Alright time for a quick overview of cloth diapers. I would love, love, love to make a video for this one but unfortunately I don't own all the different types of cloth diapers, yet. Lets Begin!
First up is the basic Flats and Prefolds
Basically a flat is just what it sounds like a flat piece of fabric in which you fold into a diaper. This is what most people think of when they hear the words cloth diaper. A great thing about flats are they can be anything, a blanket or towel.
A prefold is very similar to a flat but basically the folding is already done, so they come in various sizes and a majority of them have three sections on them so you know where to fold. Basically a prefold takes out the folding time you have with a flat.
Online you can find different ways to fold your flat or prefold. The typical folds are Newspaper, Angel, Bikini Twist, Jelly Roll, and the trifold.
So now you have the diaper folded on your baby but how will you keep it there?
You can go old school with some pins
So now you have the diaper on, you need a diaper cover to keep everything in place.
Covers come is sizes like the thirsties one pictured above and they come in one-size which I will explain after I cover each type of diaper. They come in PUL which is a laminate which allows you to wipe out the diaper if you have messes. They also come in wool which is a more natural choice and surprisingly since it is breathable it's a excellent option for a cooler summer diaper. The only down fall of wool is poo stains and cost, you will have to scrub out those poo leaks. Typically in your stash depending on the age of your child you'd want 12 flats or prefolds per day and around 3 covers per day. Using prefold or flats with a cover is the most economical choice for cloth diapers. They cost about $1-10 per flat/prefold and covers cost $8-45 depending on fabric and size, fasteners cost from $1-5 a pack.
Next up is Fitted
Fitted diapers are similar to your prefolds but the fabric is sewn to fit on you're child, all the folding is taken out of the work. Great thing about fitted is you can use inserts to add absorbance. An insert (or the other names some call it are soaker, booster or doubler) is basically long strip of fabric typically sewn with 3-5 layers of microfiber, minky, bamboo, wool, cotton or hemp. If using it to boost a diaper, the insert CAN NOT be microfiber, remember microfiber CAN NOT go against your baby's skin. A fitted diaper is suggested to use a cover but some don't use covers when they are at home since that allows the baby's skin to breath. Fitted diapers come in one size fits all, and sized along with snaps, aplix (velcro) or snapless (requires a snappi, pins or boingo). Fitteds cost about $8-40, covers are again $8-45, boosters $2-10 each and fasteners cost from $1-5 a pack.
Now my personal favorite Pocket Diapers
Pockets are what 98% of my personal stash consists of so I'm very familiar with them. As you can see in the images above you have a diaper shell with a pocket in which you place a insert into. The great things about pockets is you can change the absorbance with type or number of inserts you use. You change the entire diaper every time the diaper is soiled, no reusing shells since the shell touches the baby's skin. When you wash pocket diapers you must take out the insert to ensure it gets washed. Pocket diapers come with front and back pockets, my personal favorite is the front pocket which is in the charlie banana diaper, oh katy and baby beduga. Pocket diapers come in sized or one size diaper. They come with typically 1-2 inserts but some brands do not sell the shells with inserts. Price ranges for this diaper is $10-26 and inserts cost $2-10 each.
Next up is All-in-Ones
An AIO diaper is like a fitted and cover combined. They are the easiest of all the diapers out there, simply wear and wash. Some brands do have inserts that are semi-attached meaning that only one end is sewn into the diaper. Like a pocket diaper every diaper change you change the entire diaper. AIO come in one size and sized as well as snap closure and aplix (velcro). Due to the fact these diapers are the simplest as far as work on your end, they do cost a bit more $15-25.
Last up is All-In-Twos and Hybrid Diapers
AI2 (All-In-Two) diapers and Hybrid diapers are very similar. Basic difference is a AI2 is used with reusable inserts where a hybrid diaper is designed to be used with disposable inserts made for traveling. Featured above is a popular brand g-diaper which is branded as a hybrid but can function as both. This brand is a bit different in their approach with their three part diaper. I own two of these and have only used the a handful of times. First you have the cover which is orange in the picture above, then a liner which you place your insert into. G-diapers have disposable and reusable inserts.
Pictured above is the GroVia being used as an AI2 with a snap in liner, the GroVia also has disposable inserts available.
An AI2 uses a shell/cover in which you place an insert in. It's basically like the flat or fitted but no folding or pinning. You place a fold flat, prefold or insert into the diaper cover. Some have snap in inserts and other you just place under a flaps at the front and back of the diaper which keeps the insert in place. The shells cost $13-22, the reusable inserts cost $4-30 a pack, and disposable inserts are $7-20 a pack.
Diaper Sizing
There are One-Size Diapers, Two-Sized Diapers and Sized Diapers. All have their perks and they all work differently on every baby. As you cloth diaper you will learn the golden rule: Just because a diaper doesn't work now doesn't mean it won't later and just because a diaper works now doesn't mean it will later.
Lets begin with One Size
As I've been going over the types of diapers you might have noticed that some diapers like the one pictured above has snaps on the front of the diaper. This diaper is a one-size diaper. The snaps going up and down enable you to adjust the rise of the diaper and the aplix or snaps going side to side allow you to adjust the waist of the diaper. Now some diapers do not have snaps on the rise but are one size diapers, such as the Fuzzibunz elite and the Charlie Bananas one-size. These diapers allow you to adjust the length of the elastic in the legs, like a bra strap or using buttons. Typically a one size diaper fits a baby 8-36lbs. That being said they aren't the best for newborns but once your little one gets bigger one-size is an excellent pick to diaper your child till they are potty trained.
Now Two-Size Diapers
I know you're thinking that looks just like the one size. Well you're right a Two-Size diaper is very similar to a one-size. The real difference is they are trimmer meaning they are less bulky on your little one. A size one typically fits a smaller baby than a one-size so they may start at 6lbs verses 8lbs. A size two also runs larger were a one size goes up to about 30 to 35lbs, the sized will go up to a 35 to 40lb child. Some two size diapers have snap rise such as the Blueberry pictured above and some do not such as the Sloomb Happy Little Clouds.
Sized Diapers
Sized diapers are pretty self explanatory, it's going to be your trimmest diaper but you will have to buy more of them. A sized diaper is going to come in 3 to 5 sizes. If you are looking into doing sized diapers because you want a more trim diaper then I would suggest looking into a newborn diaper rental. By renting your newborn diapers you're cutting cost and it's one less sized diaper you need to pay in full for. Nice thing about sized diapers is they aren't used as much as say a one-size diaper therefor their resale value would be higher. Sized diapers also will fit preemies being their newborn is made to fit a 5-11 lbs.
Thank you for reading and I'm looking forward to informing you more about diapers in the future. Happy Cloth Diapering :)
