| 
If you are considering Cloth Diapering, read through the information below, and then I will walk you through the various Cloth Diapering options so you can make an informed decision about what diapering system you think will work best for you.
Count the cost of disposables:
Over the course of diapering with disposables parents spend and average of $2,000 dollars. That’s a monthly expense of about $50.00. This is estimated on diapering until 2 1/2 years and using disposable wipes. Often parents will even need to get a bigger garbage can, which can add an extra $10-$15 per month, due to the extra amount of garbage from disposable diapers. The average garbage waste is about 1.5 extra bags of garbage per week! Using cloth diapers instead of disposables can save you about $1,500 and keep about 120 bags of disposable diaper waste out of the landfill. That's about 1.5 tons of waste! Also, no one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose, but it is estimated to be about 250-500 years. Just image... the diapers you use on your children now will be here long after their grandchildren and great, great, great grandchildren will be gone. Talk about leaving a legacy!
As you can see, cloth diapering is worth it for so many reasons. You can make a difference and Little Neetchers can help. We are not just here to sell great products, but we want to help parents smoothly and easily make the switch to cloth diapers, because it is so important. If you have any questions please email us! Little Neetchers is more than happy to help.
Wraps and Prefolds:
A wrap, cover, or shell (three names for the same thing) is the outer waterproof cover that goes over a prefold, fitted cloth diaper or an insert.
A prefold is the traditional cloth diaper as seen in the picture above. Many a parent will shy away from the wrap and prefold diapering option because they assume that it requires complicated folding and pinning of the prefold diapers. Happily, this is not the case! Today’s wraps have adjustable velcro or snap closures that provides a great fit (as opposed to the old plastic pants that always seemed 2 sizes too big) and holds the prefold in place without requiring you to pin.
These pictures show the 1/3 fold that I always use. Simply fold it into thirds. Fold the prefold up against baby's body first, and then pull the wrap up and velcro it shut. Below you can see two different inserts that you can use in covers instead of prefolds. One is a reusable insert that you wash just like prefolds. They cost a little more than prefolds, but you don’t have to fold and there is a wicking layer sown on top to keep baby’s bottom dry. The other is a disposable insert that you can use in covers. These are great for trips when you don’t want to bring and store cloth diapers.
Using wraps and prefolds or inserts is actually really simple and they work really well. This diapering option is by far the most economical option on the market. Don't rule this diapering option out until you give it a try! Usually the wraps and prefolds that you purchase for one child can be used for a second child and save you even more money. Remember, when using wraps and prefolds, when your baby wets you just put a clean prefold (same goes for inserts) in the wrap. You can reuse the wrap as many times as you can until it gets soiled or leaks.
Little Neetchers only sells organic prefolds! This is our way of helping our planet. Regular prefolds (non-organic) use a very high amount of chemicals in the process of making them and bleaching them. Organic prefolds do cost a little more, but they are well worth the few extra dollars to help keep our soil clean. The Bummis Organic Prefolds are extremely absorbent, which will help eliminate leaks, and they soften and fluff up beautifully the more you wash them. These are the best prefolds we have ever tried!
We also want to warn parents who are new to cloth diapering to avoid buying Gerber birds eye cotton prefolds (pictured above with the nasty polyester sticking out). These prefolds are usually sold at big box stores like Kmart, Target, and Walmart. They are cotton on the outside and then they are stuffed with a polyester filling like that of pillow stuffing. This type of polyester does not absorb! If you buy these because they are cheap, you will probably give up on cloth diapering all together because your diapers will leak.
I have found that if you buy the cheapest wraps out there, they usually leak easier and wear out quicker. I have purchased some in the $6.00 range that worked fairly well at first (except at night), but after a couple months of washing the waterproof fabric started coming apart and we had to buy more before my son was even out of that size. The cheaper covers may look like they will save you money, but if you have to buy twice as many and you can't use them at night, they don't. Pay a little more for something more durable and usable and you can get a better fit that is not as bulky.
With prefolds, another tip is that during night time use you will want to have a fleece barrier between the prefold and your baby's bottom and a doubler to increase absorbency. This will keep your baby's bottom from getting red due to the close contact all night long with moisture. Simply purchase a fleece liner to use at night or a Bum Genius Stay Dry Doubler.
Prefold with a stay dry doubler on top.
If you choose to diaper using Wraps and Prefolds this is what you will need: 7 Wraps, 2 dozen prefolds, 3 night time diapers (or Stay Dry Doublers).
