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Originally Posted by jenrett 
I was wondering about cloth diapers as well.....specifically, is anything better than prefolds and covers?
My local baby store carries the Gro Baby diapers. They actually designed them, and I'd love to support them because they are so local. those are neat because they make biodegradable liners you can use for travel, etc. But, holy cow they are expensive when you compare to the prefolds and covers!
Also, I'm not sure it's super easy to see from the photos of the Gro Baby, but the absorbant materials are basically these big long "tongues", and it looks like poo could just slide right off the edge. The pre-folds seem to make more of a "pocket" or at least a wider absorbancy area.
Also, I've briefly read of people using wool covers with prefolds for nighttime because they are more waterproof, if you use lanolin on them.
Ahhh, so much to learn!!!!!
Anybody want to chime in on prefolds vs. fancier cloth diapers?
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I've used All in Ones/ pockets and now prefolds and my own wool covers. Cost wise the prefolds and covers win. They are much cheaper and I like the fact that they dry SO fast compared to an all in one where everything is sewn into one big thick diaper. Also, they are great even if you don't have more kids because they make killer paper towels or car drying rags or...well I could go on and on
They also can be resold, even used ones and you gotta love that!
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However, they are not for everyone and they intimidated me at first. Pockets/AIO's or AI2's are easier in some respects too. They eliminate the need for pins or snappi's they are versatile in how much or how little or what fabrics you want to stuff them with (hemp, terry, cotton, bamboo, organic etc etc)
Another option you may consider is finding some cheap fitteds. These are basically akin to a prefold that has elastic sewn in the legs and snaps put on the top, so it is "fitted" and not just a flatish sheet type diaper you have to fold around your kid and pin on. You still need a cover of some sort as fitteds are not waterproof in and of themselves. They are great if you live in a hot area in the summer, you can let kids run around in just the fitteds and get plenty of air, only tossing on a cover for outings or sleep. And like prefolds, you can use any cover-I have empty fuzzi bunz with no stuffins, my own wool knit covers, as well as some thirsties duos.
I highly recommend surfing around the diapperswappers site (link in above post) because they have stay at home/work from home mama's that hand knit and sew all of the aboves for much cheaper (usually) than some of the larger websites out there as well as used ones that you can pick up cheap.
Wool knit covers are waterproof yes in the sense that they truly will not leak if they are lanolized (which is much easier done than it seems)...but they are not waterproof in the sense that they "repel" the water. Here is a
link to a really great explanation of how it all works and how to lanolize/wash your wool covers. (there is also a video of a nine year old lanolizing a diaper-it's that easy) I have discovered by trial and error (and spending tons of money on various other diapers of all kinds) that these are the easiest for me to take care of (and actually by surprise also the cheapest!) even though it seems quite the contrary at first glance. I'm elbows deep in it now, and I'm so not going back! --again though, this is my opinion, I know others have different laundry needs or allergies or other reasons they don't use the same methods as me, just giving my two cents worth of experience
