Styles of diapers
Flat. A large square diaper that is folded and generally pinned or clipped using a diaper clip. A cover of your choice is needed. These are what most people think of when using cloth.

Prefold. A rectangular diaper, usually with a thick layer in the center third. To use, simply fold into itself so you have a multi layered rectangle and lay in a cover, then lay baby on it all and fasten cover.

Hourglass or fitted. Contoured to give a slimmer fit, usually with extra absorbent layer sewn in. elastic leg opening, some close with velcro or snaps and others use simple pins or clips. You can use a separate doubler for extra nighttime absorbency if you find you need to. These need a cover.

AIO. All In One's are the fanciest of all cloth. Just as convenient and easy to use as a disposable. Like the hourglass or fitted style, they also have a waterproof layer in their construction. Great for converting the unsure family member to cloth and if using the AIO, you may be able to use them for daycare. The only downside is that unless you sew them yourself they are a bit more expensive and take extra time to dry. It is worth having a few for times when an extra hour or two is needed between changes.

Covers
Unless you use the AIO style diaper, you will need a cover for your diapers. Many moms have their babies go without a cover at home and this allows for more breathability, but going out requires a waterproof layer.

Covers can be as simple as buying a pack of plastic pants at your local store. I recommend looking for the nylon style for durability and be sure to check the leg openings for soft elastic. Some plastic pants can have scratchy gathers at the opening which makes sore, irritated legs.

Covers are also available in a contour shape that you snap or velcro over the diaper underneath. These come in treated cotton or polyester, felted wool or plastic with a cloth layer on the outside for looks. For a fancier style, covers are available in fleece, hemp or wool. These styles can be a bit more expensive but can be used for more than one diaper change. Unless soiled, there is no need to wash more than one time every week or two.

A good technique is to have three of these covers, one on the baby, one ready to go and one air drying. (I have three wool soakers that are pull ons. They are lanolized by me and washed in the bathroom sink every couple of weeks.)

Cost
There is a huge difference between the cost of cloth versus disposables. "Disposable diapers cost between $1500 and $2100 over the course of the three years it takes the average child to be toilet trained," said Diane Weathers of Consumer Reports.

A complete setup of adjustable cloth diapers with waterproof covers can be purchased for less than $500.00. (I purchased 24 diapers, 12 doublers for $214 -- which included shipping -- then purchased three wool soakers for $3.50 each, along with five nylon-coated pull on covers that I bought secondhand for .25 each, this is my entire diapering supply.) If you purchase used diapers at thrift stores offline and auctions/swapboards online, you can save even more. And if you sew, you can design the exact style and thickness you desire for very little effort.

Unlike the constant purchasing of disposables, you can buy one cloth setup, which can then be used throughout baby- and toddlerhood! With proper care the same diapers can be used for the next child.

A few words on absorbency comparisons
Even though most disposable users just wrap and toss used diapers, the package of disposables states "TO DISPOSE: PLEASE DO NOT LITTER. Dump loose soil into toilet. Wrap or fold up diaper and discard in waste receptacle. DO NOT FLUSH DIAPER." (Taken directly from a package of disposable diapers.)

The diaper companies stress that their diapers are more biodegradable than ever, but they don't mention that the biodegradability only applies if the diaper is folded inside out and exposed to air and sunlight. This is just not the case in a landfill.

The idea that a disposable is more absorbent is a moot point. On the packaging, it says that a baby should be changed when wet or soiled. The fact that the diaper can hold large amounts of is irrelevant. To leave a child in a disposable until maximum capacity is reached is unthinkable, so that argument isn't valid. You do change a cloth-diapered baby more often but you should be changing a disposable-diapered baby just as often.

With cloth, the simplest solution would be to purchase flushable liners (Flushabyes and Kushies Disposable Liners) and at changing time, lift off soiled liner and flush contents. You then have a soil free (although wet) diaper to put into the pail. Which leads me to the next step...

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About the author: Amy Rawson is mother of two boys and a freelance writer. Her work can be seen in The Mother is Me, Compleat Mother, Nurturing, and many other parenting publications. Her column "Parent Pages - What to do when there is nothing to do" is published weekly in Waterside Weekly and Courier Advocate newspapers. She welcomes comments at lvmyboy@ptd.net.