CNY Cloth Diaper Express: The Cloth Diapering 411
Prefold Diapers
If you’re looking for the most economical way to diaper your baby, prefolds are perfect for you! A prefold diaper is similar to what your grandmother used and what CNYCDE offers in our diaper service. These diapers must be folded and covered with a waterproof diaper cover to contain any messes. When it’s time to change your baby, if the cover is not soiled, it can simply be reused instead of washing it every change. This method of diapering can be intimidating at first due to the extra steps required, but many parents say they’d never diaper any other way!
Types of Prefolds: Indian or Chinese and Bleached or Unbleached
Available in the following sizes: newborn 5-8lbs, infant 7-15lbs, regular 15-30lbs.
How to put on a prefold and cover: Step 1: fold into thirds and then “fan” out the back creating a space for baby’s bottom. Step 2: place baby on diaper, bring the diaper through the legs and secure the wings to the front of the diaper with a diaper snappi. Step 3: place cover over the prefold and secure with Velcro closures.
What does CNYCDE personally think of Prefolds? Prefolds are a tried and true cloth diaper, essential to any cloth diaper stash. Many moms who want to cloth diaper outright will use prefolds for the first few weeks when their baby is going through 15 diapers a day, as it is a very economical diapering solution and then switch to a pocket style diaper when their baby is ready for the next size up. Plus, prefolds make awesome, super absorbant spit up cloths and as rags for years to come down the road!
Fitted Diapers
Fitted diapers are slightly more complicated than pocket diapers or all in one diapers because they require two pieces; diaper and diaper cover. Generally, fitted diapers are made of cotton, bamboo, or a combination of absorbent materials.
They range in sizes from Newborn to X-Large based on your child’s height and weight. These diapers are form-fitting so they are trimmer than a one-size diaper and they are contoured to your child's body, unlike a prefold diaper. Fitted diapers can have hook and loop closures (similar to Velcro) or snaps. Because there is no waterproof outer layer, a cover is placed over the diaper to hold in the wetness. When it is time to change your child, it is not necessary to change the cover unless it is soiled. Only the inner diaper needs to be changed every time. Some outer covers even have wipe-clean surfaces, so very few covers are needed.
While this diapering system can be slightly more complicated, it is an economical way to cloth diaper your baby. Also, since diapers and covers come in a variety of colors and prints, it can be a fun and exciting way to diaper your baby!
Types of Fitted Diapers:
Thirsties Fab Fitted Happy Heiny Hugger
What does CNYCDE personally think of Fitted Diapers? Fitted diapers are great for summer time because they are super absorbant yet allow for maximum air flow. Fitted diapers are also great for newborns because they are so absorbant and breastmilk poo is pretty liquidly those first few months!
All-In-One Diapers
All-in-one diapers are very similar to pocket diapers, but have the “stuffing” built in to the pocket instead of requiring an insert. Some AIO (all-in-one diapers also allow for additional stuffing for nighttime or naps. The major drawback to this design is that the drying time is much longer for an AIO
than for a pocket diaper. However, we find that some parents prefer this design because no stuffing is required, making AIO systems almost as easy as disposable diapering!
Types of AIO Diapers:
bumGenius AIO
Available in the following sizes: xs/nb, sm, md, lg.
What does CNYCDE personally think of AIO's? AIO diapers are a great easy no muss, no fuss diaper for those who don't want to stuff pockets or do a two part diaper like a prefold. They do take FOREVER to dry (typically two drier cycles or a few days of hot summer sun) and if you don't get them completely dry, the microfiber insert will retain moisture and stink over time. AIO diapers are great to have on hand for those times when grandma is over or you have a sitter.
Pocket Diapers
Pocket diapers are, in our opinion, the most hassle-free way to cloth diaper your baby. Pocket diapers have two layers: a waterproof outer “cover” and an inner lining that is usally microfleece or microsuede to draw moisture away from your baby’s skin creating a stay dry barrier. A
pocket is formed between the two layers in which an insert (typically microfiber) is placed.
Types of Pocket Style Diapers:
FuzziBunz Perfect Size FuzziBunz One-Size
bumGenius 3.0 Happy Heiny
Available in the following sizes: xs/nb, sm, md, lg, onesize
What does CNYCDE personally think of Pocket Diapers? Pocket style diapers are my absolute favorite diapers out there! They offer the great stay dry layer, which great for babies with sensitive skin, plus you can custom adjust the absorbancy by adding an additonal insert, the waterproof layer is already attached so there is no two parts that you need and they come in either velcro or snap closures. The only drawback is that after laundering the inserts do need to be stuffed back into the shell (this is referred to as stuffing) but the upside is that they wash up really well, coming out super clean, and dry amazingly fast. Many moms actually only line dry their shells and put the inserts into the drier being more environmentally friendly!
