Choosing Cloth Diapers (Updated)

Entering the world of cloth can be a daunting endeavor. My first week of cloth diaper research left my head spinning with dreams of prefolds and pocket diapers. No kidding. I had nightmares about diapers. Talk about stress!!!

So, here it is - a post to save you a bit of sanity.

Here you will find the differences between the various types of cloth diapers, some of my recommendations, and links to online stores.

Prefolds
Pros:

• Trim
• CHEAP
• Simple
• "It's like doing paperwork" in Alex's words.
  

Cons:

• Learning Curve
• Not very absorbent (must change frequently)
• Need a cover
  

Where to buy:
www.greenmountaindiapers.com (I've read that these are the best. They apparently fit really well, so you don't have to adjust the rise by folding.)
www.jilliansdrawers.com
www.abbyslane.com
The last two are fantastic websites to buy a great selection of different diapers. I've used them both.

Prefolds are probably what you think of when you think "cloth diapers".

They are nice, thick pieces of absorbent fabric, (traditionally cotton) that you fold and snap on with a Snappi (one of the best inventions EVER!)

Afterward you put on a pretty, colorful cover (can be wool or with PUL liner)


Contours
Pros:

• Trim
• Cheap
• Easier to put on than Prefolds
• Great for newborns, at least I thought so.

Cons:

• More leaks.
• Must wash covers more often.
• Not very absorbent

Contours are similar to prefolds, but are already shaped like a diaper, which makes clasping them on a Snap. They do tend to leak, however, so you have to make sure your cover is tight around the legs and high enough up in the back to prevent poo explosions. YUCKY!

Pockets

Pros:

• Easy to use

• Varying degrees of absorbency
  
• Perfect for outings
  
• Simple for babysitters, grandparents...etc

Cons:

• More expensive
• Frumpier
  

I love pockets. You have your diaper (usually with a fleece lining that pulls the moisture away from your baby and keeps them dry longer), and all you have to do is stuff an insert in the pocket. You can change the absorbency by adding doublers or thicker inserts..etc. NO COVER REQUIRED!

Recommendations:

• Bumgenius - The #1 selling diaper on the market. These diapers are fantastic and they work well for naps too! I use the 3.0 one-size Bum Genius dipes almost exclusively when we're out and about. SOOO many stores carry them.
  
• Green Acre Designs - Some of you have been eyeing my beautiful plum colored diaper with the words "Sweet Girl"embroidered on the back. Look no further- the most gorgeous, unique pockets EVER!
  

Fitteds
Pros:

• SUPER DUPER CUTE!
• Very Trim
• Varying degrees of absorbency
• Ideal for newborns (if you can find a small enough size)
  

Cons:

• It's a shame that you have to put covers over the cuteness
  
• Can be more expensive since you have to buy "sizes" (although you can also find "one-size fitteds"
  
• Sometimes lots of snaps can be confusing and time consuming

Fitteds are my favorite at the moment. I love all the choices of prints that you can find. Plus, you can also find some very very absorbent dipes out there.

Recommendations:

• Kissaluvs fitteds size 0 for newborns. (Jillians Drawers or Abbeyslane both carry them)
  
• Muttaqins 3-step-rise or fitteds. (3-step-rise are one-size diapers. Translation: You have an excuse to pay more for these expensive, but ridiculously CUTE diapers. WARNING! the snaps can be confusing) www.muttaqinbaby.com
• Baby Behinds (Abbeyslane carries them) - My favorite nighttime diaper along with
• Cricketts Diapers www.crickettsdiapers.com for naps.
• Hyena Cart www.hyenacart.com is full of amazing diaper stores owned by Work-at-Home Moms. My favorites are: Bagshot Row Bamboo, Arabesque Baby and The Fanciful Fanny. I have heard that Clothmopolitan's diapers are really well-made, and their prints are to die for!
  

Flats
Flats are the diapers that our mamas put on us when we were babies. They require some folding, but I've heard good things about them. I don't have any in my diaper stash, but it seems that you can find some super absorbent bamboo or hemp ones with cute prints on Hyena Cart.

All-in-Ones
Pros:

• The easiest to use.
• Don't need a cover
• Don't need ANYTHING ELSE!

Cons:

• Take longer to dry.
• Bulkier
• Frumpier

As the names implies, these are diapers that are ready to go as-is. I don't use them, as I think pockets are pretty damn simple, but many moms love them.

Ok, now you know the difference between the diapers. The next step is deciding on which ones you want to start with. A word to the wise: try a few of each. I bought waaaay too many prefolds and contours to start with and not enough fitteds, which are PERFECT for newborns.

Well, there you have it. I hope this post has helped to alleviate your spinning mind. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Pity from a Gypsy

This afternoon while I was walking Arabella around in her stroller, desperately trying to get her to go to sleep, a beggar approached me. Here the people who beg, dig through the dumpsters and sell what they find at the weekly flea market, (and sometimes pull of pretty ingenious scams) are called "gitanos" or gypsies. Anyway, she came up to me, as friendly as could be, smiling a big toothy grin, and told me that she had a couple babies too and asked if I'd give her some money. She seemed like a nice enough person, but I had left my purse in the café, so I apologized and explained that I didn't have anything on me.

These pictures have nothing to do with the story... They are of our outing this past weekend.

Now you know that's never the end of it, and I knew it wouldn't be, but I was being completely honest. I didn't have anything to give her. She then asked if maybe I could give her a few diapers. I thought this was pretty clever. It also showed that she was being sincere about her little ones at home, but that's not very surprising. I always feel terrible for these little children that are born into a life of begging, scavenging and scamming.

When I told her that I used cloth diapers, she looked at me as if I were a big fat liar. Then she looked at Arabella's bum, just to check it out for herself. She said "cloth diapers? Like the old-fashioned ones??" I nodded. She seemed pretty curious, but at the same time cautious, like I was just trying to get out of giving her the diapers. Then she said, "So what do you do, wash them yourself?" and made the motion like she was washing diapers on a washing board. I smiled at her and told her, yes, that I washed them myself... in the washing machine. "And do you save a lot of money that way?" she asked. I said yes (and if I weren't such a diaper junkie I'd save a lot more!).


Then she looked at me, smiled and walked away. But in that last moment before she left, I swear to god, it was as if there was a sort of kinship between us - as if we were on the same wave-length. I thought I even caught a touch of pity in her eye, like she was thinking "Poor girl's worse off than me if she needs to be using cloth diapers".