Gone are the days of sharp diaper pins and hot, sweaty plastic pants. Your grandma would be jealous of today’s hip, stylish, convenient cloth diapers.
The sticker shock of buying disposable diapers for my first baby quickly had me on the lookout for a more economical solution. Since then, diapering my kids has turned into something of a hobby. It’s so much a part of my regular routine that I even collect cute cloth diapers and sew some of my own.
But “a lot of people can’t get past the ‘ick’ factor,” says Shannon Doan, owner of Zoolikins, in Scottsdale. Diapering the new old-fashioned way doesn’t have to be “yucky,” she says. And cloth is currently tres chic because it reduces your family’s carbon imprint.
“Switching to cloth is probably the biggest thing parents can do for the environment…stop all of those diapers from going to a landfill,” Doan advises. And with the wide variety of sassy prints, fabrics and styles available, you and your baby can be trendsetters to boot.
Cloth diapers fall into three general systems (with lots of gray area in between).
Prefolds and covers
This system is more like your grandma’s, minus pins and plastic pants. It is also virtually foolproof. Quality, prefold diapers — the kind you use as burp cloths, but thicker — are set in a Velcro or snap-on cover made from a thin, breathable, waterproof fabric. With two full layers, the prefold and cover system protects against leaks beautifully.
Wool is a favorite cover of many mothers, including Doan. This breathable, natural fiber has been used for centuries and is arguably the softest and most breathable cover fabric. It’s a good choice for babies with rash-prone skin.
All-in-one diapers
All-in-one (AIO) diapers function like paper diapers. AIOs are great for use on the go or at night. These multi-layered diapers are harder to wash and dry but handy for emergency changes.
Pocket diapers
A popular choice among 21st century parents, pocket diapers offer the convenience of an AIO without laundry. A two-layer shell consists of an outer, leak-proof layer and an inner (usually fleece) layer with an opening at the front or back. Stuff the shell with an absorbent insert and use it like a disposable. When soiled, the insert comes out to be washed separately, reducing drying time.
The fleece inner layer wicks moisture away from baby’s skin, keeping baby dry without over-drying. Pocket diapers work well overnight and can be stuffed with more or less absorbent material, according to baby’s needs.
