Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

How to Find the Best Cloth Diapers for Your Baby

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Have you heard about the benefits of cloth diapering and want to get started right away? That’s great news because you’ll save a lot of money over the years and you’ll be investing in a collection of diapers that aren’t just more comfortable and healthy (and cute), but an investment into the future. You can use for your next baby, or resell later on.

Now, there are just a few basic questions you need to answer before buying your baby’s first reusable diapers. So before you pull out your wallet, use these tips to help make a good decision.

What Features Are Important to Me?

Convenience: If your baby or toddler will be with a caregiver most of the day, or you just want something super simple, it’s best to choose a style like the All-in-One Cloth Diaper for convenience and user-friendliness. People often say they’re a lot like the cloth version of a disposable because the absorbency is all sewn in and you just pop the diaper on your baby. That’s all there is to it!

Because they make diapering SO much easier, All-in-One (AIO) diapers do cost more than others. But the good news is you can find them at GREAT prices and get free shipping to boot – be sure to check my shopping lists at the end of this post.

Nothing easier than an All in One!

Best for a Budget: Prefolds or flats inside of a waterproof cover are cheap and easy to wash 2-part system. The foldable diapers start at just $1.50 or so each, and you can get started with a dozen of them plus a few good waterproof covers.

Covers and prefolds – old school and affordable!

Something Versatile: The “All-in-Two” system of diapers is a newer invention; it’s sort of in between an All in One and the cover/prefold combo. The All-in-Two diaper does use a cover, but you snap in pads instead of having to fold up a flat or prefold. It’s quicker, but still very customizable in terms of size and absorbency. If you have a tiny baby, buy tiny pads; if you’re diapering a toddler, choose the extra large, extra long pads. My two favorite All-in-Two (AI2) systems are Best Bottom and Lalabye Baby (both sold at Nicki’s Diapers).

The AI2 diaper delivers a slim, customizable fit.

Special Sizing Options: What if you’re diapering a tiny newborn or an older toddler? Sometimes the typical “one size” diaper, which adjusts from 8 to 35 pounds, just isn’t going to work. Or maybe you’re looking for re-usable trainers?

I highly suggest at least a small newborn collection of diapers! If your baby potty trains late or is big/tall for his age, you might need some toddler size (XL) diapers at the other end. Nicki’s has a lot of options for toddlers, with brands such as Imagine and Best Bottom and GroVia.

Wink Diapers also has really cute training pants that snap at the sides; use my coupon code (below) to get 20% off your purchase!

Nicki’s has XL pocket diapers and trainers for toddlers!

Fabric Options: Cotton is the cheapest and easiest to clean. Hemp is the most dense and absorbent but takes a long time to dry. Bamboo is sort of in between the two and is also extremely soft and silky. Some cloth diapering brands will combine fabrics to get the best of both worlds; they might offer prefolds that are a cotton/bamboo blend, meaning they are absorbent but not too dense.

Some babies are very sensitive to certain fabrics; others have no problems. If you find that your baby reacts to synthetics (like microfiber or microfleece), then opt for cotton or hemp diapers. Conversely, babies that break into skin rashes if they get too wet might actually benefit from diapers lined with microfleece, which has a stay-dry, wicking effect.

Time will tell you what works best!

What Can I Afford?

Although there are many benefits to using cloth, the majority of families do it to save money, as this survey and this survey illustrate. But you have to make an upfront purchase to get started with cloth (usually $50-$100 or more), so it makes sense that parents want budget-friendly options. Here’s short list of affordable brands we’ve tried and can highly recommend:

Diaper Covers for $8 to $13 Each:

Flat Diapers and Prefolds starting at $1.58 each:

  • Nicki’s Diapers has a huge selection of premium but affordable flat diapers and prefolds in various styles and fabrics, including bamboo and cotton and hemp.
  • For standard quality cotton prefolds and flats check out Cotton Babies where they start at just $1.58!

Pocket Diapers for $9 to $16 Each:

All-in-One Diapers for $10 to $17 Each:

More ways to save money:

  • Get 10% off at Dearest Diapers using this link
  • Get 20% off at Wink Diapers using code ZEPHYR20
  • Get free shipping on orders over $10 at Nicki’s Diapers

Extra Perks:

If these things are important to you, consider supporting these companies!

Made in the USA: These diapers are made in America!

Charitable Giving: Nicki’s Diapers gives 1 diaper to a family in need for every Nicki’s brand diaper you purchase. Lil’ Helper’s Baby do Better Program offers a significant discount on diapers to needy families.  Lighthouse diapers, sold at Nicki’s and Dearest Diapers, gives 5% of net profits to a local ministry that supports women during and after pregnancy.

Extended Warranty: In this post, you can find a list of the best cloth diaper warranties in the industry.

Happy shopping and please feel free to leave comments/questions below!

6 Ways to Save Time When Cloth Diapering

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Cloth diapering doesn’t require a huge time commitment, but it is an extra chore on your to do list. So if you are looking for ways to make cloth diapering quicker and easier, while still reaping all the benefits, this post is for you!

Being a mother of seven (while also blogging, consulting and home schooling), I’ve found a few ways to save time while using cloth:

  • Diaper liners help make clean-up quicker. They can be washable fleece or silk, or a flushable material like bamboo. A good quality liner can virtually eliminate time spent dunking and swishing. Here are some helpful tips for using liners with cloth diapers.
  • Storing diapers without folding also saves time. On busy days, I pull my diapers out of the dryer, dump in a laundry basket and then stash in our closet. Or use bins and baskets to sort; throw covers in one, prefolds in the other, etc. etc. Don’t get me wrong; I love the beauty of a stack of nicely folded flats, and will do that when I have time (and my oldest daughter is off school for the summer), but when things are hectic, I appreciate shortcuts.
  • Changing the style of diaper you use can reduce your time commitment. Some moms find that stuffing a few days worth of pockets takes too long; switching to covers with inserts or trifolded diapers can be faster. Or on the flip side, changing from complicated folds and fasteners to AIO or AI2 diapers, can make a difference. Check in here to see my reviews of different styles of cloth diapers.
  • Have your older children help with simple diapering tasks. My daughter not only helps with changes, but can move a load from the washer to the dryer, or empty clean diapers into the laundry basket and take to my bedroom. Young children can help replace the liner in your diaper pail or separate wipes from diapers in your latest laundry load.
  • Simply your wipes routine. I used to spend time mixing up solutions and rolling up or folding wipes in a warmer. With more on my plate these days, I find that a small squirt of diaper lotion and a wipe soaked in water gets the job done quickly and easily. Plus, diaper lotion doubles as a skin protectant and can even soothe minor rashes and irritation.
  • Simplify your system. In our eagerness to try new things and take whatever is offered by friends and family, it’s easy to build up a stash filled with inserts, diapers and covers of all different sizes and styles. That might add up to more time spent sorting, snapping and stuffing. If you are keen on saving time, it might help to pick just one or two styles and stick with that. Cull everything from your stash that isn’t being used and put it up for sale as a lot.

What are your thoughts about cloth diapering and the time it requires? Do you have any shortcuts to share?

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Note: This article was originally published at the Kelly Wels blog, but has been updated and revised.