This one is a long one! Hope you will find my descriptions of cloth diapering systems helpful. Here it goes...
Prefolds with cover
This is the cheapest way to cloth diaper and how I started. Actually this was THE way to diaper for decades. Prefolds are pieces of woven cotton sewed together to form a rectangular shaped piece of quilted cotton used as a diaper. The name prefold is used because they require folding to fit your baby and then fastening using pins, a snappi, or a applix diaper cover. Prefolds are not waterproof, so they DO require a cover to make them waterproof (unless you want a mess allover babies clothes, your furniture, the rug, etc…). I did not stick with this form of diapering. I could never get the fold quite right and had trouble keeping messes inside the cover. For some, however, it works great. Keep in mind that if you do a diaper service you will be using prefolds.
There are three kinds of prefolds that I know of. The kind made by Gerber that you can get at any retail store that sells baby merchandise, Chinese prefolds and Indian prefolds. The Gerber diapers are not even comparable to the other two. They are great for burp cloths, but I would not use them as diapers. I have never used Chinese prefolds, but from what I understand the major differences between the two are that Indian prefolds are softer, thicker, sometimes run smaller in size and are slightly less durable. And of course one is made in China and the other in India : )
The greatest thing about prefolds (I think) is that you can use them as cleaning cloths long after baby is out of diapers.
Pros: Inexpensive (about $2 per diaper), can use with a diaper service, great for use long after it is no longer a diaper.
Cons: Folding seems complicated, not as leak resistant as other diaper systems.
Fitteds with or without cover
Fitted diapers are layers of absorbent material sewn together into a diaper shape with elastic and snaps or applix. They can come in a one-size fits all diaper or in sizes for different weight ranges. Because they work just like a disposable diaper, fitted diapers are very user friendly.
I have heard great things about fitted diapers for newborns. In fact, I have been told that a fitted diaper will hold in newborn poop better than a disposable! Some moms have told me they like using a fitted diaper without a cover because they can fell dampness on baby’s bottom when the diaper needs to be changed. They can, however, also be used with covers and made waterproof.
We used fitted diapers on our daughter after she turned two. They worked great to help potty train because they had snaps on the side and she could slide them up and down. Because the cotton touched her bottom she was able to tell when she was wet and learned quickly how to recognize the feeling of “having to go”.
Because these diapers are so absorbent and have so many layers of material they often take longer to dry in the dryer or on the clothes line.
There are many brands of fitted diapers. Among the most popular are GoodMamas, Kissaluvs, Thirsties, and KiwiPie. We used Green Sprout Diapers- made by a work at home mom.
Pros: Very good at holding in messes, easy to use, great transitional diaper when potty training, comes in one-size options.
Cons: Can be pricey, especially the one-size fits all kinds (between $25 and $30 each diaper), not waterproof on its own, long dry times.
Pocket diapers
Pocket diapers consist of a waterproof outer layer (usually PUL) and a water resistant inner (fleece or micro fleece) with a pocket in the middle for holding inserts with can be made of a variety of materials. They fasten with snaps or applix and work much like a disposable diaper. They can come in a one-size fits all diaper or in sizes for different weight ranges. The water resistant inner layer helps to keep wetness away from baby’s bottom.
The most important feature is the pocket- which allows you to make the diaper more or less absorbent based on your need. This also means that you will have to take the inserts out to wash the diaper and put them back in after they are clean. Some people have said that the stuffing and un-stuffing makes using these diapers less desirable. Because the inserts are removable, the separate pieces will dry fairly quickly in the dryer or on the clothes line.
There are a variety of brands to choose from among the most popular are BumGenius, Happy Heinys, Fuzzibunz, and Swaddlebees.
Pros: Keeps wetness away from baby’s bottom, adjustable absorbency, waterproof, comes in a one-size option, dries quickly.
Cons: Keeps wetness away from baby’s bottom (not good for potty training), can be a pain to un-stuff and stuff.All-in-one diapers
All-in-one diapers feature a waterproof exterior with layers of cotton or other material on the interior. They are one piece with applix or snaps for fasteners. These diapers are most like disposables diapers in convenience and trimness (although please keep in mind that no cloth diaper will be equally trim to a disposable diaper).
The most common complaint I’ve heard about these diaper is that because they are one piece they can take significantly longer to dry in the dryer or on the clothes line (sometimes two cycles in the dryer). They can also be on the more expensive side.
