Cloth Diaper Types

The best place to start is knowing which types of cloth diapers are out there.  With the exception of all-in-one's (AIO's), all cloth diapers are made up of two equally essential parts: (1) the waterproof diaper cover and (2) an absorbent, multi-layer diaper/insert.  The most popular types are: prefolds, fitted, all-in-two (AI2), pocket, and all-in-one (AIO).

The Diaper Cover

There are a wide-range of diaper covers, and this is where you get to have some fun and pick cute patterns.  The key element all diaper covers have in common is that they are water proof (using a fabric called PUL) on their outer-most layer.  Many covers consist of only one layer of PUL, and these are intended to be used with an AI2 system, prefolds, or fitted diapers.  Because a child's urine would rather cling to the ultra-absorbent fabric inside the cover rather than the water-repellent PUL, these covers can be reused multiple times without holding wetness or a smell.  Other diaper covers (such as covers used in the popular pocket diapers) have a layer of suede cloth inside, which means they must be washed after each use.  Most brands carry their diapers with either snaps or hook and loop (Velcro).  Most have single leg gussets, but some brands (such as Best Bottom, Blueberry, Thirsties) have double leg gussets to further protect against leaks.  You can see the double leg gussets in the Thirsties cover pictured above.
Other popular brands include: Bumkins, Bummis, Flip, and Kushies.

Prefolds

The prefold system of diapering most closely resembles the cloth diapers we wore as babies.  Going this route is one of the cheapest options, especially because you can theoretically use all the same materials birth through potty training.  I no longer use prefolds regularly, as I find my son began to wet through them too quickly around 6 months.  Other fabrics (such as organic hemp/cotton, microfiber, and Zorb) absorb larger quantities of wetness without adding as much bulk as the cotton prefolds.

The prefold can be tri-folded to resemble an insert, or it can be folded as our mother's did.  Trifolding is the quicker option; however, some find there to be less leaking (of both urine and breastfed baby poo) when using the traditional fold.  If you are going to use prefold for trifolding, the OsoCozy Better Fit (pictured to the right, on top) are the best; they are shorter and fit better in the diaper than any other prefold (as demonstrated above).  For traditional folding, I was happy with my experience using OsoCozy Unbleached Prefolds and Snappis.  Confused as to how to do the traditional fold?  Check out this video on Youtube for a quick demo.


Fitted

A great, leak-free, blow-out free system...if you don't mind putting two diapers on your baby at every diaper change.  Fitted diapers are essentially a plush, super-soft, fleece diaper contained within a diaper cover.  A major down-side is that most brands have a size 1 and a size 2, requiring you to buy double the products to get you through to potty training.  I myself have not used fitted diapers, as the initial investment has scared me away.  However, I have friends that love them, and their favorite brand is Kissaluvs.  Other popular fitted brands include: BabyKicks, Bumkins (pictured above), Thirsties, and Mother-Ease.

AI2
This is my favorite system.  It is the most economical, creates the least amount of laundry, fits the trimest-looking, and uses the least amount of storage room.  This system uses a diaper cover (the same 1-2 covers can be used all day) and inserts (brand name, home-made, really any fabric you want!).  When it is time for a diaper change, simply slide out the wet insert and replace with a dry insert.  The whole process is quicker than changing a disposable diaper.  You change the diaper cover if it becomes wet or soiled.  I often go an entire day using the same cover if it has not gotten wet.  If it does become wet, I simply wipe it out, and let it air dry until the next diaper change.

Some brands (such as Best Bottom - see demo on right) make their inserts to snap into their covers.  Other brands (such as Flip, pictured above) have flaps in front and in back of the diaper cover to keep the insert from moving around.  My super-active 14 month-old has never had a problem with his inserts moving out of place in either style.

You can also make the AI2 into a hybrid system by using the same diaper covers with disposable inserts.  gDiapers, Bumkins, GroVia, and Flip make their own disposable inserts.

Pocket
Pocket diapers consist of a pocket diaper cover with your choice of insert(s) inside the pocket.  The diaper cover is normally one layer of PUL with one layer of suede cloth or fleece on the inside.  The pocket lies between these two layers and opens to the rear, as pictured in the Blueberry Deluxe to the right.  Depending on the absorbency desired, you can choose how many and what type of inserts to use.  I consider it to be essential to have at least a few pocket diapers in your stash.  I use the bumGenius 4.0 as my overnight diaper and going-out-for-errands diaper, and I love it!  I fill it with a microfiber insert + the Best Bottom Organic Cotton/Hemp.  This combination has the perfect absorbency for my heavy wetter!  Other popular brands include: Fuzzibunz, Rumparooz, and Thirsties Duos (beware, as Thirsties is not a one-size diaper).

AIO's
The all-in-one system is the Cadilac of cloth diapering.  They are the most expensive and require the least amount of effort.  Essentially, they look like and have the ease of disposable diapers.  No inserts, no folding, no hassle.  The multiple layers of absorbant fabric are sewed to the diaper only on one side, so each is thoroughly cleaned when you through them in the wash.  The most popular AIO diapers include the bumGenius Freetime, Swaddlebees Simplex, Bumkins AIO, and GroVia AIO (pictured to the left).


I have listed above the most popular diaper brands.  However, there are hundreds - maybe thousands - of diapers being made by SAHM's (Stay at Home Moms).  Etsy.com is a great place to find homemade products.

What is your favorite type of diaper?  Where do you buy your diapers?