There are so many types of cloth diapers on the market at varying costs from flats and prefolds to fitted and pocket to all-in-ones and all-in-twos. You will likely use multiple types rather than a single style for your baby, and you’ll want to make sure the material is durable and easy to clean. Once you are familiar and well-stocked with all the cloth diapering essentials, they will be easy to use or switch between disposable diapers for trips, daycare, or life on the go. We researched popular options from the top brands with these features in mind. Use this guide to find the best cloth diapers for your needs. For roughly $70, you will receive a trial kit that contains three cotton inners and one waterproof outer, which snap securely around your baby’s waist. The outer is offered in one solid color and three playful patterns. The kit also comes with a drawstring pouch for dirty diapers, a 12-ounce bag of their Washing Powder, and a sample of their Everyday Balm and Rash Relief Cream. This kit is great for beginners, but you will need to purchase more diapers separately if you plan to use them long-term. The inners and outers are easy to wash, but note that the brand recommends running it through two cycles with their Washing Powder: a quick wash or normal cycle with warm water and then heavy-duty with hot water. Sanitary or allergen cycles are not recommended as the water temperature is too hot and will damage the fabric. Afterward, they can be tossed in the dryer or line-dried once fully washed. In addition to the contents of the kit, the site also sells cloth wipes, overnight boosters, cloth diaper liners, cloth diaper storage solutions, deodorizers, and so much more. A one-stop cloth diapering shop, this site is a great way to stock up for all cloth diapering needs. Price at time of publication: $70 Sizes: 7 to 17 pounds, 18 to 35 pounds | Features: Inner liners and waterproof outer covers Appropriate for babies from 6 to 33 pounds, these pocket diapers require an insert, giving parents some flexibility in the absorbency level by using bigger or double inserts. The 3 by 3 snaps allow for a lot of fit adjustments and by overlapping snaps, these cloth diapers will provide a secure fit for newborns. Price at time of publication: $54 Sizes: 6 to 33 pounds | Features: Pocket diapers, insert is required The super absorbent core and stay-dry inner layer keep moisture away from the baby. To wash, a thick insert comes out and then gets stuffed back in when clean and dry. The only complaint from parents is it can be tricky to reposition the insert correctly after washing. Price at time of publication: $22 Sizes: 8 to 35 pounds | Features: Tuck in pocket holds insert Price at time of publication: $15 Sizes: 5 to 14 pounds | Features: Umbilical cord snap down Price at time of publication: $34 Size: 27 x 30 inches | Features: Made of organic cotton Each diaper comes with two “soaker” inserts that can be positioned six different ways depending on the need, gender, and baby’s age. Patented inner gussets on both legs prevent leaks and messes from escaping out of the diaper. While well-loved by many parents, some reviewers find the fit is on the smaller side, so may not work best for larger babies. Price at time of publication: $26 Sizes: 6 to 40 pounds | Features: Two inserts can be positioned six different ways, gusseted legs prevent leaks Price at time of publication: $27 Sizes: 2T to 6T | Features: Sold in packs of 8 Parents love that there’s no prepping necessary with this diaper and find them ultra-absorbent. The standard size fits babies weighing 10 to 35 pounds, and there’s a newborn version made just for babies weighing 5 to 12 pounds. Many reviewers find these to be the most absorbent of the many cloth diapers they’ve tried, and they work especially well for overnight use. Price at time of publication: $25 Size: 10 to 35 pounds, 5 to 12 pounds | Features: Two types of closures Price at time of publication: $16 Sizes: 7 to 18 pounds, 18 to 30 pounds | Features: Snap fasteners Price at time of publication: $16 Sizes: Small to X-Large | Features: Multiple patterns and designs For instance, if you do use cloth diapers, you need to make sure you’re changing the diapers regularly to avoid chafing and diaper rash. The fabric in cloth diapers doesn’t draw wetness away from the skin like disposable diapers. Likewise, with cloth diapers, you will need to allow extra time for cleaning and sanitizing your diapers. If you had a particularly hard birth experience or if you have little help at home, this can be a significant consideration. Cloth diapers also can be really frustrating for families who have hectic schedules, especially because you may be doing as many as three additional loads of laundry each week.
