Cloth diapers - the basics

Today's cloth diapers are nothing like our parents' cloth diapers (but they can be if you want). There are so many different options out there that it is quite overwhelming and intimidating at first. I thought I'd start out by sharing some of the basic types/categories of diapers with you. I'll go back and add pictures of each later (holding A while she naps) :)


(above: we store clean diapers in A's dresser/changing table)

How many diapers do you need? Well that depends on how often you want to wash and how old your baby is. Cloth diapers need to be changed more often than disposables (we change every 2 hours except for naps/night). If you're washing every single day you might get by with 15-18 diapers. For every other day I'd get a minimum of 24. We use around 8-10 diapers a day on our 16 month old. You can always use up whatever disposables you have hanging around if you run out before laundry time.

Flats - your cheapest and most basic old-school cloth diaper. These diapers are basically a large square of absorbant fabric (birdseye, hemp, organic cotton, terry cloth, bamboo velour, etc) that you must fold origami-style before pinning or snapping onto baby. (Little Lions Flats are one example of this type diaper)

Pros - CHEAP (for as little as $36 you could have an entire stash of 3 dozen diapers minus covers), one-size (will fit from birth to potty training), easiest to wash and dry, after baby is done with diapers these make great cleaning/all-purpose rags
Cons - requires some skill to learn different folds and closures, baby feels dampness (unless you add a stay-dry/fleece liner next to their bottom), requires a diaper cover to be waterproof

Prefolds - these are the workhorse of the cloth diaper world. They are similar to the flat diaper except  rectangular in shape, smaller and thicker. They are "pre-folded" and sewn to have the most layers of fabric in the area that needs the most absorbtion. These are available in a wide variety of sizes to give you the trimmest fit for different sized babies. You usually have the option of buying white (bleached) or natural colored (unbleached). Unbleached PFs generally require a few more washings to fully prep. I chose to dye my PFs so they would look pretty (will dedicate a post to this later).
     Prepping prefolds entails washing the diapers with the hottest water possible in your washer (some people add a pot of boiling water) to strip the natural "oils" away from the cotton fibers. Then you throw them into the dryer where they will shrink/"quilt" up and look like they are full of tiny ridges. This is what makes the diaper absorbant. It usually requires at least 5 cycles of hot wash/dry to be fully prepped (most absorbant). BTW - Gerber prefold diapers you find in the store are NOT diapers. They are burp cloths only and are made of cotton gauze not diaper quality fiber!
     PFs require minimal folding and you may use either pins or a Snappi to hold the diaper on your baby. They also require the use of a waterproof diaper cover on top. They are versatile in that you can also tri-fold them and simply lay inside a cover.



Pros - Cheap ($1-4 each depending on size/brand), easier to fold, versatile, easy to launder
Cons - some skill required to get the hang of different folds, requires a waterproof cover, not "stay-dry" next to baby's skin without a liner, will need different sizes as baby grows

Contours - I won't be covering these as they aren't very popular but they are more of a cross between a prefold and a fitted.

Fitteds - one of the most absorbant and cutest options in the diaper world. These diapers are made completely from absorbant cotton or bamboo and resemble an actual diaper. The edges of these diapers are usually serged (raw edge with stitching) or T&T (turned and topstitched). They usually have snaps or a softer version of velcro ("aplix") for closure and elastic around the legs/back.

Pros - Cute prints/colors, one of the most-absorbant options
Cons - requires a cover, can get expensive if you start "collecting" prints :)

Pockets - These look like a disposable diaper; they consist of an outer waterproof shell, an inner lining (can be fleece/stay-dry or organic cotton), and a "pocket" inbetween where you stuff an insert to customize the absorbancy to your needs. They are either velcro (aplix) closure or snap closure. Velcro is easier to use while snaps last longer. An example of a pocket diaper is the Bumgenius one-size 3.0.

Pros - easier to use; can be "stay-dry" next to baby's skin; does not require a cover; dries quickly because inserts are removed prior to washing
Cons - more expensive than other options; requires more time to stuff inserts inside


All-in-ones (AIO) - These are the easiest of all of the diapers to use; they are one-piece waterproof diapers that require no stuffing or covering. Many people like these for day-care, babysitters, grandparents, and daddy. They look just like pocket diapers. Some are even available with a pocket in case you need to add a doubler to last through overnight use. Also, you may see diapers advertised as AI2s (all-in-twos) - these diapers have a snap in soaker that sits next to baby that can be removed on laundry day to lessen drying time.

Pros - user-friendly; no cover or stuffing required
Cons - most expensive option; takes a long time to dry