If you are just starting to research cloth diapers, chances are you have encountered the phrase “hook & loop.” Outside of the cloth diaper industry, Hook and Loop is not a common phrase. There are a lot of other things you could associate the term with, but either way, you aren’t alone if you are wondering exactly what this means. Hook & loop is the generic term for the type of closure you might call Velcro or Aplix. Just like Kleenex and Puffs = tissues; Velcro and Aplix = hook & loop closure. Easy, right? But not exactly something you can ask your mother or neighbor, unless they know about modern cloth diapers.
We offer both hook & loop and snap closures in our bumGenius 4.0, Freetime and Flip diapers. If you are curious about the advantages of snap closures, please see this blog post.
Do you have a preferred type of closure or do you like a mix of both? What is your favorite and why?
About the Author
Heather is mom to four, born within 40 months (single, twins, single). She writes transparently about her chaotic household to encourage others through the twists and turns of parenting.
Comments
4 Comments
Okay, for my oldest our stash was entirely hook & loop 3.0’s and we found that they were easier to adjust than the one or two snap ones over the years. When #2 came along, added to the stash with 4.0 Hook & loops. The Hook & Loop on the new diapers didn’t last (stopped staying fastened even when looked perfect shape) and we have since had most of them converted to snaps. The 3.0 hook & loop still functions and even in well loved shape don’t come loose on my active 20 month old.
We’re just the opposite our diapers are all hook and loop, that’s a lie we have 3 with snaps I accidentally ordered last week. They are simple to use which helps when your baby is as squirmy as ours. Our son is only 4 months old but we wash them every other day and have stood up well so far. I think the issue with babies learning how to take them off could be handled by putting them in some clothes. As far as the snap diapers I ordered I’ve used them but they do take some getting used to.
I don’t know that either is better I think it’s just personal preference really. I do know this guy likes the hook and loop.
I have used both and I find that the snaps are more durable and what I mean by this is that the hooks often wear and are no longer usable and you then have to replace the hooks. They also catch lint and loos threads so you spend time having to clean it out before using the diapers. By cleaning them out I found that is when the hooks would come off.
Although hook and loop are a more accurate fit, they seem to not fit the early stages of diapering (newborns) the front of the diaper with the loops will often not stay in place and tends to fall along the legs sometimes causing leaks.
Also if the loops aren’t on the full part of the loops the hooks can rub and scratch the babies skin.
That was my experience with them but that isn’t to say they aren’t a good diaper. I homemade diapers with Velcro
my entire stash is snaps, since i was advised by many people to never never never use diapers with hook and loop closure. so i don’t know from experience, but i have heard that it wears out faster, can catch on other things during washing/drying, and it’s easier for babies to figure out how to take off when they get a little bigger.
to each their own, and there are plenty of cd mamas who use velcro diapers, but i am good with my snaps!