Read Below or Scroll all the way down for a quick video on styles.
Flat Diapers
A rectangle of absorbent material that are artfully folded around your baby.
Pros
- Most economical
- Quick-drying
- Work well with tiny or premature infants
- Very versatile, can be used to stuff a pocket diaper, as burp cloths, liners or other household uses
Cons
- Must be folded prior to use
- Must be secured using pins, a Snappi diaper fastener or a snug-fitting waterproof cover
Prefold diapers
Sometimes considered the old-fashioned cloth diapers, and are pieces of cloth that have been folded numerous times into layers and sewn into a convenient rectangular shape. Although they are "prefolded" they do still require minimal folding to fit your baby. Prefold diapers can be tri-folded and positioned inside a diaper cover, then simply fasten the diaper cover onto the baby. Prefold diapers are generally defined according to their layers; 4x6x6 or 4x8x4. These numbers indicate the layers in each panel of the prefold diaper (the smaller number represents the outer panels and the larger number represent the more absorbent center panel).
Pros
- The most economical cloth diaper option! You can truly diaper on a dime!
- Lasts for years (and through multiple children) when well cared for
- Allows you the flexibility to decide between wool, fleece or PUL waterproof covers
- Also make excellent inexpensive and absorbent inserts for pocket diapers too!
- Can be recycled and used as household cleaning cloths or polishing rags!
Contour Diaper
Consists of a number of layers of absorbent fabric cut in an hourglass shape.
Pros
- Wide range of fit
- Requires no folding
- Easy to use
Cons
- Drying time may be longer, depending on the construction and material
- Must be secured using pins, a Snappi diaper fastener or a snug-fitting waterproof cover
- More expensive than flat or pre-folded diapers
Fitted Diapers
These closely resemble the size and shape of disposable diapers. Like contour diapers they are cut in an hourglass shape, have elastic at the waist and legs and are fastened with snaps or hook and loop (Velcro or Aplix) closures. Although Fitted Diapers are not waterproof and do require the use of a diaper cover, herein lies one of their advantages! You decide: wool, fleece, or PUL covers; some parents even opt to go coverless (usually when indoors).
Pros
- Wide range of fit
- Wide variety of fabric choices
- Requires no folding or fasteners
- Great for beginners who are shy about using pre-folded diapers without making a large investment
Cons
- Longer drying time
- Requires a waterproof cover
- More expensive than flat or pre-folded diapers
Pocket Diapers
Industry leaders have taken the ease of using an All-in-Ones and have invented a way to customize the absorbency and make them easy to wash and fast to dry. Pocket diapers are a two-part diapering system consisting of a waterproof outer layer with an inner layer of fleece or suedecloth. These two layers are sewn together in such a way as to leave an opening at the back into which you put further absorbent material (called an insert) of your choice. This opening is - the pocket. Most people pre-stuff their diaper so that there is just one step when you are putting a fresh pocket diaper on your baby. When your baby wets the diaper, the moisture is wicked through the inner cover layer to the insert. The most common material for the absorbent pad is microfiber or hemp. Parents also use pre-fold diapers and other absorbent materials. You can stuff a pocket diaper with as much or as little as needed based on your baby's needs, or certain situations (i.e. you may want more absorbency for longer diapering periods like overnight). Microfiber is an interesting fabric that is light, squishy and very absorbent. It's also easy to wash and fast to dry. Hemp is a very trim, dense fabric that is also very thirsty. It's a natural alternative for your pocket stuffer, aka insert. Parents love the convenience of using pockets and the ease of washing them. Babies seem very comfortable in them as they are trim and allow the baby to feel dry inside of their diaper, even when it's wet. Pocket diapers can be equated to disposable diapers in terms of ease of use.
Pros
- Multiple sizes available for a custom fit
- Wide range of colors and patterns
- Self-closing with either snaps or hook and loop closures
- Dry quickly
- Customizable absorbency suits every baby's needs
- Provides that 'stay dry' feeling similar to disposable diapers
- Convenient one-step changes are an excellent choice for outings or babysitters
- Synthetic fabrics are hard-wearing and more likely to last through more than one child
Cons
· Custom-fitting diaper means you may have to purchase three sets of diapers in small, medium, and large as your baby grows
· More expensive than flat, pre-folded, contour or fitted diapers
All-In-Ones
All-In-Ones (AIOs) aim to provide the ultimate in convenience by providing everything you need in one step. No fasteners or separate covers required! The stuffing or insert is sewn in, so you don’t even have to stuff a pocket either. Absorbent material and waterproof cover are built into one diaper. All-In-Ones are cute, fun and convenient!
Pros
- Multiple sizes available for a custom fit
- Wide range of colors, fabrics, and patterns
- One easy step - just snap (or Velcro) it on
Cons
- Depending on the diaper construction, may have a longer drying time
- The most expensive type of diaper on the market, AIOs are generally used for very quick changes when convenience is of utmost importance
One-size Diapers
These diapers grow with your baby... no need to buy new diapers when your baby gets bigger. Depending on the brand of diaper, you will find about 4 snaps on the front. This will give you 4 different sizes for your diaper. This allows the diaper to fit most babies from about 8 lbs - 35 lbs.
Pros
- Easy to use
- No need to buy more diapers as baby grows
- Saves the most money on diapers in the long-run
Cons
- Very bulky from newborn through infancy
- The snaps in the front of the diaper are a hassle for some parents
- Snaps in the front of diaper are not aesthetically pleasing for some parents
Other Common Terms
Doublers
Any extra absorbent material added to a diaper to increase absorbency for naps, overnight or for a heavy wetting baby.
Liner
A liner is normally constructed of one layer of fleece used in the diaper to keep baby feeling dry, help reduce staining and removal of solids, or to protect your diaper while using diaper creams (as this will cause repelling with any natural fibers, and may cause irreversible damage to diapers containing polyester). These are inexpensive and highly recommended to extend the life of your diapers!
Flushable paper liners are also available for easy flushing and cleanup.
Inserts
Inserts are the absorbent material used in the pocket of a pocket diaper. A wide variety of materials are available including flat or pre-fold diapers, specially shaped hemp or microterry inserts. Hemp is naturally anti-bacterial and more absorbent than cotton, it also feels drier to the touch when wet. Microterry is made of polyester and is very absorbent and trim, helping to reduce the amount of bulk.