My DH has a question about pockets

[NSmomtobe]

This weekend we bought our first cloth diaper. It is a Baby Kanga pocket diaper. Since it did not come with an insert, we purchased one made out of bamboo for $8. Afterwards, my husband said that he couldn't understand why we needed to buy such a fancy expensive insert that was just going to get peed on. He said he could buy enough cotton to make a dozen inserts for that price, so did it really matter what they were made of or whether they were especially made for diapers?

I said that the material had to be absorbent enough and not irritating to the baby's skin. He pointed out that the insert was in a pocket anyway, so it would not be up against the baby's skin. In that case, why didn't we just stuff the diaper with face cloths.

This reminded me that the first set of cloth menstrual pads I bought for myself was made out of a material that was basically a face cloth sewn to a cotton backing with snaps. These pads were uncomfortable against my skin, so I stopped wearing them. But if they were in the pocket of a pocket diaper, they would not be against baby's skin. Would there be any harm (for baby or diaper) in stuffing a pocket with these?

[DevaMajka]

Nope- you can use all kinds of things to stuff a pocket diaper with.
Microfiber is popular, because it's quite absorbent and inexpensive. (I often see mf inserts for $2-3). Some people use microfiber towels from the auto section at walmart. You can't use mf against their skin, but in pockets it's great!

You could use regular towels, but you'd have to make sure it fit right, was absorbent enough, and not too bulky. IMO, it's easier to use something that is meant for diapers, but that still leaves flats, prefolds, mf inserts, etc. Unless you can sew, in which case you have tons of options!

[mariekitt24]

I think the inserts are supposed to be best because they are more absorbant and shaped correctly for a perfect fit. You could always just experiment though.. its not like it would be that expensive of a trial. However I've never had good experiences with pockets in general. I guess me and microfiber dont get along because my diapers always repelled moisture no matter what I do..

my husband always argues with me that why dont we just used prefolds instead of fitteds because they are cheaper.. and I say that prefolds arent as easy for me to put on as fitteds. I guess everyone has a different opinion though.

[Ruthla]

See, I always thought prefolds were a waste of money- if they have to be folded to fit the baby anyway, why not just use flats? And anyway, flats can be folded to fit more baby sizes than prefolds- you can fold it tiny for a newborn (when infant prefolds are still too big) and then double or triple it up and just fold it in half for a toddler.

That said, fitteds are a lot nicer and easier to use than pinning flats. I sewed my own fitteds for DS and had far fewer leaks than I had with the pinned flats and prefolds I used for my daughters.

[nia82]

I like prefolds, and as soon as baby gets wriggly they make great inserts for pockets. Microfiber is trimmer as insert and the Sams Clubs auto towels really are fine and do the job... A lot cheaper than Bamboo, not as nice though, but microfiber is really "thirsty".

[MissE]

I bought six microfiber towels at Walmart for 3 Dollars I think. I stuff anything can grab out of my diaper bag into a pocket. I fold very thin prefolds so the thick part is in the middle where DD needs it most or I just use regular flat diapers.

[Ifluffedthree]

You can use many different fibers as an insert. Bamboo is very trim and absorbent but it is more pricey than cotton. Hemp is also an excellent and thirty chioce.

I don't do Microfiber. I don't like polymer-petroleum based fabrics. While it is cheap, it does not mean is does not come with a synthetic price in your diapering area. just my two cents.

[Ola_]

There are many options. I think cotton will be less absorbent than bamboo, so you would need more layers to get the needed absorbency which can make the diaper bulky on baby. Microfibre towels (I've seen them at our local Costco in the auto section too) are very absorbent, but some people have stink issues with them after a while.

[mamadelbosque]

I suppose you could use anything to stuff pockets with, you'd just have to play around with absorbancy - we only have bumgenius pockets though, and they came w/ inserts so I've never felt the need to experiment

[Equuskia]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

See, I always thought prefolds were a waste of money- if they have to be folded to fit the baby anyway, why not just use flats? And anyway, flats can be folded to fit more baby sizes than prefolds- you can fold it tiny for a newborn (when infant prefolds are still too big) and then double or triple it up and just fold it in half for a toddler.

That said, fitteds are a lot nicer and easier to use than pinning flats. I sewed my own fitteds for DS and had far fewer leaks than I had with the pinned flats and prefolds I used for my daughters.

because I'm a folding failure I don't even fold laundry. I find prefolds are incredibly easy when doing the bikini twist. No folding really required.