by Sarah Grau

Created on: February 09, 2008   Last Updated: November 17, 2011

Some of us have always been concerned with our impact on the environment. Others are new to the green movement and are just now realizing the size of our individual "carbon footprint." No matter which camp you fall into, I'm sure that, as a parent of an infant, you have at least heard of cloth diapering. Some people think it's the way to go, and others think it's crazy to even consider. Our generation was mostly diapered in disposables, so most of our parents thought they were a great advance and may think you're insane to consider the alternative that they so willingly left behind. It's important to know the facts about cloth diapering today. They're not the same diapers your grandmothers used!

Today's cloth diapers have many options. Diaper covers with velcro have almost completely replaced diaper pins ad plastic pants. There are all-in-one and pocket diapers that do not need a cover, swim diapers, and even two less environmentally-damaging disposable options: chlorine-free disposables and a cloth disposable hybrid!

Diaper covers

These are pretty self-explanatory. They are water-resistant, velcro or button-closed covers that fit over the diaper. They come in lots of cute colors and patterns, not just boring (and easy to stain) white. You will not need to wash the diaper cover after every diaper change. A particularly messy diaper or overly wet one will warrant a diaper cover change, though, so make sure you have plenty. They come in different sizes, so you'll need to buy a few in each size or else invest in the slightly more costly adjustable diaper covers that will work for babies 9-40 pounds. About 5-10 covers in each size (or adjustable ones) will be fine.

All-in-ones and pocket diapers

These are thicker diapers that are part cover and part diaper. Pocket diapers are slightly less thick so that you can add a diaper in the middle if needed for a more customizable absorbency. These also come in lots of prints and colors. They are waterproof and must be washed after every use. They are reputed to take a long time to dry, and they do not come in adjustable sizes. It would be very expensive to diaper exclusively in pocket diapers or all-in-ones, so it would be a good idea to just buy a few of these for convenience when traveling or for when the baby's with a sitter.

Seim diapers

These diapers are like all-in-ones that are especially made for taking into the water. They are pool, ocean and river friendly. I have yet to find these in an adjustable size, so I

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