So which cloth diaper is best for you? That is for you and your family to decide! Here is a comparison of all the types I've written about.
Flats and Prefolds:
Pros:
Very inexpensive
Chances are you can find the cheap ones in a store near you
Can easily be turned into burp cloths, everyday towels, dusting rags, etc...
Cons:
Need a diaper cover
Compared to disposables, they can be difficult to use
Need a fastener and not very Daddy friendly
Fitteds:
Pros:
Still cheaper than AIOs and Pockets
Excellent absorbency
They come with fasteners (snap or hook and loop)
Cons:
Need a diaper cover
Can be very bulky
All In Ones:
Pros:
Still cheaper than disposables
No need for a diaper cover
Very easy to use-Daddy and daycare friendly!
Cons:
Take forever to dry
More expensive than prefolds and fitteds
Pockets:
Pros:
Still cheaper than disposables
No need for a diaper cover
Less drying time than AIOs
Very easy to use-Daddy and daycare friendly!
Cons:
More expensive
Extra step of stuffing an insert
You have to pull out insert when wet or dirty
If you are trying to figure out what is best for you, I suggest trying at least one of each. I suggest prefolds and/or fitted for newborns, but some AIOs and pockets may fit. If you aren't sure about spending the money on them until you like them, a lot of brands have a try it first policy, where you can try them and return them if you don't like them (cleaned, of course!). Or, you can buy used or even ask around to borrow someone else's. www.diaperswappers.com is a huge for-sale-or-trade site that you can find good deals, as well as support forums for just about everything.
Showing posts with label types of diapers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label types of diapers. Show all posts
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Comparing Types of Cloth Diapers
Pocket Diapers
Pocket Diapers are yet another type of diaper that does not need a diaper cover. Pocket diapers make up most of my stash, although there are pros and cons to these as well. Pocket diapers look like an All in One in that they are contoured like them and have a waterproof outer layer.
The inner layer is not sewn into the diaper, however. Instead, it is an insert that you stuff into a pocket in the diaper.
Pocket diapers come in all sizes as well, including one-size-fits-all. These pictures here are of a Green Acre Designs brand of pocket diaper. They have TONS of sizes to choose from. It can get confusing! Most of my daughter's diapers are one-size (also known as OS), and they can adjust with your baby as he/she grows. Some adjust more than others, dependent on the brand. BumGenius does an excellent job of this. Pocket dipes, like AIOs, also have either a snap closure or hook and loop.
The great thing about pocket diapers are that they allow you to choose your absorbency level, and they can sometimes be more leak proof than some of the AIOs. They dry much quicker than AIOs because you pull the insert out of the pocket when you throw it in the pail. Some pocket diapers, like the brand, Pocket Change, have openings on the front and back so that the insert comes out on its own during agitation in the wash. Nice. Pockets are also easy to use. My husband and the daycare use them with no complaints. However, the daycare does not remove the inserts. I do that when I get home.
The problem some find with pocket diapers are that you do have to pull out the insert. Yes, you have to touch it when it's dirty!! Most of the time, I don't touch wetness or poop because I don't let it get so soaked that it gets wet in the back (where you pull it out from), and with poop, there will almost always be a clean spot you can touch (although not all the time!). Also, you do have to stuff the clean diapers, which is an extra step. My daughter loves to help me with this. However, there are so many different inserts that go with specific diapers, I don't trust anyone else to stuff them. So that's probably a down side if you have multiple brands, although I don't mind stuffing.
Pros and cons of pocket diapers:
Pros: No diaper cover needed, great absorbency, versatile, easy to use, less drying time than AIO.
Cons: Extra step of stuffing diapers,and pulling insert out of the diaper before washing.
The inner layer is not sewn into the diaper, however. Instead, it is an insert that you stuff into a pocket in the diaper.
Pocket diapers come in all sizes as well, including one-size-fits-all. These pictures here are of a Green Acre Designs brand of pocket diaper. They have TONS of sizes to choose from. It can get confusing! Most of my daughter's diapers are one-size (also known as OS), and they can adjust with your baby as he/she grows. Some adjust more than others, dependent on the brand. BumGenius does an excellent job of this. Pocket dipes, like AIOs, also have either a snap closure or hook and loop.
