a cloth diaper compendium

diapers

FLAT

The original cloth diaper that our grandmothers used, the fl at diaper is a large rectangular or square piece of fabric made from layers of gauze. It is folded to fi t, and fastened with pins or Snappis. (See fas- teners on opposite page.)

Cover: needed

Fabrics: bleached or unbleached cotton, hemp, bamboo

Cost: 35¢ to $20 each, depending on fabric choice

PREFOLDS

A prefold is a rectangular piece of fabric with six to eight layers of fabric in the center and fi nished around the edges in a close, overcast stitch. Fastens with pins or Snappis. (See fasteners on opposite page.)

Cover: needed

Fabrics: bleached

or unbleached cotton, gauze, bird’s-eye cotton, fl annel, hemp, bamboo

Cost: $1.50 to $17.50 each

ONE SIZE FITS ALL

Designed to fi t all sizes, from newborn to toddler, these diapers come in fi tted, pocket, and all-in-one (AIO) styles, and fasten with pins or Snappis.

Cover: needed for fi tted only

Fabrics, fi tted:

Outer: woven and knit cotton, fl annel, organic bamboo and/or cotton velour, hemp, cotton fl eece

Inner: sherpa, fl annel, organic bamboo and cotton velour, hemp, cotton fl eece

Fabrics, pocket:

Outer: PUL

Inner: microfl eece, Coolmax, suede cloth

small

Fabrics, AIO:

Outer: PUL, hidden PUL with woven or knit cotton fashion visible

Inner: sherpa, fl annel, organic bamboo and cotton velour, hemp and/or cotton fl eece, microfl eece, suede cloth

Cost: $15.95 to $75

CONTOUR/FITTED

Shaped like an hourglass, a fi tted or contoured diaper is like a prefold, but is constructed to fi t the baby’s body. Fitted diapers have elastic at the legs and waist, while contours do not. Both are fastened with pins, Snappis, snaps, or hooks and loops.

Cover: needed

Fabrics: cotton, cotton/fl annel, bamboo Cost: $3 to $65

newborn large medium

covers

Used with fl at, prefold, fi tted, contoured, pocket, or one- size-fi ts-all diapers. Can be pull-on, or fastened with snap or hook-and-loop closures.

Fabrics: PUL (polyurethane laminate), nylon, polyester, fl eece, wool. Many stylish covers are available, such as these, of knitted wool: soakers, longies, shorties, interlock shorts, and pants soakers.

Cost: $30 average; $100 for handmade or hand-knit

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mothering | May–June 2010

snaps

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