AIO - All-In-One
- AIOs are fitted diapers that have a waterproof outer layer. This
layer usually consists of fabric that has a PUL (polyurethane) backing,
polar fleece such as Windpro, or wool. These are the closest in
similarity to disposable diapers since they are a one-piece diapering
system. The absorbent soaker material is often sewn into the diaper or
it may be detachable.
AI2 - All-In-Two/ Hybrid - AI2s
are very similar to AIOs with the exception that the absorbent soaker
material is not attached to the diaper in any way. The soaker is usually
a second, separate piece that must be used in conjunction with the
diaper. The drying time for these diapers is shorter than the
traditional AIO.
Aplix- Aplix®
is a hook and look fastener commonly used on cloth diapers. Other types
of for hook and loop fasteners used on cloth diapers include Velcro®
brand fasteners and Touch Tape®
Bamboo-
Bamboo fabric absorbs 60% more than similar weight cotton fabrics and
it is naturally antibacterial meaning it's more hygienic and healthier
for your skin! For sensitive and allergy prone skin bamboo is a
wonderful choice since bamboo's natural breath-ability keeps your skin
comfortable and feeling dry longer.
Cloth Diaper - A cloth
diaper is a washable, reusable diaper made of any one (or several) types
of fabric. A cloth diaper usually requires a cloth diaper cover.
Contour Diapers - Contours
are hourglass shaped diapers with no elastic in the legs or back. They
must be held together with snappis, pins, or a diaper cover. These
diapers are not waterproof so a cover will be needed.
Chinese Prefold Diaper- A flat diaper that comes in multiple absorbencies and sizes.
This diaper is the foundation of an economical cloth diapering system.
Chinese Prefold Diapers come in two colors, white and unbleached. The
unbleached diapers have not gone through a whitening process. They come
with many of the original cotton oils still in the fabric and may
require extensive washing to make them absorbent. Once these diapers
have become absorbent, they are known for being softer than the white
diapers.
DD- Disposable Diapers, also known as 'sposies
Diaper Covers
- Covers come in many styles and shapes but their function is to
provide a waterproof outer layer for non-waterproof diapers (all except
AIOs). They are often fitted with elastic and fasten with snaps or
Velcro. Some covers pull-up, like underpants. Diaper covers are usually
made from polyester, Polyurethane laminates (PUL), waterproof nylon,
fleece or wool.
DSQ
- This stands for Diaper Service Quality. Diaper services use only the
highest quality materials because their diapers must stand up to a lot
of use and a lot of laundering. DSQ is usually used in reference to high
quality pre-fold diapers.
Doublers
– Doublers are pad-like absorbent soakers that can be added to a diaper
to increase absorbency. They are especially useful during times when
you know extra protection is needed, perhaps at night time
FB- Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers,
a diapering system designed to keep your baby's bottom dry. The pocket
allows you to adjust the absorbency of the diaper as needed. If you are
looking for overnight cloth diapers, pocket diapers are your solution!
Flats -
These are one-layer diapers, generally made out of 100% cotton gauze
and are the most “old-fashioned” choice. They dry quickly and fit a
large range of sizes. Folding and pinning are required.
Fitted Diapers
- Fitted diapers closely resemble disposable diapers. They are
contoured and fitted with elastic around the legs and back. They fasten
with Velcro or snaps and a waterproof cover must be worn over them. They
are the next step up from flat pre-fold diapers and much easier to use.
Hemp
- Hemp is a course fiber made from the inner bark of the hemp plant. It
is becoming increasingly popular for use in diapers because of its
durability, absorbancy and natural anti-microbial properties. Hemp is
better for the environment because it does not deplete the soil or
require pesticides, unlike cotton. Read more interesting facts about
hemp here.
Hook & Loop
- These are Velcro-like closures. Since the Velcro brand is not very
soft, many diaper makers use Aplix or Touchtape brand hook and loop.
Insert - The absorbant material used to stuff a pocket diaper. Can be made of microfiber, hemp, cotton, or even bamboo.
Lanolin - Lanolin
is a greasy, yellow substance that is produced by sheep to keep their
wool dry and soft. Lanolin is soothing to the skin and naturally helps
prevent bacteria from growing. It acts as a moisture barrier on skin and
keeps wool in good condtion. Lanolin is what keeps the sheep’s own
wool dry and helps to neutralize urine. Lanolin is what keeps the water
out. In the case of your wool soakers you want to keep the water in.
Lanolin also reacts with your baby's urine and neutralizes it. This is
why you can hang a wet soaker up to dry and have it still smell fresh
without washing.
