Cloth 101: Prefolds and Flats

When looking into diapers, many people want to know what is the absolute BEST diaper of a certain style. This post is to show you why you really can't select one "best" diaper... there are many designs for the same type of diaper! This post will show you how "old fashioned" diapers are used today.

Prefolds

Above is a prefold diaper folded around "baby" (Obviously there is no baby there!) and held in place with a snappi. This doesn't take much time to learn, and can create less diaper laundry for you by holding poop in the prefold instead of it getting on the cover. (You should change the cover if it gets poop on it, otherwise you can keep using it!) This is trimmer than padfolding since the material is spread out.

Above is a prefold (left) and an example of one padfolded (also called "tri-folded") in a cover. You simply take the prefold out of the cover when wet, and replace it. You can continue using the cover for the entire day, or until poop gets on it... whichever comes first. This is very easy to figure out, though it can seem a bit bulkier, especially when compared to a prefold (or a flat) folded around baby.

 Flats

These final pictures show Squiggle in a flat with a Rumparooz cover (trim!), and the one below shows a flat diaper folded around baby in a modified kite fold and held in place with a boingo. The material I'm holding up I like to fold over the closure before putting a cover on baby.

As you can see, you don't have to use a diaper pin if you don't want to. You have the option of Snappis, Boingos, or nothing at all! The covers you select will be more important (in terms of fit) than anything else when it comes to "old fashioned" diapers.

Disclaimer: Thoughts of Fluff was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Post may contain affiliate links.