What kind of cloth diapers should I use?

That is a question I googled at the beginning of my quest, a several years ago.

First, you need to understand how cloth diapers WORK.

In the absolute simplest of diapering "systems" there are two obvious parts: an absorbent layer and a waterproof layer.

The absorbing part catches and holds the wetness. This is some type of fabric that is NOT water resistant; cotton knits, cotton terrycloth, cotton flannel, bamboo fabrics, and so on. While it's not conventional, nearly anything can be meet this need. Old tee shirts, washcloths, and even extra receiving blankets work well. These can be used directly against the baby's bottom. Pictured here are cotton prefolds, the kind of cloth diaper most American families use as burp cloths.



Then there is the waterproof/water resistant layer. This creates a barrier between the wetness held in the absorbent layer and the baby's clothing (and car seat, bedding, and YOU). While nearly anything absorbent works for the inner layers, this outer layer is trickier.

The fabric should be "breathable" which means recycling plastic shower curtains and table cloths into diaper covers WON'T work. Fabrics that aren't breathable will not only irritate a baby's skin, they can cause permanent scarring and tissue damage.

PUL (pronounced "Pee You El" stands for polyurethane laminate) is a plasticated fabric that is considered sufficiently breathable and is definitely waterproof.

Wool is also a reasonable choice; it's naturally water resistant and is really versatile. Some people, however, have wool sensitivities and should avoid this fabric.

High quality fleeces are my personal favorite- they have softness that PUL cannot rival and are QUITE water resistant. They never need to be re-lanolized the way that wool does, and they can be machine washed.