Cloth Diapers 101

Re: Cloth diapers
Asked by lillkatheryn

Question:

I want to switch to cloth diapers, and have been looking at the all in ones, one size fits all...but I don't want to invest all that money on something that I will just have to

replace, or won't work...What have you guys used, and what do you think is the best?

My Advice:

There are almost as many kind of cloth diapers as there are children.  And there is no one answer to any question.  What works for you may not work for your friend and vice versa.  But there are a few standard types:

1) Prefolds - the big flat ones that our mothers used on us (if you are my age :) )  There are Indian and chinese versions of these and they do come in sizes (infant, toddler, etc).  They are the least expensive version, but they do take some getting used to as you need to fold it in order to put it on.  There are many folds and again this is a matter of preference.  You can keep them closed with pins or Snappi's (a plastic device that has little hooks that holds them shut) or you can fold it and put it in a cover and use the cover's fasteners to keep it shut.  These are not waterproof and will need a cover of some sort to keep them dry.

2) Fitteds - Much like disposable diapers, these have the tradional hour glass shape and usually have some sort of fasteners on it.  These range in type from prefolds with a shape to ones with elastic and fasteners.  Again, these will need to have a cover to prevent wetness form leaking.  They can be made from many materials as well from basic flannel to hemp fleece to bamboo.  Again, the preference of one material over another tends to be personal.

3) AIO's and AI2's - a version of a one piece diaper/cover combo.  AIO's are All in Ones, meaning that the diaper (absorbancy) and the cover (wetness barrier) are in one piece.  There are obvious benefits to a diaper like this, this is the one most like disposable ones in terms of ease of use.  The one drawback to most of these type, depending on design, is the length of time it takes to wash and dry these.  AI2's on the other hand have a seperate liner from the diaper.  These usually snap in and lay down the middle and tend to be folded which makes them easy in the washer as they aren't too thick to get completely clean. 

4) Covers - there are many types of covers as well.  They can be as simple as rubber pull on pants with elastic in the waist and legs, to hand knit and embellished wool which can go for a $100 or more.  The materials that go into the cover can be varied as well.  The most common kind of waterproof material is PUL which is a laminated polyester which washes and wears very well.  They have have the PUL on the outside, the inside or sandwiched between 2 layers of other material.  They can have velcro or snap closures, and be front or side closing.  You can often use the cover the entire day with just a new diaper on the baby.

5) Wool - wool is natural, breathable, naturally antibiotic, doesn't need to be washed every time, and is the most common type of diaper cover you will seen being worn as clothing (instead of under it).  Wool does need special care as it is NOT machine washable or dryable (the wool that can be treated this way, is not absorbant and doesn't make for a good diaper cover).

6) Pocket diapers - These are diaper covers that have a pocket between the 2 layers in which a pad of some sort is put in the opening.  The benefits of these type of diapers are the ease of use.  Again, like the AIO's, these are very similar to what our friends who are using disposable diapers are doing, open it up , put in baby, and close.  They have the added benefit of having the pad replaced and using the same cover again. In my experience, these are very daddy friendly diapers. 

I am sure that I have left out loads of information.  This by no means is meant to be teh end all of cloth diapering info, just a basic primer on some basic facts.