Cloth Diapers Canada Just Bumming Around

Help! Where To Start

Help! Where to Start
(a.k.a. Cloth Diapers 101)

New to cloth diapers? Not sure where to begin? You’re in the right place.

“Which diapers should I pick?”

We’ve done all the research for you! There are almost an overwhelming variety of cloth diapers available today. If you are finding the terms and brands confusing, keep reading. Below you can read our detailed ‘cheat sheet’ on all the diaper options out there. This is a great way to explore and learn all about cloth diapers, and then choose the best option for your family.

Too busy to do a lot of reading? Just want the bottom line? Skip ahead to read our recommendations for the best diapers. Click here.

Need a review of the pros and cons of cloth diapers compared to disposable diapers? Click here.

Which type of cloth diaper is best?

Most parents today are not too crazy about the idea of using a huge piece of fabric that you have to fold like origami and then safety pin on your baby, followed by the infamous ‘plastic pants’. Not to mention all the swishing, swirling and dunking in toilets that our mothers and grandmothers used to do. (No, thanks!) Modern cloth diapers have come a long way from the old fashioned diapers of the past. Today, there are many different types of diapers to choose from, each more advanced than the last.

Pre-fold - A square of fabric (a few layers sewn together) that requires only minimal folding and is then placed inside a waterproof cover . These work reasonably well if you don’t mind changing diapers fairly frequently. Be warned, though, that loose newborn bowel movements don’t necessarily stay contained and you may be faced with a ‘blow-out’. (As you would with most disposable diapers.) Also, there is no fastener, so you can either use pins, a Snappi, or simply close the Velcro on the waterproof cover over the diaper. Having said that, these diapers are functional and very, very economical.

Personal Notes: We’ve used plenty of pre-folds with only the cover to hold them in place and find this works just fine.
Having a few pre-folds on hand is a good idea just because they are so versatile. In addition to being a handy functional diaper, you can also use them to stuff a pocket diaper, to add extra absorbency to a fitted diaper (or a contoured diaper), even to do your cleaning and dusting once your diapering days are over.

Contoured - A piece of fabric that is pre-cut (or contoured) to fit your baby’s shape, eliminating the need to fold. Like a pre-fold, it still has to go into the waterproof cover and doesn’t have snaps or Velcro, so you still need to address the fastener issue. This is also an economical choice.

Personal Notes: For the price difference and the minimal amount of folding involved (almost nothing, really), we’d choose pre-folds over contours. For the difference in price, there isn’t much difference in product. Plus, pre-folds are handy and can be used for many other purposes. You can use them to stuff a pocket diaper, to add extra absorbency to a fitted diaper (or a contoured diaper), even to do your cleaning and dusting once your diapering days are over.

Fitted - Similar to contoured diapers but more user-friendly. These diapers are usually four to eight layers thick and have gathers around the legs and back, and snaps along the front. They are wonderful for holding in messy newborn bowel movements. The gathers keep everything well contained— actually, they work much better than disposables! The snaps built into the design also make this diaper easier to use. You do still need a separate waterproof cover. Usually made of cotton, these diapers are gentle and natural on your baby’s bottom. Like most cloth diapers, they require changes more frequently than disposable diapers.

Personal Notes: We find fitted diapers are very functional until about 8 months old. At this age, a baby starts to wet larger quantities of urine, and these diapers seem have a harder time keeping it in. In the early months however, these are great diapers. You’ll almost never have baby poop explode out of the diapers in these. Very dependable for the early months.

Pocket - FuzziBunz are the ORIGINAL pocket diaper! Designed by a mother of three, this is an amazing cloth diaper. A pocket diaper has a contoured shape and elastic around the legs and fasteners (snaps or Velcro) at the front. These diapers are made of at least three parts: The outside waterproof fabric, the soft inside fabric that rests against your baby’s bottom, and the ‘stuffing’ or insert that goes into the ‘pocket’. Designed with an opening at the back, you can stuff any absorbent fabric you like into the diaper, allowing you to adjust the absorbency depending on your baby’s needs. Most pocket diapers come with an insert so they are ready-to-use. Why choose these over the fitted diapers used with a waterproof cover? FuzziBunz hold in more liquid with less bulk, and as your baby grows, that will be a valuable feature. Unlike pre-folds, contoured, and fitted diapers, FuzziBunz are also lined with super-soft microfleece, gently wicking moisture away from your baby’s bottom, virtually eliminating diaper rashes. They are also a little easier to use—once they are ‘stuffed’, they work just like a disposable diaper, making many parents and caregivers who would normally be hesitant about cloth diapers find these diapers very easy to use. They rate highest among dads and are the hands-down favorite for night-time use too.

Why snaps? Simply because they last forever. In our experience, Velcro fasteners become worn quickly and catch on everything. Before long, your diapers will be collecting lint and hairs, and snagging the diaper fabric. FuzziBunz snaps have a lifetime warranty.

There are dozens of imitations out there, but from our experience, the diapers we sell are the best. (That’s why we sell them!) Fuzzi Bunz brand are consistently ranked among the top cloth diapers in North America. They hold leaks in where others don’t and they’re easy to use and care for.

How Many Diapers Do I Need?

Great question! If you choose pre-folds or contoured you’ll need at least four dozen. With fitted diapers, you need around two dozen in each of two or three different sizes, depending on the brand you choose—that’s a total of 4 to 6 dozen.

With FuzziBunz diapers, however, you don’t need nearly as many. These are well designed, well fitting, efficient, absorbent diapers. Two dozen size smalls and 1dozen size mediums should be all you want. However, if you don’t mind washing a little more often (about every 1-2 days instead of every 2-3 days), you can probably get by with 1.5 dozen size smalls and 1 dozen mediums. If you find you’d to have a few more on hand or wash a little less often, just purchase a few more later on. There are size large available as well, but we recommend waiting to purchase these as you may not need them. Your baby may be potty trained by that time, since babies in cloth diapers tend to train earlier. FuzziBunz are a lot more economical than many people realize. Compare the cost to using disposable diapers and you’ll see you can save over $1500 by using FuzziBunz.

Want The Bottom Line?

Reusable cloth diapers are much, much healthier for your baby, easy to use, better for our environment and will save you a lot of money.

No, you don’t have to use pins and have stinky diapers swirled around in your toilet!

just bumming around recommends:

24 size small FuzziBunz diapers, with inserts included