Types of Cloth Baby Diapers

With such a wide range of great cloth baby diapers available, it’s
easier than ever to use cloth diapers! But when you’re just getting
started, it may seem like cloth baby diapers come with their own
language. Here we take a few minutes to walk through the basics. When you’re ready, click through to another article on each type, where we provide more details and helpful information, plus some of the brands we trust!

cloth baby diapers - intro to cloth diaper types

Articles in This Series

How to Cloth Diaper for Under $100

If you’re on a budget cloth diapers will save you a lot of money
– but getting started can be hard. The good news is that you really can cloth diaper for under $100! Whether you want
to buy new diapers, purchase gently used, or make your own, this article
has lots of no-frills ideas for you to help you work within a tight budget!

Flat Cloth Diapers

Flats are the oldest style of cloth diapers, and are the ones your
grandparents and parents are likely familiar with. They are made up of
pieces of absorbent white 100% cotton fabric that can be folded to
custom sizes. They dry very quickly, and are very inexpensive, but
require folding and pinning. They must be used with a cover or wrap to
be waterproof. Flats are sometimes hard to find since many moms prefer
the convenience of prefold diapers.

Prefold Cloth Diapers

Prefold reusable cloth diapers are an affordable and versatile style of
cloth baby diapers used by both moms and diaper service companies.

While pocket diapers and AIO cloth diapers usually start around $15 each
and continue upwards, pre-folds usually cost between $2.50 and $5.00
depending on the size.

Prefolds are not waterproof on their own. They can be laid inside a
waterproof diaper cover, or wrapped and fastened around your baby with
pins or a Snappi.

Fitted Cloth Diapers

Usually made of absorbent cotton, bamboo, or hemp, fitted cloth baby
diapers have a contour shape similar to a disposable diaper, with
elastic or gathered edges at the legs and back to contain messes. They
are fastened with snaps or Velcro (or “aplix”).

Used alone, fitted cloth diapers are not water-proof, so they must be
combined with a waterproof cover. Since waterproof covers do not allow
for airflow, some parents choose to use their fitted diapers without
covers when they are at home. Fitted cloth diapers are easier to use
than pre-folds, so they are great for active babies and toddlers.
However, they are more expensive. Fitted diapers are often made of both
prints and plain fabrics. While usually sized, some companies have
introduced one-size options for the fitted diaper.

Example brands are Kissaluvs Cotton Fleece Fitted, Thirsties, Mother-ease, AMP Hemp Fitted Diapers, and Bamboozle.

Baby Diaper Covers & Wraps

Baby diaper covers and wraps are made of waterproof material. They are
used with flat, prefold, and fitted diapers that are not waterproof on
their own. Since pockets and all-in-ones are already waterproof, a
cover is not necessary for these styles!

Rubber pants are a thing of the past! Thanks to new fabrics
and choices of design, there are a lot of cover options you can choose
from for your cloth baby diapers, including wool, fleece, PUL, and
nylon. Read this article for more information on styles, fabric
choices, laundering, brands, and more!

Pocket Diapers

Pocket diapers were a fantastic invention! They are one of the most
popular types of cloth baby diapers for new parents, and a personal
favourite of mine! These diapers are a two-part system, with a
waterproof outer (usually made of PUL), and a stay-dry inside layer made
of wicking materials such as microfleece, minky, or suede-cloth. The
two layers are sewn together with an opening (usually at the back, but
some such as AMP put the opening at the front) to allow parents to
insert absorbent material into the pocket.

You can use anything as an insert (including pre-folds, or even towels
if you run out of inserts!) You need to remove the insert before
washing pocket diapers, and they must also be “re-stuffed” before use.
Because of the two-part system, pocket diapers dry much more quickly
than all-in-ones. Once they have been stuffed, pocket diapers are as
easy to use as all-in-one diapers. Pocket diapers range in price, but
are typically more expensive than pre-fold cloth baby diapers and
covers.

Some of the many brands include FuzziBunz, AppleCheeks, and Rumparooz. Plus check out our article on cheap pocket diapers for an overview of 6 budget-friendly pocket diapers.

Cloth Diaper Inserts

If you’re new to cloth diapering, the differences between cloth diaper
inserts, doublers, boosters, and soakers can be confusing to say the
least! Here we review absorbent options for your diapers, and talk about
fabric types too! By the time you’re done this article, we hope we’ll
have cleared up any questions you might have about inserts and cloth
diaper absorbency.

