A Journey in Cloth Diapering: What I've Learned So Far, Part 1

My best friend had her first baby a couple of years ago, and before that I had no idea cloth diapering was still a thing. Or how much it has evolved from what it once was. Now, she doesn't currently cloth diaper her two year old, or brand new babe, but is hoping to start up again with her second child, but I applaud her for even trying at all. It's more than a lot of people would consider.

And I don't blame them. From what I've been reading and learning so far, it sounds like its going to be quite an experiment. But I'm determined to make it work.

According to an article on Mother Jones, disposable diapers first came out in 1948, by none other than the Johnson & Johnson company. That wasn't even that long ago, and yet, society has changed so much that choosing something easier and less time consuming felt like the better choice.

But what's easier, isn't always what's better for everyone. I can't, and absolutely do not speak for any other parent, but I have no idea what they put in disposable diapers, and I'm not comfortable putting that on my baby's skin, if it's at all avoidable. (Honest Co. Diapers and Seventh Generation Diapers look like they could be a good alternative though! But I can't speak for how well they work.)

Like, where does that material come from? Is it biodegradable? Are there chemicals that keep my baby's skin feeling dry? Is that natural? And why are blow outs so common (asking the hard hitting questions, I know)?

If you're like me, the first time hearing about cloth diapering in this time evokes images of safety pins and hang drying sheets. Which, actually isn't far off from a few options, but there are plenty of other choices, if you wanna avoid that route!

When I first started my research, I came across an blog post of Pinterest claiming that it had everything I needed to know about cloth diapering. And while it did convince me that it was doable, it didn't really give me EVERYTHING I needed to know. Anyway, from just that article, I decided that pocket diapers would be the way to go for our budding little family. But, I've almost completely changed my mind and want to go the flats and prefolds with a cover over them route.

What are the differences? Pros and cons? Details below!

Pocket diapers are pretty much what they sound like. They are a diaper shaped pocket (think pita pocket), with snaps or velcro for closure. The outside is made from a leakproof plastic laminate fabric (PUL), and the inside is lined with a variety of soft to the touch fabric (fleece and bamboo are some examples). There is an opening at the top on the back of the diaper where you stuff an insert, made from other absorbent fabrics, which hold urine, and will prevent leaks.

This was my original choice since it sounded like the easiest option. I'm gonna be honest, didn't do much more research after making this decision. I just went with it. (Also didn't truly understand the other options). I figured you could put another liner on top of the pocket, as opposed to only stuffing it, which would catch poop and urine and you could reuse the pocket.

Not technically right. (But there is a way to do this with a different diaper! A Cover!!)

Since the lining is made from a soft, absorbent material, adding a lining on top (another insert for example), doesn't really prevent the actual diaper from getting wet. So there's that.

I've also heard a lot of mama's not being a fan of the after wash stuffing of inserts into pockets, which does sound kind of irritating.

Anyway, the bottom line is, you really can't use this diaper more than once before washing, and would need a much larger stash of these in your arsenal, to have enough for a full day or two.

So this is similar to a pocket, BUT instead of having to stuff the pocket, the insert/layers of absorbent materials are sewn in. You can always add an insert of prefold if you have a heavy wetter, but that could be really bulky. These are the most convenient, since stuff isn't necessary, but I've heard from mamas that they take a really long time to dry, and you can only use it once before washing.

They come in one size or sized, usually with snaps, but some come with velcro though. It just depends on the brand. I've also found that one size AIOs can cost a bit more than other styles because they are meant to last your child from almost birth to toilet training.

I dismissed this style right away for the sheer fact that you couldn't reuse right away. My reasoning was: How am I supposed to save money on diapers if I have to have such a big stash that I have to wash before using again? And upon learning that they take longer to dry?

It was a no. But I've reconsidered a little bit. Still don't have any in my stash, but I plan to get a few. They could be convenient for when I'm just too tired to care, or when we're out. Honestly, I'm not super against them, or having to build a bigger stash anymore. I'd like to have a large rotation so that diapers aren't constantly having to get washed, which in turn will last longer, and save us more in the long run.

THIS.

This is what I originally thought pockets were. Like pockets, covers are made from PUL, but they don't include that absorbent lining or pocket, obviously. They are quite literally just a cover.

So you have a few options here, which is what I really think I love about them the most, other than the reusability factor!

You can use these with : flats, prefolds, fitted diapers, even inserts. or a mix if you need extra absorbency.

Flats and prefolds are made of absorbent materials, which you can fold around babe, much like the old school way of cloth diapering (actually, basically the old school way), secure with pins or a snappi, on the front, and then you snap the cover around like a regular diaper. And fitted diapers are essentially a prefold, made into a cover with snaps usually, which go beneath the cover.

Inserts can be laid right on top and save the same purpose, they're just not as secure, so I don't know if I'd be doing this very often.

And the greatest thing about them! You can reuse them if baby doesn't poop. If it's just urine, you toss that flat, prefold, insert into the wet bag and maybe rinse off the cover or let it dry (if theres any moisture on the cover), and use again! I think I would end up rinsing a little and then letting dry, and just use another cover while its drying, and alternate.

Obviously if there's poop, you definitely just want to use a new diaper all together and toss that in your pail or wet bag, as it's likely that theres some poop on the cover.

Covers tend to be one size as well, but they are much more affordable than their counterparts. So you can have a larger stash for rotation as well! In turn, flats and prefolds are anywhere from $2-$10 each. They often come in packs as well, which helps save money.

The only downside is you'd have to also get some pins if you're brave (I haven't decided if I'm that brave yet) or Snappi's, which is an easy way of securing your folds and prefolds to baby. Honestly this isn't really a downside. You don't need many pins, unless you lose them a lot, which I may. And keeping track of a few Snappi's shouldn't be too difficult. One or two at the changing station and one or two in the diaper bag should be fine. And they're affordable as well.

All in all, I'm really leaning towards this being my favorite system.

So these are very similar to AIOs and pockets, the only real difference is that there are snaps on the inside which you are able to attach a liner to, kind of making it an AIO. There's also a pocket that you can stuff instead if thats what you'd rather do.

The appeal here isn't strong for me. The outer fabric is PUL like the rest of the diapers, and I believe the inside is still lined with an absorbent material. I just feel like it's just a pocket with an option to secure an insert to the lining. I meant that is what it is. Sometimes the lining is just attached at one end so it's kind of like a flap.

I have a pack of these from Charlie Banana. They feel amazing (the quality is definitely there), and look like they will really do the job absorbency wise, but they are regularly very pretty expensive (for the brand at least) and I don't see them being used all too often. Except maybe at night, when changing is less frequent.

I only purchased them because of the deal I got while at our now closed Babies R Us. Had it not been for that, I probably wouldn't have purchased any.

I know I was after this amount of information, which is why I want to end this part here. I hope I covered everything, but I'm sure I didn't, and I'm even more sure I got some things wrong. If I did, please let me know in comments!

Let me know which diapers you prefer and why. There are just so many options, and babies are all so different, I'm glad there are, but it makes the research part really wild, and extensive.

Next time, I think I plan on covering the different types of inserts, materials, and why some are supposed to be better than others? Yeah, maybe something like that.