Cloth diapering 101
As I mentioned in my First cloth diapering post, I would explain all the different TYPES of cloth diapers! Yep that's right there are different kinds! In the first post I mentioned how one of the comments I got was "but cloth diapers are so old school." Well, yes, they can be, BUT have you ever heard the saying "if it aint broke don't fix it?" However there have been HUGE advances in the cloth diapering world. I'm going to take this post to tell the different kinds, the overall cost, (just the total cost this time, not the how I got the numbers, for that process go back to my first diaper post) how far their footprint from disposables are, ease of use etc.
Flats
First up is what I like to refer to as the "old school way." "Flats have been used FORVER this is what people refer to when they say "old school" Back in the day they would use scraps of fabric or sheets and flour sacks. This is still a VERY popular way to cloth diaper and it's the CHEAPEST option. One of my closest friends actually diapers her baby with these and helped me get the pricing for this section! Parents these days can go online and buy special made flats with cute patterns for around $2-$3 a piece. However, there is a more economical way to go with this. You can get a pack of flour sack kitchen towels from Walmart or Target (about $5 for 10) or even use some of the MANY receiving blankets you end up getting from baby showers.
One of the down sides is Flats are just that: a big flat piece of fabric, so it has to be folded to fit the baby's booty. HERE is a link to a bunch of different ways to fold the flats. These folds can be very complicated and have a learning curve to learn them all. They also need to be secured somehow. The old way is safety pins, you can still do that, but a new invention that has come forward is called the snappi. Think back to the little clips you use to secure an ace bandage... well this theory was used to create the snappi. It has three fasten points that clip onto the fabric and hold it in place.
If you need more absorbency (if you have a heavy wetter) you can double up on the flats or add micro fiber kitchen towels. **they are a great source of slow absorbency but it is VERY important the micro fiber not contact the baby's skin** Lastly you will need something to make the diaper waterproof.... Unless you don't mind the wet leaking through to their cloths and whatever they are on. But any who, there are LOTS of diaper covers out there made by different companies and different prices.
Another con to Flats is they are about as far away from disposable as you can get. They are NOT easy peasy changes like disposables, you have to fold the diaper sheet, put it on the baby, secure it, AND put a cover on it
So total cost for this kind of diapering stash for two years including washing and all the accessories you'll need is: $186.00 (with cloth wipes) to $793.00 (with disposable wipes)
Diaper Covers:
Diaper covers are pretty self explanatory: they cover cloth diapers (haha). Their main purpose is to keep the wet in. They are usually made of waterproofing materials such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyurethane laminate (PUL), nylon, vinyl, fleece, and wool. (the last two are usually used for overnights because they allow air to get to the baby's booty while still preventing leaks!) They are usually anywhere from $10-$20 dollars a piece. (except wool covers, those are usually $35 or more)
The cool thing is they are reusable! After the baby wets it's self, all you have to do is take the dirty cloth part of the diaper away and dispose of it, wipe down the inside of the cover (as long as there is no poo) and put a new cloth on the baby and put on the cover! Oh just make sure all the cloth is stuffed into the cover to prevent leaks! Diaper covers are secured with a velco material or snaps that are already on the cover.
Pros to this is you don't need to buy too many to accommodate your stash; you could get away with having as little as 4 covers to last you through 2 days! They can be reused throughout the day as long as poo doesn't leak into the cover. It also great at preventing leaks and they are waterproof! They also come in a bunch cute patterns or solids if that's what you prefer. These are also super easy to wash and dry because they are basically like washing... well dish cloths or small blankets!
The Cons to the covers are only one step in a few steps of diapering and doesn't assist in making cloth diapering closer to a disposable. These can only be washed in the washer but should not be dried in the dryer, they should be set out or line dried.