One-Size Diapers:
One-size Diapers are diapers that are made to fit newborn through potty training. Different brands have different options for adjusting the sizes, but most have snap like the Gro Baby diapers above. These diapers can have inserts and be one time use diaper or consist of a cover that includes different types of inserts. One-size Diapers are a very economical choice, however there are a few things to consider before purchasing them. These diapers are suppose to fit newborns that weigh around 7 pounds, but most one-size diapers that do not really fit newborns (unless you want the diaper nearly coming up to your babies arm pits!) and some may not even be practical to use until your baby is 10-15 pounds. This can be very disappointing if you were planning on cloth diapering right after your baby is born. My suggestion is that you use the Newborn covers and preemie prefolds or Bum Genius XS All-in-ones for the first couple months and then switch to the one-size diaper. GroBaby and Soft Bums one-size diapers will fit a baby a little earlier than the Bum Genius one-size diapers.
I like using one-size diapers that don't require a complete diaper change after each wetting. This means that all you need to do is change the soaker pad/insert/prefold when it's wet, but you get to keep the same outer shell/cover. This is a very economical (and time saving) way of diapering and you can usually cloth diaper for half the price when you have a one size diapering system like this. Gro Baby and Soft Bums are perfect examples of this.
Pocket Diapers: Pocket diapers have a waterproof outer layer and fleece on the top and you insert a prefold or insert into the center of the diaper through a space in the back. FuzziBunz and Bum Genius are both pocket diapers that we sell.
Pocket diapers require a complete diaper change since your baby is wetting through the fleece top. These types of diapers work really well for heavy wetters and for night time use. Pocket diapers are also great if your baby suffers from continual diaper rash, because the fleece will keep your baby's bottom amazingly dry (that's why they are so great at night too)! Some dad's prefer this method of diapering since all they need to do is throw the diaper in the diaper pail, grab a new diaper, insert and go. Day cares also love the pocket diapers because they are easy for them to use.
This option is a little more pricey since you need to change the whole diaper after each wetting, but it is very convenient, soft, and comfortable for baby during the day and night.
All-in-one: All-in-one or AIO's are the definitely easiest to use. These diapers are the Cadillac of cloth diapers. AIO are just one piece (no inserts, prefolds, wraps) like a disposable diaper except, of course, you wash them. These diapers are often used by parents who want to cloth diaper and their baby is in daycare or people who want a cloth diaper that is the most similar to disposables. Since they are so easy to use, most daycare providers don't mind using them. These diapers need to be changed after each wetting. The absorbent layer is sewn into the diaper which means they take longer to dry. Take a look at the Bum Genius Organic All-in-one for an example. These are great all the time, day or night, and especially on trips or when a baby sitter is watching your little one. If you are looking for a cloth diaper that is easy, then this is the way to go!
Snaps vs. Velcro: This is a much debated question, but I think the answer is pretty simple! What are you going to enjoy using? I always try to buy snaps when they are available because I like to use them and I don’t have to worry about them wearing out like Velcro. However, if you find snaps frustrating and hard to use…then get Velcro. Snaps do take a bit longer to get use to using than Velcro and will last longer, but if you don’t like using them, it’s not worth it. If you like to ease and simplicity of Velcro, then go with Velcro, just don’t be surprised if you need to replace it before your baby is out of diapers. Most diapers are pretty easy to change the Velcro on and it will cost you hardly anything! So, pick what you like!
Diaper Ointments: When using any cloth diapers you need to stay away from many different diaper rash ointments. Using anything like Desitin or any petroleum based products can decrease the absorbency of the diaper and leave ugly greasy marks on the diaper that cannot be removed. These marks are especially noticeable on any diapers that have fleece. We sell a great natural diaper ointment that washed completely out called Magic Stick. Check it out. It allows you to put on the ointment without getting your hands dirty and is great for you baby's bottom and your diapers!
What do you need to get started? That depends on how often you would like to wash your diapers. I usually wash diapers every 3 days, so the projections below are based on 3 days worth of diapers. Some parents choose to wash diapers everyday (which would mean you could buy fewer diapers) or only once a week (which would mean you would need to buy more diapers). Be sure to also read through the washing instructions so you can you will be fully educated before buying your diapers.
Most people will need a better detergent like Charlie's Soap to wash their diapers. There is a huge debate about what detergents you should use and which ones you should stay away from. We picked Charlie's because it doesn't suds and rinses completely out and is recommended by most, if not all, cloth diaper manufacturers. This means the detergent will not remain in your diaper causing smells, lack of absorbency and irritation to your baby's bottom.
Also, having a diaper pail or wet bag can make cloth diapering so much easier. I like the hanging diaper pail as opposed to the traditional garbage pail. Simply throw the hanging diaper pail into the laundry with your diapers to clean! Very easy. I also keep a small wet bag in my diaper bag while out and about. They help contain smell and mess. If you still have questions shoot me an email! Hopefully Little Neetchers can help you cloth diaper with confidence and get your money's worth.
To know more about each diaper we sell and for appropriate quantities, please visit the Where to Start page. This page will also break down the cost of using the different diaper types.
