I have been cloth diapering (cding) now for just over a year and would never go back. Along the way I have learned the benefits associated with all the different types and brands that are available. It is certainly overwhelming at first and that is why I wanted to write this post. People often ask what kind to get? With so many different options available I am a strong advocate of not having just one kind. I find that we use all our different types for different needs and times.
Having two in cloth at the same time has for sure saved us money. It is at first a daunting thought to have to spend so much money upfront. That would be my first words of advice. Don't think you have to shell out all at once for your whole stash. Start off small with only a couple at a time and work your way up to full time cding. That alone kept me from cloth diapering my first two. We seriously considered it however the salesperson scared me away with the $800 price tag.
Another way to save some money is to not hesitate to buy used. Most parents who choose to CD take great pride in their diapers and look after them very well. You may at first think that this is just totally disgusting but really what are the chances that you have hand me downs that another baby has pooped on? Probably quite high.
Let us move on to the different types of cloth diapers available.
Prefolds - Great for newborn as there are no sizes to have to worry about. This is a diaper that you fold the way you want. There are different options available. In the "old days" prefolds required pins however nowadays there are things called snappies that are wonderful or if you prefer you can just cover with a great wrap cover. Prefolds do require covers.
Fitteds - These are diapers that are more like a disposable in their fit and usually fasten with snaps or velcro. They still require a cover and a good fitted with a great cover could solve all your diapering needs.
Pockets - These are a favorite among many cders. The reasons are simple. They fit like a disposable and are usually not overly bulky. They dry super quick and you decide the absorbency by "stuffing" them with different types of absortbent fabrics. Microfibre is popular and so are prefolds. These diapers do not require covers.
All in Ones (aio) - The easiest choice of cloth diapering is an aio. It is just as it sounds and so it has the absorbency it needs as well as a cover built into it. These tend to take longer to dry however a lot of Dads really like these as they are the one step cloth diaper that is easy to put on and off.
Now of course there is the world of covers. As we have already learned covers are only needed for prefolds and fitteds. The variety of covers available is about as vast as the diapering choices themselves.
I have a little of everything for covers and again find them all useful for different times and needs.
The most popular diaper covers are a fabric called PUL (polyurethane laminated fabric) it provides a waterproof barrier that contains all wetness and messes a dipaer can create. These covers come in snaps and velcro. Some have gussets and others don't. Again the possibilities are endless.
Fleece covers are a great option and come in all sorts of adorable prints and patterns. Fleece is great for nighttime diapering and provides coverage that may seem damp but will wick moisture away from your baby's bottom.
Finally there is wool. Wool is wonderful and natural. It is completely breathable but does require a bit more care. This is another fibre that may not be completely waterproof but it does hold a lot of moisture.
Washing and Care
So now that we have a basic idea of what is available how do you wash and look after all of them?
I have had a no fail system with a cold rinse, hot wash and cold rinse method. I use minimal laundry soap and prefer to hang my diapers in the sun although of course in the winter have no choice but to use the dryer.
Wool covers I handwash and lanolize monthly and lay flat to dry.
Snaps vs Velcro debate
When I first started cding I had no idea why you would choose one over the other and then I firmly chose snaps with a toddler that could undo velcro and run around diaperless all the time. HOWEVER, now that I'm dealing with the squirmy baby stage of how quick can you get the diaper on before I'm off and running I'm really enjoying the velcro.
So with that being said I go back again to the idea that there are all sorts of benefits to all the different varieties available.
I hope that this post has answered some questions that some people have about cding and if you have any other questions that I may have not covered please leave a comment. Tips are also welcome because I'm certainly no pro and always love hearing back from readers.
