Types of cloth nappies - can someone break it down for me?

[crazypenguinlady]

Okay, I started a thread about cloth nappies a few days ago and have done the questionnaire on the Nappy Lady website (this morning). However, even after googling, I'm still a bit confused.

Can someone explain (very simply as I've been awake since 4am!) the type of nappies to me, and if possible the pro/cons of each please?

I am not an expert on all the different types but will give it a go...

Muslins or Terry cloths. These are squares that you learn to fold in different ways and close with a grippy thing (nappy nippa) or nappy pin. Waterproof outer wrap goes on top.
Pros: Super cheap and good absorbancy.
Cons: a bit fiddly to master at first, and will take a while to explain to others how to use

Prefold. These are made as three rectangles which you fold and pin together as above. Also need an outer wrap.
Pro: slightly more structured than Terry cloths. Cheap, good absorbancy and containment.
Cons: again a bit fiddly to start with

Shaped nappy. This is much more structured and looks a bit like a disposable nappy in its shape. Made of bamboo, cotton, microfibre or a mixture of these.
Pros: easier to use than having to fold it yourself. Good absorbancy and containment
Cons: more expensive

All in ones. These as the name suggests come as one. There is an inbuilt outer liner that is attached to the inner nappy.
Pros: most attract designs, easiest to use (esp for grandparents etc)
Cons: most expensive and not great for absorbancy and containment.

You can boost any nappy with boosters which help to improve the absorbancy, but this comes at the cost of making them more bulky.

The way I think about it is that for all cloth nappies you need an absorbent bit and a waterproof bit.

Some (all in ones) have these as one item, easy to put on but harder to dry.

Others have a waterproof layer plus a pocket that you put various numbers of absorbent pads in (pocket nappies) - IME the best of both worlds though stuffing them after the wash takes a bit of time.

And finally you have waterproof wraps that are put on over a separate absorbent layer, which can be a shaped nappy, a prefold or a folded terry cloth as Eclectic has said above. These are best for preventing leaks and good for night nappies, but harder for other people to use and can take a bit longer to put on.

I'd see if you can go to your local nappy library as they often have kits comprising various different kinds to try, which is really the best way of working out what suits you best.

If you want something very reliable than a 2 part option, like a fitted nappy or a prefold and a waterproof wrap, is the best choice. This is what most people do for night, but some (like me) use them in the day too. You can reuse the same wrap for a few nappies as well. The disadvantages are that it takes a bit longer to put on and they tend to be bulky.
I never got on very well with pocket nappies, I couldn't get more than 2 hours out of them whatever combo of boosters I put inside, but some people swear by them. They are quick to put on and lots of the brands have gorgeous patterns.
The other main type is all in one. All in ones are the most expensive but the easiest to put on. They are usually the slowest drying so you might need more of them.
There are other types like hybrids and all in twos but I don't know much about the pros and cons of those as I've never used them.

I did shaped nappies and covers for the main - the pocket nappies are pretty and v easy, but don't have the poo containment of a two part

Two part ones also are better long term economically as only the cover really degrades, so you can pick them up very cheaply. My set of nappies were second hand (at least) to begin with, and then did 3 other babies before coming back to me and really looked no worse than in the beginning.