How to Win Big in the Free Website Traffic Checker Industry?

 Talks about the mid-June Core Web Vitals release made SEOs worry. Google states that Core Web Vitals will become a ranking factor, but doesn’t say a thing about how important this factor will be. Still, when it comes to ranking, it’s always better to optimize anything that could somehow affect your positions than just leave things as they are. Moreover, Core Web Vitals optimization will be useful anyway, even if its impact on ranking appears lower than it is supposed to be now. Core Web Vitals are all about user experience, so your users will only thank you if they see your website works smooth and fast.

The hype around the CWV release made SEOs ask for some new tools that could let them turn the Core Web Vitals optimization into an SEO routine. This demand for new optimization opportunities made many SEO software providers release new modules for working with Core Web Vitals. Still, the functionality of most of these tools is too limited to let you analyze all of your website’s pages in-depth. The features that you do need to effectively audit and optimize CWV are as follows:

Possibility to bulk check all the pages of a website to have them all optimized and bringing you traffic;

Possibility to check both Core Web Vitals field metrics (to see how Google sees and evaluates your website) and Lighthouse lab metrics (to see and fix any page performance issues);

Possibility to bulk export the data to easily share them with web developers or clients.

All this said, let’s take a look at the 5 popular SEO tools and see what they offer for CWV optimization.

WebSite Auditor

WebSite Auditor is a well-known desktop SEO software solution. The tool loves the concept of “the more data the better”, which couldn’t but reflect in the new Core Web Vitals module. The tool features reports on more than 80 page speed metrics. What’s more, all the data are taken directly from Google via the official API, which means you see the same data and recommendations as Google does.

One of the WebSite Auditor’s undoubted benefits is the possibility to check all of your website’s pages at once. Thus, you don’t need to check any single URL manually as you’d have to in PageSpeed Insights.

WebSite Auditor lets you get all the CWV optimization details within a couple of clicks. Launch the tool, enter the domain and let the tool collect the information. Then, go to Site Structure > Pages, and switch to the Page Speed workspace.

Click the update sign on any column, put a tick on Page Speed data, and enter your Google API key. The tool will now collect the data and present them on the screen.

The Page Speed module will show you what pages pass the Core Web Vitals assessment and what don’t. The table will also specify what exactly makes your pages fall behind, and give you detailed instructions on how to optimize CWV.

One more advantage of WebSite Auditor is the possibility to save and bulk export CWV reports in CSV. So you can easily share these reports with your colleagues or send them to your clients.

Price: The most affordable edition — WebSite Auditor Professional — will cost you $125/year (unlimited number of pages to optimize). You can also use a free WebSite Auditor sandbox version to test the tool before the purchase. The free edition is nice for time-to-time checks for a smaller website (under 500 URLs).

Screaming Frog

Screaming Frog lets you check your website for all the SEO troubles and provides suggestions on how to fix them. It also uses direct data from Google for its new Core Web Vitals module.

Just like WebSite Auditor, Screaming Frog will require an API key from Google. This means that the number of pages checked per day will be limited to 25,000. To start your work, launch the tool, go to Configuration > API Access > PageSpeed Insights, paste the API key from Google, choose the user agent (either mobile or desktop), and set up the metrics you want to see (you can choose all of them, too).

The downside of Screaming Frog is the inability to bulk export the Page Speed report. In case you need to do that, you’ll have to manually copy and paste the lines into an Excel table. Still, you can export the reports with Page Speed optimization opportunities to hand them to web developers for fixing.

Price: Keep in mind that you can only check the Core Web Vitals of your website with the paid version of Screaming Frog. One license costs £149 per year (around $209; may vary due to exchange rate fluctuations).

DeepСrawl

DeepCrawl is the cloud SEO software for businesses and corporate clients. Literally — you will need a corporate email to log in to the service. Emails like @gmail.com are not accepted. DeepCrawl doesn’t seem to use the Google API key, and all the Core Web Vitals data are taken from their own controlled environment.

To see how your website handles the Core Web Vitals assessment, you’ll have to switch on the JavaScript rendering feature. Then, just let the software crawl your website, and go to the Performance menu.

