TriadMommies.com: Cloth Is Cool: An Intro to Cloth Diapers

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Cloth Is Cool: An Intro to Cloth Diapers

12:00 PM | Posted by TriadMommies |

Edit Post

Photo by Charlie Banana

OK, so that was a really cheesy title, but I do think cloth diapering is cool. Not only is it cool, but it's also good for your baby, good for the Earth, and even good for the wallet. Have I gotten your attention yet?

Did I mention how cute a baby looks with a fluffy butt? Now, I know cloth diapers aren't for everyone. There are a number of situations in which a family may want to cloth diaper, but cannot. However, the biggest objection I hear is that poop is too messy with cloth diapers. With 100 percent certainty, I can tell you that poop is much messier and has to be handled more often (blowouts, stained clothes, etc.) when a baby is in a disposable diaper.

I knew I wanted to cloth-diaper our baby, but when I found out I did not have to use diaper pins, I was sold! If I've piqued your curiosity, and you're still reading, I'll tell you more about the cloth-diapering options available. There are four main types of cloth diapers: prefolds, fitteds or contours, pockets, and all-in-ones. There is also an All-In-Two or hybrid, but I'll save those for another blog post. In a nutshell, I'll tell you about each type.

Prefold (with a cover): This is a flat diaper, which is folded and secured with a Snappi fastener or pins, then covered with a waterproof cover or wrap. These are great for all ages of babies and contain newborn messes very well. Covers only need to be washed when soiled. Covers may be made of a special breathable, yet waterproof, fabric called polyurethane-laminated cloth (PUL) or out of wool.

Fitted or contour (with a cover): Fitted diapers are sized, contoured, and fitted to baby's shape with elasticized waist and leg openings. These diapers fasten with plastic snaps or Aplix hook-and-loop tape. They still need to be covered with a waterproof or wool cover. However, they skip the folding and securing of a prefold and act as another great barrier to hold in messes.

Contour diapers are cut to fit your baby, are less bulky than a prefold diaper, and are an economical alternative to fitted diapers. Contour diapers do require a waterproof or wool cover, and can be used with or without a Snappi or pins inside the cover.

Pocket diaper: This is a two-layer (PUL outer and fleece-lined inner layer) diaper with a space/pocket into which an absorbent insert is placed. The insert may be made of microfiber, cotton, or hemp. Each brand usually comes with two inserts from the manufacturer, or you can trifold a prefold, which makes a great insert. The fleece lining of pocket diapers keeps baby feeling more dry.

All-in-one (AIO): This is a one-piece diapering system with no pockets or inserts. The absorbent material is sewn directly to the cover, and it is one simple diaper. It secures with Aplix hook-and-loop tape. This tends to be the easiest option for dads, grandparents, or babysitters, and is popular for daycare use.

In short, cloth diapering is cool. And really, it's pretty easy. Interested in getting started? Just drop me an email, and I'll make sure you love your cloth-diapering journey.

— Sheresa (slacey) is the co-owner of All About Baby Boutique, which will open its doors Jan. 3, 2012. She is very passionate about cloth diapering and better-for-baby products. She blogs to educate, inspire, and relate with our moms. Read more blog posts at It's All About Baby!

(Would you like to chat with other moms about cloth diapers and other natural-living topics? Visit the Natural Living & Attachment Parenting forum at TriadMommies!)

Labels: cloth diapering, natural living

1 comments:

queenofcoupons said...: You are so right about leaks, blow outs, clothing changes being more common in disposable diapers. I have 5 kids and have used cloth almost exclusive on 3 of the 5 off and on over the last 12 years. I used cloth back when the only OS were Mother Ease and there weren't any AIO OS options like now. I used refolds, diaper pins (older snappis tore holes really bad) & pro wrap covers. It worked very well and was very economical. 12 years ago I was the only person I knew among my friends IRL who used cloth. Now I have at least 6-10 friends who use cloth or have used cloth.

My youngest ones are 2 1/2 year old & 5 mo old. We use cloth all day including most outings & disposables @ night and have lost of leaks & blowout regardless of type of poo. Sorry for TMI-- but disposable can't "grip" it and it just shifts & slides until it leaks or you have a blow out.; December 14, 2011 12:36 AM

Cloth Is Cool: An Intro to Cloth Diapers

1 comments:

Please Support Our Partner

Search

Grab Our Button

Follow Us

Labels

Blog Archive

TMN Blog Roll