| p>Cloth diapers can be confusing. Gone are the days | | | | amount of wriggling. Nothing will escape from the |
| when the only diapers on the market were white terry | | | | diaper - not even the baby! |
| squares. These days, there's a proliferation of different | | | | The other advantage of flat diapers is that they dry so |
| types, shapes, sizes, colours and systems. And with | | | | fast. Because they unfold into a single layer of cloth, |
| more and more diapers coming on to the market | | | | they will usually dry in a matter of hours. Other, thicker, |
| every year, it can all seem a bit bewildering. | | | | shaped diapers, with several layers of cloth, take |
| So here is an introduction to the basic kinds of cloth | | | | longer. |
| diaper you will find today. | | | | You need something to secure the diaper in place. In |
| This first article looks at | | | | the past, this used to be safety pins. These days, you |
| Flat diapers | | | | can get clever little stretchy devices with tiny 'teeth' |
| Pre-fold diapers | | | | that hook into the fabric and do the same job. |
| The next article will look other types on the market. | | | | The only real disadvantage of flat diapers is that they |
| Remember that you don't have to stick to one brand. | | | | can be a bit bulkier than some of the more expensive |
| Mix and match your diaper stash to get the right | | | | brands. Shops tend to sell baby clothes to go over |
| combination of cloth diapers for you, your baby, and | | | | disposable diapers, not cloth ones. But if you dress |
| your family's lifestyle. | | | | your baby in stretchy clothes, though, this shouldn't be |
| 1. Flat diapers. | | | | a problem. So it's worth having a stash of these, even |
| These, basically, are the old-fashioned terry squares | | | | if you only use them at home. |
| (though you can get them in different colours these | | | | 2. Pre-fold diapers. |
| days). You fold it, then fasten it snugly around your | | | | These are pretty much like flat diapers, except that |
| baby. There are many different ways to fold a flat | | | | they consist of a couple of layers of absorbent |
| diaper, from a simple triangle to what can only be | | | | material, with a pre-stitched 'fold' line. Think of a |
| described as diaper-origami. For newborn babies, you | | | | three-fold leaflet - that's how you fold a pre-fold diaper, |
| can also use a square of muslin folded in the same | | | | to make what is basically a rectangular wad of cloth. |
| way, which cuts out the bulkiness. The diaper is the | | | | The waterproof wrap holds this in place. The only real |
| absorbent part, so you need to use a separate | | | | advantage of this diaper over the flat terry squares is |
| waterproof wrap over the top. | | | | simply that you don't have to mess about with any |
| Flat diapers are the cheapest you can get. It might be | | | | folding. |
| worth stocking up on these, which will save you a | | | | Pre-folds work well with smaller, less mobile babies. |
| considerable amount of money compared to the more | | | | You may find, though, that as your baby starts |
| expensive cloth diapers, so that you can afford better | | | | crawling around, pre-fold diapers might start to slip out |
| waterproof wraps. | | | | of place. |
| And don't be fooled by the fact that flat diapers are | | | | Some parents swear by pre-folds as a perfectly |
| so cheap. Once you get the hang of how you use | | | | workable compromise between cost and convenience. |
| them, they can work as well as (if not better than) any | | | | They're still pretty cheap, but you don't have to mess |
| other kind of premium cloth diaper. Practise different | | | | about learning any folding. So, if you really, really, really |
| folds until you work out which you like best, and you | | | | can't stand the idea of folding a diaper, but you still |
| can tweak, tighten and tuck the diaper so that it | | | | want to keep your costs down, consider pre-folds. |
| moulds your baby's unique shape absolutely perfectly. | | | | But do yourself a favour - just have a few tries with a |
| Parents who start off using shaped diapers for their | | | | standard flat diaper as well, just in case you change |
| first baby often end up 'graduating' to flat diapers for | | | | mind. Who knows? You might find (as many parents |
| subsequent babies, because they've realised how | | | | have before you) that you enjoy the art of folding |
| versatile and reliable they are. Once you're an expert | | | | diapers - and even become something of an expert. |
| at folding and fitting a flat diaper, they'll withstand any | | | | |