Prefolds
Prefolds are a lot like flat because they are a square of fabric that involves some folding to fit the baby's bum. This is another super popular and inexpensive way to diaper a baby. These are the most popular for diapering newborns because of the better fit. I actually was diapered on these and at least two of my friends have successfully diapered their 1st (and moving onto the second) baby with these! The main difference is these already have the thickness needed for average absorbency. The diaper is divided into three different parts, with the thickest part in the middle. They are usually made out of natural fibers such as cotton. Back in the day (when I was a baby and before that) there was only one size of prefold and there would be extra fabric to fold down when the baby was smaller. Today though, many companies such as Green Mountain Diapers makes them in different sizes:
This helps have a better fit as the baby grows. They, like the flats, have to be folded (only a little bit) to fit and secured with a snappi or pin:
OR they can be folded into thirds and placed in a diaper cover like this:
They are also great for adding extra absorbency to add to other diapers as a doubler for overnights. Some non booty use for these are are burp cloths and household cleaning rags! So these can have a nice long life after baby too (if you choose to not save them for a second child). These also like the flats are super easy to wash and dry! You can put them in the dryer or hang them in the sun (doesn't matter). These are the most common newborn cloth diaper because they are not bulky and can secure a really good fit. They are also pretty inexpensive (only a little bit more then the flats).
The cons are much like the flats. Even though they are one step closer to disposables, there is still a few steps you have to follow. These need a pin of some kind to secure them and only are water proofed when covered by a diaper cover.
Total cost for this kind of diapering stash for two years including washing and all the accessories you'll need is: $246.00 (with cloth wipes) to $813.00 (with disposable wipes)
Fitted
Fitted is one step closer from prefolds to disposables. They are made from the same materials as the prefolds, but they are also preshaped to fit the baby with elastic around the edges and snaps to secure to baby:
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| Here is a pics of some Green Mountain Fitted diapers |
Total cost for this kind of diapering stash for two years including washing and all the accessories you'll need is: $1137.00 (with cloth wipes) to $1744.00 (with disposable wipes) ((adds up huh?? see why this one isn't my favorite?))
Terminology
Before I go any further into the next section I think I'm going to have to define some of the terminology and 'knowhow" otherwise I'm just going to end up repeating myself over and over again. Look for the BOLD letters for the terminology!
Newborn/Extra Small sized diaper: manufactures have made teeny tiny diapers to fit the newborns. These usually range from 6-13 pounds for fit it depends on the maker so make sure to look at the size and weight recommendations. These can usually be used for the first three months before moving up in sizes (depending on how quickly your baby grows)
*most newborn diapers have what's called an "Umbilical snap down" where there is an extra snap on the top middle of the diaper to snap down the section around the umbilical chord so it doesn't get rubbed or disturbed until it falls off. Other newborn diapers sometimes have a little notch cut out in the same section instead.
*Inner leg gussets are often a feature on newborn diapers. It is an extra liner/barrier right inside the leg hole as an extra defense against blowouts. They aren't as common in the bigger sized diapers, but do exist in some companies!
*Cross over velro/snaps: are made so the wings that go around the waist can cross over each other and still secure the diaper in order to make fit around the waist snug.
One size Diaper: made to fit from "birth" to potty training. Usually sizes 7 pounds to 35ish pounds. Again check the size and weight recommendations. They are adjustable in hight with rise snaps and side snaps or velcro sides.
Rise Snaps: these are used to adjust the hight of the front of the diaper to a larger or smaller setting.
**Even though it says "one size" these however don't always fit newborns very well. They often times on their smallest setting become VERY bulky to the tiny newborn baby. Because of this there is often times not as good a fit around the legs and waist and they can be prone to leeks. Also the extra bulk give the tale tell bubble butt bulk and often times the newborn clothing won't fit. Most manufacturers that make the one sized diapers actually sell a newborn size diaper the same style as well.
**Wing Droop is also an issue with one size diapers on the smallest setting. The extra fabric stuffed inside the diaper can droop out of the leg holes messing with the fit. Some companies have added Hip snaps to better secure the fit around the legs on smaller settings.
