Types of diapers......

Hello there! Happy Monday!

I have some new reviews in the works for this week, but in the mean time, I thought I'd do a little write up about the different types of cloth diapers available from the modern, to the old fashioned. I thought this might be helpful for the newbies, as well as anyone who's overlooked something that they might find interesting!

I'll dive right in starting from the most basic, to the more complicated.

• Flatfolds.
A flat sheet of one layer of cotton. You fold them up to put absorbency where needed, cover in a wrap and go. This is probably the most basic diaper you can get, and the cheapest, however, it will require some patience while trying to learn to fold. Here's a tutorial. They are easy to clean and store and portable. they hold many uses around the house long after baby has potty learned. Did I mention they are cheap? At 1.50 each, you can easily diaper your child (possible two or three of them) for as little as 36 bucks. FROM BIRTH TO POTTY TRAINING!! HELLO?! CHEAP!! (that didn't include the cost of water proof covers, but they aren't that much either). (There are hemp options that are more costly, but still cheaper than disposables).
What you need for this option:
1.) The flatfold
2.) Something to pin in with (diaper pins or snappis)
3.) Waterproof outer cover.

• Prefolds.
A step up from a flat fold, but basically the same. These are cloth sheets that have more layers of cotton in the middle, where you need the most absorbency. They require less folding than a Flatfold. Here's a tutorial on that. These are also somewhat sized. You will need a set for newborn, medium, and large. Still not gonna break the bank with this option though. They range from 1.75 - 2.75 a piece, and again, they have many uses after baby is out of them. (there are also more expensive hemp or bamboo options in these).

What you need for this option:
1.) The Prefold
2.) Something to pin in with (diaper pins or snappis)
3.) Waterproof outer cover.

• Contour Diapers.
This is basically a prefold that has the legs trimmed away to make them less bulky. These come in a variety of options and range widely in price. Some come with added soakers, or soakers you can add or remove depending on your needs. These are easier than messing with folding, especially for dads. If you don't want to blow your whole budget on these, it would be nice to enhance your diaper stash with a few of these, rather than build your whole stash out of this option. They come in sized, or one size, and some have closures already attached to them, like velcro or snaps, and some require some type of fastener.
What you need for this option:
1.) The contour diaper
2.) Something to pin in with if needed (diaper pins or snappis)
3.) Waterproof outer cover.

• Fitted Diapers.
This is like a contour, but with elastic around the legs and usually the back. This is an advantage because the elastic makes for a close fit which helps with leakage. Everything else is about the same as a contour. Here's an example of a really pricey, but cute one!
What you need for this option:
1.) The fitted diaper
2.) Something to pin in with if needed (diaper pins or snappis)
3.) Waterproof outer cover.

• The All in Two (AI2)
This is where things get a bit fancy. An AI2 diaper is just that. Everything you need in two pieces. The inner absorbent material, and the outer waterproof cover. On some way or another, the two get combined to make one simple, easy to keep track of diaper. This is a real advantage for some households where maybe there is a stay at home dad, or another caregiver who doesn't want to mess with folds and covers and snappis. Bum Essentials is an excellent example of an AI2 diaper system. The inner pads are made of absorbent material, and those snap into the outer waterproof shell. They make for a trim diaper, and it's easy to maintain. Just snap out the inserts, fasten the laundry tabs and wash away! Another advantage is no folding required. You can also get these all ready to go after washing by simply snapping the absorbent pads in place, and storing in your diaper area until ready to use. Pricier than other options, but still lower in cost than full time disposables.
What you need for this option:
1.) The inner pads.
2.) The outer shell.

• The Hybrid.
This is not to be confused with the AI2, but it's similar in nature. It's a two piece diapering system, just like the AI2, but instead of only being able to use a cloth insert, you can use a disposable insert. GroVia would be the best example of this option. Same basic idea as an AI2 in that it has two pieces, but for those looking for the convenience of disposables, with the comfort of cloth, this is your best bet. You can chose to use the cloth insert, or the disposable, or both AND still save money and be "greener" than using disposables.
What you need for this option:
1.) The inner pads (either cloth or disposable)
2.) The outer shell.

• The Pocket Diaper
This diaper is not to be confused with the AI2, even though it is two pieces. Instead of having a snap in absorbent pad, it has a pocket for an insert. There is an inner layer of fabric that protects the babies skin from wetness, and a pocket for stuffing. Inserts come in a wide variety of materials, from natural to blended to synthetics. Along with that comes a wide variety of prices as well. In most cases, you will need to separate the insert from the diaper for washing, but care is relatively easy. Here's some examples.
What you need for this option:
1.) The diaper shell
2.) The insert(s).


• The All In One (AIO).
This diaper is a beauty for those worried about ease of use. Nothing to snap in, nothing to take out, nothing to stuff, nothing to separate, nothing to worry about! The soaker is sewn into the waterproof shell, has a stay dry liner to protect babies skin from wetness, and can be thrown directly in the wash with little fuss. Watch out though, these do take a bit longer to dry. But it's not really worth worrying about. Some AIO's even have the soaker open on one end to allow it to move freely in the dryer, while still staying attached to the diaper. That helps to cut down on drying time. Here's some different AIO types. Most have an open pocket, just like a pocket diaper, so you can increase absorbency as needed.
What you need for this option:
1.) Just the diaper its self.


So there you have it. What type of diaper system you choose is entirely up to you and your budget. Every family likes different systems for different budgets. I hope this helped you to sort out all the wonderful choices we have for diapers now!

Tweet