All-in-Two and Hybrid Diapers

We’ve tried them all, and AI2s are our favorite diaper type of all! If you’re looking for something quick and easy, all-in-twos may be the cloth diaper answer you’ve been searching for! AI2s have a detachable insert means that the shell can be reused for
more than one diaper change. These diapers offer convenience, flexibility, and affordability. Read our comparison of AI2s compared to all-in-ones, and check out an overview of some of our favorite brands.

With a waterproof, washable shell and a disposable or re-usable insert,
hybrid diapers are a cross between traditional disposable diapers and
cloth diapers. At each diaper change, the insert is replaced, but the
cover can be used again and again.

Hybrid diaper manufacturers sell cloth inserts that can be used at home,
and disposable inserts that can be used for times (such as travel) when
storing or washing is inconvenient.

All-in-Ones

bumgenius elemental all-in-one cloth diaper

All-in-one cloth diapers (also called AIOs) are super-easy to use, and
are the closest type of cloth diapers to disposable diapers. Many
parents buy a few all-in-ones to have on hand for babysitters and
grandparents. They are fitted, with a waterproof shell and a built-in
absorbent layer, and Velcro or snap fasteners. While some all-in-ones
do have a pocket to allow you to add extra absorbency, most cannot be
customized. Because the layers are all stacked and sewed together, they
are sometimes not as trim and can take longer to dry than other forms
of cloth diapers. This article provides more information, plus a
comparison of a few of our favorite brands!

Our Favorite Cloth Diaper Prints

Sized vs. One-Size Diapers

Most manufacturers offer one-size and sized options. One-size diapers are adjustable so that they can
grow along with your baby from birth until potty training.

Thanks to a set of snaps used to adjust the rise (or a fold-down rise with two sets of snaps), one-size cloth baby diapers are a great option for parents who may only cloth diaper one
child, or who are looking to reduce their total investment. One-size diapers do not always work well on newborn diapers, because they are bulky and may not provide a snug enough fit.

Whenever we can, we provide photo size comparisons of one-size diapers on their smallest setting next to a newborn diaper to help you get a feel for what to expect. If you plan to start with cloth diapers early on, you may wish to buy newborn or sized diapers.

Newborn Cloth Diapers

Are you planning to start cloth diapering right from day 1? We’ve got
information on using newborn cloth diapers, including suggested brands
and styles that offer a good fit for brand new babies.

When you’re diapering a newborn, it’s important that your diaper offers a
snug fit! You want to have a diaper that is snug around the back and
across the back to contain runny newborn poop.

Overnight Cloth Diapers

If your baby is a heavy wetter, cloth diapering at night can be a
frustrating experience until you find overnight diapers that works.

Are you tired of getting up with an unhappy and wet baby? You do NOT
need to switch to expensive disposable overnight diapers! There are some
great cloth diaper options available for overnight diapering.

This article provides help with heavy wetters, suggestions for overnight
diaper options, and help with stinky diapers and diaper rashes if your
baby is sleeping through the night.

Cloth Training Pants

Many parents have discovered the paradox of modern potty-training – at a
time when you most want your toddler to recognize that wet diaper
feeling, Pull-Ups mask the wet feel. Cloth training pants are designed
to pull up just like underpants, but are made with a waterproof outer
layer such as PUL and absorbent material on the inside. Some
manufacturers make pocket trainers so you can customize absorbency.

Cloth Swim Diapers

Planning to take your baby swimming? Here’s why you need to look at
cloth swim diapers, even if you never plan to put a cloth diaper on your
baby in their life. Learn more and read up on popular brands, too!

8 Diaper Bags for Cloth Diapers

Here’s a list of 8 cloth diaper friendly designer diaper bags!
It’s amazing how much “stuff” moms need in their diaper bags when they
travel with a baby! From a change of clothes for you and 3 outfits for
baby, to hand sanitizer and extra wipes, it’s not easy to pack light!

Conclusion

While the choice of styles (and then brands!) may seem overwhelming at first, every single style of cloth baby diapers is a great option! Keep your budget and preferences in mind, and consider how much time you want to spend assembling diapers. Once you know what is important to you, it will be much easier to make a decision.

Keep in mind, no matter what cloth diapers you choose, you will likely still save money compared to using disposable diapers. And, if the first diapers you purchase don’t work out, please know that you can easily re-sell them to recoup most of your cost to put toward another style!

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us or post a question on our Facebook page!