Choosing Cotton Diapers – Fitted
Next let’s talk about FITTED, or SHAPED, diapers. This is the category where you start finding a lot of different “house” brands, shall we say. Many people are making their own styles.
In order to avoid purchasing lots of samples of these diapers, I recommend considering a diaper on the following criteria: material, care and life span, closure systems and construction, sizes, cost, and your needs.
1. Material
What is the diaper made of? Is it cotton as in a prefold? If it is cotton, is it twill or gauze or birdseye weave cotton? Perhaps the diaper is flannel or terry cloth? Or does it have fleece, wool, hemp, microfiber, or SOMETHING ELSE that I have yet to run across?
After you’ve made this determination, then stop to think about what you’d like to have next to your baby’s skin. If you’re not sure what these materials feel like, go to a fabric store. They will show you all the fabric you want, and you can feel them to get an idea of what this material will feel like in a diaper. That way, you can be familiar with the materials without spending a fortune to see a few diapers. (One thing to keep in mind is that new material is always stiffer than washed material. You probably know this just from clothes you’ve purchased.)
May I offer a few thoughts to get you started? Gauze can be tight or loose (think of the gauze pads in your first aid kit.) Birdseye looks like little diamonds in the cloth. Flannel is very soft but not very strong, so it tends to have a shorter life span, especially when used alone. Terry cloth is very absorbent (think of your bath towel) but not terribly soft when you’re talking about baby’s private areas. Many times it is used as an inside layer, which never touches baby’s skin. HOWEVER, terry cloth takes a long time to dry, especially as an inside layer. Fleece is an interesting choice, as it can serve as both a moisture barrier and and moisture retainer, depending on the kind of fleece and how it is used. In other words, fleece in a diaper cover functions differently than a fleece liner designed to keep wetness away from baby’s bottom. Don’t let wool scare you. It actually is the most breathable fiber we have in diapers, and because of its nature, it functions much like fleece does, depending on its use. Problem is, it’s kind of expensive in diapering supplies. Hemp is a little newer in the diapering world and I’m not as familiar with it. Its proponents claim it is better, stronger, softer, more durable, etc. than cotton. This might be the one type of diaper to get samples of, if you think you might be interested. Microfiber is the latest rage, highly popular in cleaning cloths, and its fad popularity is reducing the demand for rag cleaning diapers. I’m guessing its usefulness will just continue to grow, but if you want my opinion, it’s a step away from the naturalness that cloth diaper users were originally looking for.
Some diaper makers combine two or more of these materials in their diapers.
2. Care and Lifespan
Will the diapers withstand the use of bleach, should you choose to use it? Do they stand up to machine drying, if you use one? Are there “parts” to the diaper to be assembled (and disassembled after use when messy, so they’ll wash well)? Are there “pockets” which may not come clean because they can’t be fully opened for washing? When washed according to manufacturer recommendations, how many washings can you expect your diaper to go through before being worn out?
Most retailers include some pictures on their website and try to describe their diapers in reasonable detail. If you can’t get answers to these questions from pictures or descriptions, try emailing or calling the company to ask. If you can’t get your questions answered satisfactorily, you have two choices. You can either purchase a sample to check it for yourself, or you can shop elsewhere. Some of the “bigger” brand name diapers will be available at many retailers, but most of the cottage industry (made-at-home) diapers will be available only through their original source, at least until their popularity is well-established.
3. Closure Systems and Construction
What kind of closure system, if any, does this diaper have? If none, keep in mind that you’ll have to invest in pins, Snappis, or velcro closure covers besides the cost of your diapers (velcro covers are more expensive than pins or Snappis and pull-ons).
As for construction–and you may just have to see the diaper to answer these questions–is it well sewn? Is the elastic durable but not too tight? Is the velcro a true velcro or a plastic imitation that won’t hold for very long? Are the snaps plastic or metal, and whichever they are, will they last? WHAT ARE YOUR PREFERENCES? Do you want to work with snaps or velcro? Will the leg openings accommodate a baby with heavy thighs? Or a baby with skinny thighs? What about a baby with a big tummy, or a skinny tummy? And the biggie: how absorbent is this diaper? If you have a heavy wetter, you’ll want to know. If you do have a heavy wetter, will a doubler (or two or three) fit in this diaper?
Of course, you aren’t going to know what your baby’s body will be like until baby gets here. And, all babies change over time. But because of this “changing nature” of babies and their bodies, it’s important to find a diaper that will work for you for as many of these possibilities as possible.
4. Sizes
How many sizes of diapers will you have to buy? You don’t want to have to buy a new size diaper for every five pounds your baby gains. On the other hand, are the weight ranges reasonably small enough that the diaper will fit a baby on the small end of the weight range? Many diapers are designed with adjustable closure systems that allow the diaper to fit both the smaller baby and the larger baby within its weight range.
5. Cost
Taking into consideration the lifespan of the diaper, how many sizes you’ll need, and how many diapers you’ll want to buy (see How Many Diapers Do I Need?), you should be able to figure out the cost of your diapering system. Ask yourself if you want this system to last for one baby or four.
If you need help figuring out the cost of your diapering system, look no further! I have a simple spreadsheet that will help you do just that, and best of all–it’s free! All you need is to know the prices of the items you wish to buy. Once you enter that information in, the spreadsheet will do the figuring for you.
Get the Diapering Costs Spreadsheet
6. Your Needs
Fitted or shaped diapers are hmmm, well…handy, I guess. There’s absolutely no folding involved. You do, in general, get a good fit around baby’s legs. These might be a good choice if you’re just not sure you can “manage” prefold diapers. They are also GREAT for those daddies who might struggle a little bit more with the cloth diapering issue.
How much does it cost to diaper?