There are a number of ways to fold flat diapers to maximize thickness in the areas you want for your baby’s needs. You should use pins or “snappis” to put flat diapers on a baby. They are likely to move around in a wrap without pins or snappis holding them together.

Flat diapers are versitile. You can use them as diapers, changing pads, receiving blankets, burp rags and just about

Average cost per diaper: $2.50-$3.33 each

Purchase flat cloth diapers
How to wash and care for flat cloth diapers

After folding too many flat diapers, someone came up with the wonderful idea of folding the absorbent diaper fabric several times and then sewing it into a standard, rectangular shape and Prefold Diapers were born!

Like most products, there are different levels of quality in a prefolded cloth diaper. In your cloth diapering research you have probably run across the term DSQ or ‘diaper service quality’.  This phrase is rather self-explanatory as it means exactly what it says- the quality of diaper that services use.  Many store-bought brands like Gerber will state this butdiaper services do not use Gerber, they use either Chinese or Indian prefolds.  These store-bought diapers are really meant only to be used as burp cloths, not as diapers. Manufacturers even put a non-absorbent synthetic material in the center panel to give it a “fluffy” look, but it is really quite useless even as burp cloths. Some packages will say 'Diaper Service Quality' but they are not the diapers used in services. These are better than the 'burp rag

True Diaper Service Quality (DSQ) diapers are made of a very soft, absorbent cotton. Standard play is a 4x6x4 ply which means they are 4

layers thick on the sides and 6 layers thick in the middle. Premium DSQ prefolds are 4x8x4. DSQ prefolds come in “green” or organic cotton, as well as in bleached or unbleached cotton. By far the best quality DSQ diapers in the world are the ones made in China, and are known as Chinese Prefolds.

We sell Chinese prefolds (CPF's) at Punkin-Butt, in bleached and unbleached.  The differences are subtle- Indian are a bit shorter and are manufactured in Pakistan.  The diapers we sell are made in China by a private factory and are done so under good working conditions. No slave or child labor is used to make the DSQ Chinese prefolds.

Prefold diapers can be pinned, snappied or wrapped snuggly in a cover. Snappis need something to “get a hold of” in order to work,and the best kind of prefold for snappis are the Chinese Prefolds. Prefolds made from

Prefolds are by far the most popular cloth diaper and for good reason! We highly recommend at least purchasing 6-12 in your baby's size even if you plan to use another diapering system. It is wise to have them on-hand for emergency diapers instead of disposables and they are sure to be used in one of their other capacities.

Average cost $1.35- $2.10 each

Purchase prefolded cloth diapers
See wash and care for prefolds

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Contour or Shaped Diapers, like their name implies, are shaped so you just put them in a wrap or cover without any folding necessary. They can be pinned, but do not need to be unless you are using a cover that is not securing like pants; they are wonderful for use with wraps and covers that do fit snug. They are very handy and easy to use, but not as versatile as a prefold, which can be folded in a number of ways to fit your baby’s needs. Contoured diapers can make great diaper-doublers & pocket diaper inserts, too. (They also make great menstrual pads – especially for nighttime!)

The contour pictured has an attached soaker; not all contours are designed like this. The logic behind having the main absorbent area separate from the body is to help hot air circulate through the many layers helping it to dry faster. This is also common in fitted diapers.

Average cost $3.17-$3.66 each

We do not currently sell contour diapers.

The fitted diapers we sell are made by Sugar Peas, a WAHM (work at home mom) run company.  The fit is quite trim compared to prefolds since the crotch is contoured and narrow allowing Baby to avoid that typical waddle.  Sugar Peas also fit well at the waist since the elastic is only in the back leaving a smooth tummy.

Typically, a fitted diaper will be made of 2 layers of fabric in the main body and then have a soaker or doubler attached in some way to the body. Different designs will have different methods of attachement: snaps or sewn on are the usual. Sugar Peas are made with snap-in doublers and come in either fleece topped or plain.

Available at Punkin-Butt in these fabrics: hemp/cotton, organic cotton and organic cotton prints.

Average cost $12.95-$17.75

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Average cost $14.95 each plus $2.50 per insert

Purchase Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers
How to wash Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers

All-In-Ones (AIO) diapers are made of an absorbent layers of thick cotton or hemp, sewn to a water-resistant material, usually PUL or fleece, that acts as an attached wrap. They are the most like a disposable diaper in ease of use and ease of diapering but because of their thickness, they take a long time to dry. They come in either Apliz or snap closures.

We have yet to find an AIO that meets our standards.  Most AIO’s available for resale do not wash up well, they are prone to leaks and they do they last. There are many WAHM’s (work-at-home-moms) that make and sell wonderful AIO’s.

Average $12-$15

It's difficult to discuss diapers and not cover doublers, inserts, soakers and liners. Some of these terms

Doubler: A rectangular or hourglass shaped pad of absorbent fabrics meant to double the absorbency of your diaper. Doublers can be used as inserts in pocket diapers or cloth mama pads. Sometimes, doublers are topped with polyester micro fleece which does not absorb much moisture, instead it allows it to pass through and keeps Baby feeling drier.

