Flat diapers, commonly called Flats, are truly the old-fashioned
cloth diaper. Flat diapers are large squares of single-layer material;
typically made from Birdseye weave cotton. These diapers can be folded a
number of ways in order to fit your baby and require fastening with
either diaper pins or a Snappi.Flats are the absolute most economical cloth diaper available. They can be hand-washed and dry very quickly (great for travel and camping). A waterproof diaper cover is needed.
Prefold cloth
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. They often have 2-4 layers of absorbent material on either side
and 6-8
layers in the middle. The amount of layers varies according to the size
you
choose, generally ranging from preemie to toddler. You may see a
pre-fold
described as being 4x8x4. This describes how many layers there are in
the outer
and inner sections: 4 layers in both outer sections and 8 layers in the
inner
or middle section. Prefolds are usually the least expensive type of cloth
diaper
available. They must be used in conjunction with a diaper cover.
Fitted cloth diapers closely
resemble All-in-One diapers. They are contoured and fitted with elastic around
the legs and back. They fasten with velcro or snaps. The big difference between a fitted diaper and an AIO, is that you must you use a diaper cover over the fitted diaper. Fitted diapers are not waterproof on their own. A wool cover is a popular option to use with a fitted diaper, particularly for overnight. A fitted diaper with a wool cover can absorb quite a bit more than other diaper styles and are idea for overnight cloth diapering.
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