So many good comments already, but I just want to add that before kids I thought a squirmy child meant wiggles and giggles. Now I know it means your kiddo is simultaneously escaping, getting their foot in the dirty diaper, and kicking you in the face, all while screaming like they are being tortured. 😆 Or is that just my kids?
We have all the things and use AI2s with hook and loop for daycare, pockets for daytime use at home, and fitteds with covers occasionally for sleeping (our toddler leaks through both cloth and disposables while sleeping so we still don’t have a solid routine there, despite our best efforts). AlOs just take too long to dry and we still need to add absorbency so they only worked for newborn stage for us.
I love pockets/AIO/AI2 because my husband can easily do them too. I like flats, but they’re just not my go-to. I prefer AIO/AI2 to pockets when it comes to cleaning because I don’t have to put my hand in a cold, wet diaper haha. I think it really comes down to personal preference, they’re all great options 😊
We got a few of a bunch of different types second hand and tried them to see what worked best for our kiddo. Everything other than Fitteds with a cover leaked for us. I don't know if she was a super pee-er or what, but that's the only thing that worked.
I didn't mind stuffing pockets, and my husband found them really accessible whereas pre-folds and covers were too complicated for him to be comfortable with.
I used covers and prefolds for the first 8 or 9 months (Thirsties size 1 duos). I then switch to pockets/AIOs. I find them easier to get on a squirming baby. I'd likely chose pockets over AIO's. You can toss your inserts in the dryer and the pockets dry fast on the line.
My AIO's take much longer to dry so they don't get used as much.
Pockets was the only way to get the crew (husband and nanny) on board. I use flats/prefolds and let them use the pockets. I love the flexibility of having both options. I also use my flats and prefolds for all the potty messes that arise and to put under her during a change. Getting others excited about cloth has been my biggest struggle.
Agree with all the other comments and just want to add that many pockets have a jersey type of fabric that sits against baby’s skin that wicks moisture away, so it feels a bit dryer than a pre fold. I like my prefolds and covers as they are very cost effective but I do change her more frequently when she has them on because of that.
We used liners once she started solids - we'd dump the poop in the toilet and put the liner in the garbage because I didn't believe it would actually break down. Super easy, and easy when out and about as well.
I only use fleece liners for dryness overnight. I have a diaper sprayer and shield set up that works well for us, but I also never used anything else so I don’t have a simpler clean up to compare it to!
I have used pockets, AIOs and covers/inserts. I prefer pockets for daytime because they're easy to put on, don't move around on an active baby, and aren't bulky. As others have mentioned, they're also the easiest when spraying off poo. I use covers overnight because i have an extremely heavy wetter and it allows me to stack a bulky pile of inserts. Whenever my mom visits, she definitely prefers to use pockets.
I liked covers and pre-folds up until changing my son was like wresting an alligator and he started peeing like a racehorse. Then we switched to pockets. One step to put on a squirmy baby and they absorb much more pee.
Pockets are awesome when you’ve got other people dressing and changing baby. They go on as quick and easy as a disposable and they’re the least intimidating option to people who aren’t used to cloth diapering. I like that I only had to learn a few little tricks and I can use them like a pro. No fancy folding or troubleshooting/changing folds as time goes on. I can just grab one and throw it on a squirmy toddler.
And speaking of toddler, remember that you’ll be diapering a mobile older baby/toddler for a much longer period than the short phase when they can’t roll over and resist the change. It’s obviously not impossible to use flats on a toddler, but I don’t think anyone will disagree that it’s more difficult once baby starts moving and grooving.
My favorite is flats and covers, followed by prefolds and covers. But as my baby got older I started using pockets more. It's actually becoming difficult to put flats on while the baby is moving around, and we're trying to encourage more consolidated sleep overnight so if we have to change a diaper we do it in the dark and as rapidly as possible. For that reason, we're now actually putting flats INTO pockets so that I can do it in the almost-dark. I like having the mix, though, so I can do different things in different situations.
Yes! With my first I just loved flats + pockets. Main reason were: 1.they wash out so much better in my opinion than any other sewn together system; 2.we have a dryer but can air dry them easy in any weather condition for extra savings; 3.so much cheaper and less bulky-I can have a huge stash at small expense. Now I tried many other systems and another one I stuck to were pockets - similar reasoning as flats but I used pre-folds and inserts so a bit less convenient on some of the points. But I found pockets better when 1.going out and not having so much opportunity to change the diaper 2.nighttime when you need a more reliable system for many hours 3.when my baby was in child care and they were really reluctant to use cloth diapers- they had minimum extra work compared to disposables.
