What Cloth Diaper Is Right For You?

One thing that can be exceptionally overwhelming about jumping into cloth diapering is the VARIETY.  When you're buying disposables, it's simply a matter of size.  Some moms have preferred brands, but otherwise it's a very simple process of selecting a number, usually 1-6, and taking the diapers to the check-out counter.

Cloth diapering, however, has a myriad of options that, at first, can be extremely hard to understand.  How do you know what to buy if you've never done it before?  While you'll need to research TONS of different topics (detergents, wipes, prep, etc), it's often easiest to start with one simple question: What types of cloth diapers can I buy?

Flats 

These are, as you many have guessed, flat diapers (think "old school" cloth diaper).  They are a sheet of absorbent fabric that you fold and fasten around your baby.  These come in a number of different fabrics, most commonly hemp and cotton.  They are inexpensive for the most part, but also require accessories in order to function.  With flats, you are dealing with just a sheet of fabric - it's not waterproof and it has no closures or fasteners to hold it together.  Nowadays, flats are most commonly used with snappi (or similar) fasteners and waterproof diaper covers.

Shopping resources for Flats:

Prefolds 

Much like flats, prefolds are a sheet of absorbent fabric that is folded and fastened around your baby.  They are different from flats in that they come "pre-folded" (hence the name).  Typical prefolds have a central panel that is much thicker than the outer sections, providing additional absorbency.  As with flats, prefolds need a few accessories in order to work as a diaper, given that they are not waterproof and have no closure to hold them together.  Snappi's and waterproof diaper covers do the trick with these as well.

Shopping resources for Prefolds:

Fitted

Another form of cloth diaper that doesn't have a waterproof layer, fitted diapers are generally made from the same materials used for flats and prefolds: cotton, hemp, etc.  These, however, actually LOOK like a diaper.  Where flats and prefolds need to be folded and fastened into shape, fitted diapers come already shaped, have closures, and are available in different sizes to offer a good fit for your baby.  You would need to place a waterproof cover over the top of a fitted in order to avoid leakage.

Shopping resources for Fitteds:

Diaper Cover / Diaper Shell

A "cover" lacks any absorbent layers and is just the shell utilized with flats, prefolds, and fitted diapers in order to make them waterproof.  Most covers are made using TPU and PUL, synthetic fabrics that come in a variety of patterns and colors, and have either velcro or snap fasteners built into them.  Used alone, these would do nothing for your baby - they absolutely must have an absorbent diaper under them in order to function.  These can be purchased in specific sizes, or in adjustable "one size" options.

Shopping resources for Covers/Shells:

Pocket

Pocket diapers have a waterproof shell with closures and a soft inner liner, typically microfleece, that then needs to be stuffed with a diaper insert for absorbency.  Inserts come in a variety of fabrics and you can generally swap out most inserts and use them for multiple diapers, or use multiple inserts at a time for added absorbency.  Most brands offer pocket options in single sizes and "one size" adjustable options.

Shopping resources for Pockets: 

 

All In One (AIO)

This diaper is the most similar cloth option to a disposable - this is because it's waterproof, absorbent, and has closures all in one piece, with nothing to add, stuff, or layer.  Like pockets, AIO's can come in single sizes and "one size" adjustable options.  These are also, generally speaking, the most expensive of the cloth diaper options on the market.  Another downside is dry time - because these diapers have layers of absorbent material and the outer shell all connected together, they will take longer than other cloth diapers to dry after washing.

Shopping resources for AIO's:

All In Two (AI2) / Hybrid

All In Two diapers are, in my opinion, a kind of cross between a pocket diaper and an AIO.  They look a lot like an AIO, but their inner absorbent layer can be detached and replaced.  While that might sound A LOT like a pocket diaper, AI2's outer layer can often be reused once the soiled insert is detached, where a pocket diaper (and an AIO) must be completely replaced at each diaper change.

