Weighing the Options

Which type of cloth diaper is for you? It is important to remember that what works for one person may not be the best option for you and your baby. Trial and error can be a part of the cloth diaper journey. We use a variety of cloth at our house partially because we have different diapers for different needs, and partially because I LOVE variety. First starting out I would suggest trying a little bit of everything to get the feel of what works for your household, but here are some questions to think about if that isn't the way you want to go.

Money conscious?
If your main goal with cloth diapering is to save the most money, prefolds and covers are the way to go. One size options of the other types of cloth may be another option if you would like to save money on one of the more "convenient" cloth options. OS diapers are adjusted by snap settings, adjustable elastic, or a folding method. Buying diapers "pre-loved" from sites like Diaper Swappers is also a great way to save money on next to new diapers.

Ease of Use important to you?
Like changing a disposable diaper, with practice, any of the cloth options can become second nature. However, if you or your significant other are weary about cloth, AIOs and Pockets are a good way to go.

Best Diaper for the newborn in your life?
Pockets, AIOs, and AI2s can be tricky to fit on a newborn. Even the OS options of these diapers are tricky to fit. Skinny legs are usually the culprit. Prefolds are great for newborns, but as previously stated, fitteds are notoriously wonderful for new baberoonies, especially to contain BF poo and blowouts.

Like I said, we have a variety in our cloth diaper stash. Once you get in the groove, it is fun to venture out and try different methods.