What comes to mind when you hear the words cloth diapers? Some new parents may perceive a traditional, down-and-dirty diaper origami, with cotton squares and safety pins and that’s how it used to be, back in the days. But these days, the reusable diaper market is packed with dozens of choices and materials to ensure that your baby has a comfortable, cozy (and eco-friendly) experience, attracting more and more parents to opt for cloth diapering. If you opt for fitted or pre-fold cloth diapers, you’re also going to need cloth diaper covers. These covers go over the non-reinforced cloth diaper to add a waterproof layer. Read on if you’re curious to know how to use cloth diaper covers.
Choosing a Baby Diaper Cover
Before knowing how to use cloth diaper covers, you should know how to choose a diaper cover. As a parent, you need not limit yourself to just one type of cover, but consider these things when choosing a baby diaper cover:
- Your budget.
- Are you going to use synthetic fiber or natural materials?
- How old is your baby? Do they wiggle much? Are you using a snappy or fitted diaper, flat, or a pre-fold?
- Are you searching for a day or night-time solution?
Baby Diaper Covers Fabrics
Before we proceed on how to use cloth diaper covers, here are the types of fabrics used for baby diaper covers.
- PUL (polyurethane laminate): A popular choice among parents, this fabric is a synthetic fabric coating normally applied to polyester knits, but are sometimes used to knit cotton and rayons from bamboo. Its waterproof, durable, and also easy to clean. It can be wiped clean and can be reused between washings and washed with your diapers, even in hot water. However, it is less breathable than wool or fleece.
- Waterproofed nylon: This fabric is very affordable but a less common choice for covers. It is also durable, breathable, and waterproof. Plus, it’s also machine washable and dries very quickly.
- Vinyl: Vinyl diaper pants are the least popular option. It is not breathable and also tears easily – and is much less durable than nylon. Because the cost for vinyl diaper covers is only slightly lesser than nylon baby diaper covers, most retailers recommend the more durable and breathable nylon.
- Fleece: This synthetic fabric is breathable and lighter in weight than wool. It is also durable and machine washable and can dry very quickly. While it wicks moisture away from your baby, some parents don’t like fleece because it can wick moisture through clothing too.
- Wool: Among the most expensive choices, wool is a completely natural option that can hold water, is breathable (fewer rashes), and anti-bacterial. Most parents swear by wool baby diaper covers, particularly for overnight. Wool covers are a bit fussier: special laundering is necessary.
Using Baby Diaper Covers
If you’re a new parent, learning how to use cloth diaper covers is easy.
Using Wrap Diaper Covers
A favorite among parents, the wrap has velcro or snap closure in front. You don’t need to use pins with a cover if you’re using pre-folds. You can just fold it into thirds and set them inside the cover and do it up. The single-layer PUL wraps can also be reused between washes – all you have to do is wipe it clean and hang it to dry near the changing table, so it’s easy to reach for your baby’s next diaper change.
Using Pull-on Diaper Covers
Before using a pull-on baby diaper cover, diapers must be fastened to your baby. Fitted diapers and pre-folds with Snappis will also work best. Pull-on is ideal for quick diaper changes with your mobile baby. However, it will make a messy diaper change if your baby has a wet, runny poopy diaper. Wool covers are pull-on style, while the fleece style is another alternative. Vinyl and waterproof nylon pull-on pants are also a very affordable cover option. Know more about cloth diapers.
Conclusion
Thanks to new fabrics and tons of options for diaper covers, we can choose which best works for our little ones. Baby diaper covers and wraps are made of waterproof materials. They can be used with your favorite diapers, which are not waterproof on their own, such as pre-folds, flats, and fitted ones. With so many choices for diaper covers, whether you decide to go with easy-care PUL, vinyl or wool, there are heaps of great options to keep your baby dry and comfortable. Plus, learning how to use cloth diaper covers are super easy and fun.