Click on the i sign to see additional information on how to optimize a certain metric.

The reports are available in the Data Studio connector. To fetch new reports in the existing dashboard, edit and reconnect the source.

Note: Core Web Vitals will only be measured for the desktop version of the website.

DeepCrawl will not show you any data on the First Input Delay (FID) metric. FID is a field metric; to collect it, the field real user experience data are needed, which cannot be anyhow simulated in any lab environment. That’s why the DeepCrawl creators suggest using their tool together with your own CrUX dashboard to receive more accurate data.

Important! Any cloud SEO software will not provide you the FID data. This happens due to the physical impossibility to retrieve the field data (at least, none of the cloud tools does this now). As Google only uses the field data to evaluate your pages, you should keep in mind the possible inaccuracy of the lab data. If you need clear and accurate data, you’ll have to use desktop software that collects the data via Google API. You can also keep checking pages with PageSpeed Insights, but you’ll hardly appreciate checking all of your URLs one by one.

Price: DeepCrawl doesn’t have the price listed on their website, and you’ll have to request pricing individually (you’ll also need a business email to do that). Still, many reviews on various forums and marketplaces mention that the tool is pretty costly, and will probably suit businesses with bigger budgets on SEO software. There’s no information on if there’s any kind of free trial, but you can book a personalized demo.

SEMrush

SEMrush is one of the most popular cloud SEO tools. SEMrush creators decided to keep this popularity, and enriched the tool with the Core Web Vitals module.

Auditing your website’s Core Web Vitals with SEMrish is easy. What you need is to perform a general audit of your website. Go to On Page & Tech SEO > Site Audit, enter the domain you want to analyze, and choose the type of user agent.

As SEMrush doesn’t use Google API and takes all the lab data from Lighthouse, you will not get the FID metrics data. Moreover, the Lighthouse lab data don’t fully reflect the real assessment of your page and are less likely to be considered by Google when ranking your pages.

Note: SEMrush shows the Core Web Vitals data for the homepage only.

As for the exporting, you cannot export the CWV report from the tool. If you need to show it to your clients or website developers, you’ll have to take a screenshot of the page.

One more downside of the SEMrush Core Web Vitals module is that you will not get the improvement opportunities on the spot. Instead, it is suggested that you visit the Site Performance report and see the suggestions listed there.

Price: The cheapest edition — SEMrush Pro — will cost $119.95/month. This edition lets you work on 5 projects and crawl up to 20,000 pages per project monthly. The largest package (Business) is limited by 40 projects up to 100,000 pages each, but the general monthly crawling limit cannot exceed 1,000,000 pages. You can also get a fully customized edition if ready-made plans don’t suit your business needs. A 7-days free trial is available for Pro and Guru editions, but you’ll have to provide your credit card data to get it.

MOZ

MOZ is another well-known cloud SEO tool. The growing industry demand on Core Web Vitals checks made the MOZ team release a Performance Metrics module (beta version available yet). This module shows the data for both mobile and desktop website versions. As cloud tools don’t seem to use the Google API key, MOZ takes the lab data from Lighthouse. These data don’t reflect the real users’ behavior.

The Performance Metrics module is placed under the Site Crawl tool. You can check all of your pages, or you can save some time and choose to check your top pages by page authority, top-ranked pages, or pages with any crawl issues.

MOZ is probably the only cloud SEO tool that handles the bulk checks and collects the data for all types of devices. Despite the limited functionality of cloud software in terms of CWV checks, MOZ seems capable enough (mind that it’s just a beta version). The team also plans to enable exporting of the Performance Metrics report. As for now exporting is unavailable.

Price: The most affordable MOZ edition will cost $99/month. This edition is limited by 100,000 pages per week, but, as you remember, you are still limited to 6000 pages for CWV checks monthly. A free 30-days trial is available before the purchase (credit card credentials needed).

