All-in-ones: The Gateway Diaper

There are so many different kinds of cloth diapers today that researching and buying cloth diapers can be very confusing. Pins and plastic pants are considered old-school, even among the cloth diapering parents. The simplest and easiest to use type of cloth diaper is the all-in-one. It is exactly what it sounds like: a one-step diaper that goes on and off just like a disposable. It has absorbent layers on the inside and a waterproof layer on the outside. They usually fasten with velcro, like disposables, although some fasten with snaps instead. Unlike disposables, you wash the diapers after each use instead of throwing them away.

All-in-ones are the most expensive cloth diapering option, but they're also the easiest. They usually run between $20 and $30 a diaper, which sounds expensive, but you only have to buy them once. You still end up saving at least $1000 over disposables if you use them on one child. If you use them on more than one child, you save even more. If you're worried about pins or getting used to cloth diapers when you're already used to disposables, this is a great option.

I started with all-in-ones, and I loved them. Once I got used to using cloth diapers, I realized that all-in-ones have a few limitations that other types of diapers don't. They are less customizable than some other options: if you need more absorbency, it can be hard to fit extra layers in the diaper. I was using BumGenius Organic One Size diapers, and I found that they weren't absorbent enough once my daughter started sleeping through the night. I tried adding layers (called a doubler) for more absorbency, but it was pretty hard to fit them inside, since an all-in-one is really designed to work alone. They also wear out a little bit faster than other varieties because it's a little bit harder to get them clean without putting heavy wear on the waterproof layer.

However, they are by far my favorite diaper to use in the diaper bag. When trying to change my baby on one of those flimsy wall changers in a public restroom, I love the convenience of only having one piece to deal with. I take the dirty one off, put it in the wet bag, and put a clean one on. I don't have to worry about sorting anything or air drying anything. It's no different than a disposable. I highly recommend anyone using cloth diapers to have at least a few of this kind in the stash. They got me started, and I still love them for daytime and traveling.