For those just getting started with cloth diapering, it can be rather daunting to see all the different types of cloth diapering systems offered. If you have just started investigating your options, I've found a great tutorial article on the
Parenting By Nature website which covers just about everything you could ever want to know! Below are some of the main points featured in their article, but I highly recommend visiting their site as well. They have additional resources with most frequently asked questions, washing routine suggestions, getting started with cloth, and more!
Types of Cloth Diapers:
Cloth diapers today come in many different types of styles and fabrics. Fabric choices in cloth diapers are a bit less complicated than shape and style. Generally, the most popular absorbent fabrics used in the making of cloth diapers are cotton, sherpa and hemp. All make very suitable, absorbent diapers, with hemp being slightly more absorbent and therefore trimmer than a cotton version of the same style diaper. Fabrics to avoid when choosing cloth diapers would be birdseye cotton and polyester. A small percentage of polyester is fine, as this is likely used in the bindings or elastic of higher quality cloth diapers, but polyester in flat or prefolded cloth diapers would not be a suitable option. This is generally found in department store brand cloth diapers.
Flat Cloth Diapers (Flats)
Flat cloth diapers are the cloth diapers that your grandmother and possibly mother used. They are simple…just a square or rectangular piece of fabric that is folded, origami-style, around your baby. Flats can be pinned on, fastened with a Snappi cloth diaper fastener, or held in place with a snug fitting wrap-style diaper cover. Flat cloth diapers are the most labor-intensive cloth diaper you can use, but they are economical, wash and dry quickly, allow for a completely customizable fit, and work especially well on tiny babies. They also have the added advantage of having multiple uses; we use ours as cloth diapers, cloth diaper inserts, doublers, burp clothes, change pads, dust rags, dish towels…the list goes on!
While cotton flannel flat cloth diapers might SEEM like the most economical choice at first glance (available at most department stores), do keep in mind that this style of cloth diaper is not very absorbent, which means you will need to change the diapers very frequently. This means you will generally need twice as many flats as prefolds, unless you are using flats of a highly absorbent nature, such as hemp/cotton blends. Flat cloth diapers, however, are a top pick among parents that choose to use Elimination Communication (EC) as it is very easy to tell the moment your baby is wet and needs a diaper change. A cloth diaper cover is required when using flat cloth diapers. Pins and/or a fastener are optional when using a wrap-style cloth diaper cover such as the Bummis Super Whisper Wrap.
Prefolded Cloth Diapers (Prefolds)
Prefolds are a rectangular piece of fabric made up of several layers, sewn into three panels. The middle panel typically has more layers than the outside two panels. A high-quality, absorbent prefold will state the layers of fabric used, such as 4x8x4. This means the two outside panels have 4 layers of fabric, and the middle panel has 8 layers. Prefolds are the type of cloth diapers used by cloth diaper services across Canada for their durability, customizable nature and ease of washing.
Prefold cloth diapers require you to “fold” them around your baby for a snug fit, and must be used with a cloth diaper cover. They can be fastened with pins, a Snappi fastener, or simply laid in a wrap-style diaper cover. Prefolds, Diaper Service Quality Prefolds (DSQ), Chinese prefolds, and Indian prefolds are all the same style of diaper. What differs and affects the quality of the cloth diaper is the material used and where they are made. We carry only the highest-quality, most absorbent prefolds you can find in an unbleached variety. The bleaching process effects the fibers of any fabric, thus shortening their life span. Our prefolds will literally last generations! A cloth diaper cover is required when using prefold cloth diapers.
Contoured Cloth Diapers
Contour cloth diapers are cloth diapers made of layers of an absorbent fabric, cut in an hour-glass shape. They can made from cotton, sherpa, hemp, velour, or whatever fabric your heart desires! Contoured cloth diapers may or may not have elastic around the waist and thighs, and they generally have no built-in closures, so you may need to use pins or our preferred method, a Snappi diaper fastener, to fasten them. You can also simply lay them in a wrap-style cloth diaper cover.