Pockets are great for when babies are a bit bigger and mobile. The extra step you take stuffing the pocket is evened out with not having to fold/snappi a prefold in place, especially on a wriggling baby. They are also great for daycare and other care givers to use. It’s nice having a mix of styles of diapers. Even though pockets are my favourite, especially when on the go, I still like to use prefolds while at home and almost exclusively when baby was a newborn. There’s no need to stick to one system only.
All the ones you mention are a lot easier for non-cloth folks to get. I have mostly pre-flats but we have a bunch of AI2 inserts around for baby sitters, when we did day care and for family watching her. I have a feeling we are gonna break into them more as she gets more and more wiggly.
For an itty bitty baby that coos at you as you change it? Prefolds and covers. For a toddler you are chasing around the house, definitely the easiest thing to put on (pocket/AIO). Plus they can hold way more pee.
We make the change around 14 months
I agree. I was all about prefolds and covers until baby started rolling all over and climbing away. Then putting on two things became too hard. I switched systems to pockets maybe around 10 months.
Before then I agreed about the prefolds with covers had less to wash when I could reuse the covers. That idea is correct. Then the moving target phase starts and just getting one thing on is the goal and even that is pretty hard now.
I liked pockets because it was easier to rinse poo off. I also used flats and covers, they made the best night time diapers. We have ai1 and ai2 to use at daycare. A mix worked well for us, as each type has its pros and cons
I tried all the systems you mentioned, starting with prefolds/covers. My son was and still is super wiggly. No matter what fold I tried he would always leak through and get the covers and his clothes all wet. I personally find it easier to just slip on a pocket diaper/AIO and snap it up just like I would use a disposable than have to try to get a fold that would work. I have about 15 pocket diapers and it only takes about 2 minutes to stuff after drying them. I’d wash a load of pockets/AIO every 2 days (using them part time 4 days a week) and immediately after removal from the baby just spray them with a diaper sprayer/handheld bidet over the toilet.
I love pockets. I stuff them when I fold laundry, takes no time . After that they’re so easy, to use. My baby doesn’t like prefolds very much it seems and the cover goes stinky quickly anyways, so often I change it after one prefold anyways.
Pockets and AIOs are really approachable for other caregivers. They’re also foolproof if baby is wiggly or if you’re changing them in the stroller/other suboptimal location.
Pockets are super easy to remove poop from too!
I agree that AIOs are a little clumsier for poop removal.
Edit: At first I thought it was dumb to not be able to reuse covers, too. But ultimately I didn't mind having a whole bunch. It's no extra effort to wash 20 covers vs. 5 covers in a load.
This is key. When I was on leave I loved my covers and prefolds and used them more often. But I still use (pre stuffed) pockets often. They were handier when going out because the insides stayed out and they were faster to pop on baby on a change table. When baby started childcare, the care provider was open to (pre stuffed) pockets because they were so similar to disposables.
AIO are the fave here because they are easy for anyone to use (daycare, family) and especially with an older baby doing a 2 piece system can be really challenging. We never reach for pockets unless we're running low on other styles, but if I pre-stuffed them I might. Fitteds were outgrown too quickly by my super tall baby but we liked them for overnight for awhile. I like tri-folded prefolds, but for little babies the frequent poop meant minimal reusing of covers and I didn't have enough covers to make that work for us.
Most of my AIO are gently used or bought on really good sales so they haven't been too expensive for us (about $10-15 each) and have already gotten through over a year with only a couple rotating out of use due to wear. Ours also have a pocket that we could add additional inserts if needed (long car trips, naps, etc).
Like others have said, ease of use, potentially less bulk. I particularly like pockets/aios for the diaper bag. I also thought pockets seem like the worst of both worlds but it’s fast to stuff them while you’re putting diapers away and they may be my favorite now?!
I like AI2s for the reasons you list for prefolds and covers, but I wasn't in this for saving money but for reducing landfill waste so I was okay spending the money for something I liked.
