Cloth Diapers: How to Decide on Which Ones to Use

There are lots of factors in deciding what cloth diapers that you would like to use. One of which is the price, another is how often you want to be washing cloth diaper laundry and of course just comparing the different types of cloth diapers.

There are three types of cloth diapers that are not the traditional diaper cover and prefold combination.

One Size Cloth Diapers - These cloth diapers are said to be able to be used for your baby from birth to when they are potty trained.
Cost: About $20 Each
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 14 Diapers ($280)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 28 Diapers ($560)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 42 Diapers ($840)
Keep in mind that when your baby is older they will not need as many diaper changes a day. The amounts above are for if you want to be able to wash diapers that often at birth. In reality if you have 14 one size cloth diapers by the time your baby only needs 7 diaper changes a day you could wait and wash diapers every other day.

Pocket Cloth Diapers - A pocket cloth diaper is a diaper cover that uses inserts that you stuff the diaper cover with to absorb a baby's pee and poop.
Cost: About $15 Each
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 14 Small, 12 Medium, 10 Large Diapers ($540)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 28 Small, 24 Medium, 20 Large Diapers ($1080)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 42 Small, 36 Medium, 30 Large Diapers ($1620)

All In One Cloth Diapers - A combination of a diaper cover and a contour cloth diaper sewn into one.
Cost: About $18 Each
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 14 Small, 12 Medium, 10 Large Diapers ($648)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 28 Small, 24 Medium, 20 Large Diapers ($1296)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 42 Small, 36 Medium, 30 Large Diapers ($1944)

If you would like to use cloth diapers with a cover and prefold system there are several diaper covers to choose from.

Pull Up Diaper Cover - These look like plastic underpants for your baby.
Cost: About $6 Each
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 8 Small, 6 Medium, 5 Large Diaper Covers ($114)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 16 Small, 12 Medium, 10 Large Diaper Covers ($228)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 24 Small, 18 Medium, 15 Large Diaper Covers ($342)

Velcro Diaper Cover - There is a capital I shaped diaper cover that hooks together using velcro, often called a prorap.
Cost: About $9 Each
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 6 NB, 6 Small, 6 Medium, 5 Large Diaper Covers ($207)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 7 NB, 7 Small, 7 Medium, 6 Large Covers ($243)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 8 NB, 8 Small, 8 Medium, 7 Large Diaper Covers ($279)

Snap Diaper Cover - These diaper covers are proraps that use snaps instead of velcro to be fastened together.
Cost: About $10 Each
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 7 Small, 6 Medium, 5 Large Diaper Covers ($180)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 10 Small, 8 Medium, 6 Large Diaper Covers ($240)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 12 Small, 9 Medium, 7 Large Diaper Covers ($280)

Wool Diapers Covers - Wool diaper covers look like underpants for your baby made of wool and are sometimes referred to as a soaker.
Cost: About $25 Each
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 5 NB, 4 Small, 3 Medium, 3 Large, 3 XLarge Diaper Covers ($450)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 8 NB, 6 Small, 4 Medium, 4 Large, 4 XLarge Diaper Covers ($650)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 10 NB, 8 Small, 7 Medium, 6 Large, 6 XLarge Diaper Covers ($725)

Now there are different kinds of cloth diapers that can go with covers.

Contour Cloth Diapers - Cloth diapers that are usually made from cotton that are shaped to fit inside a prorap are called contour cloth diapers.
Cost: About $6 Each
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 14 Small, 12 Medium Diapers ($156)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 28 Small, 24 Medium Diapers ($312)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 42 Small, 36 Medium Diapers ($468)

Fitted Cloth Diapers - Fitted cloth diapers are contour diapers that can be fastened with velcro or snaps.
Cost: About $12 Each
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 14 Small, 12 Medium, 10 Large Diapers ($432)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 28 Small, 24 Medium, 20 Large Diapers ($862)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 32 Medium, 30 Large Diapers ($1296)

Prefold Regular and Premuim Cloth Diapers - Prefolds are squares of fabric that are usually cotton and the premium ones are slightly larger and thicker than the regular ones. They can be folded and placed in a diaper cover.
Cost: About $21 for a Dozen of Regular Prefolds and $24 for a Dozen of Premium Prefolds
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need A Dozen Regular, A Prefold Dozen Premium ($45)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need Two Dozen Regular, A Prefold Dozen Premium ($66)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need Two Dozen Regular, Two Prefold Dozen Premium ($90)

Flatfold Cloth Diapers - Flatfolds are large squares of fabric that you can fold many times to place in a diaper cover.
Cost: About $10 for a Dozen
Wash Diapers Everyday: You'll Need 4 Dozen ($40)
Wash Diapers Every Other Day: You'll Need 7 Dozen ($70)
Wash Diapers Twice a Week: You'll Need 10 Dozen ($100)

If you plan to take your child swimming while they are still in diapers, you are in luck because they make swim cloth diapers.

Swim Cloth Diapers - Swim cloth diapers are diapers that you can use on your baby when you want to take them in water with a diaper on.
Cost: About $10 Each
You'll probably only need 2 but depending on how often you plan on taking your child into water will determine how many you need to buy.

Now that you can determine these factors for cloth diapers perhaps you can make your decision a little bit easier.