There are a variety of brands including but not limited to BumGenius, Bumkins, ImseVimse, Dream-Eze, and Kissaluvs.
Pros: Most like disposable- easy to use, trimmer than other diapers.
Cons: Expensive, take longer to dry.All-in-two diapers
All-in-two diapers are like an all-in-one diaper except the absorbent layers are not inside the diaper. They will be shaped like a diaper insert that can be snapped or placed into the diaper shell. This system allows for quicker dry times than the all-in-one diaper because the absorbent layers will separate from the diaper in the wash and then dry as separate pieces of fabric. Another benefit of this feature is that if the exterior is clean you can reuse it by just changing the inserts.
I have to be honest, I tried using an all-in-two diaper with my daughter and was not satisfied. I found it difficult to get the insert lined up correctly when fastening the diaper to a very wiggly baby. I have heard similar reports from people using hybrid diapers (see next category).
Examples of this type of diaper are SoftBums and GroVia.
Pros: Because the cover is reusable this option can be less expensive than other systems, quicker dry times.
Cons: Hard to fasten correctly.
Hybrid diapers
Hybrid diapers are similar in form to all-in-two diapers. They have an outer shell which is waterproof and absorbent inserts that are placed into the shell. Most importantly they offer the option of using a reusable cloth insert or a “compostable” disposable insert.
I have not used a hybrid diaper myself- but I have seen them and heard first hand accounts.
I will start with the disposable insert. What a great idea! I am sad that I never got to test this because I thought many times while diapering my own daughter- why can’t there be a disposable insert that I could use with her diaper covers when we travel?
I think this concept needs to be refined a little more before it can truly be ideal. I have heard that it is difficult to get the insert into the cover perfectly- probably because the insert shape is not matched perfectly to the diaper cover (an unfortunate defect in my opinion). The disposable insert claims that it can be ripped apart and disposed in the toilet however we all know better than to trust these types of claims. The insert is large and bulky, much larger than anything I’ve ever flushed down the toilet. I wouldn’t flush unless you have a truly amazing septic system (which most of us can not admit to).
I have not yet seen the cloth inserts or talked to anyone who has used them so I can’t yet speak to their function.
Some brands that offer a hybrid diaper are GroVia, Flip, GDiapers.
Pros: Convenient for travel, can be less expensive than other cloth options (when using cloth inserts), safer disposable option than a fully disposable diaper.
Cons: Hard to get a perfect fit, expensive if using only disposable inserts.
Types of Covers:
Plastic: These are the cheapest option and what our parents would have used. They do not give a great fit and are susceptible to leaks. They will wear quickly in the wash and will need to be replaced often.
Brands include: Gerber.
PUL: PUL is a polyurethane lamination either placed between layers of breathable cloth material or left exposed. PUL covers offer good breathability and are easy to wash (although many brands recommend drying on a line rather than in the dryer because the PUL will deteriorate with exposure to high heat). Often you can wipe the interior clean between changes and use the cover several times in a day. These covers offer a good fit and often come in one-size options.
Brands include: Thirsties, Prorap, Bummis, Kissaluvs, Flip, GroVia, ImseVimse.
Fleece: We loved covers for our daughter. They are water resistant rather than waterproof and so they allow for more air movement (great for a baby who has especially sensitive skin). Some people do not like fleece because it can sometimes feel damp to the touch when the diaper is wet. They are easy to wash, but not as durable as PUL or wool.
Brands include: Bummis, Stacinator, Swaddlebees, Organic Caboose.
Wool: Wool covers offer great breathability and a natural material next to baby’s bottom. Many people swear by wool saying that these covers are the best at containing messes. Wool, however, requires special care when cleaning including special soaps and routine lanolizing. Brands include: ImseVimse, Little Beetle, Kissaluvs, Organic Caboose.
Snaps vs. Applix Many ask: what’s better snaps or applix? The differences are pretty simple, but it all comes down to personal preference.
ApplixPros: Easy to use, easy to adjust to baby’s size.
Cons: Tabs must be closed prior to wash, sometimes they can get stuck to other items in the wash causing applix to loose stickiness over time, applix can curl over time, as baby gets older they can learn how to unfasten diapers themselves.
Snaps:Pros: Durable, no special treatment prior to washing, they are more difficult for children to unfasten themselves.
Cons: Some people say snaps can be difficult to fasten, less adjustment is possible based on snap placement.
