The Basics of Cloth Diapers

For the environmentally savvy, there can be a real draw toward using cloth diapers for infants. Everyone is aware of the problems with disposable diapers clogging landfills and being a major source of pollution. While other health-conscious parents are aware that disposable diapers often have chemical liners to increase their absorbency which has been linked in some studies with illnesses such as asthma. Yet for many, the idea of cloth diapering seems archaic: too much work with too little reward. Parents imagine diaper pins and rubber pants and lots of leaking messes. What many may not know is that the world of cloth diapers has changed dramatically in the last few years. The choices can seem overwhelming and the vocabulary can be confusing when visiting retailers of cloth diapers. Therefore, here is an easy tutorial to help the cloth diaper novice get started.

The Basic Cloth Diaper

Although large retailers often sell Gerber brand birdseye cloth diapers, pins, and rubber pants, most cloth diaperers opt not to use this method. Instead, in its most basic form, the cloth diaper user should look into using diapers known as prefolds, generally referred to as Chinese Prefolds (CPF) or Indian Prefolds (IPF). The Chinese prefolds are generally white in color, though they can come unbleached, and the Indian Prefolds usually arrive in an unbleached shade of tan. These cloth diapers are just that: a large piece of cotton usually prefolded to be thicker in the center. Initially prefolds can be misleading to the user, as out of the package they seem very stiff and hard. Not to worry - after several washes they soften right up and many parents feel these diapers to be the most absorbent and leak proof. Diaper pins have fallen to the wayside with two new inventions - the "Snappi" and the waterproof velcroed (or snapped) fitted diaper cover. Parents who choose to fold their prefolds the traditional way now find that they can order a gizmo known as a "Snappi." This is a piece of stretchy plastic with three arms that end with tiny tines that act as claws and hang on to the cotton. Invented by a father, the Snappi keeps the cloth diaper together and takes away the fear of pricking the child with the diaper pin. Even the Snappi can be avoided with the prefolds as all nearly diaper retailers now sell fitted, waterproof diaper covers. These covers come in a variety of materials, shades, and prints. Usually they are sealed with Velcro or snaps and serve as the outer cover for the prefolded diaper. The prefolded diaper can simply be folded into thirds and laid inside of the diaper wrap, which is then fastened onto baby and wah-la, baby is diapered without much hassle at all.

A Step Up from the Basics

It gets easier though. For parents not wanting to hassle with the prefolded diapers comes the advent of the fitted cloth diaper. These diapers come made in a variety of materials from organic cotton, hemp, or bamboo, to wool, flannel and fleece. These diapers come already sewn into the shape of a diaper. The parent simply slips on the diaper, fastens it (Velcro or snaps) and then covers it with a diaper cover (the same kind of covers can be used with fitted diapers as with prefolds). Many parents enjoy this type of diaper as it does away with the steps of folding or Snappi-ing the prefolds.

It Gets Easier!

Still not sold on cloth? Then you haven't been properly introduced to the pocket diaper. The pocket diaper is most likely the favorite diaper of the cloth diapering community. The pocket diaper is a presewn diaper that is usually comprised of a waterproof PUL fabric on the outside, a flannel or fleece inside, and a small space in the back in which the parent inserts an absorbent insert often made from microbfiber, hemp, or bamboo. The flannel inside of the diaper wicks away most of the moisture from baby's bottom and it is absorbed into the insert. Baby feels drier for longer this way. To wash, parents simply remove the insert and wash the diaper. Simple. Many parents favor the pocket diaper as being every bit as easy as the disposable. In fact, many cloth-diapering parents have been successful in even getting daycare professionals to use the cloth diapers on their children after showing them the ease of the pocket diaper. Parents simply prestuff the diapers and the daycare workers throw them in a diaper pail after they use them and return to the pail at the end of the day to the parent for washing. Using pocket diapers is really no different than putting on a disposable and throwing the soiled one in the garbage.

The All-In-One

Finally, there is the All-in-One (AIO) diaper. This is essentially the same thing as the pocket diaper except the absorbent liner is sewn into the diaper so there is no need to prestuff or remove the liner. Parents just put the diaper on, take it off and wash it and repeat. Easy!

Cloth diapering laundering is simple as well. For exclusively breastfed babies, the diapers do not even need to be rinsed after use. Parents can simply store the soiled diapers in a diaper pail until time to wash. They should then run a cold rinse cycle and then wash the diapers on hot. Care should be used not to use bleach, fabric softeners or Free and Clear detergents on cloth diapers, as chemicals in these products can wear down the absorbency of the cloth diapers. The diapers can then be thrown into the dryer (without dryer sheets) or hung to dry. Hanging the diapers to dry can extend their lifetime a bit, but most find popping them in the dryer to be the easiest.

If babies are not breastfed or are eating solid food, cleaning takes only one extra step: rinsing the soiled diaper before storing to wash. Some have purchased what is known as a "mini shower:" a tiny sprayer much like those found on kitchen sinks that attaches to the toilet and allows the parent to spray the contents of the diapers into the toilet before throwing in the diaper pail. Other parents simply dip the diaper in the toilet. Finally, some companies make flushable diaper liners that parents can out into their cloth diapers to help protect the diaper and make washing easier. These liners work well for toddlers and children eating a larger array of foods.

Though the start up of cloth diapering can seem expensive and daunting when needing to purchase several dozen diapers at once, most parents report saving money in the long run with their cloth diapers. It is not unheard of for parents new to cloth diapering to wonder what ever took them so long to get on board. Comparing the feel of a soft flannel pocket diaper against the skin with that of a scratchy paper disposable one is all it takes for many parents to vow to never go back to disposables again.