Workhorse in certified ORGANIC cotton. Note: This is a diaper. A diaper cover is needed over it. There is no cover shown in the picture. The picture is beautiful and shows the diaper, but if Mom holds baby like this for too long without a diaper cover, Mom's shirt would get damp soon enough after baby wets so please use a diaper cover. Workhorse diapers work with many brands of diaper covers.
Why choose a fitted diaper instead of an all-in-one with the cover built in? 3 reasons.
- 1. Washability. Water washes all the way through the fabric so the diapers clean more easily and dry well.
- 2. Cost. You can re-use the same diaper cover through several changes.
- 3. Fewer leaks. When the the diaper and cover are actually two separate pieces there is less chance of wicking. Also the cover provides a second layer of defense. Should anything happen to escape past the diaper, the cover will catch it. Wonderful!
Unbleached Organic softness
It's the same 100% cotton fabric as our beloved prefolds. Because of the nature of the prefold fabric, these will also vary in shrinkage somewhat, just like prefolds do.
8 layers of cotton in the body and 8 layers in the flap for sizes medium, large and XL for a total of 16 layers! Size newborn and small have a 6 layer flap which is a more appropriate thickness for a younger baby. As with any diaper, you can add a doubler or a preemie diaper for additional absorbency for long outings, naps or nighttime as needed.
Do you prefer stay-dry? Turn it into a stay-dry diaper by adding a Stay-Dry Liner or small Stay-Dry Doubler. For those who use synthetics and prefer a stay-dry fabric, having the fleece liner as a separate piece is best because it works as an easy liner to get poop off, and since the fleece is one layer and separate, it washes easily and doesn't get stinky like the pocket kind or kind with sewn-on synthetics often do. Separates are much less likely to get bacteria problems (stink and rash issues) than sewn-on synthetics.
Pure 100% cotton next to baby's skin does not cause rashes and has been proven safe and effective over many generations. Cotton also absorbs faster than other diapering fabrics so it is very unlikely to leak and does not repel. Cotton is king of cloth diapering, and organically grown is even more wonderful! I know that big companies have convinced people that wetness causes rashes, but in reality that is not true. Urine is sterile when it leaves the body and it does not cause rashes. Moisture next to skin for a little while is not a problem. Going much too long between changes or having diapers not clean enough after washing (bacteria) causes rashes. Thus, it's important to choose fabrics that wash up cleanly. Clean-washing 100% cotton is best. Plus, with 100% cotton you do not need any special detergents. You can use anything you like when you use cotton (but please no fabric softener or dryer sheets). 100% cotton diapers keep cloth diapering, and washing the diapers, simple.
medium on 16 pound 5 month old. He fits either a medium (red edge) or a large (brown edge)
See the rise is much higher on him in the large brown edge (look closely at where his belly button is) so you will need to use a cover big enough to cover it (Thirsties Cover size Medium or other medium cover would work on him). Mom could have folded down the rise on the large brown edge before pinnning it for a snugger fit in the legs. It can be ok to skip a size in Workhorse. You can go newborn to medium. Or if you have a big newborn, you can go small to large and skip newborn and medium. Skipping a size is a choice but it can work. It is easier to skip a size with the no-closure version because it is more adjustable but it can work with the snap version too. If the diaper is too big and the rise is too high, the legs will gap. So if you choose the snap version and the diaper is too big on baby, then you can pin (or Snappi fasten) the snap version so that the rise fits and ignore the snaps until they fit snapped. The snaps are in the way somewhat but it could still be done if needed. Pinning will always give you the best custom fit. Of course, getting the size that fits now is best, but I just point out these things along the way in case it is helpful to someone.
4 days old, about 6.5 pounds
2 months, 10.5 pounds
3 months, 12 pounds, size small Bummis Super snap cover
6 months, 15 pounds, size medium
6 months, 15 pounds, size medium, same baby as above
A different baby, 7 months 20 pounds, size medium. 5 pounds heavier and broader hips than the baby above. Medium still fits and is trim but I'd purchase large at this point for this baby to get more coverage in the back. Compare to large on this baby below. The wings are longer on the no closure version so this baby is wider than the fastening position makes it seem. I wish I had taken a picture of this baby in a snap version to compare it more directly.
Same baby as above, 7 months 20 pounds, There is a noticeable size jump between medium and large.
7 months 20 pounds, size large. It's a little big but works fine with plenty of growing room. On a narrower or trimmer baby with a flatter backside this large would really be too big, but this baby has broad hips and a high rise so large works already.
All sizes come with a built in flap. Newborn and small have a 6 layer flap. Medium, Large and XLarge have an 8 layer flap.
Note: This is a diaper. It does require a cover.
Newborn, orange edges fits preemie to 10 pounds.
Small, yellow edges fits 9 to 15 pounds.
Medium, red edges fits 14 to perhaps 23 pounds.
Large, brown edges fit 21 to 30 pounds
XL green edges, 26-36 pounds, or age 2-3
Don't forget to add your 18 page GMD How-To Booklet to you cart. It's a treasure-trove of information and it's free with your order.
