Types of Cloth Diapers

After making the decision to use cloth diapers very early in my pregnancy I began my journey for information armed with Google and YouTube. After countless HOURS of searching the internet for every bit of cloth diapering information I could find (sorry, hunny.) My husband actually has a picture of me 8 months pregnant practicing my "diapering" skills on a stuffed bear at the dining room table. After much thought, I finally decided on pre-folds and covers for the early days then pockets and all-in-ones once he got a little older. If you aren't familiar with the cloth diaper lingo you may not have a clue what I am talking about. But I am here to help with that! To help make your journey into the cloth diapering world a little bit easier we are hosting a monthly "Curious About Cloth" class at the store (email me at espbabystore@gmail.com for more info.) But if you are anything like me, you need to know NOW so here are some of the basics.

All-In-One Cloth Diapers: Often abbreviated AIO. They are commonly referred to as the "daddy diaper." These are the closest cloth diaper to a disposable. The absorbency layer is sewn into the diaper and don't require any type of "stuffing." The entire diaper must be changed at each changing. They are the most convenient type of cloth diaper but often take the longest to dry and can be the most expensive. Example of an AIO diaper include bumGenius.

Pocket Cloth Diapers: Pocket diapers consist of three layers: 1. an outer, waterproof shell. 2. an attached inner layer (often made of fleece.) 3. a pocket opening where you stuff the absorbent layer (known as the insert.) Pockets are a great diaper because you can adjust the absorbency as needed. For instance I use one insert during the day since I am changing frequently but stuff them with two inserts for night time since he is (hopefully) sleeping longer. Once they are stuffed they are similar to an AIO in that the entire diaper must be changed at each changing. These dry much faster since you are able to dry the shell and the insert separately. Examples of a pocket diaper include: bumGenius 4.0 and Kawaii.

One Size Cloth Diapers: One size cloth diapers typically fit a baby from birth to potty training (8-35 lbs.) They have either a snap down rise on the front of the diaper or elastic on the inside of the diaper that is fully adjustable. These diapers are a great way to save money over the course of your cloth diapering journey but often people feel discouraged with diapering when their teeny tiny newborn doesn't fit into them right away. Jackson was about 10 lbs before they started to look like they were not swallowing him anymore. Examples of a one size diaper include: bumGenius and Kawaii.

All-In-Two Cloth Diapers: Often abbreviated as AI2. These diapers have removable inserts, similar to a pocket diaper, however the inserts lie on top of the diaper or snap into the shell. One of the benefits of this type of diaper is that if the shell is not soiled, you can just change the insert. This saves money as you don't have to purchase as many shells. Example of an All-In-Two diaper include: Best Bottoms.

Flats/Prefold Cloth Diapers: These are typically referred to as the "old school" cloth diapers. They are flat pieces of fabric (usually unbleached cotton) that are folded in order to fit the baby or inside the cover. These alone are not waterproof so they must be used with a waterproof cover. There are many different folds you can do, some must be fastened with a diaper fastener (Snappi or Boingo) or you can trifold them and lay them in the cover (this works best at 2am while running on 3 hours of sleep!) Example of a Prefold include: Bummis.

Fitted Cloth Diapers Sometimes referred to as contoured diapers. These are similar to prefolds in that they are not waterproof on their own and they require a cover. However, these have a contoured fit and have elastic in the legs and waist and a snap or velcro closure. Examples of of Fitted Diaper include: Kissaluvs.

Diaper Covers: Commonly referred to as covers. They are used as the outer waterproof layer that fits over the flat, prefold or fitted diaper. They come in several different options such as wool, fleece and PUL. Example of a diaper cover includes: Bummis super lite.

Okay, I won't overload you with any more information at this time. These are the basics of the types of cloth diapers. Let it process and then we will discuss accessories!

xoxo,
kelly