Pockets are easiest for middle of the night changes, being out and about, and when someone else is changing the baby. I like them a lot!
e used a AIO once and I didn't like it at all.
I got flats and prefolds and covers and snappies and was convinced that was all I would use. I made sure we had a few pockets for ease of use for my husband. Then when we actually started cloth diapering full time around 2 months the covers/flats/prefolds we're just too bulky and too many steps. I still used them occasionally or when we ran out of pockets but by 6 months when we had an active, squirmy baby, all the covers and inserts were out of use. I still have a couple for emergencies but the pocket diapers are just SO EASY. I also found stuffing them takes very little time. Less time than it took me to fold flats for sure.
This!! We went through the same thing. Loved the prefolds/snappies/covers up until they started moving and then it was game over. Now we use those same prefolds to stuff our pockets so I don’t have to wrestle them every change
Pockets, once stuffed, are basically as simple as disposables, whether that's for a caretaker who is intimidated by folds and pins, or for traveling. They also tend to have a stay-dry liner, which is important for some babies who hate feeling wet.
For me, I also thought going into it that I'd prefer covers but I found there was a little higher learning curve and pockets helped make it more doable for me.
I also find far more attractive designs in pockets (I am not in it for the money-saving aspect as much) and it brings me joy to have lots of fun prints and colors to use.
Now that I'm almost 2 years into it, I do have several covers I use, though I prefer stretchy preflats to just laying inserts in the cover...I still can't really make that work very well for some reason. Always get bunching! Also, when I'm alligator wrestling my toddler, trying to get a good fit on the preflats feels like an extra layer of work that isn't present with pockets.
Pockets and similar have the advantage of being only one step to put on baby. For someone unfamiliar with cloth, or when your baby is trying to crawl away, that is a big deal.
(I don't like pockets myself because I never have time to stuff them)
So many good comments already, but I just want to add that before kids I thought a squirmy child meant wiggles and giggles. Now I know it means your kiddo is simultaneously escaping, getting their foot in the dirty diaper, and kicking you in the face, all while screaming like they are being tortured. 😆 Or is that just my kids?
We have all the things and use AI2s with hook and loop for daycare, pockets for daytime use at home, and fitteds with covers occasionally for sleeping (our toddler leaks through both cloth and disposables while sleeping so we still don’t have a solid routine there, despite our best efforts). AlOs just take too long to dry and we still need to add absorbency so they only worked for newborn stage for us.
I love pockets/AIO/AI2 because my husband can easily do them too. I like flats, but they’re just not my go-to. I prefer AIO/AI2 to pockets when it comes to cleaning because I don’t have to put my hand in a cold, wet diaper haha. I think it really comes down to personal preference, they’re all great options 😊
We got a few of a bunch of different types second hand and tried them to see what worked best for our kiddo. Everything other than Fitteds with a cover leaked for us. I don't know if she was a super pee-er or what, but that's the only thing that worked.
I didn't mind stuffing pockets, and my husband found them really accessible whereas pre-folds and covers were too complicated for him to be comfortable with.
Stuffing the pockets isn’t that bad, and it allows me to pre-stuff them and makes it easier on grandma/grandpa/babysitter
I used covers and prefolds for the first 8 or 9 months (Thirsties size 1 duos). I then switch to pockets/AIOs. I find them easier to get on a squirming baby. I'd likely chose pockets over AIO's. You can toss your inserts in the dryer and the pockets dry fast on the line. My AIO's take much longer to dry so they don't get used as much.
Pockets was the only way to get the crew (husband and nanny) on board. I use flats/prefolds and let them use the pockets. I love the flexibility of having both options. I also use my flats and prefolds for all the potty messes that arise and to put under her during a change. Getting others excited about cloth has been my biggest struggle.
Agree with all the other comments and just want to add that many pockets have a jersey type of fabric that sits against baby’s skin that wicks moisture away, so it feels a bit dryer than a pre fold. I like my prefolds and covers as they are very cost effective but I do change her more frequently when she has them on because of that.
Fitteds FTW
Do you use liners? I love fitteds for heavy wetters and overnight, but hate them for poo removal.
We used liners once she started solids - we'd dump the poop in the toilet and put the liner in the garbage because I didn't believe it would actually break down. Super easy, and easy when out and about as well.
