So, what are they made of, anyway?

Diapers are made of many different fabrics.  The differences between them are many, especially when comparing natural vs. synthetic.

Natural Fabric

Some of the natural fabrics that diapers are made of are cotton, bamboo, hemp, flannel, fleece and wool. The advantages to natural fibers in diapers is that they are absorbent, renewable and usually produce less allergic reactions and rashes.  

Cotton that is used for diapers is the same cotton that is used for clothes and everything else.  You usually find prefolds, flats and inserts made of cotton. Diapers that are made of organic cotton are more expensive.

Bamboo cloth is a relatively recent addition to CDs. It is one of the easiest and most renewable fabrics to produce because bamboo grows quickly when cut down. Bamboo is most useful in inserts because it is very absorbent. It's the go to fabric that many moms use for nighttime.

Charcoal bamboo is used in making inserts and is highly recommended for how well it absorbs, its antibacterial/anti fungal nature and how well it maintains the moisture balance inside the diaper. (I'm waiting for some to come in the mail soon. I'll let you know how well it works after I use it for a few nights.)

Hemp is a crop and fabric that gets an unnecessary amount of negative press. Industrial hemp is not the same plant as what people smoke. It is an easily grown crop that produces fabric that is both antibacterial and antimicrobial in nature, making it perfect for use in CDs. However, isn't a very soft material, so it is blended with cotton fibers to be soft enough to not irritate babies' sensitive skin.

Synthetic Fabric (Polyester-based fabric)

Microfiber is the most commonly used fabric in making cloth diapers. It is very absorbant and can hold up to seven times it's weight in fluid, though not as much as some of the natural fibers can. Some parents prefer not to use microfiber inserts in their diapers because they are prone to issues such as problems with smell and repelling of liquids. It wicks moisture away from the skin very well. Unfortunately, it does too good a job because it can wick moisture right out of your baby's skin if you don't have another fabric between them, causing chapping and irritation. Most microfiber inserts are either meant to be stuffed inside pockets made of microfleece, bamboo or some other fabric, or are covered with that fabric if they are meant to be worn against the skin as in an AI2 system. You can tell if your inserts are microfiber (if there's no tag, of course) by how they feel.  They should be sort of nubby in texture like a microfiber towel you'll find in a supermarket or auto supply store.

Microfleece is a type of fleece that used as a stay-dry material in cloth diapers and liners.  Think about winter athletic gear (performance fleece, polar fleece).  It's that stuff.  It also wicks moisture away from the baby's skin, but not out of it so that there are no problems with drying.  The biggest difference is that microfiber is absorbant, while microfleece is not.  That's why it doesn't dry out your baby's bottom.

Suedecloth is another synthetic fabric that is very similar to microfleece, except that it is softer and more durable/less prone to pilling.

Minky is a created to feel soft, like a stuffed animal.

Polyurethane Laminate (PUL) is the waterproof material that most covers are made of.  It is polyester fabric that is lined with polyurethane so that liquids won't absorb or wick into it.

So, why should I worry about what my baby's diapers are made of?  Well, some people are super green and like to minimize the synthetic fabrics in their lives.  Some babies develop allergies or sensitivities to the synthetic fabric as well.  Often blends, such as bamboo/microfiber, give the best of both worlds and help to boost the softness and absorbency of each fabric.  It's yet another thing that is a personal preference.  So far, everything that I have used has been synthetic, but I'm looking forward to testing out the other fabrics as we go along.  My baby is just shy of three months old.  I've got at least another two years of cloth to go through.  (Do I woo hoo for that?)