Liners
- Liners are thin layers of cloth or paper that are placed inside the
diaper to aid in the cleaning of solid waste. In the case of paper
liners, the solid waste collected on the liner can be removed from the
soiled diaper and either thrown away or flushed. Cloth liners must be
washed but they aid in laundering and help protect the actual diaper
from staining.
One-size Diapers - While
most diapers need to be replaced as your child grows, one-size are
exactly as they sound: one size fits all. This means you can not only
use the same diapers from infancy up, but you can also use the same
diapers for your older and younger kids and avoid tedious diaper
sorting. A one size diaper usually fits a child from birth up until
about 30 or 35 pounds. This sizing is typically achieved by a row of
snaps on the front of the front of the diaper. This allows for the front
of the diaper to be folded over and to create a smaller size. As the
baby grows, several snap settings allow for waist and leg growth.
Pocket Diaper - A pocket diaper has
a waterproof outer layer and a microfleece or suedecloth inner layer. A
pocket (usually located in the back of the diaper) is where you can
place an absorbent insert to draw moisture away from baby's skin.
Because the insert is separate from the rest of the diaper, you can
customize the absorbency to fit your child’s needs. This is great if
you need varying levels of protections and absorbency. Another great
feature is that you can use almost any naturally absorbent material to
put in the pocket, including old flat and prefold diapers. The separate
insert also makes washing and drying quicker and more effective.
Examples of pocket diapers include Fuzzi Bunz, Happy Hieny, DryBees, and Just Ducky Baby Pocket Diapers.
Pre-folds
- Pre-fold diapers are rectangular shaped diapers that must be folded
into the shape of a diaper. They are similar to flats, but have multiple
layers with more layering in the middle. They often have 2-4 layers of
absorbent material on either side and 6-8 layers in the middle. The
amount of layers varies according to the size you choose which generally
ranges from preemie to toddler. You may see a pre-fold described as
being 4x8x4. This describes how many layers there are in the outer and
inner sections, 4 layers in both outer sections and 8 layers in the
inner or middle section. Pre-folds are usually the cheapest type of
cloth diapers available. They must be used in conjunction with a cover
Sherpa- Sherpa Terry is
knit terry fabric, just like a baby towel, that has been brushed and
washed to raise the fibers and give a fluffy super soft feel. Many loops
of the terry remain, and absorbency is not compromised. Generally the
Sherpa Terry that is used in diapers has a high cotton content, and a
small polyester content. The cotton content is found in the loops of the
fabric, while the polyester content is found in the backing and lends
durability to the finished product. An example of a sherpa diaper is the
Happy Heiny Heiny Hugger Fitted Diaper.
Snappi - A plastic mechanism that fastens a cloth diapers. These are often times used instead of diaper pins.
Stripping - the process of
removing detergnet build-up from your diapers. These residues can cause
waterproofing to wick, or persistent odor problems, or rashes. Begin
with clean diapers. Fill washer with very hot water and and a few scoops
of oxygen booster like oxy-clean or oxo-brite (don't holdback!). Allow
it to agitate, and then soak for a few hours, I let mine soak overnight.
Rinse and then run a hot wash with nothing but water. If there are any
suds during the wash, repeat the plain-water wash until there are no
suds. That should help. It’s best if you do not return to using the same
detergent that caused the problem. In fact, repeated washing in a
residue-free detergent will also remove residues, just not as quickly as
an intense “stripping”. Some people have found better success with
hand-washing in a sink filled with hot water and dish detergent, where
you can scrub each individually with a nail brush to speed the removal
of residues. That may not be practical, however, if you have two dozen
pocket diapers! As always, do not hesitate to contact us for more help.
Soakers - The term soaker
can be applied two ways. It often refers to the absorbent middle part of
the diaper, that absorbs the moisture when a baby wets. Soakers may be
sewn inside the diaper, partially sewn to form a flap, snap in inside
the diaper, or simply lay inside the diaper. The term soaker is also
used in reference to wool diaper covers.
WAHM- This abbreviation is commonly used for "Work At Home Mom".
Wool - Wool is natures
wonder fiber! Wool is a fabric made of fleece of sheep or lamb. Its
water repelling properties and breathability are what make it popular
for use as a diaper cover. When lanolized, urine reacts with the
lanolin to form a natural soap, this makes your wool self-cleaning
between washes! Most cloth diaperers save their wool covers for
night-time use since it is bulkier than their vinyl or polyester
counterparts. Many choose wool because it is natural. Take special care
when washing and drying your wool products or they will dry out and
become stiff. Read Wool Care for tips on wool care.
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