As mentioned in my previous blog, cloth diapers are not your momma's cloth diapers any more. Now, the lingo can be daunting. There are AIOs, AI2s, diaper covers, doublers, fitted diapers, flat diapers, hybrid diapers, inserts, liners, one-size diapers, pocket diapers, and prefolds. When I first began my cloth diaper research, all of the different options overwhelmed me, and I didn't know where to begin. So, I did the only thing I knew to do...I asked other moms!
While every mom will have a different story to share with cloth diapers, you still get some very good information. I learned why moms liked the diapers they chose, some of the downsides, and the costs to the different diaper systems. I also began to develop my own decisions on how I wanted to start the cloth diapers.
When I first thought about using cloth diapers, I was dead set against anything that wasn't an all-in-one (AIO). These are the Porsches of the diaper world. There's no messing with diaper pins, Snappis, or inserts. They look and act just like disposable diapers, but have a little more bulk. Basically, they are the ease of disposable diapering. But, as I began to do the research, I learned a lot about using AIOs. First, they cost a lot more. So, not only was I going to have to convince my frugal husband, but I was also going to have to spend more money up front in order to have a good supply of diapers on hand.
As my research went on and on, I decided to actually go to a cloth diaper store. Here in Portland, OR, we have a store called Mother Nature's Earth (located at Clinton and 26th Ave., http://www.mothernaturesbabystore.com/). The sales rep in the store was extremely knowledgeable about ways to use the cloth diapers. And, it was here that I changed my opinions and began to look more deeply into the prefolds and diaper covers - of which I am now a HUGE fan!
My decision to use prefolds and diaper covers came not only because it's one of the cheapest cloth diapering options, but I also felt like it was the easiest way to "test" the cloth diapers. I didn't have to put out a lot of money only to find out that I really didn't like cloth diapers. The prefold diapers often come in packs of 6 or 12 and are generally less than a dollar each. The diaper covers begin around $6 and can go higher than $30 each - I'll have future blogs which tell of my personal opinions on many different options.
With all of my research, I was now ready to begin on the path down cloth diapering my baby. However, after my daughter arrived, I quickly realized that diapering isn't quite as cut and dry as I thought it to be. In my research, the way that the prefolds and diaper covers were used was by tri-folding the prefold and then inserting it into the diaper cover. The cover goes on the baby just as a diaper would. No pins and many of the covers have velcro, so attaching is easy. Well, I learned VERY quickly that I didn't like the tri-fold prefolds. What I realized is that it is a very quick way to get poop all over the diaper, the baby, and eventually me. So, I began my research all over again.
This time, I decided to go to a very valued resource...YouTube! I searched for any videos about cloth diapers and came across one that showed an angel fold with the prefold (there are many, many videos out there). Snappis are used in this fold in order to properly secure the diaper before covering with the diaper cover. And, if done properly, the cover can often be reused with subsequent diaper changes, making it easier - and cheaper - to use cloth diapers.
As my daughter has grown, I have had to slightly modify the way that I fold the prefolds (sometimes adding an additional fold in the back so that the prefold better fits her), but overall, I have been extremely happy.
Be sure to check back for future blogs about different diaper covers that I've tested and my reviews!
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