traditionally
prefolds are sold in two sizes, infant and standard, though many brands now
offer more custom sizes, generally newborn, small, medium, and large. Custom sizes reduce bulk because they fit your baby better. A diaper cover is needed to make these waterproof. Prefolds generally wash easily but take a
little longer to dry than flats. Prefolds are another inexpensive option,
generally about $2-3 each.
Some popular options:
Fitted diaper – basically someone took a prefold, sewed it into a diaper shape, and added
elastic around the legs and snaps or Velcro as closures. Fitteds come in every
size, or as adjustable one-size diapers. A diaper cover is needed to make these waterproof. Fitteds require no
folding or pinning, but may be harder to get clean than prefolds, and take
longer to dry. Fitteds vary widely in price depending on the brand, but a
reasonable price is about $8-15 each.
Some popular options:
Diaper cover – a
waterproof shell that covers any of the above diapers and fastens using Velcro
or snaps. Diaper covers are available in every size or in adjustable one-size
options. Generally made from polyurethane laminated fabric, referred to as PUL.
Diaper covers are generally $8-15 each.
Velcro-closure diaper
cover, with a “snap-down rise” to adjust the size.
Some popular options:
Pocket diaper –
take a diaper cover and add a stay-dry liner to the inside with a pocket
opening at the back where you put in an absorbent insert. After you “stuff”
them, pocket diapers go on just like a disposable and fasten with either Velcro
or snaps. Pocket diapers wash and dry pretty easily because you separate the
insert from the cover, and they are easy to put on baby because they’re one
simple piece (rather than having to fasten on a diaper then a diaper cover).
They are also customizable because you can stuff them however you choose (i.e.
doubling up inserts for naps or nighttime). Pockets come in sizes or adjustable
one-size. Pocket diapers cost about $15-20 each.
Some popular options:
All-in-Ones
(abbreviated AIOs) – these are most like a disposable. The absorbent inner is
sewn in to the waterproof outer. These are considered the easiest to use, but they
can be difficult to get clean and take a long time to dry since multiple layers
of absorbent fabric are all sewn together into the cover. AIOs come in either
sizes or one-size. AIOs are also generally the most expensive, at about $20-30
each.
Some popular options:
All-in-Twos
(AI2s) – this diaper has two parts, a waterproof cover and an absorbent insert
that usually snaps into the cover. Unlike AIOs, these are easier to clean and
quicker to dry. Unlike a pocket, you can snap out a wet insert and snap in
clean one, reusing the cover. Similar to either a pocket or AIO, an AI2 goes on
your baby in one piece, making diaper changes quick and easy. AI2s cost about
$15-18 per cover and $4-9 per insert.
Some popular options:
How do I choose which diapers?
This is the hardest part of cloth diapering. Really! They
are easy to use, easy to wash, and they work so well. But there are not only
the different diaper
types I’ve just
explained, there are numerous
brands
available for each type. This is what makes cloth diapering overwhelming at
first. The main factor that dictates your choice is your budget, although most any
option will be cheaper than using disposables unless you simply buy too many
diapers (which happens more often than you might think! Cloth diapers are cute and fun, and there are so many options. Make a plan before you buy and stick to a budget!). Know that not every diaper will work for every baby. Different brands
are cut differently, and fit different shaped babies. The best thing to do is
buy a couple of each type you’re interested in and try them. Find what works well
for you, and then buy more! A great way to try out different diapers is to buy used. Check out craigslist and get on
DiaperSwappers.com (the Marketplace there is a great place to buy and sell diapers). For me, just from reading online I thought I would love this one certain diaper, but it didn't work for us when I actually tried it. Luckily I'd only bought 2, and found them used, and then I resold them. So, don't buy a whole set of one diaper until you've tried them.
How can I afford to spend hundreds of dollars on diapers?
The high up-front cost of cloth diapering turns many people away, but building your stash slowly will help offset that. Remember that you will spend more money using disposables, it's just spread out over time. If you’re
expecting, I would recommend starting to save money now, then buying cloth
diapers when your baby is born (buying a lot of diapers while pregnant is not
the best idea because you don’t know what size and shape your baby will be). Disposable
diapers will cost you at least $50/month, so if you can start setting that
aside now, you’ll be able to buy cloth diapers when your baby is born. Even if you don't end up liking cloth diapers, you'll at least have worked the cost of diapers into your budget and can use what you've saved towards other baby gear :) If you're in serious financial struggles, check out this article by Jenn Labit, creator of bumGenius and founder of Cotton Babies:
Almost free diapers: How to diaper your baby when you can't afford disposable diapers or cloth diapers. There is also a program called
Giving Diapers, Giving Hope whose mission is "To provide free cloth diapers to low income families to help alleviate the cost of diapering their children which will help them use their money for other essentials." One thing that's helped me save money on my diapers is to sign up for emails and newsletters from online cloth diaper stores. This way you'll easily find out about sales. Chances are with a little patience and effort you'll be able to find that diaper you like on sale rather than paying full price.
How many do I need?
It’s best to wash your diapers every other day, so you need
enough for 2 days. For young babies that means 24-30 diapers. For older
babies you'll only need 18-24. So: if you are using a system with a diaper
plus a waterproof cover, you need about 24 diapers and 6-10 covers, because
covers can be reused until they get poop on them. If you are using pockets or all-in-ones
you need about 24 diapers.
One-size diapers
Adjustable one-size diapers are very popular, but they are
really one-size fits most. Generally one-size diapers fit well from 10-30
pounds, which means they don’t work for most newborns. Also if you have a big, fast-growing kid, or your child potty-trains late, they may not fit all the way until potty-training. They are a great option,
though, because they save you from buying a whole set of diapers in each new size as your child grows.
You can either buy newborn diapers to use until your baby grows into one-size
diapers, or use disposables for the first couple months. One-size diapers adjust either
through a snap-down rise or adjustable leg elastic.
My favorites:
My first favorites were flat diapers pad-folded (or folded into a rectangle) inside Flip diaper covers. Flats are very trim and my Flip covers have never leaked. Then I bought a few bumGenius pocket diapers on sale and fell in love with them. They go on so easy which is great when Claire is kicking and screaming. Also the stay-dry lining makes it so she can go 3-4 hours between diaper changes. When she's wearing a flat, and sitting in wet cotton, I need to change her at least every 2 hours. By shopping sales, seconds (second-quality diapers with cosmetic flaws), and used, I've been able to build a full stash of 18 bumGenius pockets for an average cost of about $11.50 per diaper (rather than retail price of $17.95). I love them. They are also the only diaper that has lasted a full 12 hours overnight without leaking. For that I stuff them with the included one-size microfiber insert and the microfiber doubler as well as a
Thirsties hemp insert. Hemp is a favorite among cloth-diaper users. It is a little slower to absorb than microfiber or cotton, but it holds a lot of liquid. When paired with microfiber or cotton it is a great solution for overnight or heavy-wetters.
(Disclaimer: I am not receiving any compensation from any website or manufacturer mentioned. I've written this for information only, based on my experience and opinions.)
