Like many parents, I didn’t start cloth diapering right away. When I finally did  take the plunge I wanted the diapers to be as “easy” as disposables. Basically this meant that I wanted  stay-dry inners, Velcro closures, or easy front-snapping diapers.  After endless reading, I decided to try some all-in-ones  and pockets. I loved cloth diapering and was soon hooked.

A couple of months later, I had a stash of pockets and all-in-ones that I loved. Prefolds seemed too hard and too old-fashioned. They were the opposite of the “advances” that wowed people with my modern stash.  After a while, though, I was bored and ready to try something new.  A few prefolds and a cover seemed like a low-cost investment. I  reasoned that if  I didn’t like them, I  could use the prefolds as inserts or burp cloths.

After prepping and trifolding,  I put the diaper on my daughter. A few changes in, and I was hooked again. I found that while prefolds are not like disposables in fit and style, they can be just as easy to use. I find that I love prefolds because:

• Different folds give prefolds different fits, so it’s easy to customize where your baby needs absorbency.
• Most prefolds are inexpensive, so they are a great diaper to make up the bulk of your stash.
• Trifolding in a cover is not much different than using an all-in-one, so it’s easy for daycares and babysitters (using a different cover with each change means you can preload and keep it simpler for them).
• Prefolds have no elastic to worry about, so they are durable and easily last through multiple children.
• Natural fibers are a lifesaver for some children with synthetic sensitivities.
• It’s harder to “ruin” prefolds with the  wrong diaper cream than pockets or all-in-ones, and prefolds tend not to get repelling problems.

A lot of times when people are making the switch to cloth diapers, they say they want to try different kinds, but they “don’t want prefolds.” Having been one of those people,  I understand their reservations. Since  crossing to the other side, I would encourage them to give prefolds a try somewhere in their cloth diapering journey. They may also fall in love with them!

Michelle is a mom to 2 wonderful little girls (one still in cloth diapers) and owner of Snooty Booty Diapers.