The great thing about pocket diapers are that they allow you to choose your absorbency level, and they can sometimes be more leak proof than some of the AIOs. They dry much quicker than AIOs because you pull the insert out of the pocket when you throw it in the pail. Some pocket diapers, like the brand, Pocket Change, have openings on the front and back so that the insert comes out on its own during agitation in the wash. Nice. Pockets are also easy to use. My husband and the daycare use them with no complaints. However, the daycare does not remove the inserts. I do that when I get home.
The problem some find with pocket diapers are that you do have to pull out the insert. Yes, you have to touch it when it's dirty!! Most of the time, I don't touch wetness or poop because I don't let it get so soaked that it gets wet in the back (where you pull it out from), and with poop, there will almost always be a clean spot you can touch (although not all the time!). Also, you do have to stuff the clean diapers, which is an extra step. My daughter loves to help me with this. However, there are so many different inserts that go with specific diapers, I don't trust anyone else to stuff them. So that's probably a down side if you have multiple brands, although I don't mind stuffing.
Pros and cons of pocket diapers:
Pros: No diaper cover needed, great absorbency, versatile, easy to use, less drying time than AIO.
Cons: Extra step of stuffing diapers,and pulling insert out of the diaper before washing.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
All In One Diapers
Yet another kind of diaper is the All In One diaper, otherwise known as the AIO. Here is a Dry Bees brand.
AIOs are similar to fitteds with two major differences. AIOs have layers sewn into the diaper. Here is what it looks like turned inside out.
The biggest difference is that AIOs do not need a diaper cover, as they have a waterproof outer layer sewn onto the diaper.
So basically, some genius figured out how to combine a prefold and a diaper cover. Sweet!
AIOs are probably the easiest cloth diaper to use. You use them the same way you use disposables. Slap it on the baby, take it off the baby, throw it in the pail. The difference: wash and dry instead of throw away! Dads and daycares are big fans of AIOs. AIOs are similar to fitteds in that they come in different sizes: small, medium, large, etc...However, some brands also make AIOs in one-size fits all. AIOs also have either snaps or hook and loop as fasteners. By the way, I had no idea what hook and loop meant when I first started this. it's Velcro, only Velcro is a brand of hook and loop. Kind of like when we ask for a Kleenex, but what we really want is a tissue! Is that a Midwest thing? Not sure.
So, why doesn't everyone use AIOs as cloth diapers since they are so much like disposables? There are a few drawbacks. First, AIOs are sometimes not as absorbent as fitteds. Although some parents may disagree with me. I think my child is a heavy wetter. I have never used an AIO for overnight, but I'm sure some parents do. Second, some experts say that the waterproof layer can wear out quickly after multiple washes. I have never had this happen to an AIO, although I did just experience this with a diaper cover. It happened overnight too. Fun times...
The biggest complaint about AIOs is that they take forever to dry. And when I say forever, I mean a crazy long time. On humid days, I have had an AIO take 2-3 days to dry! That's air dry. It takes me 2 drying cycles to dry it in the dryer. Turning them inside out helps. They are also more expensive than fitteds and prefolds.
So that's the down low on All In Ones...
Pros: Super easy to use: Daddy friendly, daycare friendly.
Cons: Slightly more expensive than fitteds, and a very long drying time.
AIOs are similar to fitteds with two major differences. AIOs have layers sewn into the diaper. Here is what it looks like turned inside out.
The biggest difference is that AIOs do not need a diaper cover, as they have a waterproof outer layer sewn onto the diaper.
So basically, some genius figured out how to combine a prefold and a diaper cover. Sweet!
AIOs are probably the easiest cloth diaper to use. You use them the same way you use disposables. Slap it on the baby, take it off the baby, throw it in the pail. The difference: wash and dry instead of throw away! Dads and daycares are big fans of AIOs. AIOs are similar to fitteds in that they come in different sizes: small, medium, large, etc...However, some brands also make AIOs in one-size fits all. AIOs also have either snaps or hook and loop as fasteners. By the way, I had no idea what hook and loop meant when I first started this. it's Velcro, only Velcro is a brand of hook and loop. Kind of like when we ask for a Kleenex, but what we really want is a tissue! Is that a Midwest thing? Not sure.
So, why doesn't everyone use AIOs as cloth diapers since they are so much like disposables? There are a few drawbacks. First, AIOs are sometimes not as absorbent as fitteds. Although some parents may disagree with me. I think my child is a heavy wetter. I have never used an AIO for overnight, but I'm sure some parents do. Second, some experts say that the waterproof layer can wear out quickly after multiple washes. I have never had this happen to an AIO, although I did just experience this with a diaper cover. It happened overnight too. Fun times...
