Choosing a Cloth Diapering System

So, you've decided to use cloth diapers to keep baby's skin healthy, to save money, to save the environment. But, you're bewildered by the many choices now available in cloth. Opinions vary from mother to mother about which is the best diaper-much the same as preferences vary in shampoos, cars, books, or anything else!

To make the decision for yourself, you can order one of each of the diapers which interest you. When you decide which you want, return the other diapers for a refund or credit towards a new order, provided that the diapers have not been used or washed.

If your baby is not yet born, try the diapers on a doll. Remember that the diapers may seem a little large as they are sized to allow for shrinkage which will occur during the first 8 washings.

* 36 cloth diapers

* Waterproof pants: 4 newborn (unless the diaper has a waterproof cover). Wait to buy the other sizes till later, because if your baby is growing quickly you can skip sizes.

* Diaper liners

* A diaper pail (no need to put water in it--use our "dry pail' method).

* 36 Cloth baby wipes, or your own older washcloths that are wearing thin, for cleaning baby's bottom. Get extra for mealtime cleanup!

* 3 Change Pads, one for diaper bag, one for change area, and one to use when the other is in the laundry.

* Later, if your baby is a heavy sleeper, you might want to get extra absorbency pads.

The picture to the left shows what a complete diaper layette will look like. The layette pictured consists of mostly one-size, all-in-one diapers (that will fit from newborn-toddler), but also has a few newborn size contoured diapers & covers, as well as all of the accessories like cloth wipes, liners, absorbency pads, and diaper pail.

For a diaper pail, look for one that has a lid that you can open easily when you are changing diapers. A pail with a foot-pedal lid opener is ideal. Try to find one that is a standard size, so that you can use a diaper pail liner inside of it, which means that you can carry the dirty diapers to the washing machine in the pail liner, instead of lugging the whole pail to the laundry room. Using a diaper pail liner also means that you don't have to clean the entire pail each time you do a load of diapers.

1. Decide on your budget for cloth diapers, and select a diaper style accordingly.

2. If the diaper requires a waterproof pant over it, decide which style you like. The pull-on waterproof ones are the least expensive, but when you change a messy diaper, you may not like pulling the pant down the leg... The option is to use snap-on pants or velcro diaper covers, which open wide for diaper changes, but which cost more than pull-on pants. Many parents opt for the all-in-one diapers which are the most expensive but are quick to change because the waterproof part is already attached to the diaper.
See the picture to the left for examples of pull-on and Velcro waterproof covers.

3. Decide if you want to use diaper liners. We're talking about the things that catch the mess of a poopy diaper, not the flannel pads that are used to add absorbency. The flushable paper liners are the most convenient for a newborn (who has frequent bowel movements). There are also polypropylene liners which can be washed several times, and durable fabric liners which can be washed hundreds of times. You can buy diapers with the fabric liner sewn into it at one end, so it is already in place for quick diaper changes.

Here are the questions to ask yourself:

What is more important to you: Convenience,or Environmental Impact? See our list of the most popular choices, starting with the least expensive. The most popular choice is the all-in-one diaper with breathable waterproof cover which comes in 2 styles, the Baby Softwear and the Baby Love Fitted. These diapers fit baby from birth to potty training, and must be folded over at the front or the back to fit a newborn. Parents who want to fold the diaper over in front choose Baby Softwear, parents who like the back folding choose Baby Love Fitted. You do not need a waterproof pant over the all-in-one styles so they are very convenient. They now come in attractive colors. The Baby Love Fitted is the least expensive.

Some parents get newborn prefolded diapers (Baby Love Prefolds) and use them with newborn Sprinkles diaper covers for the first 6 weeks, then switch to the Baby Softwear or Baby Love Fitted diaper, because the one-size-fits all diapers are bulky on a newborn. Newborn Baby Love Prefolds can continue to be used later inside the one-size-fits-all diapers as extra absorbency pads for night-time or toddlers.
The picture to the left illustrates the newborn prefold & Sprinkles system, and the Baby Love Fitted diaper.
HOW MANY? All our figures are for 36 diapers, and if waterproof pants are needed the figures include 4 newborn, 3 small, 3 large, 3 superlarge.

COST? The most convenient diapers are also the highest in cost. If time is not afactor, you can save a bundle by using the traditional square diapers, which require folding.