Bonus: PageSpeed Compare

PageSpeed Compare is not an SEO tool in the way it is usually meant. It’s a kind of free sandbox that can help you in competitor analysis. The tool lets you compare the Core Web Vitals of your page with the pages of your competitors. PageSpeed Compare will show you both lab and field data. Just like PageSpeed Insights, but you can enter several different URLs to compare them.

PageSpeed Compare is easy to use. You just need to check the URLs you want to compare one by one.

Facebook automates network peering to enable smoother web traffic management

Facebook Inc.’s engineering team today revealed how it overcame one of the most time-consuming problems in networking by automating a process called “network peering” that enables more efficient exchange of internet traffic across various networks and service providers.

In a blog post, Facebook engineers Jenny Ramseyer and Jakub Heichman explained that network peering involves sending internet traffic through something called a “peering exchange,” which serves as a common meeting point where lots of networks interconnect by establishing Border Gateway Protocol or BGP sessions between their routers. The peering sessions, as they’re often called, enable networks to establish the fastest, most direct route from an internet server to the user’s internet service provider, helping improve the performance, latency and reliability of the connections.

The only problem with peering sessions is that they need to be set up manually by each network provider, an incredibly complex, slow, inefficient and error-prone process, as Ramseyer and Heichman explain:

“Before developing our automated system, we suffered the same struggle. Peers would email us to request to establish peering sessions. Next, one of our Edge engineers would verify the email and check our mutual traffic levels. To confirm the traffic levels were appropriate, that team member had to check numerous internal dashboards, reports, and rulebooks, as well as external resources, such as the potential peer’s PeeringDB record. The team member then would use a few internal tools to configure BGP sessions, reply back to the peer, and wait for the peer to configure their side of the network.”

Facebook’s response was to create an automated system that lets peers request their own public peering sessions directly from the new facebook.com/peering page.

Networks must use the PeeringDB’s OAuth service, which is a part of the PeeringDB database, an open-source registry of network provider’s peering information.

“To ensure that peering requests made on our peering page are from an authorized person, we require the requester to authenticate using their PeeringDB login and leverage PeeringDB’s OAuth service on behalf of their network’s organization,” Ramseyer and Heichman said. “The peer does not need to provide any other authentication — no Facebook account is required. Once authenticated, the peer will see a list of all their network’s existing public peering sessions with Facebook and can submit new requests.”

Once the peer has requested a session, Facebook’s automated internal process takes over. Each request is sent to an auditing queue and, once approved, a second service will launch a workflow to set up peering. After that, the automated system emails the peer to confirm everything is ready on Facebook’s side. Then they just have to configure their side of the network.

“As soon our workflow detects that all sessions have been established, our workflow sends a final confirmation email,” the engineers wrote. “At that point, our peer should be able to see the new sessions as active in the table on facebook.com/peering.”

To ensure everything runs smoothly Facebook has created a monitoring system to sort through its peering@ mailbox. So whenever it detects a peering request, it automatically replies with instructions that direct the requester to the automated peering page.

Ramseyer and Heichman the system has so far processed more than 170 peering requests, approving 1,249 of them at the time of writing. As a result, it has automatically pushed more than 1,400 public peering sessions in total, saving its engineers about eight hours of work per week.

Analyst Holger Mueller of Constellation Research Inc. said that most internet users have no idea of the herculean effort that goes into traffic management.

“Peering is the solution for higher, faster and cheaper throughput, so it is good to see that one of the major users of bandwidth, Facebook, is now offering an open-source solution with its PeeringDB OAuth to enable this,” Mueller said. “It should help Facebook to improve user experiences while reducing network costs. We will see in a few months how successful PeeringDB OAuth is with the number of peering requests provided and used.”

Facebook is now calling for PeeringDB Oauth to be made an industry standard in all public peering automation applications. In addition, it’s also exploring the possibility of using PeeringDB Oauth to automate private peering network interconnects, which are a larger-volume counterpart to public peering.

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How to Solve “Unusual Traffic from Your Network Computer” Google Error

While it usually doesn’t happen often, the “unusual traffic from your network computer” Google error is frustrating and confusing. You can get this error just from normal browsing, whether or not you have any “unusual traffic.” There are several different reasons you might see the error along with a few fixes to prevent or at least reduce how often you see it.

