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Just a generation ago, disposable diapers hadn’t been invented.  Now, we accept disposable diapering as a way of life.  And, I have to agree, once you’ve used disposable diapers, those old cloth diapers are just too much work for lousy results.  They are bulky, they leak, they’re hard to clean and the ones available in stores these days wear out fast so you have to keep buying new ones.  That was my experience with my oldest boys, at any rate.  I tried cloth diapering to save money and gave up because of all those negatives.

But when we recently discovered that we were going to be returning to diaper-days, I bumped across some information that ultimately convinced me to give cloth diapering another chance.  In the first place, there just wasn’t any room in our budget to add another $25-$50 per month to our budget for disposable diapers.  And I discovered that those negatives are no longer a necessary part of cloth diapering.

If you go to any baby store, you will find cloth diapers and diaper covers.  Baby stores stock those Birdseye flats and cotton pre-folds that our mothers used (though, not quite as well-made!)  And there are plastic pants, as well as fancier velcro-closure diaper covers.  If you’ve ever used any of these products, you may have been less than pleased.  They are generally not well made and the "nicer" stuff is expensive, then still doesn’t last well with continuous use.

I discovered, however, that there is a whole different world of cloth diapering!  In the past 10-15 years, moms who are committed to cloth diapering have made huge innovations and these diapering products aren’t available in local stores.  The advent of the internet has opened up a whole new way to find truly superior cloth diapers.  These moms have created cloth diapers that are as convenient as disposables, as absorbent as disposables, cheaper than disposables, leak-proof, easier to clean than the old cloth diapers, and, if you know where to look, you can get them even cheaper than cheap!  Through the internet anyone can also have access to diaper service quality diapering supplies.  After doing quite a bit of research, I opted for a low-priced diapering system that I absolutely love.  I gave up on cloth diapering twice before with my boys --- I wouldn’t use these if they didn’t really work.  These REALLY work!

A good cloth diapering system has several components.  The diaper and a diaper cover are essential.  Then you can also have a liner and doubler that are optional, but which I highly recommend.

For diapers, I learned that there are different qualities of diapers.  Remember those cotton pre-folds at the local baby store?  By shopping online, you can the very best Chinese pre-folds (CPFs) for about the same price as the ones at the local baby store --- or less.  Even though some of the diapers available at the store are called "diaper service quality" they still aren’t the same quality as what you can find online.  You can sometimes find Chinese pre-folds in online auctions.  What you want to look for is 4X8X4 Chinese pre-folds. The numbers refer to the numbers of layers of cotton in the diapers.  This is the best quality available and way better than anything you can buy in stores.  The cotton fabric used in true Chinese pre-folds is more absorbent than others, even other dipes with the same number of layers.  You can expect to pay about $2 per diaper.  You would probably need 2-3 dozen diapers for a cloth diapering system.  You might also want to start out with infant-sized diapers and then move up to the regular sized ones as your baby grows.  Or, you can use wash cloths as diaper inserts for newborns until they grow into the pre-folds --- yes, it really works!

The cotton pre-folds have just a couple drawbacks.  They are quite bulky.  And they do have to be changed more often than disposables.  But they are the least costly alternative and very high quality.  They will last through diapering 2 or 3 children before needing to be replaced. 

There are also some alternatives to traditional pre-folds that are not bulky and are more absorbent.  This is what I chose to use, even though it costs a little more per diaper.  And since you need less of them, the cost evens out.

Cloth diapering "experts" have found that hemp cotton is more absorbent than the cotton usually used for diapering, even than Chinese pre-folds.  Hemp cotton pre-folds are available now but they are usually expensive --- around $6 per diaper.  However, there are a couple groups who make hemp cotton diapers or diaper inserts that are not pre-folds.  These are not as costly as hemp pre-folds, plus they have the added benefit of not being as bulky.

The hemp diapers I use are made from two layers of hemp cotton jersey.  They are folded in thirds and used as a diaper "insert."  This creates a finished diaper that is almost as trim as a disposable and only needs to be changed as often as a disposable --- with every feeding or when soiled (as opposed to just wet).  Because they don’t need to be changed as often as CPFs, you could get by with 15 of these, if you’re willing to wash every day for the first few weeks.  I like having 20.  The hemp diapers I use are presently $3 apiece.

The second component of a good cloth diapering system is diaper covers.  Gone are the days of diaper pins and plastic pants!  Both options are still out there but they aren’t necessary.  My favorite diaper cover fabric is PUL (poly-urethane laminate).  It is a lightweight breathable fabric that is moisture proof but not plastic-feeling.  The outside is a soft fabric.  The covers I decided on combine the moisture-proof feature of PUL with double leg-gussets and a velcro-like closure.  The double leg-gussets prevent leaks like nothing else.  So far, I have never had a dirty diaper leak --- even those colossal breast-fed ones! 

Quality diaper covers are available many places online for $6-$9 apiece.  BUT there’s an even better way to get them.  I was able to get factory seconds for $3 apiece.  You will need 4 per size (you may want to get 6 of the newborn ones since newborns often make messy diapers at every feeding) because you only need to wash the diaper cover when it gets soiled.  Some moms only change the cover once a day or when soiled.  Other moms prefer to rotate the covers at every diaper change to air them out but still only washing when soiled or every few days.

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