Photo from Zoolikins.
Back in the day, cloth diapers consisted of a flat cloth diaper that had to be folded just so, pinned in place with what looked like giant safety pins, and covered with rubber pants for not-so-effective waterproofing. This is what most people still picture when they think of cloth diapers.
Today, there are several ingenious cloth diapering systems to chose from, most of which are a far cry from the cloth diaper of yesteryear. In fact, there are so many that the choices can be overwhelming to say the least. In this post, I will highlight the main cloth diapering systems available, mention some pros and cons of each, and list cost information.
Prefold (flat) diaper with a waterproof cover
Prefolds, as they are called, are quite similar to what your grandmother used. However, instead of sharp pins, there is a nifty little object called a Snappi that fastens your diaper easily in place by stretching over the front of the diaper, gripping the prefold's cotton fibers in three places. Prefolds are by far the cheapest way to go, but there is a learning curve to getting them on well, which turns many people off to them. Once you have mastered it, the extra steps are no big deal. My husband quickly became a pro at putting on a prefold.
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After putting on the prefold, you will need to secure a diaper cover over the top of it. The cover is what will make the diaper waterproof. Prefolds are made of pure and simple cotton, and while you could technically allow your child to run around the house without a cover, I personally would not.
Note that covers (as with pretty much any other diaper) are available with either "velcro" (hook and loop) closures or snaps. I prefer snaps for their durability as hook and loop tends to wear out over time and multiple washes.
Some people find the multiple steps required for the prefold system to me overwhelming; however, some of those same people find that it is still worth it because of how cost-effective they are.
Cost
Prefolds come in several sizes - preemie, infant, premium and even toddler. In my experience the preemie ones are useless to anyone who does not have an actual prematurely born baby, and toddler ones are giant - like for ages 4 and 5. So if you had a supply of both infant and premium prefolds, and you got one-size covers like these Econobum covers, this would be your cost break down. (Note: using size-specific covers such as some of the ones I picture in this blog will increase your cost as you would need a set of covers in each size.)
30 infant prefolds @ $2 each = $60
24 premium prefolds @ $3 each = $72
8 one-sized cover @$9 each = $72
Total = $204
And as I mentioned in my previous post, it can be done for even less, but I am trying to be very realistic in my examples.
Prefold
Pros:
most cost-effective
can re-use covers several times
cotton is best fabric for sensitive skin
cotton washes out the most easily
Cons:
multiple steps to put diaper on
bulkier fit than some other systems
Fitted diaper with a waterproof cover
Similar to the prefold system, is that of fitted diapers. Fitted diapers are not waterproof by themselves, so you will still need a cover for them. You simply snap the inner diaper on, and then add a cover over the top.
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Cost
Unlike prefolds, fitted diapers range widely in cost. They are high enough in price that I would recommend a one-size option, such as this Kissaluvs diaper.
30 one-size fitted diapers @ $12 each = $360
8 one-size covers @ $9 each = $72
Total = $432
Fitted
Pros:
can reuse covers several times
cotton is best fabric for sensitive skin
cotton washes out the most easily
Cons:
multiple steps to put diaper on
expensive for being very similar to prefolds
bulkier fit than some other systems
Pocket diaper
The pocket diaper is what we first tried with Princess, along with prefolds and covers, and at the time, pocket diapers were my hands-down favorite. Basically, it is like a cover that has a pocket you can stuff with an insert, an absorbent layer made of either a microfiber terrycloth or cotton. What I love about pocket diapers is that you can stuff the diapers as soon as you take them out of the dryer and then it is ready to go in once piece for easy diapering when your little one needs a change. No extra steps at the time of diapering. Pocket diapers are one of the most popular cloth diapering systems out there.
Cost
Pocket diapers also vary in cost, and again, some are one-size and some are not. Most of them are in the $20 range. My favorite one for both fit and quality, are the BumGenius One-Size Pocket Diaper, so that is what I will use in my example. BG often has a buy 5 get 1 free deal, but I'll do my calculations without taking that into consideration.30 pocket diapers w/ insert @ $18 each = $540
Pocket
Pros:
Can "stuff" diapers ahead of time for one-step diaper change
"stay dry" microsuede fabric against baby's bottom
trim fit
Cons:
Some kids (like my Sunshine) react negatively to synthetic fabrics
Need a whole new diaper every time - cannot reuse the shell
Expensive compared to prefolds
This particular brand is called the Flip, and this has been my go-to diaper since Smooch was a tiny infant. It is like a strange cross between the prefold/cover and pocket diaper systems. It is like a pocket diaper without the pocket, so that you simply lay your prefold in place and fasten the diaper. Very easy. And if you're a bargain shopper like me, you will find that an inexpensive prefold works just as well - just tri-fold and lay in place. Another pro is that the polyurethane (PUL) coated side of the fabric is exposed when the insert is not lying on top of it, so that urine can be wiped off, and the cover can be reused several times. This means that you need fewer covers compared to prefold system or the pocket system, where you really need an entirely new diaper each time.
So what makes it a hybrid? For convenience while running errands or whenever, you can use disposable inserts that are environmentally friendly (will biodegrade easily and can even be composted if only wet and not soiled). So you are like half cloth diapering in those scenarios. So. Cool. If you have the sort of baby whose bottom reacts to the chemicals in disposable diapers (like both of mine did as infants), this is a great solution for travel - when many cloth diapered babies will wear regular disposables.
With Flips, there are a lot of options, so bear with me here.
Some people even *gasp* make their own cloth diapers. But that is another story for another day.