What Doers It Mean?

At first, you might panic seeing the “unusual traffic from your network computer” error. Your first thought is probably along the lines of “I have a virus.” That was my first thought when I saw it.

While it could be a virus, Google (no matter which browser you’re using) gives you this error whenever the search giant suspects automated traffic. According to Google, using bots, web scrapers, computer programs, and automated services to search can get you blocked. The same is true if you use automated programs to check website ranks.

If you are like I was and not using any of those things, you probably feel even more confused right now. While the above is Google’s official reason for giving the error, there are a few other reasons:

Too many searches in a short period (that period isn’t specified)

Using a public computer (when all computers are in use, there are numerous searches happening in a short period)

Using a VPN (Google may limit VPN searches more than standard searches)

Malware infection

Using search operators too often

While you’re getting this error, you can’t perform any more Google searches until you successfully solve a reCAPTCHA. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes you won’t see a reCAPTCHA at all.

If you don’t see one or it doesn’t work, there’s still hope. Or, if you’re seeing this error often, there are still things you can do beyond solving endless reCAPTCHAs, which, let’s agree, everyone hates.

Scan for Malware

The first step is to scan your system for malware. If you’re not searching Google that much or using any automated search tools, malware is a real possibility. Free antivirus tools usually work well for performing a deep scan. Tools like Malwarebytes focus more on malware and ransomware. While free tools may not always offer real-time protection, they can help you remove any malware currently causing you issues.

Reset Your Router/Modem

The “unusual traffic from your computer network” could be a simple misunderstanding between Google and your router or router/modem combo. Simply resetting the router refreshes the connection.

Turn your router off, wait 30 seconds to a few minutes, and turn it back on. Some routers also have a reset button, though not all. Resetting your router is also a great troubleshooting step if you’re having general network issues.

Take a Break

It might sound just as annoying as the error itself, but if you’ve turned into a Google power user suddenly, taking a break may be the only way to stop Google from seeing you as a bot.

For instance, as a writer, I’m constantly doing research. I used to see the error every few months. Then, Google decided to crack down even more on automated searches. During one particular project, I was performing several searches a minute. No amount of reCAPTCHAs solved the issue. I just had to slow down my searches.

Actually, I ended up using Bing while Google calmed down. It’s important to note that even if you use alternative search engines, some of them still pull results from Google. So if you’re being blocked from searching Google, you may still get an error from them.

Turn Off Your VPN

Not all VPNs are created equal. In fact, some of them are worse than using no VPN at all. Naturally, Google doesn’t like any of them since it makes it difficult for Google to track you. Some VPNs, though, are incredibly unsafe. These are blocked by Google.

If you’ve started using a new VPN, especially a free one, and see the “unusual traffic from your computer network” Google error, turn off the VPN and try searching again. If everything works well, it’s the VPN that’s the problem.

Log in to Google

Though usually this isn’t the cause, I have personally had luck if I log in to my Google account and then search. Numerous searches while logged out can trigger Google into thinking you’re a bot and not a human user. This has helped me on occasion. While you’re never truly anonymous with Google, there are ways to make your searches more private.

You can also try using a different device if possible. It doesn’t always work, but if your phone is using mobile data, traffic appears from a different network than your computer.

Patience is sadly the best solution. As strange as it sounds, Google, the number one search engine, actually prefers you to search less often. Try the troubleshooting steps above to hopefully put an end to this frustrating error.

Related:

Is this article useful? Yes NoCrystal Crowder

Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.

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Student Loan Forgiveness: It's Not as Difficult as You Think

 Should You Wait For Student Loan Cancellation?

Here’s what you need to know.