Snaps: in general these are a great STRONG way to secure the diapers and usually last for quite some time. They are also pretty quiet to secure and unsnap, so if a baby is sleeping during a diaper change, it's not too loud as to wake them up from the noise. A con would be, because the snaps are spaced evenly apart, there isn't always as snug a fit.
Velcro/hook and loop tape: Now I know pretty much everyone knows what velcro is. Its great for cloth diapering because it has the effect that the disposable diaper closures do: they are super fast to secure and you can ensure a really good fit around the baby. The main con however is velcro is pretty loud, so it could wake a sleeping baby. And, velcro wears down after some time and may need to be replaced (if you can sew) or you'll have to get new ones.
Soaker/Doubler: These are extra pieces of fabric to add absorbency for collecting pee. These can be a number of things such as an extra prefold, a dish towel, inserts that come with the pocket diapers. Super absorbent inserts that are usually used for night time are bamboo and hemp. Another good material is mice fiber, but this material CAN NOT come into contact with the baby's skin as it is a big skin irritant. If you use micro fiber inserts it is usually place below the fleece lining or prefold/ cotton material.
All In Two/Hybrid
All in two (AI2) and Hybrids are basically the diaper cover and absorbency all in one place.
Here is an AI2:
As you can see the cover is still a TPU or PUL material, and there is an absorbency and liner added usually via a snap. The price and concept is pretty similar to using prefolds and covers except snappis aren't needed. The major pro to this is the cover is reusable (same as prefolds, just wipe the cover down and change the insert. And like prefolds, clueing is easy and fast. A major con though is the liners don't usually have a good wicking ability and the baby will fuss from being we a lot faster. These aren't as popular and are actually harder to find because of the popularity of hybrids and similarity to covers and prefolds.
Here is a good example of a Hybrid diaper:
gDiapers are a VERY popular hybrid used. I actually have one of my friends that is on her second baby with these and swears by them. They are SUPER close to what a disposable diaper is in the sense that the insert is disposable! Basically the cover is a PUL or TPU material with a plastic cradle that holds the insert. Depending not the company, the insert is either flushable or trash disposable like a regular diaper (don't forget to flush the poo!) Plus side to these is it takes up way less room in the diaper bag because you only need a couple shells and a pack of liners. They are also great for traveling, don't have to worry about washing diapers! A major con is the liner cost adds up! Especially depending on the brand the liners can be super expensive. Lots of mom's I've met, buy these diapers and make them into AI2s, buy the shell and add a soaker from cloth (much like covers and prefolds!) The average diaper costs about $15 a piece plus the price of the inserts. (that right! they are sold SEPARATELY!) Personally this option isn't my favorite.... I'd rather go the basic cover and prefold/insert approach. But I can see how for travel this would be a good investment, couple covers and a pack or two of inserts would be nice :)
So basically the difference between the two is the insert. One is reusable and one is disposable:
I did the estimated price off gdiapers pricing and making the gdiaper itself the cover for the AI2 since I couldn't find AI2 cover pricing. For the hybrids I used gdiapers too but honestly, this system gives me a headache and doing the math made me pretty much convinced its the same cost, if not more then disposable diapering. You are buying disposable liners that compare in price to disposable diapers, the only difference is the shell is reusable.
AI2 Total cost for diapering stash for two years including washing and all the accessories you'll need is: $305.00 (with cloth wipes) to $912.00 (with disposable wipes)
Hybrid total cost for diapering stash for two years including washing and all the accessories you'll need is: $2719.00 (with cloth wipes)**Same as disposable price! to $3326.00 (with disposable wipes) **more then disposables give or take!
This is where the "new" way to cloth diaper really comes into play! These are not your grandmas diapers! Pocket diapers comprise of two pieces: waterproof outside (usually a PUL or TPU) with a micro fleece inside that has a pocket AND inserts.
The diapers are usually made as a one sized diaper or a newborn sized diaper. The micro fleece lining wick away moisture into the doubler inside the pocket. Most pocket diapers come with at least one insert but more can be purchased/ made for more absorbency. Prefolds make great inserts for pocket diapers and they are super cheep! The great thing about pocket diapers is you can customize the absorbency. Most of the inserts you buy are made from natural fibers such as cotton, microfiber (only use this as an insert in the pocket! microfiber is bad for baby's skin!) bamboo, and hemp.