Shopping resources for AI2's:

The Scoop on Baby Wipes

I've been so focused on building a cloth diaper stash that wipes have taken a bit of a backseat to getting in the more "fun" diapering purchases.  But, with only five weeks left before Cozy Baby #2 gets here, it's time to consider baby wipes and our options.  To make things easier on myself, I'm separating baby wipes into four basic categories:

In considering the pro's and con's, a few of these really stick out to me... and I'm sure that you're likely assuming that I'm leaning toward the cloth ones, right?  Well, let's see:

Traditional Disposable Wipes

There are SO many different brands of disposable wipes that it would be extremely difficult to go over every option out there, so let's keep this basic: Brands like Pampers and Huggies have entire lines of wipes - normal, scented, unscented, sensitive skin, and even "natural."  Typically these types of wipes sell at a rate of $0.02-$0.05 per wipe.

The problem with more traditional (and readily available) baby wipes are the chemicals in them - which may include alcohol, perfume, chlorine, pthlalates, parabens, and dioxin.  These can be really harmful to your baby's skin - and result in the absorption of toxins into their bodies that could potentially cause hormonal issues and some forms of cancer.

Eco-Friendly Disposable Wipes

There are now a number of eco-friendly disposable wipes on the market that are safe for the environment, biodegradable and/or flushable.  These brands are typically harder to find and more expensive than more traditional disposable brands, averaging $0.05-$0.10 per wipe.  Popular brands include Seventh Generation and Earth's Best.

However great the word "biodegradable" might sound, and how nice "safe for the environment" seems, these wipes aren't necessarily good for your baby.  Many of these still contain alcohol, which can irritate baby's skin.  The majority are paraben, chlorine, and pthlalate-free though, which does make them the "lesser of two evils" in the great world of disposable wipes.

Name Brand Cloth Wipes

Many of the popular cloth diaper companies also have their own line of cloth wipes made out of various fabrics - flannel, cotton, hemp, and microfleece to name a few.  Popular brands for this option are Thirsties, bumGenius, and BabyKicks.  Much pricier per-wipe than their disposable counterparts, these wipes can cost anywhere from $1.00-$2.00 per wipe.

So why invest that much money into a wipe?  Simple - these are reusable.  They require the same washing routine as cloth diapers and contain zero chemicals that might harm your baby.  A single wipe could last you the entire 2.5 years that your baby is in diapers.

DIY Cloth Wipes

Cloth wipes don't need to be fancy name brand purchases.  In fact, soft baby washcloths or recycled washcloths/towels you already have in your home would do just fine as cloth wipes.  The thing to keep in mind is that your baby's skin will be sensitive, so don't select anything that has overly-rough fabric that might irritate your baby - and don't forget that microfiber isn't a fabric that can go directly onto baby's skin!  We have several MF cloths laying around the house and these are definitely not meant to be used on skin (for us or a baby).  Stick with natural fabrics - cotton and flannel are probably the easiest to find.

If utilizing washcloths you already own, this type of baby wipe could be completely free.

There is one "catch" with cloth wipes, though - they aren't a standalone product.  You do need to purchase additional items in order to make your name brand or DIY wipes work for you and your baby.

The most basic accessories are water and a spray bottle - your wipes need to be dampened prior to use, and water works just fine for this.  At home, the spray bottle might not be necessary - when you're out and about, a small travel-sized spray bottle with water in it will do the trick.

Also required for "on the go" cloth wipes, as with cloth diapers, is a wet bag to hold any used wipes.  This doesn't need to be fancy, but many different options are on the market for "cute" wet bags... though a ziploc bag will do in a pinch, products specifically labeled as "wet bags" are washable, and thus reusable.

Optional accessories include a wipe solution if you aren't comfortable with just using water (there's a great one available by bumGenius) and a wipe warmer if you'd like prepped wipes available for immediate use.  Wipe solution and a wipe warmer are options that I'm passing on for now, but many moms find them to make the whole process more convenient.