Student Loans

After nearly a year, and in some cases longer, some student loan borrowers are still hoping for student loan cancellation. To date, however, there hasn’t been any wide-scale student loan cancellation. If you have student loans, you may be wondering whether you should wait for student loan cancellation, if it ever comes, or take a more proactive approach to student loan repayment. Here’s what to consider:

Option 1: Wait for student loan cancellation

You could wait it out and hope that your student loans get cancelled. While there hasn’t been any wide-scale student loan cancellation, that doesn’t mean there won’t be any tomorrow. Progressives in Congress are still calling on Biden to enact student loan forgiveness ranging from $10,000 of students to all $1.7 trillion of private and federal student loan debt. Biden has asked the U.S. Department of Education to opine on whether the president has the unilateral legal authority to enact student loan cancellation by executive order without furthere authorization from Congress. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona may deliver that non-binding legal memo to the president within weeks. For Biden to have the legal authority, however, the Education Department would have to conclude that Biden has complete and absolute authority to cancel an unlimited amount of student loans for all student loan borrowers. That’s a high bar to establish. Why? There are several legal reasons why the president doesn’t have unilateral authority, including that the statutory language in the Higher Education Act of 1965 is ambiguous. The Education Department also found in January during the Trump administration that the president didn’t have such authority. Therefore, Biden’s Education Department would have to reach the opposite conclusion, even though the Education Department conducted a similar analyiss only a few months ago.

Option 2: Refinance your student loans + wait for federal student loan forgiveness

A second option is to refinance your private student loans and keep all or some of your federal student loans outstanding. Why? There are at least 5 signs that Biden won’t enact student loan cancellation. Most likely, if there is any wide-scale student loan cancellation, it would apply to federal student loans only. While some legislators have called for private student loan forgiveness, the leading proposal in Congress from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) applies only to federal student loans. If Biden proceeds to cancel student loans, he likely would cancel federal student loans only that are owned by the federal government. Therefore, you could refinance your private student loans now, particularly since rates for student loan refinancing have dropped to a record low. That’s great news for student loan borrowers. The next question is to decide whether you refinance some or none of your federal student loans. If there is $10,000 of student loan cancellation, you could keep $10,000 of federal student loans outstanding and refinance the remainder. If you think there will be $50,000 of student loan cancellation (which is highly unlikely), you could keep $50,000 of federal student loans outstanding and refinance the remainder. In either case, the goal is to save money on your student loans through student loan refinancing by getting a lower interest rate, a lower monthly payment, or both.

Option 3: Refinance all your student loans

A third option is similar to the second option, but there is a slight difference. If you don’t think there will be any student loan cancellation now or in the future, you could refinance all your student loans now, including both private and federal student loans. Importantly, when you refinance federal student loans, they become private student loans. As a result, you wouldn’t be eligible for any future federal student loan forgiveness. The upside, however, is that you get a lower interest rate, which can help you save money each month and pay off your student loans faster.

Option 4: Make extra student loan payments now

A fourth option is to make extra student loan payments now so that you can pay off student loans faster. To make extra student loan payments, you can either increase your monthly payment amount, or you can send a separate payment each month. In either case, contact your student loan servicer to alert them in advance of your student loan repayment strategy. Inform your student loan servicer that any extra payments should be applied immediately to reduce your principal and interest balance and should not be held until next month’s payment. You might not prefer this approach since federal student loan payments are paused through September 30, 2021. However, even small dollar amounts will directly lower your principal student loan balance since currently there is no interest accrual on your federal student loans.

Student loan cancellation: additional considerations

These aren’t the only considerations when it comes to student loan cancellation. For example, if there is any student loan cancellation, it’s unlikely it would apply to all student loan borrowers. For example, Warren and Schumer’s proposal applies only to student loan borrowers who earn up to $125,000 annually. If your income is higher, you likely won’t get student loan forgiveness and should consider alternative options such as student loan refinancing or income-driven repayment. It’s also possible there is a lower income threshold than $125,000. If Biden cancels student loans, the most likely amount would be $10,000. If you have more than $10,000 of student loans, which the average student loan borrower does, you’ll want a game plan for your remaining student loans.