As you can see from this exhaustive diaper system comparison, there is something for just about anyone and for any budget! In the next post in this series, we will be taking a look at the "how to" of cloth diaper care aka laundry, as well as dispelling some cloth diapering myths. Soon I will also be writing a post on frequently asked questions. If you have a question about using cloth, feel free to ask away. It might be included in that FAQ post!
Hybrid Diaper
The hybrid diaper is a bit of a more recent phenomenon. Perhaps you have heard of Gdiapers? They are a hybrid diapers. The diaper below is similar in theory, but actually a little more simple and a little more cost effective. This particular brand is called the Flip, and this has been my go-to diaper since Sunshine was a tiny infant. It is like a strange cross between the prefold/cover and pocket diaper systems. It is like a pocket diaper without the pocket, so that you simply lay your prefold in place and fasten the diaper. Very easy. And if you're a bargain shopper like me, you will find that an inexpensive prefold works just as well - just tri-fold and lay in place. Another pro is that the polyurethane (PUL) coated side of the fabric is exposed when the insert is not lying on top of it, so that urine can be wiped off, and the cover can be reused several times. This means that you only need a fraction of covers compared to prefold system or the pocket system, where you really an entirely new diaper each time.
So what makes it a hybrid? If traveling or for convenience while running errands, you can use disposable inserts that are environmentally friendly (will biodegrade easily and can even be composted if only wet, not soiled). So you are like half cloth diapering in those scenarios. So. Cool.
This particular brand is called the Flip, and this has been my go-to diaper since Smooch was a tiny infant. It is like a strange cross between the prefold/cover and pocket diaper systems. It is like a pocket diaper without the pocket, so that you simply lay your prefold in place and fasten the diaper. Very easy. And if you're a bargain shopper like me, you will find that an inexpensive prefold works just as well - just tri-fold and lay in place. Another pro is that the polyurethane (PUL) coated side of the fabric is exposed when the insert is not lying on top of it, so that urine can be wiped off, and the cover can be reused several times. This means that you need fewer covers compared to prefold system or the pocket system, where you really need an entirely new diaper each time.
Cost
With Flips, there are a lot of options, so bear with me here.
3 day packs with stay-dry inserts (6 covers, 18 inserts) @ $50 each = $150
6 additional stay-dry inserts @ $5 each = $30
Total = $180
3 day packs with organic cotton inserts (6 covers, 18 inserts) @ $60 each = $180
6 additional inserts @ $8 each = $48
Total = $228
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Another cotton option would be to use prefolds instead of their organic cotton inserts.
30 infant prefolds @ $2 each = $60
24 premium prefolds @ $3 each = $72
6 Flip covers @ @14 each = $84
Total = $216
Hybrid
Pros:
very versatile system
covers wipe off for possible all-day use
can choose stay-day or natural cotton inserts
Almost as inexpensive as basic prefolds and covers
trim fit
Cons:
disposable inserts (if desired) are expensive
multiple steps for putting diaper on (lay insert in cover)
All-in-one diaper
And now we have the cream of the crop, in my opinion. The all-in-one diaper is wildly popular because it can be put on and taken off exactly like a disposable. There are no extra pieces, inserts, etc., so it's just one easy step. Some challenges with all-in-ones is that, since the absorbent layers are all sandwiched together in one piece, they can take ages to dry after washing.
My favorite cloth diaper maker (Cotton Babies), recently solved that issue when they made the absorbent layers sewn down on only the front and back, allowing for air to get around them for much faster drying. With this excellent solution for the "dry time" problem, this is my all-time favorite cloth diaper. However, they are quite expensive, and you need a new one for each diaper change (unlike Flips where I can use one to three covers per day, depending on poop habits), so that can really add up. I do have two of these wonders in my stash, and I usually save them for the church nursery or any other time someone uncomfortable with cloth may need to change my Smooch's diaper. They are by far the most like disposables as far as convenience goes, and they are also the most trim-fitting on my little one's bottom.
Cost
30 BG Elemental diapers @ $25 each = $750
Total = $750
Buuuut
Cotton babies gives a quantity discount which helps a little.
2 - 12 packs @ $265 = $530
1 - 6 pack @ $135 = $135
Total = $665
All-in-one (Elemental)
Pros
One-step to put on just like a disposable
Organic cotton inner
Most trim fit of all
Cons
Expensive compared to other cloth systems
longer dry time
Some notes on cost comparisons...
You will notice that I did my calculations for a minimum stash of 30 diapers. The reason for this is because some people claim that newborns go through 10 - 12 diapers a day and a diaper stash should carry you through 2 or 3 days between washes. I personally think this is a pretty high estimate, but I also realize that some infants are overachieving poopers, so perhaps this is accurate for many people. All that to say, I think a stash of 24 diapers is plenty since most babies by age 4 or 6 months only need about 6 diapers a day. You can see how the costs for each diaper system will change when you take the number from 30 down to 24.
Some people even *gasp* make their own cloth diapers. But that is another story for another day.
As you can see from this exhaustive diaper system comparison, there is something for just about anyone and for any budget! In the next post in this series, we will be taking a look at the "how to" of cloth diaper care aka laundry, as well as dispelling some cloth diapering myths. Soon I will also be writing a post on frequently asked questions. If you have a question about using cloth, feel free to ask away. It might be included in that FAQ post!
2 comments:
I really appreciate that you have written all of this out! I am interested in trying cloth diapers if we have another child. This has helped me feel more confident about it!
Janet, thanks for your comment! I'm encouraged that you are finding these c.d. posts helpful.
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