Cloth Diapers - Choosing the Right One For You
When many of us were brought up as babies, there was a single choice for diapers, and that was cloth diapers. To fit them on the baby required certain skills that had to be learnt, and not everyone was dexterous enough to learn those skills. The result could be untidy and ineffective, and in some cases the baby may be at some risk from pin pricks, which could be especially hazardous for little boys.
Apart from anything else, cloth diapers seemed to take up an awful lot of time. Apart from time spent putting them on correctly, there was the aftermath: washing the diapers for re-use.
Then along came disposable diapers, and habits quickly changed, as parents opted for the convenience of disposables. Cloth diapers almost disappeared in some places. Then the arguments started about how environmentally unfriendly disposables were. Where did you actually dispose of them? Plus, many designs were made from material that was not biodegradable. Many forgot that even cotton diapers were not environmentally friendly if parents used bucket loads of detergent to wash them, creating a chemical hazard for the environment as well as the baby.
The Different Types of Cloth Diapers
Contemporary cloth diapers have come a long way as manufacturers have tried hard to bring the convenience of the disposable to the cloth range of diapers. Today, there are several options, and here are the main ones:
All In One Diapers
These are basically cloth ariations of disposable diapers. They come in once piece and need neither inserts nor outer coverings; as they are already included.. You can also get wool versions of these that have a softer cover layer. These diapers are great for busy parents, but you may have problems washing them, as you have to wash them as one piece.
All in Twos Diapers
The all in two diapers are similar to all in ones, except the absorbent layer is an extra piece that fits in the diaper. They are almost as convenient, but they’re more hygienic because it’s easier to clean the inserts.
Fitted Cloth Diapers
The fitted cloth diapers look a lot like plastic diapers, and are fitted at the edges to prevent leaking. Unlike all in ones, they do require a diaper cover. You can also get contour diapers that are shaped to fit the baby, but not elasticized for a tight fit.
Flat and Prefold Cloth Diapers.
These are really like the old fashioned diapers. Many have been made more convenient using snaps instead of pins, but they still require folding and are not fitted. Prefold diapers provide extra layers of fabric for better absorption. While these may seem archaic, they’re the cheapest option for cloth diapering, and if time is not a problem, then they are still a good option..
Pocket Diapers.
These pocket cloth diapers are similar to two-in-ones because you can add your own inserts, but instead of sitting in the diaper, the inserts are put into a special pocket. This is great if you need varying levels of protections and absorbency. Another great feature is that you can use almost any naturally absorbent material to put in the pocket, including old flat and prefold diapers.
With cloth diapers which you are going to re-use, you have the environmental problem of using detergent. If you can use a "green" detergent it is best, or perhaps the best option of all is soap nuts, which are completely natural, coming from a variety of tree which grows in India and Indonesia. These soap nuts can be quite economic in the long run too, and minimise the risk of allergic reactions from from your baby.