Soakers: If you are speaking in terms of soakers inside of diapers, they are the same as doublers. But if you are referring to soakers as an outer moisture barrier, then they are knit or crocheted wool shorts or pants, the latter are know as 'longies'. Soaker shorts and longies are meant to be used as diaper covers that also keep Baby nice and cozy warm!

Inserts: When you use a pocket diaper, you will need an insert to do the absorbing. Made from absorbent fabrics, typically cotton or hemp, they are designed very similarly to doublers. Inserts can be anything that is absorbent: from a specially designed product to a dish towel!

Liners: Liners are one of three different functioning products:

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Cloth Diapering Fabrics

Another thing you've probably noticed in your journey to master cloth diapering is the number of fabric choices! It can be very confusing since some fabrics with totally different names function exactly the same, while some with almost identical name have complete opposite properties!

Hemp fabric is very popular for making cloth diapers. Usually French Terry, fleece or jersey. Jersey is similar to the weight and feel of t-shirt material and 100% cotton jersey; hemp/cotton jersey is not nearly as stretchy though. The fleece and the terry are exactly the same fabrics only the fleece is brushed to make it soft like the inside of a sweatshirt. All three are highly absorbent enabling diaper makers to use less layers of fabric to achieve the same absorbency as with 100% cotton. Less fabric layers means trimmer diapers and shorter drying times.

Hemp is antimicrobial which means that it inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi- a wonderful property to aid in the prevention of diaper rash. While hemp is grown without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers it is not certified organic at this time.

Some people stay far away from hemp because of it's reputation for stinking. Hemp can smell but so can cotton and so can micro fleece- any fabric that is not properly washed and care for can stink. Hemp, because it is so absorbent, is just more likely to retain odor.

more on hemp
more on washing stinky hemp

Cottons come in so many choices! There is jersey, twill, birdseye, flannel, fleece, knits, wovens and so on and so on! There are even cotton velours that are amazing! When choosing your cotton fabrics quality is essential. You can purchase a very soft flannel, wash it a few times and find it is pilly mess and not very soft at all. If you are in doubt about the quality of a fabric you are purchasing whether it is to make your own diaper or if it is a pre-made diaper, ask for fabric samples.

Organic cotton is very popular. Often referred to as OC, organic cotton is super soft and very high quality- hence the price! Organic cotton is grown and milled without the use of chemicals but beyond that, all involved in its production are taking care to preserve the environment. Even if you are not concerned with the residue of chemicals in your fabrics, supporting the organic cotton industry is a good enough reason to by OC!

Micro fleece, polar fleece & WindPro Fleece
These are all synthetic fabrics whose purpose is to keep baby dry. This type of fleece is completely the opposite of a cotton or hemp cotton fleece. They are meant to absorb where the synthetic fleeces are meant not to. If the fleece is on the inside of the diaper is is because it does not absorb much moisture, instead it allows it to pass through and keeps Baby feeling drier. If the fleece is on the outside of the diaper or used for covers, it is because it has the ability to keep the moisture contained. Micro fleece is also the fabric of choice for the inner lining of pocket diapers, like Fuzzi Bunz. Fleece is not completely water proof so it is possible to get some 'sweating' or dampness. This typically only happens when the diaper inside is soaked.

One important thing to remember about fleece is that you should never use fabric softeners when it is used as a topper in a diaper. You want the moisture to pass through it at this point. If fabric softener is allowed to build up on the inside of the diaper, the urine will be repelled and roll right out of the diaper.

But if the fleece is used to make a cover, you will actually want to use fabric softeners occasionally as it will help the cover retain it's moisture resistant properties. Do not wash AIO's with fleece outers using fabric softeners since it will also coat the absorbent fabrics used in the diaper.

More on washing diapers
Shop fleece diaper covers
Shop fleece topped doublers
Shop pocket diapers

Wool is another very popular fabric for diaper making. It it used to make diaper covers and is a wonderful alternative to synthetic PUL and micro fleece. Wool is fire resistant, water resistant and comes from a renewable natural resource: sheep! Wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight without feeling wet! Covers made from wool can 'sweat' or feel damp, but this is typically only when the diaper inside is saturated. Wool covers are actually very economical since they require washing only every 2 weeks unless soiled.

Wool comes in many different weaves, the most popular are flannel, interlock and jersey. Jersey is the thinnest of the three make still makes wonderful day time cover. Interlock and flannel are slightly thicker and are for day/night covers. Any of the three make very effective lap pads, mattress pads and changing pads. Again, a nice alternative to the synthetics.

Wool yarn is used to make woolly liners, wool soakers and longies. Longies are knitted or crocheted pants, longer versions of soaker shorts.

Shop wool diaper covers
Shop woolly liners

Polyurethane Laminate, known as PUL, is a water resistant fabric used on many diaper covers. Like most fabrics, it comes in different thicknesses, weaves, colors and prints. Some PUL is soft, like that used to make Fuzzi Bunz, while others are a bit stiffer. PUL can either be sewn in between layers of cotton for hidden protection or on the outside. PUL is a great fabric but is not natural and does need to be washed more frequently than wool.

Shop for PUL covers

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