Is a Cloth Diaper like a car?
Is this a Lexus?
I was reading posts on a natural parenting message board and there was one that stuck out a bit. A soon to be new mom was explaining that she and her husband had decided to use disposables for a variety of reasons one of which being that all the cloth options were too confusing. I thought that was rather amusing but so true. While we all rejoice in the fact that “these aren’t your grandma’s cloth diapers” the breadth of options out there these days is stunning. Flats, prefolds, AIOs, pockets, bamboo, hemp, fleece, PUL, wool. Too many choices. It can become so overwhelming and confusing that a box of Pampers might seem like a safe refuge. I totally get it. A very helpful poster suggested that the new mom think of cloth diapers like cars. There are lots of models and lots of choices and just like buying a car, you need to figure out what mix makes the most sense for your family.
Just need a basic car to get you from point A to point B economically? A Smart car, if you will. Well then, flats or prefolds, pins and a simple PUL cover.
Want a bit more zip but still not ready to shell out the big bucks? Do the flats and prefolds but through in a couple wool covers and some Snappis as an option.
Ready to splurge a bit? Add the iPod hook-up and tow package? Then a fitted diaper with a cover. Fitteds are great as you don’t need to have to learn all the folding of a flat. Kind of like using the electronic key bob instead of the key.
The next step up the car chain is the Pocket. Think of it as an upscale mini-van. Just like you can arrange the seat configuration anyway you like (Captains’s chairs or a bench?), so you can stuff a pocket with as little or as much as you need.
Hybrids are all the rage in the car world and so too with diapers. The Gro-baby system is a perfect example of a hybrid diaper. The biodegradable inner liner can be tossed when dirty but the fabric outer can be used again and again. Think of it as the Prius of cloth diapers.
Finally, there is the AIO. The AIO is the Lexus of the diaper world. Solid, dependable, a bit expensive, but it does everything you need in an understated manner. I always refer to these as Babysitter diapers. These are what you use when you still want cloth on your child but don’t have time to explain to the teenage babysitter or grandma how to do the jelly roll fold. They are simple, easy and elegant.
So, cars and diapers. Does that make it any easier?