Initially, cloth diapering can be intimidating. There are so many choices. And when I was contemplating what diapers to choose, I had absolutely no idea what was involved with the washing process. (Don’t worry. I’ll explain that tomorrow.)
To make it a little easier for parents who may consider cloth diapers for their children, here are the basic varieties of cloth diapers:
- Prefolds, the most basic kind of cloth diaper, are what people usually imagine when they hear about cloth diapers. They’re rectangular and are folded and pinned on the baby. Today, snaps or pins can be used as fasteners, or snug-fitting wraps can be used to keep the diaper in place. These are the most affordable cloth diapers and require waterproof covers. Diaper covers come in traditional forms – rubber pants, anyone? – or wraps. Instead of just polyester or nylon pants, breathable covers are now made from wool and fleece.
- A contour cloth diaper is a shaped, fitted diaper. Like prefolds, they need a cover and a fastener like diaper pins, snaps, or a wrap.
- Fitted diapers are form-fitted and need covers, but they’re made with snaps or Velcro, so they’re able to be put on and taken off like disposable diapers.
- All-in-one diapers are just like disposables, except they’re cloth. They have an absorbent inner layer and waterproof outer layer and many are closed with Velcro.
- Pocket diapers are similar to all-in-one diapers, except they include an absorbent insert that can be removed, and other inserts may be added for heavy wetting. The diaper consists of a soft layer (usually microfleece or velour) next to the baby’s skin, a waterproof outer layer and the absorbent insert. They are fastened by snaps, hooks, or Velcro tabs, depending on the brand. A few are one-size-fits-all, and adjust to the growing size of the baby by hooks or snaps.
In choosing cloth diapers, it was helpful to read online reviews of different brands. Not only did it help me decide what variety would be best for our family, but also what brands offered the features we wanted.
Fabric wipes
Using fabric wipes was another diapering decision I made. As I realized how many baby products were harmful, I knew wipes had a great potential to expose both me and my young children to toxins. I stocked up on a safe brand of wipes, mostly for my husband’s diaper changing convenience, but I also bought several dozen baby washcloths. Since I was looking for ways to save money, I realized wipes were a quick way to flush extra cash down the toilet. So I used a small bowl of water and the washcloths. Rinsing a baby’s bottom with water actually is recommended for diaper rash prevention.
Really dirty diapers sometimes require two or three washcloths, but once finished, I toss the used cloths in the diaper pail with the soiled diapers. I wash everything together, and the wipes consistently wash clean, even when a few of the cloth diapers have developed stubborn stains.
Where to purchase
Unless you’re fortunate enough to live close to a specialty baby store, the wide varieties of cloth diapers are difficult to find in physical stores. When I was pregnant, a salesperson at a big name baby franchise tried to tell me that prefolds were the only kind of cloth diaper. I gladly took my business to an online retailer. (Since my first pregnancy, I know that Target has started selling BumGenius pocket diapers, my cloth diaper of choice. For my wiggly children, the Velcro on BumGenius works really well.)
If you’re interested in looking into cloth diapering options right now, visit Nurtured Family, a boutique for moms and babies.
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