Smell the Onion

I wrote this to a new mommy friend of mine, but I figured I’d post it in case anyone else would find it interesting.

Here is a quick tutorial in Cloth Diapering.

In order of both expense and convenience from less to more, we have:

Kinds of Diapers:

Prefolds (infant)
(there are two kinds of prefolds, Indian and Chinese.  I have used
both, and they’re both good.  Indian prefolds are softer, but
Chinese ones hold up longer–both are quite durable)

Contour (I’ve never tried a contour diaper)

Fitted (I have three favorite kids of fitted diapers; calico babies , which are made by a friend of mine,
Under the Nile Organics , which I love for overnight, and Motherease onesize .)

Pocket

All in One

Pocket diapers are basically PUL covers with pockets sewn in to them, which you stuff with some sort of absorbant stuffing. Fuzzi Bunz are probably the most popular.  All in ones are either one piece, or an outer piece like a cover that you snap a second absorbant layer in to.  (The two piece ones wash more thouroughly, and dry faster).  I like the ones made by Calico Babies)

Prefolds, Contours, and Fitted Diapers all require a cover, as they are made of only absorbant cloth.  You *can* use pins, or snappies , but you don’t have to.   You can buy a wrap cover that you just lay the diaper in and velcro/snap it on the baby like a disposable diaper.

Kinds of covers:

You can get wraps made from PUL (Polyurathane Laminate), a slightly
plasticy (though nothing like vinyl) waterproof cloth (this is the
easiest kind to use with prefolds).

You can also get covers made from polar fleece,  (which I have
never used, but would like to try) or wool– which is my favorite with
fitted diapers, especially for overnight.  Sometimes the wool ones
are called soakers.
You *can* cloth diaper for very cheap.  I started out with mostly prefolds and PUL wraps, and added a few fitteds for overnight, and a couple AIOs for naptime, or when we were out on the town.

I didn’t cloth diaper Maya until she was 14 months old, so I don’t have experience with a newborn, but for my boy, I’ve purchased a dozen infant prefolds, 6 pul wraps (I like both bummies super whisper wraps and
prowraps ), 6 fitted diapers, and 4 pockets.  I want a wool soaker for overnight.  ( Aristocrats are my favorite). That ought to get us through two days between laundry comfortably.  You don’t have to was covers every diaper change (unless they get poop on them)…just air dry them.

You’ll also need a diaper pail or bag and a wetbag (or ziploc bags, really), if you plan to cloth diaper when you’re not at home.

Here are my favorite cloth diapering stores:

Motherease

CottonBabies

Katies Kisses

Here is a good overview of washing diapers.  Not hard at all.