Cloth Diapers 101

January 13, 2010 | Posted by Jennie

cloth_diapers So as I was saying earlier, choosing to use cloth diapers might be an easy choice, but deciding on which brand to go with and which type to use is certainly not! There is so much choice today on the reusable diaper market so it is important for new parents to do some research to figure out which type of diaper will work best for you.

Types of Cloth Diapers

Prefolds – If you are looking for the most inexpensive way to cloth diaper your baby, this is the way to go. Basically this is what our parents used! Prefolds work by using various folding techniques to properly fold the diaper so that it is thicker in the necessary places for your baby. Then the diaper is either secured with pins or a very snug diaper cover. Prefolds do require diaper covers to protect them from leakage.

They might be cheap but they require a lot of folding, pining and securing. Not the most convenient option for me anyways.

Fitted Diapers – This type of cloth diaper is one step up from the old classic prefold. Fitted cloth diapers are fitted accordingly to your baby’s size eliminating the folding process. These diapers use elastic around the legs and waist for maximum leakage protection. Since fitted diapers are essentially prefolds that have been appropriately cut and fitted for baby, they do not have a waterproof outer layer so they all require diaper covers.

Pocket Cloth Diapers – The pocket cloth diaper changed the way we all look at the cloth diapering system. This diaper and diapers like them are very similar to disposable diapers and truly make cloth diapering accessible. A pocket diaper essentially means that the diaper is designed with a pocket where an additional cloth liner can be inserted into the diaper for extra protection while having a waterproof exterior shell.

All in One Diapers – Most All in One diapers are very similar to pocket diapers only they are generally suited to certain sizes. Most have pockets for cloth liners and some allow liners to lie in the center of the diaper essentially making the outer layer a diaper cover instead. This allows for parents to simply change the liner and reuse the outer shell.

The trouble with the All in One’s is that you need to purchase different sizes as your baby grows therefore the initial cost might be higher than expected. That being said though, your diapers will not wear out as quickly and you will most likely get through two, possibly even three children with them. So in the long run financially, this diaper might be the wisest choice!

One Size Diapers – These are All in One diapers that will grow with your child! Definitely the most convenient style of cloth diapering system. Generally these diapers will fit babies from 7lbs to 35lbs or from newborn to potty training! The issue with these diapers is that they can be very bulky on newborns and may not offer the best fit in general as can an All in One diapering system.

These diapers offer convenience while being cost effective as well.

So which one works best for you??? I have no idea! I think the first thing we need to do before purchasing the right type of cloth diaper is to determine our needs and requirements from a diapering system. Ask yourself,

“How often do I want to do laundry?”

“How many kids do we expect to use cloth diapers with?”

“Will we be using cloth diapers at night time?”

“How much time do I have to fold properly?”

“What is my ideal budget?”

“Will I be the primary ‘diaper changer’ or will my care giver?”

“How much space do I have for storage?”

Through a process of elimination the right cloth diapering system might suddenly appear! All the best with your decision.

Now which brand to use…….?