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.
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.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
About Crazy For Cloth
Originally from a small farm town in Indiana, I am currently working part-time as a certified guidance counselor in the greater Cincinnati area. I am a Christian, the wife of my best friend and the mother of an amazing daughter that keeps us all on our toes!
Crazy for Cloth is basically me and my opinions on cloth diapers, "green" products, and living for Christ. I grew up in a loving household where, if you could use something over again, you did. We lived in a rural area about an hour away from any major city, so our way of living was not much of a choice. After getting my Master's degree in Counseling Psychology and marrying my college sweetheart, I have been a counselor for 7 years. However, my passion came to me just a little over a year ago in the form of a tiny, beautiful baby daughter.
Now that I am a mom, I have gotten a bit crazy (according to some) about doing my part to save the environment. Cloth diapering is probably the most radical change I have made in our household, although my husband "pulled the plug" on my idea to unplug the T.V. when not in use. :-)
Those who have seen my system have been impressed most of the time. I will always have the naysayers, but those who have been awed or inspired by my cloth diapering have suggested that I teach others about it and start up an informative website. This is what gave me the idea for crazyforcloth. I hope that through this blog, I might be able to answer any questions about cloth diapers or other products as well as be an inspiration to others by sharing the joy I have in simple living.
~Christie
Crazy for Cloth is basically me and my opinions on cloth diapers, "green" products, and living for Christ. I grew up in a loving household where, if you could use something over again, you did. We lived in a rural area about an hour away from any major city, so our way of living was not much of a choice. After getting my Master's degree in Counseling Psychology and marrying my college sweetheart, I have been a counselor for 7 years. However, my passion came to me just a little over a year ago in the form of a tiny, beautiful baby daughter.
Now that I am a mom, I have gotten a bit crazy (according to some) about doing my part to save the environment. Cloth diapering is probably the most radical change I have made in our household, although my husband "pulled the plug" on my idea to unplug the T.V. when not in use. :-)
Those who have seen my system have been impressed most of the time. I will always have the naysayers, but those who have been awed or inspired by my cloth diapering have suggested that I teach others about it and start up an informative website. This is what gave me the idea for crazyforcloth. I hope that through this blog, I might be able to answer any questions about cloth diapers or other products as well as be an inspiration to others by sharing the joy I have in simple living.
~Christie
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.
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