Types of Cloth Diapers

•  Super easy to use -- just snap or Velcro it onto the babe.
• Great choice for grandparents or babysitters, or for changes out and about.
• Can be very trim.
• Many cute styles, colors, and prints.
• Some styles have pockets or snaps that allow you to add additional absorption.
  

  Nicki's Bamboo AIO in Blue Razz Chevron

• Some AIOs take a longer time to dry, since there are many layers of fabric sewn together.
• These are generally the most expensive style of diaper.
• AIOs have to be washed after each use.
• May not be a good overnight option.
• Some styles make it less easy to customize absorption.

Bumgenius Freetime AIO in Audrey

An AI2 consists of two parts -- an outer water-resistant shell, and an absorbent insert. Inserts can be cloth or disposable, and often snap into place.

When the insert is pre-snapped, an AI2 is as easy for babysitters and grandparents as an all in one diaper.

When the diaper is wet, you can usually toss the old insert into the wetbag and reuse the cover with a fresh insert. (Featured diaper: Grovia AI2 in Pudge print)

• Since the covers can be reused, they can be an economical system.
• Often very trim.
• If the inserts are snapped in ahead of time, they're as easy to use as AIOs.
• Shells come in many cute prints and colors.
• Often fairly quick to dry, though some inserts can be slow drying.
• Some systems have high-absorbency nighttime inserts
• Some systems make disposable inserts, which can be a convenient feature for travel.
• Lay-in systems with tuckable covers, such as Flips, can be used with prefolds, flats, or flour sack towels in addition to designated inserts.

• Sometimes the inserts are expensive enough that the system isn't any cheaper than an AIO.
• The inserts may not be good at containing poop.
• Changing out the inserts requires an extra step.
• Often not a great nighttime option.
• Snap-in systems make it difficult to customize absorbency.
• With lay-in systems, inserts may bunch or move.

• Applecheeks, cover $20, inserts $5 - $11.50
• Best Bottoms, cover $16.95, inserts $3.95 - $6.95
• Bumgenius Flips, cover $14.95, inserts $5 - $12.50
• Chelory, cover $24.95, inserts $8.25
• Grovia, cover $16.95, inserts $8.50
• Moraki, cover + 1 insert $27, extra inserts $5
• Ragababe 2-Step, cover + insert $39.95
• Softbums, cover $21.95, inserts $3.95 - $7.95
• Thirsties, cover $12.75, inserts $6.75 - $8.75

Flats, prefolds and fitted diapers require a cover to be waterproof. Covers are generally made from either PUL, wool, or fleece.

PUL or TPU covers

Many diaper covers are made from a thin, thin, water-resistant fabric such as PUL or TPU. (PUL is short for polyurethane laminate, and TPU stands for thermoplastic polyurethane). These fabrics don't absorb liquid, but they do provide a water-resistant backing over flats, prefolds, or fitteds. They also provide an extra layer of protection against the dreaded poop-splosion. To use a  PUL or TPU cover, simply put on the diaper underneath, and then snap or Velcro the cover on over the diaper. While some covers come in multiple sizes, most covers nowadays come in just two sized -- newborn, which fits babies from about 5 - 16 pounds, and one sized, which fits babies from around 10 pounds till potty training.   Many covers that are coming out nowadays are "tuckable", meaning they have two flaps on the inside to hold an insert. You can fold a flat or prefold into a rectangular shape and simply lay it inside the cover. This is a fantastically quick, easy, and absorbent system.

Wool

Wool covers may seem intimidating at first, but they're a great choice for day or night use. Wool is antimicrobial, somewhat self-cleaning, water-resistant, and can absorb 30 percent of its weight in liquid. Wool covers can be machine or hand-knitted wool, made from interlock (felted wool) or upcycled from wool sweaters. For many people, a wool cover over flat or fitted diaper is the most bulletproof overnight option. Wool can come in a soaker (cover), shorties (short pants), or longies (long pants). Some people use wool shorties or longies as clothing or pajamas. Wool needs to be hand washed and lanolized, and can take a day or two to dry. If it's only wet, you can go 2 - 4 weeks between laundering. However, if needs to be washed if it gets soiled. Because of this, many people choose to start wool after their baby is out of the newborn phase, since newborn poop is runny and more likely to get on covers. See our page on wool care for an overview of washing and lanolizing wool.

Fleece

Fleece is water resistant and easy to use. Unlike wool, you can throw fleece into the washer and dryer, making it a nice option for newborns. However, unlike wool, you do need to wash it with every use. Like wool, fleece comes in soakers, shorties, or longies and can also be used as clothing or pajamas. Fleece covers are usually made from anti-pill or windpro fleece.

