There are so many different types of cloth diapers, can you explain?

There are 4 various ways to cloth diaper. Each with their Pros & Cons. Remember, there is a system to fit every lifestyle and budget!  You can also mix and match any of the below systems. For example, use System 1 when at home and System 4 when out and about.

1. Pre-Fold and Flat Diapers: Rectangular shaped flat cloth diaper with an absorbent pad already sewn in. Comes in a variety of sizes and thicknesses. Chinese/Indian prefold diapers need to be folded to fit in a waterproof diaper cover.
   1. Requires a diaper cover or diaper wrap
   2. Two piece system 
   3. Least expensive diapering option 
   4. Fast drying 
   5. No need for as many different sizes 
   6. Versatile - can be used for other functions such as inserts / doublers, burp clothes, rags, etc.
   7.  Requires some folding (may require a little practice)
2. Fitted Cloth Diaper: Tailor fitted diaper with Velcro or snap closures so cloth diaper fits closely to baby. Requires no folding and uses a waterproof diaper cover.
   1. Requires a diaper cover or diaper wrap
   2. Two piece system
   3. Still convenient yet less expensive than All In One Diaper (AIO)
   4. Easy to use
   5. Very absorbent - great when used as a nighttime cloth diaper
   6. Usually takes longer to dry than a Chinese/Indian prefold diaper but dries faster than an AIO diaper
3.  Pocket Diapers: A diaper cover that has an opening for a folded cloth Chinese prefold diaper or specially designed inserts to be "stuffed" into. This is a two part cloth diapering system.
   1. Fast drying
   2. Gives a very trim fit
   3. Most like an all-in-one diaper making it very convenient
   4. Cloth diaper cover with pocket needs to be washed after every use
   5. Can be expensive
   6. Need to "stuff" each cloth diaper with a Chinese prefold or insert
4. All-in-One (AIO) Cloth Diapering System:  Cloth diaper that has an inner absorbent layer attached to an outer waterproof layer with adjustable closures (either Velcro or snaps).
   1. Most convenient 
   2. Great for working parents and day cares
   3. Most like disposable diapers
   4. Most expensive 
   5. Usually takes longest to dry

How many cloth diapers do I need?

The amount of cloth diapers needed depends on the age of your baby. Newborns go through more cloth diapers then an older baby. A good rule of thumb is 10-12 cloth diapers per day multiplied by the number of days between washes.

• 24-36 cloth diapers per size, if washing every 2-3 days.
• 4-6 cloth diaper covers per size. Note: If using only  All-in-One  cloth diapers then you won’t need any covers.
• 4-6 doublers (especially for nights)

What detergents do you recommend?

For mainstream store bought detergents stay away from additives such as brighteners, dyes or perfumes/ scents. This may cause buildup on the diapers, repelling of the diapers and may interact with urine and cause a foul odor. Tide Free and Arm and Hammer Free are two that we recommend. Arm and Hammer would be our first choice since it does have the odor controlling power of Baking Soda.

To be more environmental, and to best ensure that you have a "residue free" diaper, more "natural" brands of detergent are recommended. These are 7th Generation and Ecover. Most can be bought at any health food store, natural grocer or online.

For more specific "diaper recommended" detergents that can be bought through diaper retailers, we recommend bumGenius Diaper Detergent, Vaska for FuzziBunz®, Rockin Green Soap, Allen's Naturally and Charlie’s Soap—all work very well at preventing build up and keeping your diapers smelling clean.

If you wish to add some baking soda to the wash it will not hurt anything. It will not likely enhance your washing if you are using good detergent. I would not use it as a cleaning agent alone. It is safe to use it in your diaper pail bagor in the rinse cycle if you wish to add some "odor prevention."

How much detergent should I use?

The manufacturers of detergent always recommend the HIGHEST amount to get clothing clean. Its called "marketing."Most cloth diapers are easy to clean due to its fabric—and are mostly done in small loads. Not much detergent is needed. A good rule of thumb is if the bottle recommends you use 1/4 cup—then use 1/4 of that amount. If you find your laundry to be very bubbly and sudsy, this is not good. Cut the detergent down again. Front loaders will require even less detergent. So rule of thumb —start with 1/4 of the recommendation on the bottle of your choice, and move up from there if they are not getting clean enough.