Happy in the Nappy.

Zak is cloth-diapered about half the time, which saves money and prevents the dreaded midnight diaper run. But lest you think I prick myself a dozen times a day with diaper pins while trying to wrestle on a cotton diaper, I'll have you know that cloth diapers have changed a good deal since I was sporting them. They now come in various sizes, styles, and features my older sis would have given an eye to have when she was trying to get one of those flat cotton diapers on me. That said, I've plenty of those kind, too.

First, about any products I discuss: I'm not currently paid to recommend any brand, and even if I were, I'd offer my unvarnished opinion about anything I'm asked to review.

Fitted diapers come in several styles: with velcro and/or snaps, those that require waterproof covers and "all-in-one" styles, those that are sized like disposable diapers and the one-sized adjustable sort. They come in cotton, hemp and bamboo, unbleached and a rainbow of colors and prints. They are more convenient than ever, and can often be washed with regular laundry, with no more than a quick rinse beforehand.

Before Zak was born, I bought a few of the Bum Genius and Fuzzibuns brand fitted diapers. I figured I'd try them both, and buy more of the brand that suited Zak best. I also purchased a disposable/cloth hybrid sort called Gdiapers, which I'll discuss in a bit. If you plan to purchase fitted one-size diapers, I'd suggest getting a few fitted ones in the smallest size, should you have a peanut like my Zak- he wasn't a preemie or even very small, but he wasn't one of the ginormous tots you'll often see in strollers. He needed the extra-small diapers, but not for very long. If you buy them in all white, you can bleach them to remove any stains and pass them on- just run them through an extra cycle to remove any bleach residue.

My hands-down favorite: Bum Genius 3.0 All-in-one. They fasten with velcro, come in sized and one-size adjustable types, and can be tossed in the wash with regular laundry for the most part. The size adjusts with rows of snaps, and has a pocket to double the absorbency for night time or long trips. I also purchased the Fuzzibuns one-size style, but Zak seems to wiggle out of those much too easily for my comfort. The size adjusts with snaps and elasticized bands that button into place, which was too fiddly for me. Both brands come in cute pastels, brights, and classic white. I must confess that I've not tried Happy Heinys, Swaddlebees, or any other brand of fitted cloth diapers, but Zak and I are so happy with Bum Genius that we need not look further.

Flat cloth diapers come in hemp, cotton, and bamboo, in prefold (thicker in the middle) and completely flat styles. All require a waterproof cover and fastener. The metal diaper pins are still available, but a toothed fastener called Snappi makes it possible to fasten a diaper without risking puncture wounds. The waterproof covers now come in nylon, with fleece outers for cold weather, and in a variety of colors and prints. Some parents are able to skip fastening the cloth diaper beneath and simply close the cover over the folded diaper. I wish I knew one of those parents personally- either they are rodeo champions, or they have unusually sedate offspring. Neither the Snappi nor skipping fastening the cloth diaper worked for Zak- his ability to wriggle out of diapers has only been foiled by Bum Genius, Gdiapers, and a type of disposable that I'll discuss later. But flat cloth diapers have worked well for generations of parents, and they are indispensable as burp cloths, changing pads, cleaning rags, etc. I'd get those as a baby gift for any parent, no matter what diapering option they choose.

The Gdiaper: a disposable-cloth hybrid. How cool is that? The paper (or cloth, a brand-new option) based insert goes into a waterproof snap in liner, which in turn goes into a cloth velcro-fastened cover. If you're going out and don't want to haul around a dirty diaper, you can just toss out the paper insert, which is biodegradable. I used them for doctor's visits, so I need not carry around a dirty diaper, but I wouldn't have to toss out a clean disposable because the adhesive didn't survive the diaper being opened for weighing and the doc's inspection of Zak's boy bits.

However, I decided not to use Gdiapers any more. Why? Little boys are experts at stunt peeing, and my little guy kept making sure that his bits were well-positioned to wet the cover instead of the insert- there were too many diaper changes where the insert was bone-dry but the cover soaked through. I'd probably have a better shot at this with a girl, so if you've got a little girl, please give the Gdiapers a try. The inserts can be composted, flushed, or tossed away.

Last come the disposables. I wish I didn't rely on them so much, but when you're waiting for more diapers in the mail or in the wash, you do what you've got to. Lately, it's become easier to find unscented and even unbleached disposable diapers, like the Seventh Generation brand, but for Zak, what's important is something that stays on when he doesn't stay put. I've settled on Huggies Pure and Natural- they are bleached, but unscented and stay on quite well. The tabs are also soft, which was a concern when I found out that Zak was being scratched on the tabs of disposable diapers.

Which sort is best? I have my favorites, but they are based on my priorities, lifestyle and Zak's activity level. What I recommend is to keep an open mind, and remember that a purchase, gift, or free sample is not a binding contract. Whatever you decide, you should be happy with your nappies.