Featured Product
Just reduced! Thirsties Pocket All-in-one diaper combines the ease of an all-in-one with the flexibility of a pocket diaper!
Keep it trim for the day or stuff it up to last through the night. We love our Thirsties diapers and know you will too, so experiment today!Cloth Diaper Basics
You don't need to be an expert to use cloth diapers! There are just a few major types of diaper styles, and in a few minutes you can learn about all of them here.
All-in-One | Pocket | Cover | Fitted | Prefold | Contour
All-in-One
All-in-one cloth diapers most closely replicate the disposable diaper. In an all-in-one diaper, the waterproof outer cover, the absorbent middle layer, and a soft inner layer are sewn together as one unit, and fasten together with Velcro or snaps. Changing these diapers is as simple as taking off the dirty diaper and putting on a clean one.
Diaper Lab Results:
This style of diaper can often convince reluctant spouses that cloth diapering is not going to be difficult. All-in-ones are also great if you're worried about your babysitter or mother-in-law tyring to sneaking in a pack of disposables.
Similar to an all-in-one diaper, pocket diapers consist of a waterproof outer cover and a soft inner layer. The difference is that the absorbent layer is not sewn into the diaper, but inserted into a pocket between the inner and outer layers. These inserts can be anything from a prefold or washcloth to inserts designed specifically for the diaper, and are available in differing levels of absorbency.
Diaper Lab Results:
Pocket diapers are very flexible! Many people use them at night, because you can insert a more absorbent insert for heavy wetters.
Diaper Cover
Diaper covers provide the waterproof outer layer for fitted, contour, and prefold diapers. Usually made from polyurethane-laminated cloth (commonly called PUL), cover styles include pull-ups, which are elasticized around the waist and legs, or wraps, which are fastened with Velcro or snaps. Covers are also available in wool, a naturally water-resistant fiber. Because diaper covers are made in specific sizes, a baby might require two or more sizes of diaper covers over the course of diapering.
Fitted
Fitted diapers are held snug by means elasticized waist and legs and secured by Velcro or snaps. They consist of absorbent material covered with a soft layer (often microfleece) that touches the skin. Fitted diapers are not waterproof; these diapers require a separate waterproof cover. Because fitted diapers are made in specific sizes, a baby might require two or more sizes of fitted diapers over the course of diapering.
Prefold
Prefold diapers consist of a rectangular absorbent cloth, such as cotton, with a thicker, more absorbent middle section and two thinner side sections. Prefolds are often what people think of when they picture a cloth diaper. This type of diaper requires a cover.
Diaper Lab Results:
If you received a package of this type of diaper at your baby shower, you might have been intending to use them as burp cloths. However, with the addition of a few diaper covers, prefolds can be the perfect solution for cloth diapering during the first two months!
Contour
Contour diapers fall in-between prefolds and fitted diapers. Shaped like an hourglass, these diapers do not need to be folded to fit, but they also do not have any of the extra features (elastic, Velcro, or snaps) found with a fitted diaper. Because of their shape, a baby might require two sizes of contour diapers over the course of diapering.
Training Pants
As with cloth diapers, there are different styles of cloth training pants. The traditional training pant resembles cotton underwear with a thick absorbent panel. This style is not waterproof, so accidents will occur. Pocket training pants pull up and down like underwear, but have a pocket for absorbable inserts, similar to the pocket diaper. Finally, there are waterproof training pants that consist of thick cotton underpants combined with a waterproof cover.
Diaper Lab Results:
Many people find that cloth-diapered babies potty train more easily than babies in disposables.
Swim Diaper
Swim diapers are designed to hold in solids, not liquids. Pocket diapers can transition into swim diapers easily—just pull out the absorbent insert. Or there are cloth diapers made specifically for the water. Many are made out of swimsuit material and resemble underwear. Some manufacturers make girls swim tops in matching material. There are also swim diapers design for boys that resemble swim shorts.
If you live in the Boston area and want to learn more, schedule an appointment with me to look at the selection of diapers we carry. Find a new way to go!
Salina