The advantages to contours are the fact that they have no snaps to break off, or velcro to catch on clothing in the laundry. They are also highly customizable in terms of fit, which helps to prevent leaks on both small are larger babies. This means you generally require only one or two sizes of cloth diapers for the entire time your child is in diapers, making them an economical choice. Our Organic Hemp Cloth Diapers would be considered by most to be a contour diaper, with the addition of the waist and thigh elastic, which help to contain messes better than traditional contoured cloth diapers. Contoured cloth diapers require the use of a diaper cover.
Fitted Cloth Diapers
Fitted cloth diapers are similar to contour diapers in shape and construction with the added benefit of built in fasteners made of either snaps or velcro for faster, easier diaper changes. They will also have an elastic waist and elastic around the thighs to help contain messes well, so you don't have to be as careful or persise with a folding technique.
Most parents find fitted cloth diapers to be easier to use than prefolds (no folding involoved!) but they do require a seperate, waterproof diaper cover. You generally need to buy a variety of sizes of fitted cloth diapers during the time your child is in diapers unless you choose a "one-size" option. Do be aware, however, that one-size diapers may not fit an infant and/or older baby as well as various sized cloth diapers will.
Overall, fitted cloth diapers offer a GREAT fit, and are generally the number one pick amoung parents new to cloth diapering a newborn. With less worry about getting the "folding" right, and the fact that a secondary back-up is available to contain leaks (your diaper cover!), a system of fitted cloth diapers is perfect for parents that are a bit more reluctant to try cloth, but can't quite afford the convenience of pocket cloth diapers or all-in-ones.
Pocket Cloth Diapers (Pocket All-In-Ones)
Pocket cloth diapers have revolutionized modern cloth diapers. When stuffed and ready for use, most parents will agree these cloth diapers are JUST as easy to use as disposibles. They are easy to use, easy to wash, actually work to keep baby feeling dry and are available in irresistable prints and colours!
Although sometimes referred to as an all-in-one diaper, pocket cloth diapers are actually a two-part diapering system. They consists of the cloth diaper cover and a separate absorbent layer called an "insert" or "stuffing". The cloth diaper cover is more than just a diaper cover. The cover of a pocket cloth diaper is comprised of two layers; an outer waterproof layer and an inner layer of soft, cozy microfleece or suedecloth. These two layers are sewn together across the front and two sides, leaving the back open to create a “pocket” in which you stuff with the absorbent material of your choice, such as cotton, hemp, terrycloth or microfiber. When your baby urinates, the moisture is wicked through the microfleece or suedecloth and absorbed into the insert. This keeps baby feeling dry while still in a wet diaper!
When baby is wet or soiled, the insert must be removed from the pocket of this cloth diaper and put into one diaper pail, and the pocket diaper should go into it’s own pail. Pocket diapers are increasingly popular as they are highly sanitary, dry quickly, customizable to your own child’s needs, and they have stay-dry capabilities due to the inner fabric used. On the downside, however, fleece is prone to build-up which can add a few steps to a typical wash routine once or twice a month.
While a cover is not required with pocket cloth diapers, they do require the purchase of the absorbent fabric to “stuff” the pockets with before use. Many pocket cloth diapers now include this stuffing, and you may have options to choose from highly absorbent and incredibliy thin microfiber or an all-natural fabric such as hemp. This makes pocket cloth diapers a pricier option than using fitteds, but still much more economical than using disposables. For their ease of use parents LOVE pocket cloth diapers!
All-In-One (AIO) Diapers
All-In-One cloth diapers are just that…everything you need to diaper your baby, in one cloth diaper. Similar to pocket cloth diapers, these are the most like a disposable diaper. If it’s convenience you’re after, as well keeping your baby out of disposables, this is the way to go. No pinning, no stuffing, no folding, no wrapping…just put it on as you would a disposable diaper. A waterproof cover is already built in! Generally AIOs are the most expensive type of cloth diaper there is, but they are still cheaper than using disposables.
Having at least 2-3 high-quality AIOs or pocket cloth diapers are always recommended for grandparents and babysitters.
