Cloth Diapers

I have been thinking of doing a cloth diaper post, to accompany the post I wrote for my other blog - the 365 project.  We have grown to love cloth diapers for a number of reasons, some of which I will describe here.  But first, some definitions.

• Prefolds - Pre-fold diapers are rectangular shaped diapers that must be folded into the shape of a diaper. They are similar to flats, but have multiple layers with more layering in the middle.  We completely skipped these - never even purchased a single one even to be used as a burp cloth.
• Fitted Diapers - Contoured diapers with elastic around legs and the waist.  They fasten with velcro, snaps, or with a Snappi (these need a cover to be waterproof - either wool or a PUL cover).  Our first diapers were fitteds, and while we have mostly moved away from them, we do have one we use for her overnight stretch.  I'm always a little tempted to move back to fitteds - people really love them.
• Pockets  - These diapers have an outer layer of waterproof material and an inner lay of stay dry material, like microfleece or suedecloth.  They have a pocket opening that allows for absorbent material to be stuffed during use and then removed for laundry.  The vast majority of our stash are pockets.
• All in Ones (AIO) - Fitted diapers with a water proof outer layer.  These are closest in similarity to a disposable diaper since they are a one-piece diapering system.  Some include a pocket for additional absorbency.  I am in the process of selling my last AIO - they are perfectly fine diapers, but they just don't meet our needs, and they take forever to dry.
• All in Twos - Very similar to AIOs except the absorbent material is not attached to the diaper in any way. The soaker is usually a second, separate piece that must be attached to the diaper to be used.  I just sent the last of my AI2s to a friend of mine who is just starting to cloth diaper her little girl.  There are many pluses to AI2s, we just stopped reaching for them.

Tomorrow I'll try to post some pictures of M with her fluffy butt, as well as explain some of the reasons we went to cloth and why we love it (or at least why I love it - I think J is just along for the ride).