Snaps Vs. Hook and Loop
September 9th, 2009 | Published in Cloth Diapers
If you’re new to the world of cloth diapering you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. There are so many different styles, options, and cool new innovations out there. How will you ever know which ones are right for you?
All diapers have to be closed some way. Whether it’s a prefold with a Snappi, or a fitted or AIO with either snaps or hook and loop. Today I wanted to talk a little about the pros and cons of these two types of closures.
Hook and loop tape has changed the world of cloth diapering. Instead of those urban legends and scary stories we’ve all heard about the babysitter and diaper pins a cloth diaper can now be used without fear of injury. Hook and loop is extremely quick to use and offers unlimited adjustability. I know quite often dads and babysitters are a little less fearful to try a diaper with this kind of closure. There are a few drawbacks though. Over time hook and loop tends to collect lint and debris which lessens it’s “stickability”. You also need to make sure to secure hook and loop to it’s fold back tabs before washing or you’ll end up with a huge wad of diapers all stuck together. Not a fun mess to undo. For me the biggest drawback is it’s ease of use. That doesn’t make sense, you say. Well if it’s quick and easy for me to take on and off it’s also quick and easy for my eighteen month old to take on and off. Indeed my little guy is often found with bare buns these days, proud of his accomplishment.
Some of my favorite diapers and covers with hook and loop are of course the BumGenius 3.0 and pretty much everything that Thirsties makes.
Snaps are put to good use on cloth diapers. They are the key ingredient used to make most one-size diapers, one size. Snaps are extremely durable. In my personal use I find that snap diapers and covers tend to last a little longer than their hook and loop counterparts. Snaps sometimes can pose a problem for those lacking dexterity and for those suffering with arthritis in their hands as they do require a little pressure to secure. They are also a little more difficult for busy toddlers to remove on their own. Which for me is a huge plus.
Some of my favorite snap diapers are Kissaluvs, and the new BumGenius Organic One-Size with snaps. Also Knickernappies makes a great snap diaper and have just come out with a one-size pocket diaper that I am in LOVE with. We should be getting those in soon.
On a side note, all of us Best Loved Baby gals are headed to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks for ABC Kids Expo. We’re excited to see all the new products out there. In the coming months we hope to bring some new things into the shop. Stay tuned.
Bronwyn Judd
