Natural diapers! All styles of diapers are available in natural (aka unbleached). These natural diapers are very soft and have a more fuzzy look to them until they have been used for a few months.  They are a little heavier than the white diapers.  They also take longer to shrink. The diapers are not dyed to look natural - their color is just what unbleached cotton looks like. Natural diapers need more work to get them ready for use. They need to be soaked and/or washed in hot water in order for them to absorb properly. Each time that they are washed, use detergent. They need to be dried in the dryer after each wash load. If you have your water heater turned down for safety, turn it up for this load. Don' t forget to turn it back down afterward. If you have a smaller capacity washer, don’t overload it with natural diapers when you are getting them set up, they need some room to agitate. Natural cotton has natural waxes on it. The bleaching process gets rid of the wax on the white diapers, but you have to take care of it for the natural.  The color of your Natural Diapers may vary from batch to batch.

Which size should you buy? 

• Smaller newborns can use the Preemie diapers.
• For most newborns, either the 4x8x4 newborn or the 4x6x4 regular diapers. The newborn size diapers are easier to fit into newborn covers. The 4x6x4 regular diapers will fit into newborn covers and can be used until your baby is potty trained. You may find that the 4x6x4 regular diapers look bulky until your baby is a few months old. You may have to add washable liners as your baby gets older for extra absorbency. The preemie diaper are an easy fit into a newborn cover, but they will need a liner for more absorbency in just a few weeks.
• For babies older than 4 months, either the 4x6x4 regular or 4x8x4 premium. If your baby is a heavy wetter or if you are looking for a nighttime diaper get the 4x8x4 premium diapers. The 4x6x4 diapers will give you a slightly trimmer look. For older babies, I think that the 4x6x4 regular diaper is great for daytime and the 4x8x4 premium diaper is great for nighttime.
• The toddler diapers are best only for toddlers and young children.  Because they are so large and thick, the toddler diapers will only fit into extra large, toddler size and up covers.

White or Natural? The white diapers are easier to set up.  A couple of washings and you are set. The natural may need more washings at the start to become really absorbent. I won't be able to tell you how many soakings/washes it will take to get the natural ready for use. It depends on the detergent and the hardness of your water. In my very soft water and Arm & Hammer detergent it took three washes followed by an overnight soak. You may need to use boiling water on the diapers to get them set up. Harder water seems to work better. After about a month of use the white are a tiny bit softer because of the bleaching process. The natural are more durable though and will last longer. The natural also hide a stains a bit. If you line dry your diapers, the natural are a bit softer. If you have never used cloth diapers before and want to get started right away, my suggestion is to get the white diapers. I have found that in their haste to get going with cloth some new users don't get the natural diapers set up enough and then get frustrated because they don't seem to be working right. 

Will a heavier diaper really absorb more?

Diaper color code: Have some diapers and don't know what size they are? Here is the code: 2x6x2 preemie - white stitching on the ends, 4x8x4 newborn - dark green stitching at two ends, 4x6x4 - white stitching at two ends, 4x8x4 premium - blue stitching at two ends, 4x8x4 toddler - light green stitching on all four sides. 

Style [weight]	Price	Size (Shrunk)*	Absorbency	Best Uses
2x6x2 Preemie [1.13 lbs.]	$13.00 dozen $1.25 sample	10"x13½" (9"x11")		Preemies. Also makes an economical diaper doubler.
4x8x4 Newborn [2.5 lbs.]	$19.00 dozen $1.75 sample	12"x16" (11"x13½")		Up to 4 months. Use as a diaper doubler afterward.
4x6x4 Regular [3.0 lbs.]	$24.00 dozen $2.25 sample	14"x21" (13"x16½")		All ages. Use with a washable liner for toddlers.
4x8x4 Premium [3.6 lbs.]	$27.00 dozen $2.75 sample	14½"x22" (13½"x19½")		Older babies and toddlers. Overnight for 4 months (about 15lbs.) and up.
4x8x4 Toddler [4.3 lbs.]	$30.00 dozen $2.95 sample	18"x23" (16½"x21")		Heavy wetting or overnight for kids over  30 lbs.
*Some lots of diapers differ in size after shrinking from others even from the same vendor. The natural diapers seem to vary in size after washing more than the white diapers since the cotton has not been processed as much. They should all absorb the same though. Sizes are approximate.

Samples (single diapers) can be purchased here.

We want cloth diapering to be affordable!

We calculate our shipping rates by weight and destination. Prefolds are heavy and the shipping cost can really add up, especially for those shipping to a different coast. For some orders we can package your order in a Postal Service Flat Rate Box or their Large Flat Rate Box.
If you have ordered prefolds and only a few other small items that will fit into a Flat Rate Box our shopping cart will show you a "Prefold Saver" shipping option that will save you some money over our Standard Rate which only calculates weight/distance.
If you live closer to us, you may not see this option since your rate by weight is less expensive than the Flat Rate Boxes.