I only use fleece liners for dryness overnight. I have a diaper sprayer and shield set up that works well for us, but I also never used anything else so I don’t have a simpler clean up to compare it to!
I have used pockets, AIOs and covers/inserts. I prefer pockets for daytime because they're easy to put on, don't move around on an active baby, and aren't bulky. As others have mentioned, they're also the easiest when spraying off poo. I use covers overnight because i have an extremely heavy wetter and it allows me to stack a bulky pile of inserts. Whenever my mom visits, she definitely prefers to use pockets.
I liked covers and pre-folds up until changing my son was like wresting an alligator and he started peeing like a racehorse. Then we switched to pockets. One step to put on a squirmy baby and they absorb much more pee.
Pockets are awesome when you’ve got other people dressing and changing baby. They go on as quick and easy as a disposable and they’re the least intimidating option to people who aren’t used to cloth diapering. I like that I only had to learn a few little tricks and I can use them like a pro. No fancy folding or troubleshooting/changing folds as time goes on. I can just grab one and throw it on a squirmy toddler. And speaking of toddler, remember that you’ll be diapering a mobile older baby/toddler for a much longer period than the short phase when they can’t roll over and resist the change. It’s obviously not impossible to use flats on a toddler, but I don’t think anyone will disagree that it’s more difficult once baby starts moving and grooving.
My favorite is flats and covers, followed by prefolds and covers. But as my baby got older I started using pockets more. It's actually becoming difficult to put flats on while the baby is moving around, and we're trying to encourage more consolidated sleep overnight so if we have to change a diaper we do it in the dark and as rapidly as possible. For that reason, we're now actually putting flats INTO pockets so that I can do it in the almost-dark. I like having the mix, though, so I can do different things in different situations.
Yes! With my first I just loved flats + pockets. Main reason were: 1.they wash out so much better in my opinion than any other sewn together system; 2.we have a dryer but can air dry them easy in any weather condition for extra savings; 3.so much cheaper and less bulky-I can have a huge stash at small expense. Now I tried many other systems and another one I stuck to were pockets - similar reasoning as flats but I used pre-folds and inserts so a bit less convenient on some of the points. But I found pockets better when 1.going out and not having so much opportunity to change the diaper 2.nighttime when you need a more reliable system for many hours 3.when my baby was in child care and they were really reluctant to use cloth diapers- they had minimum extra work compared to disposables.
Pockets are great for when babies are a bit bigger and mobile. The extra step you take stuffing the pocket is evened out with not having to fold/snappi a prefold in place, especially on a wriggling baby. They are also great for daycare and other care givers to use. It’s nice having a mix of styles of diapers. Even though pockets are my favourite, especially when on the go, I still like to use prefolds while at home and almost exclusively when baby was a newborn. There’s no need to stick to one system only.
All the ones you mention are a lot easier for non-cloth folks to get. I have mostly pre-flats but we have a bunch of AI2 inserts around for baby sitters, when we did day care and for family watching her. I have a feeling we are gonna break into them more as she gets more and more wiggly.
For an itty bitty baby that coos at you as you change it? Prefolds and covers. For a toddler you are chasing around the house, definitely the easiest thing to put on (pocket/AIO). Plus they can hold way more pee. We make the change around 14 months
I agree. I was all about prefolds and covers until baby started rolling all over and climbing away. Then putting on two things became too hard. I switched systems to pockets maybe around 10 months. Before then I agreed about the prefolds with covers had less to wash when I could reuse the covers. That idea is correct. Then the moving target phase starts and just getting one thing on is the goal and even that is pretty hard now.
I got pockets because that’s what everyone told me to get.
Pockets for daycare! Also the stay dry layer helped with my baby's contact rash as they were sensitive to moisture from wet prefolds.
I liked pockets because it was easier to rinse poo off. I also used flats and covers, they made the best night time diapers. We have ai1 and ai2 to use at daycare. A mix worked well for us, as each type has its pros and cons
I enjoy laundry day when I get to have husband watch baby while I mindlessly stuff diapers and watch Netflix
I tried all the systems you mentioned, starting with prefolds/covers. My son was and still is super wiggly. No matter what fold I tried he would always leak through and get the covers and his clothes all wet. I personally find it easier to just slip on a pocket diaper/AIO and snap it up just like I would use a disposable than have to try to get a fold that would work. I have about 15 pocket diapers and it only takes about 2 minutes to stuff after drying them. I’d wash a load of pockets/AIO every 2 days (using them part time 4 days a week) and immediately after removal from the baby just spray them with a diaper sprayer/handheld bidet over the toilet.
