Prefolds vs. Fitted Diapers

Boxers or Briefs? Pepsi or Coke? Coffee or Tea? We all know these classic, age old debates over which choice is better. In the world of cloth diapers we also have one such debate, prefolds vs. fitteds. Of course there are other types of diapers, just as there are other underwear options and other soft drinks, but the fitted vs. prefold preference is a very commonly addressed debate. My goal here is not to persuade, nor to be biased (unlike my Ju-Ju-Be posts), one way or another, but rather to highlight the pros and cons of each.

First, a basic description: Prefolds are rectangular diapers that have a middle panel that is more absorbent than the outer two panels. There are different ways to fold a prefold, but the simplest is to just fold it in thirds and lay it in a cover. Other folding styles require pins or a snappi to hold the prefold in place. Prefolds come in a variety of fabrics and sizes.

Fitted diapers are cut to fit a baby and so do not need folding or pinning. Fitted diapers also come in variety of fabrics and a huge range of styles. These diapers do not have a waterproof barrier and require a cover.

Okay, on to the comparison.

Cost: Prefolds are extremely economical. Fitteds are comparatively much more expensive, especially if you need to buy different sizes. Prefolds tend to last longer as well, which adds to their economic advantage.

Versatility: Prefolds have the advantage here as well. Because there are different ways to fold the prefold, as long as you have a cover that fits well, you can guarantee you get a good fit on your baby. By nature of being fitted, fitted diapers are more individual. One brand may fit a chunky thighed baby well, but not a long skinny baby. Also, prefolds can be used as burp clothes, doublers, stuffers, and even cleaning rags.

Style: One could argue that this is perhaps not really worth considering, since both prefolds and fitteds require a cover, but I think there are some super cute fitteds out there and so this is worth considering. I think the greatest selection of prints is actually found on fitted diapers. (In the summer Emma often wore a fitted without a cover because they were too cute to cover up and I wasn't worried about her pants getting wet).

Performance: Here’s where it gets a little messy (no pun intended). It depends on the prefold and the fitted, of course, but in my opinion, I find prefolds to be more absorbent, but do not contain messes as well as fitteds. On a newborn, prefolds are bulkier than fitteds (because you can get really small fitteds), but once baby is bigger, prefolds are trimmer. Depending on the material, fitteds often take longer to dry than prefolds.

Ease of Use: What makes prefolds so versatile, also makes them a little more complicated than prefolds. Fitteds are just like disposable diapers, with either snaps or aplix closures, which means they go on very simply and quickly. Prefolds need to be folded and then placed in the cover or folded around the baby and fastened with pins or a snappi.

Choosing fitteds or prefolds is very much a personal choice. Here’s what one Sweet Peach Diaper Service Customer has to say about the Sweet Peach fitteds and prefolds:

When I first found out I was pregnant, a million things ran through my head. The one thing that stood out in my mind was whether I wanted to use cloth diapers or disposables. Both my mother and mother in law used cloth diapers and had nothing but good things to say about them and the benefits of using them, so I began looking into different cloth diapering options.

I discovered I basically had 2 choices, either purchase diapers or go with a diaper service. I knew about Sweet Peach's diaper service, and decided it would probably be the easiest option and in the long run, probably the cheapest!

With the diaper service from Sweet Peach, you have a choice of the fitted diapers or the organic prefolds. When my baby was first born, all I used were the fitted diapers. I thought they were great as they were easy to use and they contained everything nicely. After a few weeks I was given some cotton pre folds to try. I found that these were great for overnight as you can fold them several different ways for maximum absorbency and I have found that my baby will not fuss as much when she's wet and wearing a prefold.

I prefer to use the fitted diapers during the day as they are quick and easy to use, are not as bulky as the prefolds, and they also take up less room in my diaper bag. The only downside to the fitted diapers is that they are not as absorbent and I do find that I'm changing my baby more often compared to the prefolds.

Cloth diapering really is the way to go and whether you choose prefold or fitted, the best part about using these diapers is the super cute diaper covers you get to choose!

