Prefolds and pockets and AIO's...Oh my! (Part II)

The diapers in the last part of this series were some of the more traditional ones, though they are by no means less modern in many cases.  These are the other types of diapers, the ones that have made the people around me go, "I've never seen diapers like these before!  This is what you meant when you said you were going to use cloth diapers?"  What makes these diapers so different from the others is that they have the cover integrated into the system or the covers are the diaper.  You'll see what I mean.

All-in-One (AIO) diapers are the most like a disposable that you can find without throwing them out when you're done.  They are just what the name says, all in one.  The cover has the absorbant material and often a stay-dry later sewn right in.  You just put them on the baby and go.  They come in sized or one-size fits most, snap and hook and loop varieties.  You can find them in just about any color, pattern or design you can think of.  Many people use them for grandparents, babysitters or other caregivers who might not be as comfortable with cloth as they are.  The issue with AIOs is that they take much longer to dry when you wash them.  Plus, it isn't as if you have a separate cover, so you have to change them with every pee or poop and that can make for more laundry.  (Lil Joey Newborn All-in-One Cloth Diaper)

Pocket diapers kind of sound self-explanatory.  They are like an AIO whose absorbant material can be added and removed from the pocket in it.  You can stuff them with anything that will absorb liquids, such as folded flat/prefold diapers, towels or other type of cloth, but many pocket diapers have inserts that are tailored to fit the pocket.  They are meant to be worn once and washed just like an AIO, but since you're taking the inserts out when you wash and dry them, they dry much faster.  These diapers are often a favorite for families that like the ease of an AIO without the drying time.  You do, however, have to stuff the pockets.  That can be a lot to stuff when the laundry's done if your entire stash consists of pockets or if you are CDing more than one child!  Some people do it while they watch TV.  (Ecopocket diaper)

All-in-Two (AI2) or Hybrid systems are similar to pockets, but instead of stuffing the insert in, you lay it in the cover or snap it in.  You can often let the covers dry or wipe them clean and just toss the inserts in the diaper pail or wetbag that you use to store them between washes unless they are soiled.  There are AI2 systems that are more specifically hybrid systems.  These have disposable inserts that are biodegradable and even flushable!  Many people like having this option for when they go on long car rides or on vacation.  They can get expensive if you use them instead of the washable inserts, so the best choice may be to alternate between them if this is something that you're interested in using.  You will still have to wash the covers and you don't want to wait too long between washes to have enough covers to fill the machine.  This gives bacteria a chance to grow and you could end up with issues down the road.  (Softbums Echo All-in-Two System)

So, which ones do I like the best?  Well, I haven't tried them all, but for now I'm using pockets and AI2s.  I'm interested in going down the list and giving each one a try just to really see what I like.  I'll review each diaper that I try as I get them, starting with the ones that I have or had.  All I can say is that I'm loving cloth diapering my baby!

There's one more part to this series: Accessories.