Introduction to Cloth Diapers and Covers
Types of Modern Cloth Diapers and Waterproof Covers
May 21, 2009
As more parents become aware of the health and environmental benefits of cloth diapering, they realize they might as well give it a shot. Cloth diapering can be as easy or as difficult as one wants. Diapers have come a long way since the rubber pants and complicated folding of generations ago. There are a multitude of brands and types of diapers and covers. Here is a basic introduction to the types of cloth diapers.
Types of Cloth Diapers
- Contours: Contour diapers are just prefolds that are cut and sewn so that they fit better. A fastener and cover are still needed.
- Flats and Prefolds: These are the what your parents and grandparents will think of when you mention cloth diapering. Flats are simply square or rectangle pieces of fabric, one layer thick. Prefolds are flat diapers that are folded, usually so they are thicker in the middle, then sewn. Flats and prefolds will need a way to fasten them and a waterproof cover over them, but fasteners and covers have come a long way from the safety pins and rubber pants of ancestors used.
- Fitteds: Fitted diapers are cloth diapers that have some sort of snap or hook-and-loop tape to fasten them securely on baby.
Covers and All-in-ones
- All-in-ones (AIOs):AIOs are the closest thing to disposable diapers. These have a waterproof layer attached to a liner of cloth. Some have a pocket in them to add more absorbent material. Since the cover and diaper are one unit, parents use them once and then have to wash them. This makes them similar to disposables. No separating of diaper and cover, no undoing pins, just take the whole thing off and toss it in the diaper pail.
- Pockets: Pocket diapers are a diaper cover with a thin layer lining it. There are openings (the "pocket") to insert an absorbent diaper. This allows parents to customize their absorbency. They are similar to AIOs.
- Covers: Diaper covers come in many different varieties. The old fashioned rubber pants with elastic waists and legs still exist. More common is the PUL (polyurethane laminate) cover, which is a type of fabric that gets covered in a layer of waterproof material, yet remains soft and flexible. These covers will be fastened with attached snaps or hook-and-loop tape (such as Velcro or Touchtape). Knit wool can also be used as a waterproof cover, provided the cover is lanolized. Lanolin is the oil that sheep secrete to keep their wool waterproof. Knit wool covers are usually called soakers.
Each baby is unique and has different needs for diapers. Using cloth allows you to customize your fit and absorbency. Regardless of what type of cloth parents choose, they can be confident knowing they are helping reduce waste and keeping harmful chemicals away from their baby's delicate skin. Cloth diapering can be cheap as well, especially if diapers get reused for additional children and then later on as cleaning rags.
These are just the basics of cloth diapers. Purchasing diapers can seem overwhelming, especially with so many different brands, but most diapers and covers fall into the categories above. For more information about the different materials used in cloth diapers, please read Cloth Diaper Fabrics and Maximizing Absorbency.
 |
