Cloth Diapering part 1: types of diapers

so much to tell i have to create a post in parts... ready? here we go

i started my cloth diapering adventure right before Enzo was born by purchasing cloth diapers {CD} that were recommended to us. it doesn't take long to figure out what works and what doesn't work for you while CDing. i had done some research on how to get started and what we would need and how much it would all cost. the upfront cost is a bit scary. you can spend upwards of $600 just to get a basic setup. i scoured the internet to find the best deals i could and for the most part kept our start up spending down. once you figure out what works you stick with it and it's pretty easy to CD.

right after Enzo was born we used a combination of disposables (huggies) and gDiapers. he was such a little guy that none of the diapers we had purchased fit quite right so we bought a pack of disposables to get us through the first couple of weeks then we went full steam ahead on CDing. These are the brands we used:


photo from gDiapers.com

gDiapers - i was so excited to get these diapers before the baby was born. hybrid diapers where we could use cloth and flushable inserts.

Pros: these are fantastic diapers and the fit is wonderful. they aren't bulky at all.
Cons: we soon discovered that these were not the CDs that would take us through the baby's diaper life. once they grow out of the size they're in, you have to purchase the next size up. for us it was difficult to determine what size he was going to be in the longest (each baby is different)

once we figured this out we opted to go exclusively with One Size diapers along with some Diaper Covers.

photo from Grovia.com

GroBaby (now GroVia) - another type of hybrid diaper that offers snap in cloth liners and disposable inserts. One Size

Pros: multi-use cover with brand inserts, prefolds, and disposable options. they range from 8lbs-35lbs, velcro makes fitting easier
Cons: the smallest settings make the diaper bulky on a small baby. the mesh lining makes them hard to use more than once as a diaper cover.

photo from HappyHeinys.com


Happy Heinys - One size pocket diaper, fleece lining, velcro closure.

Pros: stay dry feeling on baby's butt because of fleece
Cons: made for bigger babies. the fit isn't as snug in the leg if you have a thinner baby. overlapping velcro isn't aesthetically pleasing

photo from BumGenius.com

BumGenius - One size pocket diaper, sueded fleece lining, velcro closure

Pros: stay dry feeling on baby's butt because of fleece. has a trim look on baby, not too bulky.
Cons: velcro tabs get funky.

photo from FuzziBunz.com

FuzziBunz - One size pocket diaper, fleece lining, snap closures. these are by far my favorite of all the CDs we've tried.

Pros: stay dry feeling on baby's butt because of fleece. trim look on baby. excellent fit because of adjustable elastic.
Cons: snaps can take awhile to get used to.


Thirsties Duo wrap - Diaper Covers size 1/2, used with prefolds or disposable inserts (ie gDiapers, Grovia) with snap closures.

Pros: great leak free fit with leg gussets
Cons: having to buy more than one size

photo from CottonBabies.com

Flip - Diaper Covers one size, used with prefolds or disposable inserts with snap closures

Pros: great fit. leak free. great color choices
Cons: n/a

*All of these opinions are solely based on my first hand experience with these products. Every person is different and what works for me might not work for you, and vice versa.

Stay tuned for Part 2: what you need
coming soon...


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Comments

Casey Lee said…
I have always been very interested in cloth diapers. I havent decided yet if we will use them, Im glad your doing this so I can hear first hand about them.

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