How Many Kinds of Cloth Diapers Are There?
Shopping For Cloth Diapers Is Very Confusing.
It might seem–especially if you’re new to cloth diapering–that there are so many choices in cloth diapers you can’t possibly figure out what to use! Cloth diapers come in four basic types:
- Flats – those big dishtowel-type diapers that you fold and fold and fold and fold…
- Prefolds – cotton material sewn into layers so you don’t have to fold and fold…hence the term “prefolded”
- Fitted – diapers that are gathered (usually with a gentle elastic) around the leg openings. The idea is to make a better fit and reduce leakage. These may have snaps or velcro for a closure system at the waist, or you may have to use pins, a Snappi, or a velcro cover. These are also sometimes referred to as Shaped diapers.
- All-in-One – the same as a fitted diaper, except that the diaper cover is built right in and the closure system is in place. You have a diaper and a cover “all in one”
Beyond this, there are lots of industrious women (and possibly men?) designing and producing their own types of diapers and trying other types of materials. For some, they started doing it because they wanted a diaper that worked for their specific needs, and then they found a market for selling them. Some just liked to sew. Others were entrepreneurs and saw a definite need to be filled. Whatever the reason, diaper users now have a wealth of cloth options from which to choose. Everyone, AND I DO MEAN EVERYONE, can find a cloth diaper that will suit their needs and help them to be successful cloth diaper users.
If you’d like more detailed information on the four basic types of diapers, click on the links above.