Cloth diaper covers

coastal-mama

l am planning on using cloth diapers, but I am wondering if I can use pocket diapers as covers for the cloth diaper on my LO. Any information is greatly appreciated.

lionstigersbears

Some people do, if they already have pocket shells and want to make them useful. The issue is that they are not "wipeable" like an actual cover would be, so they will likely be a bit damp and become smelly quicker than a cover. I'd say if you already have pockets you could try it but if you're deciding what to buy I'd get covers.

vinerie

We are doing cloth diapers, too, but are CLUELESS. What is a pocket cover? Stupid question, but is there a website you like where we can read up on this? (We are big conservationists, so we are doing cloth diapers largely for that reason. The problem is we don't know how to go about cloth diapering in a way that will help us stick to it.)

emma+karen

Let's see if I can be articulate...pocket diapers are covers with a cloth inner layer, and a "pocket" where you insert either a folded old-school cloth diaper (the kind you have to fold yourself--they are known as "pre-folds" in the cloth diaper world) or another absorbent piece of cloth, depending on the brand.

The brand we became extremely loyal to with our first is Blueberry Diapers https://blueberrydiapers.com/. They were the only ones that never leaked for us.  Their website also has some good basic info on cloth diapering.  We used their all-in-ones (and I actually just ordered some of their training pants for our almost-three-year-old) but they have a variety of different styles of diapers. 

rufflifephilly

YouTube cloth diapering 101 and watch videos! It helped me a lot.

lionstigersbears

Definitely recommend YouTube as well. Another vote for blueberry!

@vinerie If you're really trying to conserve energy and resources the most bare bones, air dry friendly cloth diaper approach is flats (a big piece of cloth, most typically cotton, that you fold up in different ways) and covers (waterproof outer layer) shaped like a diaper. You could get 36 flats to use on a newborn and grown baby, and just get 8 covers to fit a newborn (rumparooz newborn are $10 and awesome, blueberry Capri size 1/newborn are great too but more costly) and then 6 covers to fit after that called are usually called one-size for a couple hundred dollars and be all set. These wash easily, air dry fast since flats are one layer...but the trade off is that you have to fold the flat, put it in cover or fasten it to baby with a snappi/boingo/pins, then put cover on baby. It's really not that tedious, but it is more steps then an all in one (one piece diaper with absorbent part attached to waterproof part). They are super convenient one step diapering but take a long time to air dry, so most dry them in the dryer, and they are much more costly.

That got long. Those two options are the two far ends of spectrum, pockets, all in twos, hybrids, fitteds etc all fall somewhere in the middle. Check out YouTube! Also recommend Green Mountain Diapers, their site has tons of info.

countrygrl5533

lionstigersbears said:

Definitely recommend YouTube as well. Another vote for blueberry! @vinerie If you're really trying to conserve energy and resources the most bare bones, air dry friendly cloth diaper approach is flats (a big piece of cloth, most typically cotton, that you fold up in different ways) and covers (waterproof outer layer) shaped like a diaper. You could get 36 flats to use on a newborn and grown baby, and just get 8 covers to fit a newborn (rumparooz newborn are $10 and awesome, blueberry Capri size 1/newborn are great too but more costly) and then 6 covers to fit after that called are usually called one-size for a couple hundred dollars and be all set. These wash easily, air dry fast since flats are one layer...but the trade off is that you have to fold the flat, put it in cover or fasten it to baby with a snappi/boingo/pins, then put cover on baby. It's really not that tedious, but it is more steps then an all in one (one piece diaper with absorbent part attached to waterproof part). They are super convenient one step diapering but take a long time to air dry, so most dry them in the dryer, and they are much more costly. That got long. Those two options are the two far ends of spectrum, pockets, all in twos, hybrids, fitteds etc all fall somewhere in the middle. Check out YouTube! Also recommend Green Mountain Diapers, their site has tons of info.

I don't like flats but went the prefolds direction. Prefolds also air dry really fast but don't involve all the folding.


I'm not into having to watch videos and would rather read. Here are a few basic websites if you learn better by reading too.

https://www.sweetalyssums.com/children/the-different-cloth-diaper-choices/

https://allaboutclothdiapers.com/new-to-cloth-diapers/

https://www.kellyscloset.com/Cloth-Diaper-Information_ep_34-1.html

vinerie

Thanks, @lionstigersbears  that was awesome. ON my list of "things to do" is "figure out the diaper situation." This will help, along with the YouTube suggestion!

