The cloth diapers of today are nothing like what our mothers used. They are easy to use, easy to wash, and are virtually leak free! There are a ton of choices out there which means it can be a little overwhelming to decide what kind of diapers you want. Cloth diapering also requires a bit of an investment in the beginning. Just remember you will be saving money in the long run since you won't have to be buying diapers every week. You can look for used cloth diapers on the internet or craigslist or you could ask for cloth diapers as shower gifts. Another idea is to buy a little at a time over the course of your pregnancy. Also check out www.miraclediapers.com They help provide diapers to those who can't afford the initial investment.
First here are some of the terms you will run into when looking into cloth diapers:
AIO All in One Diapers - These diapers are a cloth diaper that does not need any type of cover. You would use this diaper just like a disposable except of course you would wash and re use it. These are very easy to use but tend to cost a bit more and some people do not like the fact that these diapers usually take longer to dry.
Pocket Diapers - Pocket diapers are diapers that have a pocket on the inside that you place an insert in. The great thing about these diapers is that you can make them more or less absorbent depending on your babies age and gender and time of day. So if you have an older baby boy who wets a lot at night time then you can add extra inserts at night to make them more absorbent so that you won't have any leaks. They also dry faster since you can take the inserts out when you launder them.
Prefold Diapers - Prefold diapers are what people usually think of when they think of cloth diapers. The prefolds that most parents use today though are not the ones you can get at Walmart or Target. If you buy the cloth diapers from there the only thing they will be good for are burp cloths or cleaning cloths. There are Chinese or Indian prefolds and bleached or unbleached. You can buy these on the internet or at some specialty baby stores. These diapers have to be washed a number of times before they are ready for use. The more you wash them the more absorbent they become. You also need to have a cover over these and also diaper pins or what most moms use nowadays which is a snappi. These are cheaper to buy but you will have to buy them in different sizes. So you will need newborn ones, regular ones, and toddler ones. They are easy to wash and they dry fast.
Covers- Covers are what goes over the diaper to prevent leaks. They are not like the old plastic pants that our moms used. These come in a variety of colors and sizes and usually have snaps or velcro.
Snappi- is a Y shaped fastener that replace diaper pins to secure the prefold diapers in place.
Here are some of my favorite cloth diapers.
For Newborns:
Swaddlebees covers with unbleached cotton prefolds and a snappi to hold it together. The Swaddlebees covers are very good at containing leaks. I haven't had any blow outs with these covers and just an occasional small leak which is much better than any disposable I have ever used! I love the colors that Swaddlebees comes in. We have taken some really cute baby pictures of our baby with her Swaddlbees on. Check them out at http://swaddlebees.com
For 3 months to 2 years:
Motherease diapers and covers www.mother-ease.com
2 years to 3 years: I used this combination for naps and nightime Mother-ease XL covers with indian cotton prefolds
I LOVE Mother-ease diapers! They are easy to use, a breeze to wash, dry super fast , and they are so well made you can use these for multiple children. Mother-ease makes a diaper that is simple to use and can be made to fit your baby for most of the time you are diapering them. Mother-ease diapers are amazing at keeping away leaks. I can't remember ever having a blow out in these diapers. I can't say the same for any other diaper including disposables. Mother-ease claims you can use their diapers from birth to potty training but I disagree a bit. If you try and use them for a newborn they are way to bulky and once your child reaches 2 they will be too small. So I recommend them from the time your baby is about 3 or 4 months old until two. Which is a big savings since you won't have to keep buying a bunch of different sizes of diapers. You will need to use different size covers but you don't need as many of those. The covers are not bulky at all and yet really hold in wetness. The covers are not the cutest things on the market but I still would choose their covers over anything else.
I hope some of this information on cloth diapering has been helpful to you. I have just scratched the surface but the internet has a wealth of information on cloth diapering including a bunch of youtube videos showing you how to put the diapers on your child. So take your time, read reviews, do some research, and then just try it. You may find you love cloth diapering as much as I do!