The big pro for these are they have everything you need! You may need to add extra absorbency, which can be done with inserts and prefolds, but they are usually pretty absorbent. They are also the closest you will get to a disposable, use and change, simple as that. This is the diaper they recommend for dads who are hesitant or grandparents and babysitters. The cons for these are they can be pretty bulky. They come with LOTS of absorbency built in and the bulk really shows on the smaller rise settings. Also, depending on the maker, the drying times can be a pain (1st pic would talk WAY long to dry then 2nd pic).
The diapers are usually made as a one sized diaper or a newborn sized diaper. The micro fleece lining wick away moisture into the doubler inside the pocket. Most pocket diapers come with at least one insert but more can be purchased/ made for more absorbency. Prefolds make great inserts for pocket diapers and they are super cheep! The great thing about pocket diapers is you can customize the absorbency. Most of the inserts you buy are made from natural fibers such as cotton, microfiber (only use this as an insert in the pocket! microfiber is bad for baby's skin!) bamboo, and hemp.
Bamboo and hemp inserts can cost a lot more money then cotton inserts, but are great because of the absorbency they can give. A lot of cloth diaper moms use these for overnight doublers. Microfiber is also great because you can get microfiber dish cloths from anywhere for super cheep and stuff them in the pocket. They absorb slower then cotton so they are also great for overnights or heavy wetters.
Pocket diapers are only a couple steps from disposables! These are super popular amongst moms new to cloth diapering because there are no complex folds to learn or too many extra steps or parts. At least two of my friends use this method for cloth diapering their babies. The main cons are you do have to grab a new diaper every time, so it does cost more to have this stash. Also, because you have to stuff each diaper it is more time consuming to prep the diapers. And, if you buy newborn sized pocket diapers, its super tough to stuff them! On the plus side drying times are pretty fast because you can take the extra absorbency out in the wash and they dry separately, Also as I mentioned its great because you can customize the absorbency pretty easily.
The price on these can be tricky because depending on who you buy from they can be anywhere from $10-$30 a diaper, plus the cost of extra inserts. (I made my calculations of knowing that I follow deal sites and get the diapers for about $10 a piece plus one extra prefold per diaper for a doubler)
Total cost for this kind of diapering stash for two years including washing and all the accessories you'll need is: $401.00 (with cloth wipes) to $1008.00 (with disposable wipes)
All In One
All In Ones (AI1) are the closest thing you are going to have to a disposable. everything is there: the cover, liner, absorbency: all connected and no assembly required! The absorbency cannot be removed from this diaper because it is already attached, oftentimes one of two ways. Sometimes as a whole piece sewn in all the way around, or with flaps of absorbency sewn in on one side so it will open up for easier drying:
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| Absorbency sewn in all the way around. |
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| Absorbency with a flap for drying help. |
The big pro for these are they have everything you need! You may need to add extra absorbency, which can be done with inserts and prefolds, but they are usually pretty absorbent. They are also the closest you will get to a disposable, use and change, simple as that. This is the diaper they recommend for dads who are hesitant or grandparents and babysitters. The cons for these are they can be pretty bulky. They come with LOTS of absorbency built in and the bulk really shows on the smaller rise settings. Also, depending on the maker, the drying times can be a pain (1st pic would talk WAY long to dry then 2nd pic).
Total cost for this kind of diapering stash for two years including washing and all the accessories you'll need is: $577.00 (with cloth wipes) to $1184.00 (with disposable wipes)
So that's pretty much all the main diaper systems you have to choose from! Below is the comparison of all of them. Basically you can make your stash as cheap or expensive as you want. There are other accessories that are needed and can be added to help with the diapering process. I'll talk about those next week when I say what we plan on making our diapering system will consist of.
Until next time!
Bre and the Bump
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