The biggest complaint about AIOs is that they take forever to dry. And when I say forever, I mean a crazy long time. On humid days, I have had an AIO take 2-3 days to dry! That's air dry. It takes me 2 drying cycles to dry it in the dryer. Turning them inside out helps. They are also more expensive than fitteds and prefolds.
So that's the down low on All In Ones...
Pros: Super easy to use: Daddy friendly, daycare friendly.
Cons: Slightly more expensive than fitteds, and a very long drying time.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Fitted Diapers
What are fitted diapers, and how do they differ from prefolds? Fitted diapers are diapers that are contoured and have elastic around the legs and/or waist to better fit your baby. Fitted diapers are similar to prefolds in that they need a diaper cover. They can be many different fabrics, but they don't need safety pins or Snappies. Or Snuggies, for that matter. Speaking of, do you want a homemade Snuggie? It's easy! Step 1: take out robe. Step 2: put it on backwards. My friend told me that, and I had to share because it makes me giggle.
Fitted diapers are more convenient for those 'rents who are looking for a diaper that has its own fastener, but still is very simple to use and effective. Fitted diapers usually come in different sizes. Small, medium, large, x-small, etc..., and every brand has different size specifications. Kind of like American woman's clothing. Because we are too cool to have our sizes equal our measurements like guys' clothing. Some fitted diapers even have cute belly button cutouts for their newborn sizes. Here are a couple of pictures of my beautiful model showing off her fitted dipe. This particular brand is Baby Beehind. Wonderful absorbency, but I have to say, the hemp can get a bit stinky. This one is actually supposedly a one-size fits all diaper. I cannot imagine it fitting on a newborn, but it does have a row of snaps that you can fold down in the front to make it smaller.
Here is a picture of another brand: Kissaluvs. They make great newborn dipes, and they are so soft and fluffy. Alaina can't fit into this one anymore, so I'll just show it to you to get an idea of what the shape looks like.
As for leak protection, I have never had a leak in a fitted diaper that was not due to operator error. Funny story, one night I had to work late, and my husband put Alaina to bed. We usually use fitted diapers for nighttime because the ones we have are too bulky for my taste for daytime use. Anyway, Daddy was so proud that he used a fitted diaper on Alaina that night all by himself (he's a pocket diaper or AIO man only. Articles to come...). Good Daddy. Oops. He forgot the diaper cover. Bad Daddy. Needless to say, by about 3 hours after she was in bed, the mattress pad was already wet. You need to also be careful to check to see you have covered the entire diaper with the diaper cover as well. One peak of the fitted or prefold will leak onto clothes. However, when used properly, fitteds are super absorbent.
Pros of Fitteds: They are much easier to use than prefolds. They don't require fasteners. They are fairly inexpensive. They are very absorbent.
Cons of Fitteds: They can be a bit bulky. Jeans are nearly impossible to wear (on the baby, not you). They are more expensive than prefolds, running about $4-$11 each. You still need that extra step of putting on a diaper cover (which may bother some men).
Fitted diapers are more convenient for those 'rents who are looking for a diaper that has its own fastener, but still is very simple to use and effective. Fitted diapers usually come in different sizes. Small, medium, large, x-small, etc..., and every brand has different size specifications. Kind of like American woman's clothing. Because we are too cool to have our sizes equal our measurements like guys' clothing. Some fitted diapers even have cute belly button cutouts for their newborn sizes. Here are a couple of pictures of my beautiful model showing off her fitted dipe. This particular brand is Baby Beehind. Wonderful absorbency, but I have to say, the hemp can get a bit stinky. This one is actually supposedly a one-size fits all diaper. I cannot imagine it fitting on a newborn, but it does have a row of snaps that you can fold down in the front to make it smaller.
Here is a picture of another brand: Kissaluvs. They make great newborn dipes, and they are so soft and fluffy. Alaina can't fit into this one anymore, so I'll just show it to you to get an idea of what the shape looks like.
As for leak protection, I have never had a leak in a fitted diaper that was not due to operator error. Funny story, one night I had to work late, and my husband put Alaina to bed. We usually use fitted diapers for nighttime because the ones we have are too bulky for my taste for daytime use. Anyway, Daddy was so proud that he used a fitted diaper on Alaina that night all by himself (he's a pocket diaper or AIO man only. Articles to come...). Good Daddy. Oops. He forgot the diaper cover. Bad Daddy. Needless to say, by about 3 hours after she was in bed, the mattress pad was already wet. You need to also be careful to check to see you have covered the entire diaper with the diaper cover as well. One peak of the fitted or prefold will leak onto clothes. However, when used properly, fitteds are super absorbent.
