Different types of modern cloth diaper systems: their pros and cons

For those who are completely new to the modern cloth diaper adventures, you might be surprised how advanced reusable nappies have become since the days that your grandparents (or maybe even parents) twisted, folded and pined a sheet of cotton cloth on baby's bum. Although this option still exists and works wonderfully for many families, modern reusable diapers have been developed over the years to mimic the convenience and ease-of-use of disposables.

That's great news for all families who would like to try reusable nappies, but perhaps were a bit reluctant about giving up the comfort of using disposables. With improved technology and an updated fit, you'd be surprised how similar cloth diapers are to disposables in terms of comfort, fit, and even convenience. 

Nevertheless, with all the many different choices available, it can be a bit overwhelming to find the right type of reusable diaper for your child. ​

Avo&Cado Prefold pinned on a baby using Snappis

Luckily, we're here to help. We're going to explain the different types of cloth diapers available, their advantages and disadvantages.

​Hopefully, this blog post will help you assess and determine which type (or types) of nappies will work best for your family. If you still can't decide? Why not try our one of our Fluffy Bundles to test it out for yourself!

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All-in-One (AIO)
AIO diapers are most similar to disposables. Most AIOs come in one piece and have the inserts and cover either sewed together, or have buttons where you can snap the inserts onto the diaper (the reason being that it lets you change the absorbency of the diaper and/or helps the diaper to dry faster). The one piece means that you can throw the entire nappy in the wet bag/diaper bin when it's dirty. ​
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Examples

• Smart Bottoms Smart One 3.1
• Smart Bottoms Dream Diaper 2.0
• TotsBots EasyFit Star
• TotsBots TeenyFit Star

Pros

• Easy-to-use; caretaker and daycare/ kita/nursery school friendly
• Less work for you after you wash and dry the diaper as there are minimal to no stuffing/folding of inserts involved
• No guesswork about which inserts to use with which diaper cover

Cons

• Longer drying time if the absorbent layer is sewed on
• Not as economical as other types of cloth nappies

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All-in-Two (AI2)/Hybrid 
AI2s are sometime called hybrid diapers, and come with absorbent inserts that you can usually attach to the diaper cover with a snap button that helps the inserts to stay in place. The diaper covers are usually unlined, so that you can reuse the covers several times during the day (usually if baby only pees on the insert). Some brands of AI2 diapers also sell disposable soaker pads, which is why it's sometimes referred to as a "hybrid diaper" since it's both disposable and reusable.
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Examples

• TotsBots PeeNut Wrap + Absorbent Pad
• Grovia Hybrid Diaper
• Best Bottom Diaper

Pros

• Can be economical if you reuse the diaper cover more than once in one day
• Easy-to-use; caretaker and daycare/ kita/nursery school friendly
• More work than AIOs, but less than pocket diapers

Cons

• Some AI2s inserts come in different sizes, so you'll have to invest in the different sizes as your baby grows
• Most of the time, for snap inserts, you have to use the same brand insert as the cover

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​Prefolds/Trifolds
Are squared cloth usually made of cotton, or an absorbent cotton-blend fabric that's very similar to the traditional cotton cloth flat fabrics widely used in the past. With prefolds, however, the cloth is usually divided into three parts (three rectangles) with the middle part having more layers of absorbency. While you can pin larger prefolds onto baby, usually, folding it in three parts (hence why it's also known as trifolds) to make a rectangle is sufficient to create a very absorbent insert for your favorite diaper cover or pocket diaper.

Examples

• Avo & Cado Organic Cotton Prefold
• Smart Bottoms Smartfold

Pros

• Economical and budget friendly
• Similar to an AI2, you can reuse the diaper cover several times in a day
• Easy to add booster/doubler inserts to add absorbency

Cons

• May have to invest in several sizes, but the larger size can sometimes be used on younger babies if you pin it together like traditional cloth nappies
• The folding (and maybe pinning) can deter caregivers who may see it as being too complicated

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Fitted diapers
Are made of only absorbent cloth and look similar to an AIO diaper without the waterproof cover. Fitted diapers are created with a contoured shape, snap or hook-and-loop closures, and elastics around the legs to contain messes. You'll need a waterproof diaper cover to go over it.

Examples

• TotsBots Bamboozle Stretch​
• GDM Workhorse

Pros

• Excellent performance in containing messes, thanks to elastic leg openings
• Very absorbent and can be used as an overnight diaper

Cons

• Usually costs more than prefolds and other inserts
• Extra step in putting a diaper cover may deter caregiver who are not familiar with cloth diapers

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Pocket diapers
Have a pocket opening either in the back, front or middle of the diaper where you can stuff an absorbent insert. Some pocket diapers come with specifically design inserts, but most allow you to use any and as many inserts you wish as long as it fits inside the pocket opening without bunching up.

Pros

• Easy-to-use for caregivers and daycare/kita/nursery school friendly (once the inserts are stuffed in the diapers)
• Allows you to be versatile with your inserts by mixing and matching different inserts to get the right absorbency and fit for your child

Cons

• Not all inserts come out of the pockets automatically when it's in the washer, which means you'll have to unstuff the dirty inserts before can you throw it in the washing machine (*our tip: take out the inserts before you put the dirty diaper in the wet bag or diaper bin)
• Re-stuffing inserts into the pockets can mean extra laundry time

​Examples

• Blueberry Pocket Diaper
• Rumparooz Pocket Diaper

Stuffing a pocket diaper