Not your Grandma’s Cloth Diapers: Modern Cloth Diapers 101

I have successfully used cloth diapers on two out of my three children. The third little one is still in my womb but I promise you when the birth date comes this babe will be clothed in fluff (what us cloth diaper enthusiasts sometimes call cloth diapers). The number one fact that I tell any of my friends who are thinking about using cloth diapers is that today’s diapers are not the same diapers your grandmother (or even your mother) used. Today’s diapers have taken on a new design and a sophisticated functionality.

First, we need to look at a basic disposable diaper:

1. It has an outer layer (usually the part of the diaper that has the design). This part of the diaper hold the waterproofing layer together so it protects your baby’s skin and clothes.

2. It has a middle layer that’s filled with a bunch of fluffy stuff; it’s used to absorb any liquid that comes in contact with it. If you have ever had a wet diaper break apart on you this fluffy layer turns into this gelatinous goop.

3. Then there’s the layer that comes in direct contact with your baby’s skin. This keeps your baby’s skin dry by wicking moisture into the middle layer of the diaper and away from baby’s skin.

The Various Kinds of Cloth Diapers

I think one of the most confusing things about cloth diapers is how many variations there are out there. They all do the same job, however, how they accomplish that job differs. First things first, all cloth diapers essentially must have three important layers (just like the disposable diaper).

1. Outer layer of the diaper that is waterproof – it keeps the baby’s clothes and in effect skin dry.

2. Middle layer that acts as the absorbent layer.

3. Inner layer that keeps baby’s bum somewhat dry. (Let’s be honest, it will not act the same as a disposable diaper because it does not have the kind of particles in the middle layer that keep the moisture locked in.)

The Prefold Diaper/Flat Diaper – This one is similar to the diaper your grandma may have used

The prefold diaper (it’s already “folded” into thirds so it’s less work for you to put on the baby) and the flat diaper (basically any kind of fabric that you can find, an old t-shirt, a scrap piece of fabric, etc.) is the least expensive way to cloth diaper your baby. Depending on the kind of prefold you purchase you can spend as little as $.60 per prefold and even less if you use flats.

Basically, to use a prefold or flat diaper you need to fold it on your baby, fasten the diaper either with an old fashioned diaper pin or with a modern fastener such as the Snappi (that’s the “y” shaped plastic piece you see in the picture to the right) or Boingo . The Snappi has teeth that catch into the fabric of the diaper, holding everything in place. Once you have the prefold fastened on there you need your waterproofing layer which is where a diaper cover comes into play. Your grandmother may have called these “plastic pants” and even though today’s covers are easier and more comfortable to wear they function the same way those plastic pants did.

The All-in-One (AIO) Diaper – Easy, peasy and closest to a disposable diaper.

The AIO is exactly how it sounds – everything is all in one diaper. You have the waterproof outer layer (that’s the part that’s has a print or color and can be seen from the outside) and then you have the absorbent middle layer that rests against the skin. Some call this diaper the “Daycare Diaper” or the “Daddy Friendly Diaper.” I personally hate using the phrase “Daddy Friendly” because my husband was the one who thought we should use cloth diapers in the first place; plus, I think it sounds like we’re dumbing down our baby’s daddy! But I went off on a little bunny trail there… The pros of the AIO is its ease of use while the cons can be how long it can take to dry. One of my favorite AIO’s is made by a company called Thirsties and it takes an entire day to dry. Always looking on the bright side though and this shows you how efficient the diaper is.

The Pocket Diaper – A little added work but worth it.

The pocket diaper really put modern cloth diapers on the map. Like the AIO, the pocket diaper has several parts to it and honestly, the difference between the AIO and the pocket is that the AIO is everything connected together in one. The pocket, is exactly how it sounds – a diaper cover with a pocket that you can stuff the absorbent layer into. Most moms like this option because you can adjust the absorbency to fit your baby’s particular needs. It’s hard to explain so let’s go back to our disposable diaper layers:

The pocket diaper has one layer that is waterproof; again, this layer is colored or has a print on it. Attached to that waterproof layer is the fabric (sometimes made from fleece or hemp or even bamboo) that touches baby’s skin. The purpose of this layer is to wick moisture away from the baby and into the “insert.” The insert is the layer of the diaper that you literally stuff into the inside of the pocket. It’s the middle of the sandwich, cushioned by the outer waterproof layer and the inner keep baby’s skin dry layer. Most pocket diapers come with a microfiber insert although you can stuff anything into a diaper that will absorb liquid.

The brand Cotton Babies brought the pocket diaper into the main stream with their one size pocket diaper called bumGenius. Four versions have been made; my son’s cloth diapers were bumGenius’ 3.0’s.

The Fitted Diaper – Fitted to what?

I was so confused by the fitted when I first started using cloth diapers. It made no sense to me: what was it fitted to? How could some fitteds be a one size diaper if they were called a fitted?

The fitted is extremely similar to the AIO, however, it lacks the waterproof outer layer. Most moms (myself included) use a fitted for nighttime diapering because most fitteds have several hidden layers sewn into the inside of the diaper. During the summer, you can let your baby wear a fitted without a cover which is great because most fitteds are adorable! Plus, it’s a good idea to let your baby’s skin air out a little bit and breathe; after all, the waterproof layer that comes with a cover, AIO and pocket does an excellent job of preventing leaks. It also, however, does a great job of locking some moisture in next to baby’s skin.

There is so much more we can talk about when it comes to diapers but I’ll leave you with the above information for now. The four types listed above are your main styles of cloth diapers; believe me, there are more than that. Let’s keep it simple for now.

Have you considered using cloth diapers before? What’s held you back?