Many say AIO’s and Pocket diapers provide the ultimate in convenience when it comes to cloth diapering but I beg to differ.
The tri-folded prefold and diaper cover, couldn’t get any easier to use in my opinion. 
Here’s why
- No stuffing required or matching up sized inserts to match the desired pocket diaper.
- No un-stuffing. This means you can toss the prefold in the diaper pail or washing machine as is, no reaching in to retrieve dirty inserts.
- Reusable cover. At each diaper change simply grab a fresh new prefold, trifold it and lay it in the diaper to replace the soiled on. Unless you feel the cover is stinky or has gotten poop on it then there’s no need to wash it.
- Covers can be easily wiped out to give you even more diaper changes before washing. You already have to wipe the babies bottom, why not grab an extra wipe and quickly wipe down the inside of the cover. This prevents the pee smell and works if just a little poop got on it in a place that easily be wiped away.
- Covers are the easiest to launder. After a wash and spin cycle they’re only slightly damp and can be hung to dry in your laundry room. This conserves energy and will keep your covers in newer shape for longer.
This isn’t necessarily a prefolds vs. modern cloth diapers post, but just intended to show that using prefolds doesn’t have to involve fancy folding techniques or fasteners. Just fold in thirds, lay in the cover and that’s it!
What do you feel is the easiest method of cloth diapering, in your opinion?
Written by Julie, ClothDiaperGeek.com
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Thanks for the post! I never tried tri-folded prefolds and covers bc I thought they would be hard. Ha! How leak-proof is this combo? This is also a much cheaper alternative.
I agree with this the only problem we had with this method is both my children were power poopers lol so if they pooped we had to change to cover and that got to be a little much during the first couple months.I LOVE fitteds and covers for the same convenience but find it contains poop better so Im not always changing covers
I think that the prefolds and flat look most versatile of all the methods !!!
Thanks for the post! I absolutely LOVE prefolds and I get a lot of people that look at me like I’m nuts! We have always only used Best Bottom covers with a trifolded prefold for our little guy and he is almost 9 months old now. Yes, we get some shifting as he gets more mobile, but he also only poops every other day now (EBF with some solids) and I don’t think any type of fold would keep that explosion off of the cover anyway. And even when the diaper shifts, we don’t get pee leaks at all. No pins or oragami here!
I agree that prefolds in covers are really easy, especially when you don’t have to deal with pins or fasteners. That’s what I use most of the time. For my husband and baby-sitters, though, I like to have a few pockets handy because they are ready to go right on baby.
This works great for newborns, especially, and would work with flats as well, and you have the OPTION with both of those for ‘wrapping around’ if more coverage is needed, or adding a booster to help out. Plus, with the natural materials, you don’t get stink retention like the more man-made fibers seem to have.
If you like the fit of another type, like a pocket, then just stuff the prefolds inside. I’m in the process of switching over because several years of hard water and use on 2 kids has trashed my microfiber. I’ve just started, but I am happy with the absorption amounts so far!
I have used many different types of diapers. Guess what I have the most of and what I now use the most… Flats. When folding them out of the dryer (or off the line) I fold them into what would equate to the trifold. they are then ready to go into the cover and are so easy. I do use pockets when we go out more, but I do love my flats. They dry so fast too! And most can be bleached if you really want to.
What kind of cover is this super cute penguin print? And what are your favorite covers (and easiest to just wipe out and reuse?)
Awesome! When my husband and I have our little one, we intend to try to stick mostly to prefolds and covers to save money (she says with no idea what she’s getting in to). This makes me feel a lot better!
Pretty much. I have used prefolds with covers, as described, when one of “my” babies at the preschool I worked at used them. For my own child, I use Softbums AI2s, which are just as easy, in my opinion. They are one-size diapers, with super-easy adjustable leg elastics, and snap-in inserts that you fold over where you need more absorbency (i.e. middle for girls, front for boys). You can’t wipe out the inside because it’s covered in microfleece, which I prefer. I don’t like the sometimes sticky feeling of peeling PUL off my baby’s bum.
that is pretty easy, but I hate how bulky it ends up being in the tri-fold. I tend to just fold over in the front and it angles towards the back to thin out around the bottom and contain poop. Still no need for a fastener, though!
I also love the ease of prefolds and covers, although I do keep a few pockets on hand for my husband, baby-sitters and grandmothers to use since they are all ready to go!
I definitely agree! I am loving cloth diapering!
That is good to know..I have diapered a baby yet (due in a few weeks).initially I was going to buy only AIOs..but after reading several blogs and posts on forums I have ordered per folds,fitteds and covers as well..especially for the initials months…
I tried the prefold but my baby doesn’t like it, probably is due to the type of material I used. and I gave up too fast.. Well, I’m using AI2s now, not too bad so far.. he is loving it!
Now that I have another snappi, I love using my prefolds over my other diapers. Especially in the middle of the night changes. They are sometimes easier provided that my little one actually holds still for me to change said diapers.
I must agree with this one! Though I have almost all pocket diapers I find it nice not to have to stuff or unstuff my Flip diapers and they are much trimmer. My husband is a big fan of the Flip also for that reason and that is always nice to have on my side;)
You know, you’re probably right.
My husband prefers pockets because that’s what he remembers being the easiest from the days when we cloth diapered our last baby. He uses all the pocket diapers and leaves the flats, prefolds and AI2s for me to use.lol. He will stuff them himself if I’m slacking but he does it grudgingly. I think it’s funny. He more than makes up for his laziness with cloth in other areas though.
Anyway, prefolds are simpler. the only thing that might compare is an AIO but I think you mentioned the extra steps in laundry care those take so it evens out.
I actually prefer to pin my pre-folds even though it’s an extra step. It seems to help keep the cover cleaner for more changes. Still, this is a lot nicer then the pre-folds with pull on covers I used with my oldest. Messy changes are much more difficult with pull ons then they are with wrap around covers.
Prefolds and covers are definitely do-able and easy to get used to, especially if you’re on a budget, but I still prefer aios or pockets- they are easier to clean poop out of without making a mess, require little to no explanation for babysitters/family, and if they are wet or dirty you can set them to the side while you clean up baby without making a mess until you can take care of the diaper
either way, they are all better than disposables IMHO
I agree with you!!! It is truly the easiest and they’re easier to clean too if you just add a bit of bleach, they’ll be disinfected, nice and clean with no stains and if they happen to get ruined are only about $1-$2 to replace if you buy the cheap ones