PYLWhammy

lionstigersbears said:

Definitely recommend YouTube as well. Another vote for blueberry! @vinerie If you're really trying to conserve energy and resources the most bare bones, air dry friendly cloth diaper approach is flats (a big piece of cloth, most typically cotton, that you fold up in different ways) and covers (waterproof outer layer) shaped like a diaper. You could get 36 flats to use on a newborn and grown baby, and just get 8 covers to fit a newborn (rumparooz newborn are $10 and awesome, blueberry Capri size 1/newborn are great too but more costly) and then 6 covers to fit after that called are usually called one-size for a couple hundred dollars and be all set. These wash easily, air dry fast since flats are one layer...but the trade off is that you have to fold the flat, put it in cover or fasten it to baby with a snappi/boingo/pins, then put cover on baby. It's really not that tedious, but it is more steps then an all in one (one piece diaper with absorbent part attached to waterproof part). They are super convenient one step diapering but take a long time to air dry, so most dry them in the dryer, and they are much more costly. That got long. Those two options are the two far ends of spectrum, pockets, all in twos, hybrids, fitteds etc all fall somewhere in the middle. Check out YouTube! Also recommend Green Mountain Diapers, their site has tons of info.

We've been planning to go with prefolds but I'm still not sure what the practical difference is between flats and prefolds (aside from the obvious - flats do not have prefolds). 
With prefolds, I understand you can just fold it in three and stick it in the cover - no fancy folds or snappi/pin necessary. 
Is that possible with flats?
I like that flats are one size- why isn't this the case with prefolds?

countrygrl5533

PYLWhammy said:

We've been planning to go with prefolds but I'm still not sure what the practical difference is between flats and prefolds (aside from the obvious - flats do not have prefolds). 
With prefolds, I understand you can just fold it in three and stick it in the cover - no fancy folds or snappi/pin necessary. 
Is that possible with flats?
I like that flats are one size- why isn't this the case with prefolds?

You can get one size prefolds. That's all we had. You just have to fold them a little more to make them smaller.

josie12367

I loved my flats for the newborn stage! I pre-folded them (did the fancy folds myself before storing) and used snapis and covers. It was so cost effective. I liked prefolds as she got older because they're more absorbent than flats imho. I still folded and snappied my prefolds as my daughter had chicken legs and it helped prevent blowouts into the cover.

Back to the OP's original question, yes you can use pockets as covers but you'll need to change them out way more often than a regular cover....so save yourself some money and just buy covers if that's what you want to use

AdorkablePixie

Definitely watch the YouTube video series mentioned above! I think it's like 7 short videos. DH and I sat down and watched them together and decided for sure we were going to cloth diaper. We are trying the pre-folds and covers, pocket, and all in ones and will go with what works best for us. On Black Friday I got a few of each (5-6) because there were great sales!!

codeeye

I have done tons of research on cloth diapering (enough that it consumes my dreams!) if you are cloth diapering because of conservation reasons prefolds or flats with covers sounds like the most efficient way to go. I would also recommended the cloth diapering 101 videos on YouTube. And as an added piece of information from another future mama who has a healthy planet in mind the covers made by rumparooz are made of a water proofing material that is heat bonded as opposed to chemically bonded and they are even considered biodegradable! That's what I will be using (along with a few pocket diapers to make things easier for grandparents and babysitters.) the rumparooz covers also supposedly fit smaller babies than most (I believe the one size are 6-35lbs) and they have newborn covers as well that are from 4-12 lbs.

Cassandramariec

I don't have any experience (yet) but have had it in mind to go the cloth diaper route long before I was pregnant, and I am an over researcher when it comes to anything I am interested in. Here is what I have come to understand-- but feel free to correct me if anything is off!

All in one: pretty much a washable, reusable version of the disposable diaper. Great for convenience and people daunted by the idea (like day care and grandparents!) but harder to dry (all the layers are together-- same way thick blankets and pillows take longer).

Pockets with inserts: there's a waterproof outside and a lining that goes next to the baby's skin, all sewn together, with an opening to insert a premade "insert" or a folded flat or prefold. Easier to dry than the all in one as the absorbent part can dry separately, though you still get only one use before washing. People like that you can customize which and how much cloth is inside for varied needs. Also, can be prestuffed and then convenient for other caregivers. Some people find stuffing them each time tedious.