Pros of Fitteds: They are much easier to use than prefolds. They don't require fasteners. They are fairly inexpensive. They are very absorbent.
Cons of Fitteds: They can be a bit bulky. Jeans are nearly impossible to wear (on the baby, not you). They are more expensive than prefolds, running about $4-$11 each. You still need that extra step of putting on a diaper cover (which may bother some men).
Friday, January 8, 2010
Understanding Flats and Prefolds
The cheapest cloth diapers around are probably flats and prefolds. Prefolds are diapers that have 3 rectangle panels, with the panel in the middle having more layers of cloth than the two on the outside. Flats have the same number of layers throughout. I honestly do not know anyone who uses flats by themselves. I do know a couple of people who swear by prefolds. Prefolds can run anywhere from less than $10 for a 12 pack to over $40 for a 12 pack. Cathy Cagle has an excellent article on prefolds at the Diaperpin website. I am trying to get the link on here for you, but I am having some trouble! If you don't find the link to click on, you can copy and paste this: www.diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/article_prefolds101.asp.
Basically, prefolds are what most people think of when they think of cloth diapers. These are the diapers that you fold and pin onto the baby. Here is a picture of Alaina (my daughter) in a prefold. I don't have any good ones, so this is your basic Gerber Birdseye that I received from family and used as burp cloths.
There is a new product out on the market that takes the place of pins. They are called Snappi Cloth Diaper Fasteners.
They look crazy, but I have heard only good things about them!
With prefolds, you have to have a diaper cover. Diaper covers can cost anywhere from about $2-$15 a piece, so they are a bit pricier than the diaper itself. Here are 2 pictures of Alaina in her prefold, this time with the diaper cover.
I personally love the Thirsties brand of diaper covers, but I haven't tried too many out, so I am not a good judge of what is best for your money: http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/covers.htm. As for prefolds, I don't use them unless I need them as an extra insert to help with absorbency. The main reason I don't use them is because, if I did, my husband probably wouldn't change a single diaper. Love ya babe!
Prefolds and flats can also be used as inserts or doublers. Inserts are cloth that provide extra absorbency in the middle of another diaper. For example, as I got bigger as a baby, my mother used to lay a folded prefold into another prefold for extra leak protection. A doubler is basically just a double insert, used especially for night time protection.
Best of all, prefolds are the best rags ever after baby is potty trained! I actually use some that I received and never really used as cloth paper towels for spills and the like. It saves me from throwing away a paper towel, and they are way more absorbent.
That is the quick low down on a very affordable, versatile, no-thrills diaper. Post me any questions you may have! Up next...the low down on fitted diapers!
Basically, prefolds are what most people think of when they think of cloth diapers. These are the diapers that you fold and pin onto the baby. Here is a picture of Alaina (my daughter) in a prefold. I don't have any good ones, so this is your basic Gerber Birdseye that I received from family and used as burp cloths.
There is a new product out on the market that takes the place of pins. They are called Snappi Cloth Diaper Fasteners.
They look crazy, but I have heard only good things about them!
With prefolds, you have to have a diaper cover. Diaper covers can cost anywhere from about $2-$15 a piece, so they are a bit pricier than the diaper itself. Here are 2 pictures of Alaina in her prefold, this time with the diaper cover.
I personally love the Thirsties brand of diaper covers, but I haven't tried too many out, so I am not a good judge of what is best for your money: http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/covers.htm. As for prefolds, I don't use them unless I need them as an extra insert to help with absorbency. The main reason I don't use them is because, if I did, my husband probably wouldn't change a single diaper. Love ya babe!
Prefolds and flats can also be used as inserts or doublers. Inserts are cloth that provide extra absorbency in the middle of another diaper. For example, as I got bigger as a baby, my mother used to lay a folded prefold into another prefold for extra leak protection. A doubler is basically just a double insert, used especially for night time protection.
Best of all, prefolds are the best rags ever after baby is potty trained! I actually use some that I received and never really used as cloth paper towels for spills and the like. It saves me from throwing away a paper towel, and they are way more absorbent.
That is the quick low down on a very affordable, versatile, no-thrills diaper. Post me any questions you may have! Up next...the low down on fitted diapers!
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