Why Choose Cloth Diapers
It can all seem overwhelming and to just throw diapers away would be so much easier, but check out the benefits of cloth diapers:
- Affordable – Comparing the price of cloth to disposables, it’s easy to see the savings! Your investment in cloth diapers also gives you the option to diaper another child or even resell them when you’re finished!
- Sturdy – Use same cloth diapers for all of your babies. They last a long time!
- Environmentally friendly – Disposable diapers contain chemicals like sodium polyacrylate that increase absorbency and dioxin that bleach cotton. Cloth diapers are [typically] made from chemical-free, bio-degradable materials.
5 Common Types of Cloth Diapering Systems
The five types of cloth diapers that I started looking at were all great- due to the many brands, sometimes sizing can be different- so building a stash can be a little disjointed at first. I started with Grovia and Bum Genius and never looked back. For versatility and everyday flexibility, combining two or even three types of cloth can make life easier.
1. Flats – A single layer of material- super easy to clean! These are great to layer to obtain the level of absorbency that you need inside a cover.
2. Prefolds – A prefold includes a center strip of extra absorbency. Prefolds can be 4-8-4 or 2-6-2, which means the outer fold has 4 or 2 layers and the center layer has 8 or 6 layers. Prefolds go into a cover or pocket, and are great for adding extra absorbency for overnights.
3. Fitted – Fitted diapers are not waterproof and do require the use of a diaper cover- which is actually a benefit! You decide: wool, fleece, or PUL covers- and going coverless can be great when you’re trying to clear up diaper rashes.
4. Pockets – This 2-layer diaper features a waterproof outer layer and a soft inner layer. Place an absorbent prefold or flat in the pocket at the top of the diaper and layer to your desired absorbency. I do love these diapers, but before I buy them I remind myself: I have to stuff these every time I use them.
5. All-In-One – AIOs are my favorite- specifically the Grovia O.N.E. This cloth diaper system is literally everything you need in one- from the cover to the inside, though you can add to it for more absorbency, or, like the O.N.E., you can take out one of the layers. Best part for me: they’re available in dozens of designs and styles. As far as closures, I prefer the velcro (aka hook and loop) for newborns, as they’re easy to get on and off, and the snaps for older babies- it feels more secure to me.
Have you ever tried cloth?
I cloth diapered in the early eighties when it wasn’t so cool to cloth. Everyone else was into the newest disposable out there. I couldn’t afford that every single week 52 weeks a year. If we had extra I wanted to use it to go and do something fun with my kiddos. There were only flats and pull on elastic waste rubber pants then. They worked, although the new ones are so much better and cuter!
My mom used cloth diapers! I was always amazed by women that used them!
The cloth diapers these days are so much easier to use. I think it’s nice that you’re sharing the different kinds to help parents make a better decision.
I had no idea that there were so many different types. I never really did the cloth diaper thing before.
My kids are now 11 and 13 and I wish that I could have used cloth diapers when they were babies. It sound a lot cheaper.
Cloth diapers are very gentle on baby’s sensitive skin. I used them on my children during the first few months, but when they started getting active, I had to switch to disposables.