Cloth diapering today is not just for the natural parenting crowd and a far cry from the images of leaky plastic covers and diaper pins that many parents have ingrained in their minds. If you understand what’s available and have the information to make the best choices for your baby and your family, you may find that cloth diapering is easier and more cost effective than you thought.
Prefold and Flat Diapers
While similar, flat diapers need to be folded down from a large cloth where prefold diapers come already folded and layered. You would need about 3 dozen diapers if you planned to launder every 2-3 days.
For a closure - yes, you can still use pins, but a much easier (and less dangerous) option is offered by Snappi Diaper Fasteners. Snappi’s are a stretchy, t-shaped plastic fastener that uses plastic teeth to grip the diaper in 3 places giving these diapers a secure fit with no pricks. Plan to keep 3-6 of these on hand.
You will also need about 5-7 diaper covers. Different fabrics offer options depending on your needs - fleece and wool offer more wetness protection for heavy wetters or overnight, while polyester and nylon are lightweight and easy to care for.
You can get started with this type of diapering for around $150, which includes diapers, covers, and fasteners. If you don’t have the time or desire to do the extra laundry, these are the diapers typically provided by a diaper service and can be delivered freshly laundered to your door for about $20 a week.
Fitted Diapers
Fitted diapers offer more convenience being in the familiar shape and style of disposables, requiring you to just fasten the top with the snaps or Velcro (a few do need a fastener). You do still need to wear covers with fitted diapers, the same types as described above work well for these. Fitted diapers are usually in the price range of $10 to $15 a piece, but can be more or less depending on the material and features.
Pocket DiapersPocket diapers are great for older or squirmy babies. Pocket diapers have a waterproof shell on the outside and an absorbent fleece liner on the inside. There is a pocket between the two that can be stuffed with anything absorbent – inserts made for pocket diapers, doublers (inserts with multiple layers), old prefolds, dish towels, whatever works for you. You can make these diapers as absorbent as needed by stuffing the pocket with more or less. These diapers run around $15 to $18 a piece and you would need 8-10 for a days worth, more or less depending on your baby. With these diapers, many brands offer one-size diapers that can let you use one diaper from infancy through toddlerhood.
All-In-Ones
These diapers are the closest to the familiar disposable diapers. They operate alone, not needing covers, fasteners, or liners. AIO’s are similar in style to the pocket diaper except the middle is already stuffed for you with absorbent materials. These are easy to use, but can take a long time to dry due to their thickness. These can cost anywhere from $16 to $30 each depending on style.
Many parents that cloth diaper start out simple with some prefolds and covers and end up with a variety in their diaper stash to meet the various needs of their children and their schedules. Since every baby is different, try different brands and styles to find which diapers work best for you and your baby before you commit to any one.
Reference: Wildflower Diapers, Scottsdale AZ. www.wildflowerdiapers.com