Covers: waterproof outside part that goes over a fitted diaper, prefold, or flat. It's an extra step- like putting on a second diaper-- but also much more economical both in cost of diapers and in washing. The cover has a laminate inside that can be wiped clean and fitted over a new fitted, prefold, or flat (unless heavily soiled) so you need far fewer covers as compared to all in ones or pockets.

Flat diaper: essentially a giant piece of absorbent cloth first folded into layers, next folded into one of several diaper shapes, and then fitted and pinned onto the baby. This is worn with a cover.

Prefold: several layers of absorbent cloth "prefolded" and ready to to be folded into a preferred diaper shape. This also needs a cover.

Fitted: absorbent cloth already shaped into a diaper with elastic on the legs and fasteners. It is not waterproof however. It is meant to be worn with a cover.

Insert: layers of absorbent cloth/fibers sewn into a pad. Mostly for pocket diapers, though certain covers have an insert system, and inserts can be combined with flats and prefolds as well.

Most of this I found through various blogs and reviews on Pinterest, and googling specific questions. As others said, depends on whether you prefer to read or watch. And again-- this is my still inexperienced definition. Others may be able to define things better! Hopefully it helps sort out how they are different though, and what options are.

As for the original question, I agree with others. You technically could, in a pinch, but it would not be ideal.

amovin21

I'd love to cloth diaper for not only environmental reasons, but financially as well over the long run, but after doing some of my own research and reading this thread I'm highly intimidated and confused on the topic. :

lionstigersbears

amovin21 said:

I'd love to cloth diaper for not only environmental reasons, but financially as well over the long run, but after doing some of my own research and reading this thread I'm highly intimidated and confused on the topic. :

Understandable, I felt that way too. I took the plunge and just decided to go for it. Looking back, it makes me giggle that I was so stressed out about it! There are lots of choices, I encourage you to just think about what will work best for your family. Do you need a quick, easy, one piece diaper and are you okay with the longer drying time and bigger upfront cost? Go with all-in-ones. Do you want one piece diapers once they are ready but are okay with a little prep work to get faster drying time? Go with pockets, and stuff them with prefolds or flats. Do you mind a 2 step process (for me, this was no big deal when I was home with baby but harder once I went back to work since we needed 1 step diapers for day care) in order for it to be as inexpensive as possible and quick drying? Go with covers and prefolds/flats/inserts.

Sorry if that made it stressful again, but for me it came down to what would work for our family!

PYLWhammy

Another noob question - keep in mind I plan to use prefolds - did you buy newborn size diapers, skip right to 'regular' sizes, or use disposables at first? I keep reading that some babies outgrow the newborn size in a few weeks, so it seems like a waste to buy a bunch of newborn diapers and covers (though I do know you can use those diapers as burp cloths or doublers, etc.). Then I read that other babies stay in the newborn size for months! And yet others are in newborn for awhile but then skip the next size.... my head is spinning. I want to start building our stash but am not sure what on earth I should be buying!

josie12367

@PYLWhammy

I'd start buying your one size stuff now. You'll be able to order newborn stuff later if you wish. I bought flats/prefolds and some covers just in case she was small and we were able to use them for 12 weeks. I just bought a dozen flats, a dozen prefolds, some doublers for at night, and six covers. You can get all that for under $100 easily. Rumparoozs newborn covers are six for $59 on Amazon right now. Buy inexpensive and keep receipts. Don't prep till baby is here and you know if they'll fit or not.

lionstigersbears

PYLWhammy said:

Another noob question - keep in mind I plan to use prefolds - did you buy newborn size diapers, skip right to 'regular' sizes, or use disposables at first? I keep reading that some babies outgrow the newborn size in a few weeks, so it seems like a waste to buy a bunch of newborn diapers and covers (though I do know you can use those diapers as burp cloths or doublers, etc.). Then I read that other babies stay in the newborn size for months! And yet others are in newborn for awhile but then skip the next size.... my head is spinning. I want to start building our stash but am not sure what on earth I should be buying!

Plenty choose to wait until one size fits. I made my decision to use newborn diapers because I knew we wanted to have at least two kids, max of 4, use them if we are that fortunate! This made the investment worth it to me. If i were cloth diapering a newborn with prefolds and planning for prefolds later on, I'd probably use green mountain diapers size small prefolds (bit bulky at first but will last a few months in absorbency wise) on the newborn, then get a mix of mediums and larges for later on. Not sure since I didn't do it that way. @countrygrl5533 did you use one size on a newborn? What brand?