Cloth Diapers 101: Prefold Diapering

When people first think of cloth diapering, prefolds are what come to mind. They are the oldest type of diaper used...these ARE what our mothers and their mothers and so on used...but i would like to bring up the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!


Prefolds are the rectangular cloth diapers that have three sections, the thickest part being in the middle, for maximum absorbency. With a prefold, it is necessary to use a waterproof cover. Rubber pants have been the go-to cover for years, and i do have some of those because they are so cheap and good to have around. But now, there are LOTS of colorful and printed covers out there that are both cute and very effective at holding in the poop! My favorite covers right now are Thirsties Duo Wraps which have a wonderful leg gusset that doesn't let anything pass through! I am also "eyeing" the blueberry covers because of how cute the prints are, but i don't have any yet!


When changing your baby's dirty diaper it is necessary to use a clean new prefold with each change but a cover can last quite a while. We only change a cover if it has been used all day and of course if it has poo on it. I've had days where i have used the same cover all day and then i've had days where a baby will go through 3 or 4. It's always good to have at least 6 covers per baby.


For some reason prefolds are "scary" to most new moms, but after reading about them and watching how-to videos on you tube, i had to give it a try--and in all honesty, at this point in my babies lives, prefold diapers are my favorite diapering system for every-day use!



Here's a few great things about prefolds to know...

1. They are CHEAP--if you are looking to save money, prefolds are the way to go. For about a 1-2 dollars per diaper you are making a great investment. 24-36 diapers per baby can get you a LONG way. Then you just need a few waterproof covers and you are set!

2. If you are not willing to do your own diaper laundry, prefolds are the way to go. There are diaper services out there that will pick up your dirty diaper laundry, wash them, fold them and then deliver them all nice and clean to your door. All diaper services that i know of ONLY wash prefold diapers--not the fancy kinds.

3. NO MORE PINS! Diaper pins are a thing of the past! Snappis are the new fastening system--and they make the whole process "oh so easy". Snappi's are basically a T-shaped fastener with "teeth" or grippers on each end that grab onto the fabric and hold the diaper in place. Ingenious really, if you ask me--and i have had zero malfunctions with them!

4. BURP CLOTHS--prefolds double as our burp cloths...and i think they are the best burp cloth available. The prefolds are so absorbent, easy to wash and cheap it makes the perfect burp cloth! But just a suggestion, if you decide to go this route, buy extras so you don't run out of diapers!

5. BEST CHOICE FOR EBF BABIES--EBF is "exclusively breast-fed". And i guess this is a matter of opinion, but if you have had any experience with breastfed newborns, you know the poo is very runny. Pair a prefold diaper with a great cover....like a Thirsties Duo Wrap, and you have a bullet-proof system for preventing the dreaded "blowout".

The one down-side i found with prefolds was how SOAKED they can get. The first day i used the diapers on Holden he developed a rash. I was really bummed because i had read so much about how cloth diapers help prevent diaper rashes. After some late night research--because i was determined to fix this problem immediately, i found that some babies with really sensitive skin develop rashes from the wet material constantly touching their bums. The solution? --They make very inexpensive fleece liners that you can lay on top of the diaper that repels away the moisture from the skin so that the baby doesn't get wet. I use these liners with both babies although i have never noticed a problem with Nora--but i didn't want to chance it.

I will say that many people do not find this to be a problem, as long as their baby is not getting a rash, moms say that these diapers help their baby know when they are wet and aid in faster potty training. I personally don't know if this is true since i am not there yet...but fleece liners solved my problem and for now i am prefold diaper fan!



I think the secret to successfully using prefolds is just to be patient when learning...it takes a few weeks to get the hang of this. You may have to try out a few different folds to find what works for you and your baby--and believe me everyone has there own way to fold a diaper! Squirming babies can be a bit of a challenge when learning, but before long you will get the hang of it and putting on a prefold can be as easy as putting on a disposable!

Here's Holden modeling his first-ever prefold diaper. Now that he has grown they fit even more naturally and don't hang all the way to his knees...He was just a little guy here, at about 6 1/2
lbs!

prefold diaper fastened with a "snappi"

Thirsties cover over the diaper---easy to use velcro!