Thursday, September 11, 2008

Cloth Intro 1: Diaper Overview

I hope that the following information will be helpful for people looking into using cloth diapers. There are several different types of cloth diapers. Here is an overview of each kind and my opinion of the pros and cons. I've also given approximate costs. The cost depends a lot on the fabric and where you buy them; I just wanted to give rough ideas.

PREFOLD DIAPERS
Prefold diapers and rubber pants were the standard when I was a baby. Today prefold diapers are still a popular option, but waterproof covers that are more breathable than rubber pants have made them a little nicer. A prefold diaper is essentially a rectangle of absorbant material that you fold or wrap around the baby and cover with a waterproof cover. When shopping for prefold diapers you'll notice they are labled with numbers like this: 4x8x4. Those numbers refer to the number of layers in the diaper - four layers of fabric on each side and eight in the middle. Many people get by with two sizes from birth to potty-learning - infant and premium, but there are other sizes if you want a more customized fit. You can fasten the diaper on with pins or with a snappi (see picture below), or you can just lay the folded diaper in the cover and let the cover hold the diaper on. The last option works better with older babies who have solid poop.



Pros:
Least expensive.
Easy to wash and care for.
Moderate dry-time after washing.
Natural fibers (breathable).
Can be used as burp cloths or rags later on.

Cons:
Can be tricky to learn how to put them on at first, so not good for babysitters.
Can be a little bit more bulky than other diapers depending on what end of the size-range baby is on.

Approximate Cost:
Cotton - $1-$3 each
Organic Cotton - $6-$10 each
Hemp - $6-$10 each
Bamboo - $8-$12 each

FITTED DIAPERS
Fitted diapers are contoured to fit baby more like a disposable diaper, and they have snaps or velcro closures to hold them on. They have lots of layers sewn in the middle to make them absorbant. They require a waterproof diaper cover. These are my personal favorites and my husband's too.

Pros:
Very easy to use, so good for babysitters.
Natural fibers (breathable).
Fairly trim.

Cons:
Long dry-time after washing.
More expensive than prefolds.

Approximate Cost:
$10-$20
My favorite fitted diaper is about $15.

POCKET DIAPERS
Pocket diapers do not require a seperate waterproof cover. They are waterproof on the outside and usually fleece or another synthetic fiber on the inside. Then you have to stuff the pocket inbetween with an absorbant insert. They are held on by velcro or snaps. Many pocket diapers come with a microfiber insert. Microfiber is very absorbant but not very bulky. Some people use a prefold diaper as an insert. The fleece lining on the inside wicks moisture away from the baby's skin into the absorbant inside.


Pros:
Keeps baby's skin dry.
Easy to use once they are stuffed, so good for babysitters.
Fairly trim.
Fast-drying (if you have microfiber inserts)

Cons:
Most of them are synthetic fibers which are less breathable than natrual fibers and more prone to buildup of detergents which compromises their effictiveness.
Don't last as long as diapers with a seperate cover.
Some people don't like stuffing them with the insert.
Expensive.

Approximate Cost:
$17-$30

ALL-IN-ONE DIAPERS
AIO diapers look similar to a pocket diaper, but the absorbant layer is sewn in so there is no stuffing involved. It's a one-step cloth diaper fastened on with velcro or snaps.

Pros:
Very easy for anyone to use.

Cons:
Long dry-time
Don't last as long as diapers with a seperate cover.
If they are synthetic material same problem as with pockets.
Expensive.

Approximate Cost:
$17-$30



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