What is an All-in-One (AIO) Cloth Diaper and How Does it Work?

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I wrote last week about my favorite kind of cloth diaper, the All-in-Two or AI2. For my second installment in my series about the most common types of cloth diapers I would like to tell you a little bit more about the All-in-One or as it’s commonly known, the AIO. This is my second favorite kind of cloth diaper and is a popular choice for families who want simplicity and something as close to a disposable diaper as possible with cloth.

If you’re intrigued then please, read on and I will show you several different kinds of AIO diapers and how they work. 

Even with the “easiest” style of cloth diaper there are still variations. Whether it’s due to patents, trying to carve out a niche in the marketplace, or what have you, the AIO has been adapted in some very exciting ways. I love each of these styles for different reasons, but each one has its own set of drawbacks as well. 

First is the style of AIO that most people think of. It is a shell with a soaker sewn inside. This is the most like a disposable diaper. You put them on and take them off just like you would a disposable. No parts to worry about or inserts to unstuff. 

Pros:

• very easy to use.
• most like a disposable.
• easiest for babysitters and others caregivers not used to cloth to work with.

Cons:

• longest drying time.
• most susceptible to retaining odors due to its thicker padding.

The next style of AIO is the tongue style like the Blueberry Simplex or Basix. When all together it is one piece and is used just like the first style of AIO.

What sets it apart is the sewn in insert, or tongue, that gets stuffed inside the sleeve. The nice thing about this style is that it dries faster than a typical one piece AIO. In most machines the tongue will come out on its own in the wash so there isn’t anything to unstuff. 

Pros:

• easy to use
• shorter drying time
• a sleeve to add absorbency if needed

Cons:

• the tongue may not come out in HE machines without an agitator

I’m not sure what to call this next style of AIO. The bumGenius Freetime has two flaps that fold in over each other. Since the inserts aren’t fully attached it also decreases drying time. 

Another nice thing about this style is there is a sleeve inside the flaps that you could add a booster for nighttime or heavy wetters. 

Pros:

• easy to use
• lower drying time

Cons:

• solid waste can go under the flaps and with two of them it can be rather complicated to clean.

Finally, the Diaper Rite AIO from Diaper Junction is an interesting style. It is more like an AI2 except that the insert is sewn in to the top of the diaper instead of using a snap. I really like this style because it combines my two favorite kinds of cloth diapers. 

If you need some extra absorbency for nighttime or heavy wetters you can put a second insert underneath the one that’s sewn in. I have to do this with Dub and it works very well for us. 

Pros:

• easy to use
• lower drying time

Cons:

• solid waste can go under the flap making them a little more difficult to clean.

I hope I have answered your questions about the different styles of AIO diapers that I am most familiar with. I love having several different styles of diapers in my stash to mix things up with and a few AIOs are a definite must for me.