Health & Fitness

Cloth diaper covers may fit babies differently. Any description of diaper covers is really just a general guideline. Some cloth diaper covers may fit thinner babies better, while some others may be better for heavier babies. Even within these descriptions, some diaper covers may not work for a babys body type.

If your baby is a little bit heavier, it may be a good idea to get cloth diaper covers that use both velcro and snaps. The reason is two-fold. One it will help secure the diaper better, but also it will help so the velcro does not scratch the baby in sensitive areas. This can be a problem with a complete velcro system.

Bulky Cloth Diaper Covers
One problem to avoid is getting cloth diaper covers that are too thick. Some inferior diaper covers are thick in order to hold in wetness but sacrifice comfort, and even appearance, in the process. It is possible to get sufficient wetness protection with a relatively thin diaper cover.

Some cotton diaper covers may feel about as bulky as underwear. There is a waterproof barrier, but you wouldnt know it to feel the diaper: it feels like a piece of clothing. People really like this natural feel because it doesnt feel like the baby is wearing ten layers.

Diapers pails are not all alike, but to say theyre necessary is a bit of an understatement. To not have diapers pails and, say, use a regular trash can with a normal lid would get overpowering after a few days. They may be beautiful, cute little babies but they make some seriously toxic smelling stuff.

Even if you use diaper pails, I would recommend using an air purifier as well. The purifier will help curb some of the smell and also clean the air. Small air purifiers can be pretty powerful and clear the air in an average-sized nursery.

Types of Diapers Pails
There are two major types of diapers pails. One uses separate cartridges that wrap the diaper in plastic, shielding the smell. These dont really make sense for cloth diapers because they are meant to be disposed of. Furthermore, one of the reasons to use cloth diapers is to eliminate the waste of disposables. This system creates even more plastic waste.

A better system for cloth diapers are diaper pails which remain air tight, but inside the diaper pail the diapers pile up like pieces of laundry. Thats what they are actually: laundry. However you cant possibly use a laundry hamper, so use an air-tight system, couple it with an air purifier, and it will do the trick.

Diaper pants usually come in vinyl or nylon. Overall, nylon is recommended over vinyl as it lasts longer. Think of vinyl on an old car–it tends to crack over time if it is not taken care of well. Nylon on the other hand will last much longer even without intensive care.

Either way, vinyl or nylon, the diaper pants will offer a little bit extra waterproof protection. To my mind, this is more important than the comfort of cotton. Parents like cloth diapers because they are softer to the touch and more comfortable for both the baby and parents–cloth diapers are like an extension of the babys own soft skin.

When to Use Diaper Pants
Vinyl or nylon diaper pants arent quite as soft as 100% cotton, but they offer extra protection against wetness. Keeping your baby dry should be a first concern. If your baby is sleeping through the night, this may mean not changing a diaper for six or seven hours. You dont want your baby to be sleeping in her own wetness.

During the day diapers can break and leak as well. You have to be certain of two things. 1. The diaper is secure. This will become easy pretty quickly. 2. There is sufficient wetness protection. All cloth diapers have a waterproof barrier. Vinyl or nylon diaper pants are good for trips in the car or nighttime–periods when a baby will go without a diaper change for longer.

Diaper pins arent what they used to be, and thats a good thing. Most of us have seen a Normal Rockwell picture of a baby in a cloth diaper with two huge diaper pins. Personally, I dont like using safety pins on my own clothing, let alone on my baby.

Babies are inquisitive and they may inadvertently open safety pins. Also, safety pins arent padlocks so they can come undone on their own. I really dont know how parents handled it in the past–I suppose using safety pins was the only option so they learned to deal with it.

Present-Day Diaper Pins
Thank God for technology. Honestly, I dont know who invented velcro but I have never seen a better use of velcro than as diaper pins. Not too long ago, diapers were held together by sticky tape. This meant that once you secured the tape, you could not remove it without possibly ruining the diaper.

With velcro you can make sure the diaper fits exactly right and make corrections. Some people use snaps for diaper pins. These are fine for some areas, but they are not adjustable. It is a good idea to have velcro tabs in addition to snaps because you will ensure both a babys comfort and that the diaper doesnt leak.

Preemie vinyl pants are separate from cloth diapers and pants for newborns. Even if you are thinking about using disposable diapers for your baby, I would recommend using cloth preemie diapers and vinyl pants. A preemie has much more sensitive skin and is more prone to infection so soft cloth diapers are an important consideration.

It is important to get cloth diapers that are designed for preemies. Most beginning cloth diapers are made for babies around eight pounds and up. Preemie diapers are for babies that are six pounds and under. Its possible that the baby might not have been born prematurely. A full-term six pound baby is not out of the question.

Really, its important to have a few preemie cloth diapers and vinyl pants around just in case. In the ultrasound theres usually a plus or minus of a pound. If your OB-GYN tells you the baby is seven pounds, she could be either eight pounds or six pounds. You should prepare for a six pound baby just in case.

Preemie Diapers, Diaper Covers, and Vinyl Pants
If you try to put larger diapers and vinyl pants on to a preemie baby, you are going to have a lot of trouble. In addition, youre going to have to fit a bulky diaper into a diaper cover. This makes little sense. You dont put on pants that are too big, why would you put on a larger diaper? If you have a preemie baby, or just a small baby, preemie diapers are mandatory.