Fitted cloth diapers are one of the easiest ways to cloth diaper. No pocket stuffing. No folding. No lengthy dryer cycles ( at least for the well-made ones!). They are usually also less expensive than investing in all in ones, but are much more convenient than prefolds. Fitteds do require a separate cover to hold moisture in.

A fitted is an absorbent diaper with snaps or hook and loop (like Velcro) fasteners. You don't need any pins and since it is already contoured and elasticized to fit a baby, there is usually no folding or adjusting needed to get a great fit on your baby. A few brands easily fold down in the front to adjust the sizing, but this is much easier than folding a flat or prefold to fit.

I like using them with wool, fleece or PUL covers. Fitted diapers make it easy to choose a cover. Almost any diaper cover will work with a fitted diaper as long as the cover is sized to fit over the diaper. Elastic at the leg helps hold in messes so the cover is less likely to need washing with every change. Since it fits snugly, you can use it under a wool cover with minimal need for washing the wool.

A good fitted cloth diaper offers a quick drying time. Some accomplish this with a fold out or snap in soaker, others with a quick-drying soaker material such as microfiber. Microfiber is a fast absorber, but since it is usually limited to 3 layers for quick drying, any time I need more absorbency, I prefer a snap-in or fold-out soaker made from more layers. We love our bamboo fitteds for overnights, they are so absorbent that my daughter wakes up with half her diaper still dry.

Whether you prefer snaps or hook and loop fasteners is entirely up to you. Snaps stay new-looking longer and they don't get stuck on anything else in the wash. Hook and loop is easier to fasten, especially for midnight diaper changes on a newborn.

There are hundreds of different brands of fitted cloth diapers on the market. Despite the wide variety available, most are made with these fabrics:

Microfiber - a popular absorbent fabric, used in a hidden soaker or inside a removable soaker. Microfiber is a very fast absorber, but shouldn't be used directly against the skin. Microfiber is fast-drying, but works most effectively for longer periods of time when paired with a natural fiber such as hemp.

Hemp - hemp is very absorbent and can be used to make the whole diaper or just used as the soaper material. Hemp is naturally anti-bacterial and up to 70% more absorbent than cotton. It is very durable, but not very soft. Most diaper-makers use a hemp cotton blend.

Cotton - Cotton is an old-standby when it comes to diapering. It is soft, fairly absorbent, and can be in many ways. Cotton prints on the outside adds interest. Cotton knits hold up better than cotton wovens.

Bamboo - bamboo is a very soft material that is also environmentally friendly. You'll find bamboo used in many ways too. It is natually antibacterial, easy on the planet to grow, and is 60% more absorbent than cotton.