Diaper Covers
Whether you’re using a fitted diaper or a prefold, you’ll need a diaper cover. Diaper covers come in either a velcro closure or a snap closure. Some diaper covers will need to be washed after every diaper change, so you’ll need to have plenty available so that you don’t run out of covers. Other covers have a wipe-clean interior, so you can change only the diaper and switch out the cover once it is soiled. This allows you to get by with fewer covers—a truly economical and hassle-free choice!
Types of Diaper Covers: Wool, PUL, Fleece,
Available in the following sizes: xs/nb, sm, md, lg, size 1, size 2
Thirsties diaper cover over a prefold
What does CNYCDE personally think of Diaper Covers? PUL covers have been very successful for us. They are easy to wipe out if soiled and reuse during multiple diaper changes throughout the day. Wool covers like shorties or longies are super cute and nice in the winter but need special washing, and can be super expensive. Fleece covers are a good option for those who like to avoid synthetic materials like the PUL covers but are cheaper and less matinence than wool.
One-Size Diapers
One-Size diapers are really hot right now for several reasons. For one they are very economical being that the baby can wear the same diaper from birth through potty training and two they offer a wide variety of settings making them customizable, plus they tend to be a pocket style diaper.
One-Size diapers are adjustable either through a hidden snap panel i.e. bumGenius or through the leg elastics i.e. FuzziBunz. bumGenius offers a velcro waist closure and FuzziBunz offers a snap closure.
Types of One-Size Diapers:
bumGenius 3.0 FuzziBunz
What does CNYCDE personally think of One-Size Diapers? One Size diapers are a great cost effective way to use pocket style diapers without having to buy different sizes. It has been our personal experience however that some one size diapers are a bit bulky on newborns (even an almost 10lb newborn) and that some onesize diapers are hard to get the rise low enough to fall under the cord stump without causing irritation to the belly button area during the delicate healing time.
Perfect Fit vs. One-Size
Perfect Fit or sized diapers are available in varying sizes based on your baby’s weight. Perfect fit diapers are trimmer without a lot of bulk and come in xs/nb, sm, md, and lg sizes. Because they are sized and you will need bigger diapers as your baby grows they have a longer span over multiple children. The good news is that most babies only need size small and medium but the other sizes are there in case you have a smaller baby or a larger toddler.
A one-size diaper will fit your baby over the course of 7-35lbs and therefore be more economical in the long run. However, since they are used over the entire span of a babys diapering days their longevity over multiple children may not be as long as those of their sized counterparts.
Snap Closures vs. Aplix (velcro) closures
Diapers can have aplix (similar to Velcro) or snap closures. While an aplix closure is generally more convenient, snap closures will stand up to years of use but some parents do find them harder to use than aplix.
What does CNYCDE personally think of Snaps vs. Aplix? In our family snaps are our preference although keeping a velcro closure diaper on hand for Grandma or a sitter has come in handy.
Accessories
Now on to the really fun stuff! You’ll need a few things other than diapers to get started.
Wetbag- Parents generally choose to store their soiled diapers in a wet bag or a wet/dry bag. Simply put the wet diaper in the waterproof wet bag and the mess is contained. If you are using pocket diapers many parents find that it is easier to pull out the insert before placing into the wetbag. It is usually necessary to have a travel sized wetbag for your dirty diapers when you are out and about.
Cloth Wipes- Using cloth wipes that can just be tossed in with your diaper laundry will save you even more money and are also great for the environment. When you’re on the go, try a spray bottle with water and a drop of baby wash—a great way to use cloth wipes at home or when you’re away!
Diaper Cream- Using regular diaper cream can damage your cloth diapers. Grandma El’s is a great cloth diaper safe cream and you can also use a disposable liner to act as a barrier between your diaper cream and your cloth diapers and protect your investment! However, babies who use cloth diapers have nearly zeor diaper rashes and if they do its often vax related.
Stuffers- If using pocket diapers, additional inserts can be stuffed in your diaper for heavy wetter’s or for nighttime and naps. Infant sized prefolds are the perfect solution, creating a diaper that will hold tons of wetness!
Poop Solutions- Most parents are concerned about how to handle poops. If you really have an aversion to the mess, disposable liners are the perfect solution. Simply toss in the toilet and flush the mess away!
Another option for poops is a diaper sprayer. Diaper Sprayers are perfect for rinsing out your messy diapers! However, you will not need either one of these options with a breastfed baby until they start soilds as before that time their poo is a breeze to deal with.
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