Cloth Diapering For Beginners

I have received a few queries lately on getting started to cloth diaper for baby. I am glad that my experience and informations in writing has helped to inspire other mamas to try cloth diapering their babies.

There are 4 types of Cloth Diapers in the market:

1. Pocket
Diaper with a stay dry inner fabric, waterproof outer fabric, with a pocket opening to insert the soaker/insert. This type of diaper is very popular and easy to use for newbie CD mamas, and generally dry faster as you separate the cover & inserts. Example: Bamboolite, Bumgenius

2. All-In-One(AI0)
Diaper with a waterproof outer layer and an absorbent inner layer. It might also come with extra piece of soaker to lay on, which can be separated for washing and drying. Example: Bottombumpers AIO

3. All-In-2 (AI2)
Diaper with a waterproof outer later and stay dry inner fabric. Lay on absorbant soaker is placed on the inner fabric. This diaper gives the convenience of just changing the soakers and use the same outer shell with a clean soaker, if not soiled with baby poo. Air drying the shell is required for better hygiene. Example: Itti Bitti, BlingBumz, Bamboolite AI2

4. Fitted
Diaper with a full absorbing body. To waterproof the diaper, a PUL or wool cover is required. The full absorbing body provides a larger area for pee soaking, generally can be used longer, and better for night and heavy wetter use.

For more cloth diapering terms, refer here.
Each of this type comes with its own pros and cons, which I will discuss on my blog next. Hope this helps!

But before you step into the cloth diapering world, let me warn you. Whilst cloth diapering my baby for convenience, cost saving and doing good to the mother earth, I kinda got hooked to the whole pretty diaper world out there, so be careful and be wise!

My CD stash review

Here is a brief review of my humble CD stash:

Coolababy OS snaps pocket diaper

• Pros - favourable price (read: cheap). Very trim fit, and easy to dry. Came with 2 microfibres each, so I have the option of doubling the inserts for longer use. Colour of the PUL looks shiny and new even after 3 months of daily use and wash
• Cons - One insert can last 1-1.5hrs only. Fleece inner not dry enough to baby's skin

Autumnz OS velcro pocket diaper

• Pros - Nice PUL. Very good absorbing insert by the standard of regular microfibers.
• Cons -Hate the velcro, because it doesn't feel pleasant knowing baby's skin might be rubbing into it.

Bamboolite OS snaps pocket diaper

• Pros - Reasonably priced CD. Love the bamboo inner on the baby skin. Inserts are top class in absorbing, can last for night use for a humbly priced CD.
• Cons - Inserts & cover both takes longer to dry

Joli OS snaps pocket diaper

• Pros - Works exactly the same way as Bamboolite... long lost sisters
  

QQ Minky OS pocket diaper

• Pros - Love the minky outer, soft and cute. Plus this is my first CD with designs on the outer. 2 microfibers included are very good absorbers for day use. Microsuede inner smooth and gentle to skin
• Cons - Can't think of any at the moment

Itti Bitti d'lish SIO

• Pros - very luxe, cute & pretty. Good sets of soakers and boosters, and love the SIO concept. The future of economical cloth diapering for my baby. Small crotch
• Cons - Perhaps the crotch is too small, afraid of pee or poo leaking, yet to confirm

My new love - Itti Bitti d'lish SIO

I came across these fantastic super luxe cloth diapers, Itti Bitti d'lish SIO through some professional CD mamas. When I say professional, yes I do mean professional, speaking CD language with jargons that makes me google them up! SIO you may ask, more details coming up!

With the decision to add on to my humble CD stash, as well as getting better absorption for my growing 5 month old, I ordered 2 of these IBs. They come trim and have this soft outer waterproof layer that not just looks cute, but very luxurious feel for baby. The outer looks so pretty (if I can use this word on my baby boy), I might just let him be without any pants or shorts for a while now!

Now this has been a new CD venture for myself. SIO stands for Snap In One, which means this diaper comes with snap-on soakers, that allows me to reuse the outer by just replacing the soaker pads once it is wet. Economical, no? Better off this way, considering the whole set of IB CDs with soakers cost quite a bomb for a mama on budget. Another added advantage is the option of adding extra absorbancy with mini boosters. So much snapping involved? But hey, it doesn't get confusing because the snaps are colour coded... poka yoke of sorts.

The quality of the soaker is the most important aspect of the IB. One layer of bamboo booster with a trifold bamboo booster gives multiple layers of absorption & also keeps it easy for drying time. The suedecloth topped hourglass stayed super dry on my boy even after the night use.


I can now shift my CD journey towards SIO method, purchasing more soakers to use on the existing 2 shells I already have - or so I tell myself to control my further CD stash!

Now I ask myself, what next?