Last week we talked about the different types of cloth diapers available. Now let’s talk about sizing, because even the best diaper won’t work if it doesn’t fit!
These diapers come in several sizes (newborn, small, medium, large, etc.) to fit babies of different ages or weights, just like disposables. Newborn-sized diapers can be especially helpful!
Advantages:
- Trimmer fit (less bulky)
- More reliable fit
- Individual diapers are less expensive
- More like disposables
- Easier to use
- Ideal for very large or very small babies
Disadvantages:
- More diapers are necessary from birth to potty-training because baby will outgrow them, therefore the diapering system can become more expensive over time
- As baby approaches the maximum weight for a given size leaks are more common
- If re-using your diapers for future babies, fitted diapers take up more storage space because you’ll need a full set in each size
These diapers are designed to fit most babies from birth (or shortly after) to potty-training. In most cases, a configuration of “rise snaps” are added to the front of the diaper or cover to make the distance from waist to crotch longer or shorter. Some have adjustable elastic, or other methods of adjusting for a custom fit.
Advantages:
- Saves money over the course of your baby’s time in diapers because one set of 10-24 diapers is sufficient until potty-training
- Should leak less frequently than sized diapers because baby will rarely be too big or too small
- No need to store extra diapers for the next baby since you only need one set
Disadvantages:
- individual diapers are more expensive than sized diapers
- adjusting the size of the diaper can be time-consuming with some manufacturers
- Will not fit all babies correctly, no matter how well designed
Still need some help? We love chatting with moms about diapers. Drop us a line and we’d be happy to talk to you about your preferences on material, style, or uses and come up with a system that is just right for you.