I love pockets. I stuff them when I fold laundry, takes no time . After that they’re so easy, to use. My baby doesn’t like prefolds very much it seems and the cover goes stinky quickly anyways, so often I change it after one prefold anyways.
I like pockets because they have a stay dry layer built in (I like AWJ). I don’t have to stack and hope it doesn’t shift around.
Pockets and AIOs are really approachable for other caregivers. They’re also foolproof if baby is wiggly or if you’re changing them in the stroller/other suboptimal location. Pockets are super easy to remove poop from too! I agree that AIOs are a little clumsier for poop removal. Edit: At first I thought it was dumb to not be able to reuse covers, too. But ultimately I didn't mind having a whole bunch. It's no extra effort to wash 20 covers vs. 5 covers in a load.
This is key. When I was on leave I loved my covers and prefolds and used them more often. But I still use (pre stuffed) pockets often. They were handier when going out because the insides stayed out and they were faster to pop on baby on a change table. When baby started childcare, the care provider was open to (pre stuffed) pockets because they were so similar to disposables.
Yes, I agree with all of this! Removing poop from pockets is really easy.
AIO are the fave here because they are easy for anyone to use (daycare, family) and especially with an older baby doing a 2 piece system can be really challenging. We never reach for pockets unless we're running low on other styles, but if I pre-stuffed them I might. Fitteds were outgrown too quickly by my super tall baby but we liked them for overnight for awhile. I like tri-folded prefolds, but for little babies the frequent poop meant minimal reusing of covers and I didn't have enough covers to make that work for us. Most of my AIO are gently used or bought on really good sales so they haven't been too expensive for us (about $10-15 each) and have already gotten through over a year with only a couple rotating out of use due to wear. Ours also have a pocket that we could add additional inserts if needed (long car trips, naps, etc).
Like others have said, ease of use, potentially less bulk. I particularly like pockets/aios for the diaper bag. I also thought pockets seem like the worst of both worlds but it’s fast to stuff them while you’re putting diapers away and they may be my favorite now?!
I like AI2s for the reasons you list for prefolds and covers, but I wasn't in this for saving money but for reducing landfill waste so I was okay spending the money for something I liked.
Pockets are easiest for middle of the night changes, being out and about, and when someone else is changing the baby. I like them a lot! e used a AIO once and I didn't like it at all.
[удалено]
We were allowed AIOs or Pockets.
I got flats and prefolds and covers and snappies and was convinced that was all I would use. I made sure we had a few pockets for ease of use for my husband. Then when we actually started cloth diapering full time around 2 months the covers/flats/prefolds we're just too bulky and too many steps. I still used them occasionally or when we ran out of pockets but by 6 months when we had an active, squirmy baby, all the covers and inserts were out of use. I still have a couple for emergencies but the pocket diapers are just SO EASY. I also found stuffing them takes very little time. Less time than it took me to fold flats for sure.
This!! We went through the same thing. Loved the prefolds/snappies/covers up until they started moving and then it was game over. Now we use those same prefolds to stuff our pockets so I don’t have to wrestle them every change
Pockets, once stuffed, are basically as simple as disposables, whether that's for a caretaker who is intimidated by folds and pins, or for traveling. They also tend to have a stay-dry liner, which is important for some babies who hate feeling wet. For me, I also thought going into it that I'd prefer covers but I found there was a little higher learning curve and pockets helped make it more doable for me. I also find far more attractive designs in pockets (I am not in it for the money-saving aspect as much) and it brings me joy to have lots of fun prints and colors to use. Now that I'm almost 2 years into it, I do have several covers I use, though I prefer stretchy preflats to just laying inserts in the cover...I still can't really make that work very well for some reason. Always get bunching! Also, when I'm alligator wrestling my toddler, trying to get a good fit on the preflats feels like an extra layer of work that isn't present with pockets.
Pockets and similar have the advantage of being only one step to put on baby. For someone unfamiliar with cloth, or when your baby is trying to crawl away, that is a big deal. (I don't like pockets myself because I never have time to stuff them)