CLOTH DIAPER: Start Guide | Superbottoms Blog

 I discovered Cloth Diapers with my young daughter and what a shame I didn’t do it sooner! Besides being an ecological alternative, saving money (especially with certain models or if you use them with all your children) is that… they are precious!

I am not going to tell you data or technicalities about the benefits that they represent from an ecological point of view, surely if you are reading this you are already aware of how long it takes to decompose a common disposable diaper.

Nor am I going to elaborate on the advantages for our babies, since they are usually made with natural materials, respectful of the skin of the little ones.

Nor will I talk about the savings of not buying disposables for years. I just want, from my experience, to give you a brief summary of the types of diapers, how to use and care for them.

Something that I would have liked to find when I started with diapers.

TYPES OF DIAPER

The Cloth Diapers of today do not have, in general, much to do with those that were used a few years ago (when I was little for example, they put cloth diapers on me), the typical gauze with the spout of plastic.

There are similar ones to this system, with pieces of fabrics that are folded and covered with a waterproof brief called a blanket; they are the most economical system. But there is also a new generation of diapers, similar in shape and use to disposable ones, with beautiful designs, great fabrics, different finishes, etc. and with the advantage that we can wash them and use them again.

Reusable cloth diapers

TWO PIECES

It is a system that is formed, as its name indicates, by two pieces: a part that absorbs the pee (the absorbent part of natural fabric) and another that contains it so that it does not pass to the clothes, which is called the cover.

A waterproof brief that can be made of PUL (a material similar to mattress protectors, waterproof but breathable), wool (wool has waterproof properties although it requires more care), fleece, etc.

This system is usually the most economical, since with a pair of covers per size (although there are also one size fits all) and a few absorbents we have enough for the entire diaper season of our child.

The covers do not need to be replaced at every diaper change, only when they are stained with poop. It is also a more complex system because you have to put two layers on the baby and not everyone can easily change the diaper, with very moved children it will be more difficult to use.

Within the two-piece system we have the following types of diapers:

Pre-folds and gauze:

Shapeless diapers are called pre-folded, rectangles of absorbent fabrics (cotton, bamboo and hemp are the most used) that are folded in several layers of fabric and held by tweezers.

There are also gauze and fabric squares that, according to our baby’s tastes and needs, are folded in different ways (there are videos to learn how to fold them). They would be the system most similar to the one our mothers and grandmothers used a few years ago.

These Cloth diapers are very inexpensive and also tend to dry quite quickly, especially gauze, so they are a really cheap system.

Adjusted:

They are shaped diapers, in fabrics similar to the pre-folded ones, which are adjusted with clips, clasps, ties to tie or velcro. They can carry a pocket to put more absorbent material and they also need a cover.