Cloth Diapering

Once you have decided to take the plunge and cloth diaper (CD) your multiples, you'll inevitably find you have a few more questions. For instance, what kinds of cloth diapers are out there? How many diapers might you need? Where can you purchase them? How do you clean them? What can you do once your children have outgrown them?

Cloth diapers have long evolved past flat diapers with pins and plastic pants that many of us wore when we were infants. In fact, the variety of cd's these days is mind boggling! The most basic and economical type of diaper that many MoMs find suitable are cotton prefolds. These are highly absorbent cotton diapers that have been sewn into layers and can be fastened on your babies (with either pins or Snappis) or not, and covered with a leakproof cover that can be reused a few times if the prefold below it has not been overly soiled. Prefolds can be found in bleached and unbleached cotton or hemp. Most diaper services provide this type of diaper (bleached cotton) and cover. Prefolds are extremely absorbent and durable, often finding a variety of other uses in the house besides diapering! A mom of twins might want to budget for anywhere between 40 and 60 prefold diapers and 8-10 covers for their newborns, if they plan on cloth diapering full-time. This should allow for laundering once every 2-3 days. As your babies get older and grow into larger sizes, you'll find you can get by with fewer diapers, depending on how often you are able to do laundry.

Another common type of cloth diaper is a fitted diaper that also requires a cover. Fitted diapers are made of a variety of materials, ranging from cotton sherpa fleece to hemp to terry cloth and can be found in conventional and organic fabrics. Fitteds are gathered and contoured to fit your babies more precisely than prefolds and are often fastened with small plastic snaps or Aplix/Velcro. The same quantities of diapers and covers would apply for fitteds as for prefolds.

For both prefolds and fitteds, a waterproof cover is necessary for all but light home use. Waterproof covers for these diapers range from the most basic plastic pants style to beautifully crafted knit wool soakers. Perhaps the most common are covers made from polyurethane laminate (PUL)--typically polyester fabric that has been laminated with a breathable waterproof fabric. These are fastened with either small plastic snaps or Aplix. Many MoMs choose to use wool soakers over their diapers, as wool is a healthy, natural material that provides excellent breathability, softness, and charm while maintaining water repellency.

A third type of diaper that is commonly used is a pocket diaper. This is comprised of PUL sewn on the outer layer of a pocketed diaper that often has a microfleece or microsuede inner layer that wetness can pass through to an absorbent 'stuffer' (microfiber, hemp or a cotton prefold) which is placed inside the diaper before use, then shaken out before washing. Pockets are fastened with either snaps or Aplix and no additional cover is needed. The benefit of pocket diapers, though they are typically more costly than prefolds or fitteds, is that they mimic the qualities of disposable diapers--the microfleece layer keeps wetness off of babies' skin and the waterproof outer prevents leaks. They are also rather 'idiot-proof' once they are stuffed, which can be handy for use with caregivers who are unsure about cloth diapers! For breastfed newborns, the same quantity of pockets would apply as for prefolds and fitteds, though as your babies get older, you can probably get away with using fewer still, since the 'stuffers' are very absorbent. One nice addition to many brands of both pocket diapers and some all-in-ones (below) is a "one-size" option. These diapers adjust, typically with a series of snaps, for use on children from about 8lbs up to around 35lbs--a very economical option that eliminates the need to buy increasingly larger sizes as your children grow.

The final common type of diaper I'll mention is an all-in-one (AIO) diaper. This diaper combines a waterproof outer (most often PUL) with an absorbent filler (often microfiber, hemp, or cotton) sewn directly inside, covered with a layer that allows wetness to pass through without irritating babies' skin (often microfleece or microsuede). While these are usually the most expensive option, they are the closest thing, in terms of ease of use, to disposable diapers. Many moms choose to have a few of these around just for alternate caregivers or for use in diaper bags. The same quantities apply for AIOs as for pockets.

While many MoMs are fortunate to have natural family living stores near them that carry a variety of cloth diapers, not all do. Currently, the widest variety of diapers can be found on-line. Many companies offer sample packages of diapers for families to try with their children to help them determine which brands provide the best fit and functionality for their particular needs and wants. A great first source for comparing diaper types and reading reviews of cloth diaper brands is The Diaper Pin. If you are still unsure about your choice to cloth diaper and the option exists where you live, you might want to consider using a diaper service for the first few weeks (or months) of your babies' lives. The cost is usually comparable to, if not a bit less than disposable diapers. You get all the benefits of using cloth on your babies' tender bottoms and someone else gets to do the laundry!

While different brands and types of diapers will each have recommended washing methods, a few basics apply to all of them. You no longer need a 'wet pail' like your mom or grandma may have used, that is, a diaper pail half full with water that you'd drop soiled diapers into to soak before washing. Wet pails can cause modern diaper fabrics to degrade well before their time and, additionally, can pose a drowning hazard for young children. A simple pedal-step style trash can with a liner is perfectly suitable for cloth diapers. Another common no-no for modern cloth diapers is the use of bleach. This harsh chemical also does major damage to most modern diaper fabrics and bindings. Finally, nearly all manufacturers recommend using a minimal amount of a recommended detergent--overdoing the detergent can often lead to build-up on diaper fabrics which in turn can cause repellency and rashes.

One of the best benefits of cloth diapers is that they can be used over and over again for subsequent children in the family, or passed on to another family! While eBay no longer allows the sale of used cloth diapers, other forums for diaper sales and trading have thrived. One current hot diaper trading forum is Diaper Swappers. Forums such as these can be a wonderful place to score a great deal on diapers and build up that critical stash, if not only to learn more about the variety of diapers out there right now!

I hope this article illuminates some of the basic diaper choices available and demystifies the possibility of cloth diapering twins or higher-order multiples.