Cloth Diapers 101

THE CLOTH DIAPER COMEBACK:  The Benefits and Various Systems of Cloth Diapering

Ever since disposable diapers made their debut back in the 20th century, cloth diapers were relegated to other users, such as burp cloths, makeshift bib and all-around mess-wipers.  However, with the 21st century beckoning us to make cleaner and greener choices that positively impact our Earth, cloth diapers have experienced phenomenal comeback.  Not that global warming and pollution have proven that disposable diapers are an environmental threat more and more moms are making the switch back to good old cloth nappies.

Cloth Diapering:  The “Nappy-ing” of the Future

The comeback of cloth diapering brings with it an amazing array of choices in terms of modern cloth diapers.  I’m sure you know by now that the cloth diapers our own moms used for us are a thing of the past!  Gone are the days when cloth diapers meant bird’s eye, gauze, and getting poked by diaper pins.  Today, modern cloth diapering is fashionable and chic, so much so that even Hollywood celebrities are preaching the cloth nappy gospel!

If you’re a newbie mom or you’re using disposables and want to make Earth-friendly switch to cloth diapers, I hope you’ll take time to read the articles below on the Cloth Diaper Comeback!  I’ll be sharing definitions for the different cloth diapers and diaper terms, as well as give you tips on how to care for them, what you need to get started, and cost analysis of using cloth diapers versus disposables.

I hope you’ll learn all you can about cloth diapers, its benefits and its different systems, so that you can join me in this awesome journey of eco-friendly mommy-ing.

5 Benefits of Using Cloth Diapers

With all the innovations in modern cloth diapers, they are easy to use very much like disposables.  Unlike their bird’s eye and gauze predecessors, today’s modern cloth diapers are easy to care for.  Aside from their convenience, I’ve listed five top benefits of using cloth diapers which I’m sure you’ll agree with, too!

Benefit#1:  Cloth diapering is economical. Think about this.  Each time you throw away a disposable diaper, you’re chucking about 7 to 16 pesos , depending on the kind of diaper brand you use.  Multiply that one diaper by the number of changes your baby needs in a day using this formula:
Step 1:  Disposable diapers used in a week x 52 weeks = Total number of diapers
Step 2:  Total number of diapers for 52 weeks divided by the number of diapers in the pack that you buy and the cost of that pack = Cost in Pesos per annum on diapers
Whatever your total is, that’s a lot of money you’re practically throwing in the garbage, just for one year and one baby!  Cloth diapering, while the cost per diaper is more expensive than disposables and the upfront cost of a complete diapering system is high, note that this is just a one-time purchase..  You don’t have to buy new ones every week because they don’t run out!  They can even be reused for future children you might have.

Benefit #2:  Cloth diapering is Earth-friendly. Did you know that your babies’ used disposable diaper will take 200 to 500 years to decompose in landfills?  and think about this: Over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of crude oil, and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to manufacture disposable diapers for ONE BABY EACH YEAR.
Cloth diapers pose no damage to the Earth because they are made from renewable resources such as pure cotton and fleece.  They will naturally decompose when they are discarded after a LONG usage period (over several babies, in fact) and they won’t take up room in landfills.  Enough said!

Benefit#3:  Cloth diapering is safer for your baby. Disposable diapers use a lot of harmful chemicals such as dioxin, sodium polyacrylate and chlorine.  They sound awful as their names, but their horrific effects are even more evil:  Dioxin is a cancer-causing substance listed by the EPA, and has been linked with birth defects, miscarriage and genetic damage; Sodium polyacryate, which is an absorbent polymer that turns urine into gel, has been linked to toxic shock syndrome and severe diaper rash.

Benefit#4:  Cloth diapering is actually socially-responsible. Did you know that by using cloth diapers, you advocate safer, toxin-free working environments for diaper factory workers?  In relation to benefit number 3, being a cloth-diapering mom virtually means you stand up for the rights of thousand of factory workers in diaper factories who fall victim to severe health problems due to the toxic chemicals in disposable diapers.  (For updated information, head to Real Diaper Association (RDA) at http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php)

Benefit#5:  Cloth diapered babies are potty trained earlier. Babies that use cloth diapers potty train sooner since they get more aware of the feeling of wetness.  Your little one will be more aware of his body and when he needs to be changed, which is beneficial for you since your baby also learns to respond to his hygiene needs.

Basic Cloth Diapering Systems

You must be raring to try out modern cloth diapers now.  However, the array of choices available out there on the Internet may have you a bit confused.  Don’t worry; it confused me the first time, too!  So I’ve prepared this simple guide to help you out in choosing the right type of cloth diaper for your baby.

1.  Diaper Cover System

Diaper covers provide waterproof protection and leak-proofing your baby needs, keeping you and your baby dry.  They come in various colors and styles, fitted with elastic, with snaps or Velcro.  They may be made from polyester urethane laminate (PUL), wool or fleece.  These covers  are flexible, waterproof and at the same time breathable.  Diaper covers require the use of cloth diapers as the absorbent layer of the nappy.  There are several combinations.

Combination A:  Flat diapers or Pre-folded Diapers and Diaper Cover
Flat Diapers, such as the standard gauze or bird’s eye diaper, require folding to fit a baby.  They are fastened with pins and the covered with a diaper cover…
Pre-fold diapers are essentially flat diapers made of layers sewn together and with extra layers at the center for added absorbency.  These diapers are often described as:

Diaper Service Quality (DSQ) – which means that they can stand industrial and rigorous washings.
Indian Pre-folds – pre-folds made from Indian cotton that is usually very soft pills less than Chinese pre-folds but not as durable.
Chinese Pre-folds – pre-folds made from Chinese cotton that pills more, not as soft but is more durable than Indian pre-folds.

Pre-folds require several washings before you can use them since they are coated with their natural oils and waxes especially organic and hemp variants.  Both flats and pre-folds may come bleached or unbleached and maybe made from hemp, cotton or bamboo.  While they are the most economical and versatile of all the cloth diapers out there, they do have a learning curve and are quite time-consuming to put on baby.

Combination B:  Contour Diaper or Fitted Diapers and Diaper Cover
Contour diapers do not need to be folded like flat or pre-folded types.  They are hourglass shaped diapers but are not elasticized to fit so they may require fastening by pins or clips.  They somewhat resemble disposable diapers in that they are contoured and fitted with elastic around the legs and back to prevent leaks.  They fasten with Velcro or Aplix or snaps, and easier to use than flat, pre-folds or contour diapers.  They also require a diaper cover.

2.  Pocket Diapers
Pocket diapers have 3 components; 1) the outer, waterproof layer that is sewn to an 2) inner-wicking moisture fabric that leaves a “pocket” for 3)an aborbent nsert.  To use this type of diaper, you must stuff the insert in the pocket of the diaper.  The insert absorbs the liquid and the inner fabric wicks moisture away from baby’s  skin leaving it dry.

3.  All-In-One
These types are “disposables” of modern cloth diapers.  They are a one-piece diapering system: the absorbent material and the waterproof material are sewn together in place.

4.  All-In-Two
Also known as “hybrid diapers” since you can use a disposable insert with them.  All-in-twos consist of a waterproof layer called the shell and an inner layer called a soaker or liner.  It’s like a pocket diaper that doesn’t need any stuffing.  You can reuse the “shell” and replace the soaker when wet or soiled with either a disposable soaker or liner.  You can even use the shell as a cover for your prefolds or fitteds.  Personally, this is my favorite type of cloth diaper.