How to Fold a Prefold or Flat Diaper

I use a wide range of diapers, but when I am home prefer to use prefolds or flats for several rooms.

1. They are cheap, meaning I have a lot of them. 
2. They wash and dry super quick, even on a line.
3. Young infants need frequent changes so there's no need to bother with snaps and such when you'll be changing dipes frequently.
4. I like to save my more absorbent dipes for outings.

Let me tell you a little about each dipe.

Unbleached IPF that I've had forever. The more you wash them, the softer and more wrinkly they get. 

Prefolds: These diapers re called prefolds because they have center portion that is thicker for more absorbent. They get more soft and wrinkly with each use.  I prefer unbleached Indian prefolds (IPF), which made of Indian (the one in Asia) cotton, over Chinese prefolds because I think IPFs are way softer. Gerber prefolds are bleached and you can get a dozen for about $15 at Walmart, Target, or other baby retailers. Unbleached IPF aren't as easy to find locally, though. Indian prefolds are less than $2.00 each and available at online retailers such as Carolina Cloth ($24-35/dozen or $2-3 each) and are available bleached or unbleached.  

P in a snappi'd bamboo flat

Flats:  Flats are like prefolds, with out the fold.  They are the original cloth diaper but are hard to find these days.  I use Orange Diaper Company bamboo terry squares ($45.60-79.80/6, or $7.60-13.30 each) on Popcorn. These were more of a splurge since I didn't have to buy her a full stash of dipes.  I bought them mainly because they are tiny enough for a newborn and because bamboo is extremely absorbent, ridiculously soft, and has microbial qualities. Flats also come in hemp/cotton blends ($7.50 each) and cotton ($18/dozen, or $1.50 each) through Carolina Cloth.

Neither flats nor prefolds are water proof so you would need to put a cover on them for that. I use Thirsties, Kushies or Bummis Super Whisper Wraps.

Prefold and Thirsties cover 

How to fold them:
I never bothered to learn how to fold a diaper. I am too busy for all that. Diapering a baby shouldn't be complicated. It's just a diaper!  That being said, I don't have fancy names for my diaper folding. I just do it. I usually use a snappi to fasten them, but you can use pins if you are so inclined.  I'm going to use a bamboo flat to show you. I use prefolds more often because I have more on them (6 BTSs vs about 2 dozen IPFs).      

Since Popcorn is asleep, Jasmine (Princess's bunny) will be assisting me.

"I'm ready for my close up!"

 Jasmine is very fond of dramatic lighting and the schoolgirl look.
                                          .
#1 The "I've got time to fold it"F old
This is the fanciest fold I do. It looks good and it's very trim.

Fold down a little at the top. This is the waistband. It also gives you more fabric to snappi without worrying about scratching the baby or to pin more securely.

Fold up one side. Doesn't matter which.

Fold up the other. The opposite one.

Put baby on it and pull the middle up first.

Fold sides over and snappi/pin/boingo.

#2 The "Get a diaper on this kid, quick!" Fold
This is the fold I do most commonly.  It's more functional than pretty and I rarely put a cover on when I use this fold. It's good for if your kiddo pees a little heavier.

Fold up one side like so.

Now the other side...

Now fold the middle one more time. This adds extra layers of absorbency.  

Baby in, and fold it up.

Sides over and snappi/pin/boingo.

#3 The "Where's my snappi (pin or boingo)?!" Fold
This is the most simple way to fold a diaper, but it only works with a cover. You fold the diaper into thirds and put it in the cover, and put the cover on the baby.

Fold in about a third on one side.

Fold in about a third on the other.

If your diaper is kinda long, fold it up a bit. This adds more layers, too.

Lay it in a cover.

Cover on, baby diapered!

I do this when I can't find a snappi or pin because I don't like using covers at home except at night.  Or my snappi broke.  Snappis break after some time.

That's it-easy peasy, lemon squeezey! 

Have you tried prefolds or flats? 

Why Carolina Cloth and Orange Diaper Company?
No, I don't get any money or free stuff from them (though I'd welcome it gladly!) but I really love supporting local businesses, small businesses, and WAHMs.  I'd rather pay a couple of dollars extra to them than to give my money to some big box that doesn't care about the people it employs. Carolina Cloth is local and ODC is where I got my custom fitteds and my bamboo squares. They are just my faves so I like to give them credit.


But that's another post for another day.