When I decided to begin cloth diapering to cut costs, I figured I'd go online, order some prefolds and covers and then be on my merry way. Right? Not so much. Once my husband reluctantly agreed, I got on the computer and Googled "cloth diaper stores." Wow. There were so many options that I just clicked on the first link. I figured it would take me to a store with some prefold diapers (the ones I had heard about) and a small selection of waterproof covers. Wrong again. Apparently, in the last decade or so, cloth diapering has been revolutionized. It was no longer just flats or prefolds with wool or plastic covers. No, now there were cloth diapers that were shaped like disposable diapers and they had Aplix (like Velcro) closures. Where did these come from? Why hadn't I heard about them? Cloth diapering was nothing like I was expecting.
In case you're not sure of all the CDing (short for cloth diaper - it's a whole subculture with it's own slang!) options available, here's a breakdown of the different types of diapers:
Flats: These are your Grandma's cloth diapers. Remember those big, one-layer pieces of cloth that needed to be folded like Origami and then pinned to stay on baby? Those would be flats. Some people still use them and manufacturers even make them Organic. If you choose flats, you'll need some kind of waterproof cover.
Prefolds: These are basically flats that have been folded for you, hence the name. They are usually folded in layers of 2x4x2 or 4x8x4, meaning that the most layers are in the middle to soak everything up. You can put them out flat, lay your baby on them, fold in the middle between the legs, bring everything up and together and pin or Snappi them closed. You would then put a waterproof cover on and go. Or you can trifold them and snugly fit them into a wrap-style diaper cover and put them on your baby that way. Each person has their preference. I did both ways, depending on how wiggly the baby was. Prefolds and covers are the cheapest way to go.
Contours: These diapers are cut out, or contoured, into a shape similar to that of a disposable diaper. Baby is then put on the diaper, everything is brought up and together and pinned or Snappi'd closed. They usually have an extra couple of layers in the middle, for extra absorbency. These and fitteds were my favorites when I only had one child in diapers. They usually have two sizes - stage 1 and stage 2. Contours also need waterproof covers.
Fitteds: I was so happy when I got my first fitteds. They are much like the contour, in regards to the shape, but they have elastic in the legs to prevent messy leaks and they have either Aplix or Snap closures. So fast and convenient. They can come in a size 1 and size 2 fitting, xs to xl or one-size fits all. Waterproof covers are needed with these as well.
Covers: You'll need covers if you decide to use any of the above-mentioned diapers. Why? Well, if you like holding your baby without getting wet, then you'll appreciate diaper covers. There are lots of different kinds of covers available today. Wrap-style covers go on like a disposable diaper and everything closes in the middle-front with Aplix or snaps. Pull-on covers go on just like a pair of underpants and can be very trim. They're just not the funnest to take off when you're baby has had a blow-out. Side-snapping covers snap closed on both sides and make it more difficult for babies to take them off. Covers come in a variety of sizes, like fitteds. The Thirsties Duo Wrap is a new wrap that comes in 2 stages - 0-9m and 9m plus - that helps you save money by not having to purchase 4 different sizes of cover.
All-in-Ones: Also known as AIOs. These diapers come with the absorbent and waterproof layers in one easy system. AIOs tend to be more expensive but are much more convenient and the most like a disposable diaper. One downside that I noticed when I used AIOs is that they take longer to dry.
Pockets: Pocket diapers are a lot like the AIO, only the absorbent layer is separate and you just stuff it inside the diaper's pocket. This cuts drying time down considerably. It also allows you to add more stuffing for night time or if you just have a heavy wetter. My favorite type of pocket is the one-size pocket. It has Aplix or snap closures and a number of snaps on the front of the diaper that allow you to adjust the size for your baby. These tend to be more expensive, but they are wonderful if you have more than one baby in diapers at once.
And of course, there are hybrids like the Thirsties Pocket AIO, that don't fit into one specific category but are designed to make cloth diapering easier for you.
Shalom,
Nina
http://www.shalombeginnings.com/
