Before deciding what time of cloth diapers you would like to use or deciding if cloth diapering is even the right choice for you it might help to understand all of the crazy lingo that other bloggers and companies are using. So here in my first installment of "The In's and Out's of Cloth Diapering" I will go through the basic the terminology of cloth diapering because I know how it feels to be stressed out over all the information found on the internet.
Cloth Diaper Terminology
CD- Cloth Diapers, Cloth Diaper, Cloth diapering
Stash- This is your collection of Diapers.
PUL- Polyurethane Laminate. This is a waterproof fabric that is used in diaper covers to make them, to state the obvious, waterproof.
Wet bag- This is a PUL bag that most people use to put their dirty diapers in. They come in sizes ranging from small to Large. And some of the more popular brands of the large's come with straps that you can use to hang them with (such as this one PlanetWise Hanging wet bag).
Pail Liner- This is similar to a wet bag but it fits inside a diaper pail
Repelling- This is when the synthetic inner of a diaper won't absorb liquid to the insert of the diaper. This is most common in pocket diapers and is usually caused by detergent buildup.
Wicking- put simply is the transfer of moisture from one area to another. A popular material that wicks moisture away is mircofleece.
Liners- Either biodegradable paper or another piece of thin cloth that some parents place between the baby and the actual diaper to help with the clean-up of solid waste.
Doublers- A pad like material that is added on top of a diaper to make it more absorbent. Really nice for night time use.
Inserts- Inserts are what people usually stuff inside pocket diapers or lay inside of an AI2 or Hybrid diaper. They can be made out of any absorbent material such as microfiber, hemp, bamboo, or a blend of a few different ones.
Snaps- Just like what is on your pants. These are used to close diaper covers.
Hook & Loop- Velcro-like closures. Much softer than the actual Velcro brand.
Aplix- Just another name/version of Hook & Loop
OS- One size. These usually fit fro 8-35 pounds but sometimes go up to 40 or 45 pounds. The general consensus is that they fit starting at around 10 pounds.
Flat- a flat is simply a square piece of fabric that measures from 20x20 to 30x30. This is what our grandparents and possibly even our parents would fold up and pin around their children. Today parents can now pad-fold these and lay them inside a cover or pin them or snappi them around their children. These are not only the cheapest cloth diaper available but they are also the easiest to wash they dry super fast. ** Flour sack towels also make really great flats and can be found at almost any store.
PUL- Polyurethane Laminate. This is a waterproof fabric that is used in diaper covers to make them, to state the obvious, waterproof.
Wet bag- This is a PUL bag that most people use to put their dirty diapers in. They come in sizes ranging from small to Large. And some of the more popular brands of the large's come with straps that you can use to hang them with (such as this one PlanetWise Hanging wet bag).
Pail Liner- This is similar to a wet bag but it fits inside a diaper pail
Repelling- This is when the synthetic inner of a diaper won't absorb liquid to the insert of the diaper. This is most common in pocket diapers and is usually caused by detergent buildup.
Wicking- put simply is the transfer of moisture from one area to another. A popular material that wicks moisture away is mircofleece.
Liners- Either biodegradable paper or another piece of thin cloth that some parents place between the baby and the actual diaper to help with the clean-up of solid waste.
Doublers- A pad like material that is added on top of a diaper to make it more absorbent. Really nice for night time use.
Inserts- Inserts are what people usually stuff inside pocket diapers or lay inside of an AI2 or Hybrid diaper. They can be made out of any absorbent material such as microfiber, hemp, bamboo, or a blend of a few different ones.
Snaps- Just like what is on your pants. These are used to close diaper covers.
Hook & Loop- Velcro-like closures. Much softer than the actual Velcro brand.
Aplix- Just another name/version of Hook & Loop
OS- One size. These usually fit fro 8-35 pounds but sometimes go up to 40 or 45 pounds. The general consensus is that they fit starting at around 10 pounds.
Flat- a flat is simply a square piece of fabric that measures from 20x20 to 30x30. This is what our grandparents and possibly even our parents would fold up and pin around their children. Today parents can now pad-fold these and lay them inside a cover or pin them or snappi them around their children. These are not only the cheapest cloth diaper available but they are also the easiest to wash they dry super fast. ** Flour sack towels also make really great flats and can be found at almost any store.
Prefolds- These are the next cheapest option after flats but are a little bit more sophisticated and come in different sizes from premie to toddler. They are essentially a rectangular piece of layered cotton twill or birdseye cotton and are sewn in three sections with the middle section having the most absorbency. The most common measurements are 2*4*2 (2 layers on the outside, 4 layers in the middle, 2 layers on the outside) or 4*8*4 (4 layers of the outside, 8 inside, 4 outside). These again can be folded and pinned or snappi'd around a baby or they can be tri-folded and placed inside a cover by itself. ** A popular brand is Green Mountain Diapers (GMD)
Fitteds- These are similar to the size and shape of disposable diapers. They come in many different types of absorbent fabric from cotton to bamboo and have elastic around the waist and leg openings. Comes in both Snap and hook & Loop closures. These are a sized diaper and require a waterproof Cover over them.
