diaper covers cloth diapers
Diaper Covers Cloth Diapers At A Glance
Picking the right diaper cover for your baby is a very important event. The diaper cover you choose will be close to your baby for its entire lifespan. Some companies are now even offering disposable diaper covers. This is good, however there is a issue with disposable diaper covers – they just don’t hold up! So you might as well take the plunge and get a quality cloth diaper cover, unlike cheap covers, diaper covers made from cloth last long, are highly absorbent and are for the most part more economical than the disposable ones.
Here are a few types of cloth diaper covers you may want to consider when purchasing.
Pull up Styles work best with fitted diapers. Pull up Covers can be used with some shaping diapers that have long wings that can be used to secure the diaper in place. Velcro Styles in general provide help support for the diaper so you can just lay a prefold diaper in the cover and fasten the velcro. One velcro cover is a pocket diaper (bumGenius) so the moisture resistant material goes in the pocket. Some covers (like a Kushies Wrap) will work better with either a attached prefold or a fitted diaper. If you are just starting out in cloth diapering and are looking for a velcro fitting cover I would try the Bummis Super Whisper Wrap (velcro). It is a versitile cover and fits most kids well and works with prefolds, most fitted diapers and contour diapers. The Fuzzi Bunz is also a pocket diaper.
Swim Diapers are great for pool use. We recommend the Bummis Original Cover as well as the Kushies Swim Diaper.
Pocket Diapers are very similar to All in One Diapers with the exception that the moisture resistant material is not attached to the diaper in any way. The drying time for these diapers is shorter than the traditional AIO. Cloth diaper covers have come out of the dark ages and they are cuter than ever. The new covers are also available in snaps or pull-on versions. Modern diaper covers are made with real knit or fleece fabrics, so they are soft and comfortable. No more crinkly diaper sounds!
Most modern covers can be grouped into two categories: pull-on covers or fastening covers. Pull-on covers go on like a pair of shorts. Most fastening diaper wraps fasten at the sides or in the front. Different people like different styles of diaper covers. There is no right or wrong diaper cover as long as it works for your child.
One very common fabric used for diaper covers is polyurethane laminate (PUL). PUL covers are made by many companies including Thirsties and Bummis.
Before rubber pants came wool soakers to keep babies dry. Soft wool covers are making a come-back since they are durable, breathable, biodegradable, and easy to use. Wool is a renewable resource and a properly cared for wool cover will last for many years. Wool covers work best over a very absorbent diaper. You can find pull on style wool covers made from fabric or handknit or crocheted.
No matter which style of cloth diaper cover you choose, when you use cloth diapers you are making a great choice for your babies skin, for the environment and for your wallet.
A good quality diaper cover fits smoothly around the legs for utmost leak protection and is stress-free to put on and take off. Cloth diaper covers are most a times made from waterproof PUL (polyurethane laminate), high-quality polyester fleece, or wool.
Fleece diaper covers are admired for their smooth fit and because they are very breathable.
How to Choose Cloth Diaper Covers
Not all cloth diaper covers are created equal. Here are several tips on choosing the right type of diaper cover for your baby.
If you are using all in one or pocket diapers, you will not need to buy separate covers; these diapers come with their own waterproof layer built right in. On the other hand, if you are using prefold, fitted or contour diapers, you will need to buy a few covers because these types of cloth diapers do not come with a built-in waterproof layer.
The main considerations when choosing a diaper cover are: Style, Fabric, Type of closure, Size, Appearance.
Style. Diaper covers come in two main styles, wrap and pull on. Wrap covers are shaped like a disposable diaper and are secured at your baby’s waist with hook and loop (such as velcro) or snaps. Wrap covers have a snug fit and help to keep the absorbent layer of the diaper in place.
Fabrics. There are many fabrics used in covers, but the most popular fabrics are polyurethane laminate (PUL), wool and fleece. Polyurethane laminate covers are easy to find and quite inexpensive. The thicker covers hold their shape more, while the thinner covers lay flat. Wool covers are considered by some to be the top of the line in diaper covers. Fleece covers are typically less expensive than wool.
Closures. Most wrap style diaper covers have either hook and loop or snap closures.
Sizes. Diaper covers come in a range of sizes from preemie to toddler, and they are also available in one size fits all styles designed to fit babies from about 8 pounds through to about 35 pounds. The traditional sized covers tend to have a sleeker fit, while the one size covers have the advantage of working (for most babies) from birth right up until they are toilet trained.
Buying diaper covers can be a lot of fun because they come in a range of gorgeous colors and prints.