How to Choose Your Prefold Cloth Diapers
Prefold diapers are 3-panel diapers made from multiple layers of lightweight, woven fabric with extra layers in the center panel for absorbency. Prefolds and diaper covers are consider by many to be the most economical diaper system.
The Choices: material, size and layering
There are 3 basic choices to be made when choosing a prefold diaper. They are material type, sizing type and layering.
Material:
We offer prefolds in four materials:
- Bleached Cotton Prefolds,
- Unbleached Cotton Prefolds
- Organic Cotton Prefolds
- Bamboo/Organic Cotton Blend Prefolds. See below for more details on these materials.
Sizing:
We offer two sizing options:
- Traditional Fit - Traditional fit diapers are wrapped around baby's waist and fastened with diaper fasteners or pins and finally a diaper cover is placed over them.
- Better Fit (also called tri-fold sizing). Better Fit Diapers are shorter and are folded into a trifold, and placed into a pocket in the diaper cover, like an insert, and then the cover is placed on the baby. No pins or fasteners are needed with Better Fit diapers, you just need a good diaper cover. Choose the diaper size based on the weight of your baby. Every page has a size chart to determine which size is needed.
Layering:
If you've never purchased prefold cloth diapers before, you are probably confused by seeing numbers like 2x6x2 or 4x8x4. These numbers simply refer to how thick a diaper is.
Each prefold has 3 panels (2 outside panels & 1 center panel). If a prefold says it's 4x6x4, that means there are 4 layers of material, with 2 additional layers in the center panel for more absorbency. Typically 4x6x4 prefolds are great for daily use, but may need an extra doubler/insert for nighttime use. Diapers that are 4x8x4 in thickness are generally thick enough for most infants to use during the day or night.
Fabric Types - Bleached, Unbleached, Bamboo, Organic
- Bleached prefolds are labeled this because the fabric is pre bleached so that the diapers are bright and white. Bleached cotton prefolds tend to wash up extremely well and require only 1 wash to prep them before use. If you want to keep it simple, bleached prefolds are for you.
- Unbleached prefolds are made from the natural fabric - no pre-bleaching. These are our most popular prefolds! Customers prefer unbleached prefold diapers almost 4 to 1. Unbleached prefolds take 3-5 full washing cycles to prep before using, so that the diaper becomes absorbent. This is because you have to wash the natural occurring oil from the cotton out before use. Unbleached prefolds usually become softer than bleached prefolds.
- Organic prefolds are even softer than unbleached prefolds. Our OsoCozy Organic prefolds are 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. You can't get any more natural than these. These also take 3-5 washes to prep.
- Bamboo Organic prefolds are an ultra soft bamboo cotton blend, made from 50% rayon (made with bamboo) and 50% organic cotton, grown and harvested according to SKAL International Standards for Sustainable Textile Production. These prefolds are extremely absorbent and luxuriously soft. These prefolds require 3-5 washes before use. Because the bamboo prefolds have a buttery softness, they are a more delicate fabric. Therefore, no washing or drying on high temperatures. Instead use only warm water and medium heat.
Indian Prefolds or Chinese Prefolds
The names Indian Prefolds and Chinese Prefolds refers to the place where these prefolds are manufactured.
- Indian Prefolds are softer and more textured. Their twill weave fluffs up when washed.
- Chinese Prefolds are lighter weight. Because of their tightly woven gauze, they stay more smooth. Since they stay more smooth, these are a favorite for making customized burp cloths.
Prefolds Are The Most Commonly Used Cloth Diaper Type
Prefolds are the most commonly used cloth diapers in America. Most cloth diaper services use prefold diapers for the same reasons that so many parents choose to launder prefolds at home.
- Soft and comfortable for baby - Indian prefolds in particular wash up to a nice, fluffy textured softness.
- Customizable fit - Because you choose the fold every time you put a diaper on your baby, you can always make needed adjustments.
- Washes thoroughly and easily - Simple cotton fabric is easy to keep clean.
- Tough and durable even through multiple children! - the superior weave maintains its integrity through many washes.
- Natural Fibers - No microfiber or polyester which means that only soft, absorbent cotton touches your baby.
How to fold prefold cloth diapers.
OsoCozy Prefold Cloth Diaper Packages - Buy your diapers and covers in money saving packages.