Covers- Covers are made from a waterproof material, usually PUL or wool, and they come in both aplix and snap closures. These are already shaped like a diaper and have elastic in the waist and around the legs. These are available in either simple colors or fancy prints. Covers paired with flats or prefolds underneath is the cheapest option for CD'ing.
Pocket Diapers- Pocket diapers are the most daddy and daycare friendly CDs. They are made of a PUL outer and a wicking material inner, such as microfleece or suedecloth, with a "pocket" style opening sewn in it which is where the absorbent insert is stuffed. Pockets are available with aplix or snap closures and are shaped just like a 'sposie.
All-in-one's or AIOs- The CD that is most like a 'sposie and another one that is really daddy and daycare friendly. AIOs have a PUL outer with the absorbent material already built into the diaper which makes them easier than pockets because there is no stuff or un-stuffing (which is a plus)! These again are shaped just like a 'sposie and are available with aplix or snap closures.
All-in-twos of AI2s/Hybrids- An All-in-two (AI2) diaper is a two part diapering system that consist of a waterproof "shell", similar to a cover, and a absorbent insert that either snaps in or is just set inside depending on the brand. The nice thing about AI2's is that the shell can be used multiple times before it has to be washed as long as it doesn't get to soaked or poop on it. The hybrid option of AI2's is a flushable/biodegradable liner that can be placed on top of the absorbent insert. These are also available in either aplix or snap closures.
Here is a Flip Diaper by BumGenius
Snappi- The modern day safety pins! Snappi's are a "T" shaped rubber material with the 2 top arms being longer than the bottom arm. At the end of the arms are little plastic "teeth" that grip onto the fabric of a flat or prefold and keeps it secured on baby. Snappi's are available in different colors and size 1 or 2.
Boingo- A boingo is similar to a snappi but you need two boingos compared to one snappi. The reason for this is because you have one boingo for each side of the diaper.
I personally don't have any knowledge or experience with wool covers yet but am about to dive into that side of CD'ing so as soon as I do learn more about it, I will do a separate post all about wool!
I hope this helps at least one mom or caregiver out there who is trying to learn about cloth diapers!
And just for fun here is a picture of Sophia in a white Flip diaper with a pad-folded flour sack towel inside.
Covers- Covers are made from a waterproof material, usually PUL or wool, and they come in both aplix and snap closures. These are already shaped like a diaper and have elastic in the waist and around the legs. These are available in either simple colors or fancy prints. Covers paired with flats or prefolds underneath is the cheapest option for CD'ing.
Pocket Diapers- Pocket diapers are the most daddy and daycare friendly CDs. They are made of a PUL outer and a wicking material inner, such as microfleece or suedecloth, with a "pocket" style opening sewn in it which is where the absorbent insert is stuffed. Pockets are available with aplix or snap closures and are shaped just like a 'sposie.
All-in-one's or AIOs- The CD that is most like a 'sposie and another one that is really daddy and daycare friendly. AIOs have a PUL outer with the absorbent material already built into the diaper which makes them easier than pockets because there is no stuff or un-stuffing (which is a plus)! These again are shaped just like a 'sposie and are available with aplix or snap closures.
All-in-twos of AI2s/Hybrids- An All-in-two (AI2) diaper is a two part diapering system that consist of a waterproof "shell", similar to a cover, and a absorbent insert that either snaps in or is just set inside depending on the brand. The nice thing about AI2's is that the shell can be used multiple times before it has to be washed as long as it doesn't get to soaked or poop on it. The hybrid option of AI2's is a flushable/biodegradable liner that can be placed on top of the absorbent insert. These are also available in either aplix or snap closures.
Here is a Flip Diaper by BumGenius
Snappi- The modern day safety pins! Snappi's are a "T" shaped rubber material with the 2 top arms being longer than the bottom arm. At the end of the arms are little plastic "teeth" that grip onto the fabric of a flat or prefold and keeps it secured on baby. Snappi's are available in different colors and size 1 or 2.
Boingo- A boingo is similar to a snappi but you need two boingos compared to one snappi. The reason for this is because you have one boingo for each side of the diaper.
I personally don't have any knowledge or experience with wool covers yet but am about to dive into that side of CD'ing so as soon as I do learn more about it, I will do a separate post all about wool!
I hope this helps at least one mom or caregiver out there who is trying to learn about cloth diapers!
And just for fun here is a picture of Sophia in a white Flip diaper with a pad-folded flour sack towel inside.
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