Quick guide to cloth diapers

Feeling lost with all the different styles and types of cloth diapers.

Here are a few quick run downs on what you need to know:

Designs:

6 Basic design types:

1.    Flats- flat rectangle made of cotton, hemp, bamboo, needs to be folded and fastened with pins or diaper fastener.  Needs diaper cover.

2.    Prefolds- rectangle with very thick middle, also needs to be fastened or placed in diaper cover. 

3.    Contours-designed to fit the baby (shape of a disposable diaper)

4.    Fitted-like a contour but with an elastic on legs, waist and has a closure (like velcro or snaps).  Needs diaper cover as isn’t waterproof.  None of the above are.

5.    All In One (AIO) - has a build in waterproof diaper cover.  You just put it on.

Materials:

Cloth diapers come in a variety of very absorbent materials:

Cotton, Hemp, Bamboo, Terry, micro-fleece.  All have their advantages and disadvantages.  For details see our section on “Cloth Diaper Types”.

Covers:

Come in two basic designs:

 either pull on (like underwear).  See "Bummis Whisper Pants"

or with closures (Velcro, similar to disposable diaper tabs) or snaps.  Snaps can also be located on the sides of the leg.

Much like cloth diapers, covers come in a variety of materials, from nylon (Bummis Original Cover), PUL (polyurethane laminate), water resistant fleece (Polar Bummi), and wool (Sugar Peas Organic Wool Diaper Cover).

What you’re looking for is a very absorbent inner part of the diaper, and a very good cover.

Again, see our section on “Diaper Types” for more details of each.

Using your cloth diapers:

You’d quite simply use them , and throw them in the diaper pail when soiled.

 Just spray them with a diaper sprayer to remove some of the poop prior to depositing them in the pail.  That way you never have to touch the messy stuff if you don’t wish to.  A "Diaper Sprayer" works wonders to assist you with this.

For those who don’t mind, an alternative is to grab a clean corner of the diaper and dunk the diaper gently in the toilet.  Give it a gentle shake and the poop will fall off.  Throw it in the diaper pail.

On wash day throw your diapers in the machine, and you’re off.

Washing your cloth diapers

Washing instructions:

The most basic washing instructions include:

1. Pre wash in cold (only to remove any stuck on debris)

2. Wash in hot with mild detergent

3. Add an extra rinse to ensure all the detergent has been removed.

4. Throw in dryer, or take outside on the line to dry in the sun.  Sun’s rays help in removing any stains.

For detailed instructions and tips on what detergents to use, see our “Washing Your Cloth Diapers” section.