Personally, I recommend trying both, at different stages to see what works best for you. I have both prefolds and fitteds in my diaper stash because my preference often changes and I like to have some variety. Just like Pepsi or Coke, boxers or briefs, it’s a personal decision and there’s no one right answer.

As promised...meet my new BFF!

She helps me out tremendously, makes my life easier, helps me stay organized and often brings a smile to my face. She sounds perfect doesn’t she? She’s not a person though… she’s the newest Ju-Ju-Be diaper bag, just released this summer. (And yes, I realize I’m using a personal pronoun- sometimes a bag is more than just an “it”, it’s a “she”).

Before I delve right into the great features particular to the BFF, let me outline some of the features common to all Ju-Ju-Be products. The outside of the bags are made of Teflon, which protect against stains, tears and general wear on the bag. The inner fabric is made of a microbial fabric to help reduce odors and prevent bacterial nasties (we all know some funky things can be found in diaper bags). The linings of the bags are all light coloured to avoid the “black hole effect”. While the black hole might be great for Mary Poppins, most of us don’t enjoy having to stick our heads in our bags to try and see what’s in there. The change pads are made of extremely cushy memory foam, covered on one side with the same inside fabric of the bag and on the other side with the matching, patterned, outer fabric.All of Ju-Ju-Be’s products are completely machine washable, even their earth leather (which is an animal friendly leather). All of the Ju-Ju-Be hardware is metal, rather than plastic and you won’t find a strip of Velcro on any Ju-Ju-Be product. As well as wearing poorly, Velcro is often quite loud, which is not ideal when you want to avoid waking a sleeping baby. Instead, Ju-Ju-Be uses hidden magnets (my hubby’s personal favourite) and smooth metal zippers.

On to the BFF herself. As I mentioned, the BFF was revealed at the beginning of summer, to much anticipation by the Ju-Ju-Be fans. This bag did not disappoint. Many claim it is Ju-Ju-Be’s best bag yet and I would have to agree. There are so many wonderful features of the BFF, it really is a cut above most other diaper bags.

The organization of the BFF is what really makes it stand out. 4 gusseted inner pockets, 3 inner zippered pockets, 2 outer insulated bottle pockets lined with 3M insulate, a lined electronics pocket and a fabulous “Mommy pocket”, with its own compliment of pockets and key fob, make it easy to find a place for everything. It’s easy to find things on-the-go and keep them organized without much effort, especially when using other smaller Ju-Ju-Be bags within the BFF.


One of the greatest features of the BFF is that it can be worn as either a backpack or messenger style bag. Detachable backpack straps and a detachable, adjustable messenger strap make the BFF very versatile. I also love the grab handle on the top of the bag, which is extremely convenient and handy (no pun intended).

My BFF’s first outing was to our local fair, where she was truly put to the test. It was a cold, windy day so I had to pack an extra blanket and sweater, as well as the usual compliment of baby accessories- cloth diapers, wipes, bum paste, sippy cup, cheerios, spare clothes, snacks for me, my wallet, camera, water bottle, a few toys and my ergo. The BFF easily held it all without feeling stuffed. My water bottle and Emma’s sippy cup stayed cold because of the insulated bottle pockets and I never had to dig through the bag to find things. I was able to change Emma on a wooden bench thanks to the squishiness of the memory foam change pad. I'm embarrassed to say I almost cried when the BFF picked up some nasty black grease stains, but when I got home I gave her a little squirt of stain remover, tossed her in the washer and she came out good as new.

Although the BFF is primarily marketed as a diaper bag, it doesn’t obviously look like one and can be easily used far beyond the diapering years as a work bag, school bag or camera bag. I can see mine being used for many years to come.

It’s no secret I love all things Ju-Ju-Be. With superior craftsmanship and stylish prints to fit every taste it’s hard not to love them. I truly believe, though, they have come out with the ideal diaper bag. The only hard part is choosing which print. Don’t roll you eyes when I tell you there are some Pink Ladies who have the BFF in a few different prints because they love it so much. It took me weeks to decide which one I liked; there are just so many gorgeous prints to choose from.Bottom line- I couldn’t be happier with my Marvelous Mums BFF.



Jenny