Five Styles of Cloth Diapers
Five Styles of Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers aren't like they used to be. The days of of safety pins, plastic pants, and leaks are gone. Today's cloth diapers have been engineered to be as quick as disposables. Flushable liners, hook and loop closures and high-tech materials create comfy and dependable diapers which are simple to operate. Easy-to-use characteristics and the eco-friendly character of cloth will make them a good selection for parents, regardless of their cashflow. Through the years, there has been an increased demand for cloth diapers because of the many benefits they offer.
There are five major styles of cloth diapers, with varying levels of simplicity of use and cost. The objective of this post is to simply make clear the different cloth diaper varieties and look into the key benefits of each type.
All in One
Using an all-in-one cloth diaper, or AIO, is much easier than using any other types of cloth-diapering techniques, given that there is a single piece. There is nothing to fold and there's nothing to include or remove. It usually has a fast and easy fastening method, like hook-and-loop or Velcro, of course, it's machine washable.
AIO diapers are a one piece diaper that include a number of absorbent layers (generally two, in some cases hourglass shaped) that have been sewn inside of an outer waterproof cover. They are practical for convenient changes, are widely used by lots of modern young families as the main portion of their diapering method, and along with a supplementary diaper booster inside can perform effectively over night. Major disadvantages of AIO diapers may include longer drying times (some brands) and also the "one wear, one wash" process which is used. Main advantages of AIO diapers are the sheer simplicity of the design, the sleek fit (of some brands), and that they are an excellent overall solution which can be in virtually any situation.
All-in-ones are definitely the simplest to operate for those who are not familiar with cloth diapering. Since the diaper and the cover are stitched to one another, they can be as simple to use as a disposable. This makes these diapers an outstanding method to use at a babysitter's or grandparent's house. Nobody will become scared of the fold/tuck/pin/cover procedure for various other cloth diaper designs.
Hybrid
Sometimes called an All In Two (or AI2) cloth diaper, Hybrid diapers are designed as a system to make it relatively easy for parents to diaper their babies naturally. Hybrid diapers include a shell (or diaper cover) into which you insert a variety of absorbency layers. The Hybrid style took its name because the absorbency layers used may be either cloth or disposable, chosen dependant upon the location. For instance, you may choose to implement cloth absorbency when in the home, but use a disposable or flushable liner when going to day care or traveling. Hybrid systems can come in a sized approach (meaning further expenses when your baby gets bigger) or in a one-size alternative (which grows along with your baby).
Key disadvantages of Hybrid diapers is that they can appear to be complicated (however, with very little experience, this concern typically disappears).
Key advantages of Hybrid diapers are the level of flexibility that they introduce to cloth diapering, the ability to change how many absorbency layers (less for day, more for night) and the fact that some brands are purposefully designed to enable multiple wearings of outer shells between washes.
A pocket diaper features an external waterproof layer made from polyurethane laminate (PUL) that is sewn to a fabric layer which goes up against the baby's skin, and you'll find a gap left in the back between the two. You see the pocket in the photo.
You put an absorbent cloth insert into that opening. After the diaper is changed, you take out the insert for washing and incorporate the insert and diaper both in the laundry together. Nearly all brands come with their own inserts, but you can use prefolds or find additional inserts. The whole diaper fastens with either Velcro or snaps. We use these at night, too, and they are very absorbent.
This product is quick and convenient. If your baby is a wiggler, you could insert the inserts into the diapers earlier and change the baby swiftly. Additionally it is quite simple for grandparents and babysitters. Since you take the insert out from the diaper before you wash it, it gets quite clean and dries more rapidly than all in ones.
Regrettably, they are a bit pricier than some other cloth diapers. They also don't typically have natural fibers in the cloth that touches the baby's delicate tush. Usually the fabric is a polyester microfiber that wicks moisture off the skin. You could find natural fiber pocket diapers, but they're tougher to locate.
Fitted
Fitted diapers, commonly referred to as Fitteds, are ingenious cloth diapers which combine simplicity of use and freedom. Fitted diapers bear resemblance to the size and shape of disposable diapers. The selection of super absorbing and breathable cloth from which to choose these are hands-down one of the best cloth diapering possibilities to suit your little one's unique requirements.
Fitted diapers are diapers that contain numerous layers of absorbent cloth, have back and leg elastic, and fasten on baby with snaps or hook and loop closures. Fitted diapers do NOT have a water resistant outer surface, and therefore will need some sort of waterproof cover. Fitted diapers are hourglass shaped and do not involve folding. Most fitted diapers are sized and therefore call for that you must purchase larger sizes as your baby gets bigger. However, some brand names (including the Kiwi Pie one-size pima cotton fitted diaper) have introduced one-size fitted diapers that use snaps on the front rise of the diapers to enable them to grow along with your child.
Although fitted diapers are not water-proof and do require the use of a diaper cover, herein lies undoubtedly one of their strengths! You select: wool, fleece, or PUL covers; some parents even opt to go coverless (generally when indoors or when trying to eliminate a diaper rash).
Prefold
Prefold cloth diapers are the cloth diapers our mothers and/or grandmothers used. For everybody who is with limited funds, prefolds are an economical cloth diapering method, although perhaps not as effortless as a few of the other choices. Prefolds are rectangular and flat. They require that you fold them into a preferred shape, and after that fasten on the infant and put a cover on top. Covers could be basic and traditional as wool pull-ons, or as scientifically advanced as water-resistant and quick-dry diaper shells. Flats need little storage space and can even be washed by hand if laundry facilities are inaccessible. Flats tend to be just one single layer of fabric that usually can be folded to create more absorbency and dry out quickly. Disadvantages of prefolds are that you'll need to acquire larger sizes as your baby grows, they might be bulky, and require a fastener and cover. Merits of prefolds are that they are usually very versatile, quite easy to dry and clean, and tend to be low-cost.