Her: Green Baby (Part 3) - Cloth diapering con't

My husband and I went to a cloth diapering session earlier in the week, and wow, did it ever get us motivated and excited! We learned all about the different types of cloth diapering systems out there, which are several:

1. Prefold with (a snappi and) waterproof cover. This is essentially a somewhat quilted rectangle of cotton that gets folded into thirds (prefold) that you can either lay in a waterproof cover or secure it on the baby with a snappi or pin. (I finally found out what a snappi was!) Close alternative: Using a fitted prefold (i.e. prefold with snaps or velcro) instead of a snappi/pin.
2. All in One. This is a complete one-unit cloth diaper that has the soakers attached to the waterproof diaper cover. Very much like a cloth version of a disposable. We were told that these don't dry very fast because of the extra bulk.
3. Pocket Diaper. This is like an all in one, except that the soakers are removable and sit in a pocket between the waterproof cover and inner lining.
4. Hybrid. This is the idea of putting a flushable disposable liner in a waterproof cover. In this case, the cover may have tabs or a shell to keep the liner in place. Hybrid means that you could opt to use a prefold in place of the disposable liner, which then makes this like the first type.

To my husband and I, the prefold with the waterproof cover is the no brainer winner. It just makes the most sense in terms of how much laundry you need to do, and the amount of covers you will need. Yes, the pocket diapers are more convenient, but the whole thing can only be used once before needing to be washed, whereas the waterproof covers of the prefold system can be wiped and then reused over again if not heavily soiled. Not only is the prefold-cover system the most green, but is also the most economical. However, one problem we might run into is the fact that apparently, prefolds become "stiff and crunchy" when line dried. Yum! We'll have to figure out a method to reach the desired softness without only using the dryer (fluff then hang, or hang then fluff?)

We're getting ready to sew our own diaper covers. We've already bought the waterproof fabric, and we can't wait to get started. Next up for debate is whether we buy or sew the prefolds themselves... we'll see!

One thing that was extremely helpful from the diapering class was the suggestion to spend the extra money on GOOD detergent, particularly designed for cloth diapers, to get the best washing results and keep the stink out. The instructor only used cold water, but with good detergent, and never had a staining problem. Wow! This gives us confidence that we can do the same, and that cloth diapering isn't as hard as it seems after all. 

Gearing up to wash lots of poopy diapers!