Fitted diaper pros

• Very absorbent
• Great for overnights and car rides
• Good choice for newborns
• Can be extremely cute

Fitted diaper cons

• Usually require a cover
• Can be bulky
• Not great for babies who are sensitive to wetness
• Some brands are expensive
• Some fitteds that are made out of cute fabrics can fade in a bleach soak.

Some popular brands of fitteds:

• Assunta
• GMD workhorse
• Goodmama
• Maplebean
• Pooters
• Sbish overnight bamboo fitteds
• Tots Bots Bamboozles
• Wonderful Bambino

Pocket diapers are one of the most popular styles of diapers. A pocket consists of two parts -- a water resistant shell, and an absorbent insert. The shell is made up of a PUL/TPU water resistant layer on the outside, and a stay dry layer (often microsuede/microfleece) on the inside. In between the two layers is a pocket that can be stuffed with an absorbent insert. Most pocket diapers come with microfiber inserts, although higher end versions may have bamboo inserts. Additionally, many people use other absorbent materials for inserts, such as prefolds, flour sack towels, flats, receiving blankets, etc. A great advantage to pockets is the ability to customize the absorbency.  If you have a small baby or light wetter, a single microfiber insert will likely suffice.  If you have a toddler or heavy wetter, you can add additional inserts or stuff with more absorbent options – charcoal bamboo inserts, prefolds, flats, hemp, bamboo, etc. Many people like to combine inserts; for example, they might wrap a microfiber insert in a flour sack towel, or put a hemp insert on top of a charcoal bamboo insert. A major disadvantage of pocket diapers is that the insert has to be stuffed into the pocket after washing, which can be a little time consuming. However, once the diaper is stuffed and ready to go, it's as easy to use as an AIO. After the baby wets or soils the diaper, the entire pocket diaper, both shell and insert, has to be washed. Some brands of pocket diapers are extremely inexpensive (about $5) while other brands can cost more than $20.

Pocket diaper pros:

• Once the diaper is stuffed, it's very easy to use
• It's easy to adjust the absorbency by adding additional or more absorbent inserts
• Can be very affordable
• Fairly trim
• Good for babies who are sensitive to wetness

Pocket diaper cons:

• Stuffing the inserts can be time consuming
• After the diaper is soiled, the entire thing, shell and insert, has to be washed
• Often not a great choice for overnights
• Many people find that the microfiber inserts that commonly come with pocket diapers are leaky
• Some babies are sensitive to synthetic fibers, especially microsuede, which commonly is used for the stay-dry lining

Some popular brands of pocket diapers:

Very inexpensive:

• Alva
• Assunta
• Happy Flute
• Kawaii
• Sunbaby

Moderately priced to high-end:

• Applecheeks
• Blueberry
• Bumgenius 4.0s
• Charlie Banana
• Glowbug
• Lalabye Baby
• Nicki's

Some good options for pocket diaper inserts:

Microfiber (MF) inserts are fully synthetic, and the most common inserts. They are white, and have extraordinary wicking properties. As such, they are the only inserts that CAN NOT go against baby bums, as they will draw the moisture right out of the skin. There are companies that make inserts with MF on one side, and then something like microfleece on the other side, which CAN go against baby. Microfiber absorbs VERY quickly. Charcoal Bamboo (CBI) are bamboo on the outside, and microfiber on the inside. They are black in appearance, with or without stitching in the middle. The bamboo on the outside of this insert means it can go directly against baby bums. It absorbs relatively quickly, though slower than microfiber. Bamboo inserts are effective and very absorbent, but absorb much slower than CBI/ MF. They are extremely soft and usually a mix of bamboo (rayon) and cotton. Hemp inserts are quite absorbent, but like bamboo, absorb very slowly. They do well paired with something that absorbs faster, or are great for children who don’t ‘flood’. Like bamboo, they are very soft, and a mix of cotton and hemp. In addition to designated inserts, you can also use flats, prefolds, flour sack towels, or receiving blankets to stuff pocket diaper. In fact, these are often the most absorbent and reliable options.

This page is under construction. Check back soon for more info!

Prefolds – Prefolds are rectangles of fabric sewn together with more layers through the middle of the diaper. They come in many sizes and options – newborn, baby, toddler, bleached, unbleached, etc. These can be folded around baby and held together with pins, snappis or boingo clips. They can also be trifolded and laid into covers. Prefolds can be folded in many different ways to customize the fit and absorbency. They can also be stuffed into pockets

Here's our tutorial on diaper snaps: