All-In-One Diapers
These diapers are most similar to disposable diapers. The entire diaper is one piece and you have the option of velcro or snap closures.
Pros- Super easy to use. Preferred by daycares that allow cloth diapers. They hold a lot of pee! Quick to put on and take off. One-size diapers are available which fit from about 8 pounds to potty training for most kids.
Cons- They contain a lot of layers of absorbent material which can make them more difficult to wash and they take a long time to dry.
Pocket Diapers
These are also similar to disposable diapers once you stuff them. The diaper has two main parts- the waterproof outer shell with soft material inside and the insert that you stuff into a pocket in the shell.
Pros - Easy to use. Preferred by daycares that allow cloth diapers. Since you control how much absorbent material the diaper has, you can customize the diaper to hold as much pee as you need to. People love these for overnight diapers for that reason. Quick to put on and take off. One-size diapers are available which fit from about 8 pounds to potty training for most kids.
Cons - You have to stuff the inserts into the pocket. This can be time consuming and annoying. When the diaper is soiled, you have to get the inserts out of the diaper so they can wash properly.
All-In-Two or Hybrid Diapers
These are similar to all-in-one diapers, but the inserts snap into the shell rather than it being all one piece.
Pros - You can customize how much absorbency you need. Some brands also have disposable inserts that can go in their all in ones (G-diapers and Grovia...maybe others). One-size diapers are available which fit from about 8 pounds to potty training for most kids.
Cons - You have to unsnap the inserts before washing to make sure they get clean. Takes extra time snap/unsnap the inserts on laundry day.
Fitted Diapers
These are absorbent diapers with either snap or velcro closures, but they are not waterproof on their own.
Pros - They hold a TON of pee. Great for heavy wetters and overnight diapers.
Cons - They require the use of an additional waterproof outer shell which makes them take a little longer to put on/take off. Daycares may not allow this type because they are more work than using disposables. These are generally sized, so you might have to buy 2-3 different sizes over the course of the diapering years.
Prefolds
These are multiple layers of fabric (cotton, hemp, bamboo, etc.) sewn together into one flat diaper that can be folded in different ways to suit your needs. I use these almost exclusively.
Pros - Cotton prefolds are inexpensive. They wash up great. Can also be used as burp rags. Hemp and Bamboo hold a lot more pee than cotton and can be a good nighttime solution. They are pre-sewn into a great size that's easy to fold.
Cons - They require the use of an additional waterproof outer shell which makes them take a little longer to put on/take off. If you plan on using a fold that requires it to be fastened around baby, you will need to use a Snappi (I recommend), Boingo, or old fashioned diaper pins to secure it. If you have a wiggly baby, this can be challenging. Daycares are not going to go for this. Will need to buy at least two sizes of diapers and covers over the course of the diapering years.
Flats
Just like grandma used to use! :) These are one huge piece of a single layer of fabric. They can be folded up to make a really absorbent diaper.
Pros - The most inexpensive option. Can be very absorbent. Wash up and dry great since they're a single layer. Great option for people who do not have laundry facilities and wish to hand wash their diapers.
Cons - They require the use of an additional waterproof outer shell which makes them take a little longer to put on/take off. To fasten the diaper around baby, you will need to use a Snappi (I recommend), Boingo, or old fashioned diaper pins to secure it. If you have a wiggly baby, this can be challenging. Daycares are not going to go for this. Folding these can take some time. You'll probably need to "prefold" them when they're clean and dry (to get them into the same stage as the prefolds above) and have them stacked up ready to fold around baby when you need them.
Waterproof Cover Options
PUL/TPU covers - These have a plasticy inside and softer, clothlike outside. They generally come in cute designs and colors and can have velcro or snap closures. Velcro is quick and easy for the early days when you're exhausted and changing diapers throughout the night. The velcro does tend to wear out over time and become less sticky, and sneaky babies have a way of figuring out how to undo it and use the contents of their diapers as finger paint when you least expect it. Since the inside is a slick plastic, you can wipe these off and reuse them multiple times before you have to wash them. You can find these in "one size" or sized. If you choose the sized option, you can probably get away with buying two sizes to cover the entire diapering time period.
Other PUL Covers - Some brands make waterproof covers that don't have the plasticy inside (Grovia, for instance). If the inside is cloth-like, the inside will get soaked with pee and you won't be able to reuse it like the ones above. You can find these in "one size" or sized. If you choose the sized option, you can probably get away with buying two sizes to cover the entire diapering time period.
Wool covers - These are expensive and there's a learning curve to using them, but they're described as being a "bulletproof" nighttime option when paired with an extra absorbent diaper like a fitted. They must be handwashed and lanolized and babied, but you can use them for a long time between washings as long as no poop gets on them because wool is naturally anti-microbial and somewhat self-cleaning. These are sized, so you will need to buy multiple sizes.
How Many Diapers Do I Need?
Expect a newborn to need an average of 12 changes per day. Once they get older, this number is less, but you will want to plan to have at least enough for 2 full days (so you can have one day's worth in the washer and one day's worth available to use). Depending on the type of washer you have, it can take quite a bit of time for your wash cycles to complete, so keep that in mind. If you want to wash diapers less often, you'll need more diapers. I use 24 prefolds and 6-8 covers. In the early months, I wash every day. Now that my kiddo is 2 I was about every 2-3 days with the same number of diapers and covers.