Type
Many modern cloth diapers do not require safety pins or plastic covers like more traditional cloth diapers required in years past. In fact, there are several types of cloth diaper products from which to choose, and some are as easy to use as disposables.
Flats and Prefolds: Prefolds are rectangular, so you have to fold them, fasten them with a diaper clip, and add a cover over them because they are not waterproof. When the diaper is soiled, you can put a new prefold inside the same cover if the cover is still clean.Fitted Cloth Diapers: These are made out of absorbent material with leg and back elastic and snaps or Velcro closures. They do not have a waterproof outside, so you need a cover over them. If the cover is still clean, you can reuse it and only replace the fitted cloth diaper when changing.Contour Diapers: They are contoured to fit your baby, meaning they fit snugly around the legs, but they do require a pin or diaper clip to secure them. They also require a cover in order to be waterproof, which you can reuse as long as it’s not dirty.Pocket Diapers: They have a waterproof layer, which means no cover is necessary, and look a lot like a disposable diaper. Inside, you’ll find a stay-dry lining with a pocket in which you place a diaper insert or a prefold for more absorbency. All-in-Ones(AIOs): AIOs are similar to disposables, except they are made of cloth. Like the pocket diaper, they have a waterproof outside and have multiple inside absorbent layers that you can fold for more absorbency as needed. AIOs are used once, and then a new one must replace them.Hybrids/All-in-Twos(AI2s): AI2 diapers often have detachable absorbency layers inside which allow you to customize absorbency more efficiently. This feature also allows you to remove a soiled insert and snap in a new, clean one—as long as the rest of the diaper is clean.
Cost
In the long run, cloth diapers can be a much more economical alternative to disposable diapers. However, it’s possible that an initial diaper stash could cost around $400 to $600. This investment can be significant, especially when you factor in other supplies you might need. But most of the time you can use this stash the entire time your child is in diapers—and you can use them for your next child, too. Some parents are skeptical that cloth diapers truly save money in the long run, especially if you look at some of the more expensive cloth diaper products. For instance, cloth diapers can cost up to $20 each, and some options are even more expensive.
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Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of an 11-year-old son, an 8-year-old son, and a 4-year old daughter. Maya hasn’t used cloth diapers for any of her three kids, but fun fact: Maya’s mom used cloth diapers on Maya and her two sisters. Additionally, you can experiment with combination diapering. In this scenario, you might use cloth diapers when you will be home and disposables when you are out and about. Or perhaps you prefer using cloth during the day and disposables overnight to cut down on the number of nighttime changes. If you lose power for a few days and cannot use your washing machine to clean your cloth diapers, you may be happy to have some disposables on hand. If you do decide that cloth diapers work for you and your family, you may want to invest in a few supplies that will make the process more efficient. For instance, many people who use cloth diapers have found that using a bidet or sprayer in the bathroom to rinse the solids out of the baby’s diaper and into the toilet is more helpful than other methods (like swishing the diaper around in the toilet). Place dirty diapers in a cloth diaper bag or diaper pail with a liner in it. Disposable liners can be thrown in the trash or flushed in the toilet as long as the package indicates that they are flushable. Most brands suggest that you wash cloth diapers every two days, three days max. Doing so helps prevent smells and ammonia build-up in the diapers. Keep in mind that once a smell gets locked into the fabric, it can be very hard to get out. You also will need to wash the wet bag or pail liner with each load. Just follow the guidelines provided by the diaper manufacturers. It’s also a good idea to wash the diapers alone and not with other baby items. Use plenty of detergent and run an additional rinse cycle to make sure all the detergent is rinsed off the diapers in order to avoid skin irritation. Keep it simple, and skip any extras like adding fabric softener to avoid irritation or skin reactions. There are disinfectants that can be added to the wash, but these should be used sparingly and only on occasion.
