Diapers Defined -- What is a Flat Diaper?

What is it?

Flat diapers are cloth diapering at its simplest.  They are the oldest known style of diaper, and have been in use for most of history.  They are simply a square or rectangular piece of cloth that you fold to fit onto your baby.  They are generally made from natural fibers such as linen, cotton, hemp, or bamboo.  Any size may be used, but around 30" square is fairly standard.

Advantages of Flats

Flats wash very cleanly and are the quickest drying diaper.  This makes them very convenient to use if you are camping or need to wash your diaper laundry by hand.  They are also an excellent option for those traveling abroad.  Flats are also extremely versatile, and are one of the few diapering options that can fit just as well on a newborn as they can on a toddler.  For heavy wetters and older babies, it's easy to add extra layers of absorbency where they are needed the most.

A disadvantage of flats is that they do require a bit of extra time and effort when you are first learning how to use them.  Very active babies may not wish to hold still long enough to get an effective fit.  I still find flats to be a very convenient diapering option, and use them to diaper my own babies often.

How to Wash it

Most natural fibers will need to be washed several (usually 6-8) times before first use in order to wash away natural oils and increase fiber absorbency.  Alternatively, you could boil your flats in a large pot (about 20 minutes), followed by washing once or twice.  When you are completely finished with your washes, dry once, and then your diapers are ready to wear!

After normal use, you only need to wash your flats once.  I recommend doing a cold rinse, hot wash with a small amount of detergent, and a second rinse.  Then line dry, or use a dryer.

How to fold it

There are many different ways to fold a flat diaper.  Here are just a few to get started.

Padfold:

Fold in half horizontally.  Fold several times vertically.  Tuck excess under.  Use in any diaper cover designed for inserts.

Triangle Fold:

Pull bottom right corner to top left corner.  Then pull bottom left corner to top right corner.  Place under baby with long edge aligned with baby's belly button.  Pull bottom corner of triangle up through baby's legs, folding down any excess.  Pull left edge of triangle over baby's belly.  Pull right edge of triangle over baby's belly.  Secure with pin or snappi.

Prefold style:

This fold requires two flats.  Padfold first flat (see above) and place it slightly off center on unfolded flat.  Fold top and bottom of flat towards center.  Fold left side towards inner padfold.  Fold right side over about an inch, then over the padfold center.  Place baby on diaper and put on like a prefold.  Secure with a pin or snappi.

Closure

There are a few different options for holding a flat diaper closed once you have folded it around your baby.  You may not need any closure system if you are using your flat under a tight fitting wrap-style cover.  Other ways include:

Pins
Snappi/Boingo
Diaper belt
Mitten clips

Top it Off

You can use a flat diaper by itself, or add a cover on top as a moisture-resistant protective layer to keep leaks from happening.  Covers can be made of wool, polyester fleece, or PUL.  Remember to change your baby often (every 2 hours or as needed) to prevent rashes.

What is your favorite way to use a flat?  Share in the comments below!