Will your student loans get cancelled? There’s no guarantee either way, but it’s looking increasingly likely that there won’t be any student loan cancellation from the president or in Congress. Biden also didn’t include student loan cancellation in his latest stimulus package, infrastructure package, or budget proposal. Most importantly, when deciding whether to wait for student loan forgiveness, do what’s best for your unique personal and financial situation. For some borrowers, that could mean waiting for the chance for student loan forgiveness but paying a higher interest rate. For other borrowers, they prefer to get a lower interest rate now or make extra student loan payments, even if there is some student loan forgiveness in the future. Make sure you have a game plan for your student loans. Here are some potential options to consider:

Student Loans: Related Reading Biden drops student loan forgiveness from the latest budget Democrats propose to forgive student loans with 4 changes Student loan cancellation faces major setback Biden wants student loan cancellation 3 ways

When College Grads Should (And Shouldn’t) Refinance Student Loans

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Editor’s Note: This article is a part of a series on investing advice for recent college graduates, drawing on expertise from financial professionals, university faculty and of course, InvestorPlace’s very own analysts and writers. Read more “Money Moves for Recent Grads” here and check out Top Grad Stocks 2021 for our best stocks to buy for new graduates.

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Student debt is a huge burden, said American adults in a 2011 Pew Research survey. 10 years later, that burden is nearly unbearable. The latest statistics show that the national student loan debt balance was worth $1.70 trillion in 2020, compared to $0.96 trillion in 2011.

As the national student loan balance grows, more and more college graduates are struggling to repay the debt. According to figures from Educationdata.org, about 37% of graduate degree holders aged 60 years and older have outstanding student loans.

CONSTELLATION BRANDS, INC.

College students who cannot pay for education out-of-pocket often rely on loans to get through school. Most students take out loans with the expectation that they’ll be able to repay them upon graduation.

But a combination of factors makes that easier said than done. Many young people take out loans without realizing the financial strain repaying them for years on end can cause. Stagnant wages and low-paying entry level jobs plus compounding interest often equals difficulty repaying the loans back quickly.

This is why so many students are left wondering how to pay off student debt in a fast, effective way that doesn’t leave them broke at the end of each month. And refinancing student loans is one such way.

What is Student Loan Refinancing?

Loan refinancing refers to securing new debt to repay outstanding loans. Often, the new loans come with lower interest rates and installments. Besides, refinancing shifts the repayment deadline further into the future, giving you a much-needed respite.

A downside of refinancing student loans may be increased total loan amount — lower monthly payments may mean a longer payment period and incurring more interest. But owing less monthly often gives those drowning in debt some room to breathe and get back on track.

With fixed-rate loans notching week after week of record low interest of late, new grads should seriously consider refinancing their student loans.

Refinancing Student Loans

If you think refinancing loans is the best option for you, here’s a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Prequalify for Refinancing

In the actual sense, refinancing student loans entails a company buying your current loan obligation and extending you a new loan with different terms. That’s not going to happen if the company has doubts about your credibility.

So the first step involves finding out if the refinance lender can help you to refinance student loans. Different companies have different eligibility criteria. For instance, your credit score usually has to be pretty good. And your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio typically has to be less than 20%, preferably lower.

Step 2: Shortlist Appropriate Refinancers for Your Needs

Having established a rough idea about your eligibility for refinancing, it’s time to find the right lender. It is important to note that your situation determines the lender. For example, some lenders will only accept clients who have a college degree.

Step 3: Compare Rates And Repayment Terms Between Lenders

Ideally, you should end up with a list of lenders that accept clients in your situation. It helps to realize that each company charges different rates. Most lenders provide estimates based on the information you supply. Continue shopping until you find the lender with the lowest rates.

Step 4: Select the Best Option for You

Lenders tailor refinancing loans around either variable or fixed interest rates. Each structure impacts the total amount repayable differently. For example, variable rates are often lower at the beginning of repayment but then increase in the later stages. The problem here is that the structure makes for a longer repayment period, which increases the total loan amount.

It all comes down to how much you can afford per installment. If your income can support a fixed interest rate structure, all the better. This structure will shorten the repayment period, reducing the amount of interest you pay on top of your loan principle.

Step 5: Apply for Refinancing

A typical refinance loan application requires detailed personal financial information. The lender will want to know if you are financing another loan, a breakdown of your current income and so on. It is important to note that all the information you provide must be verifiable.

Qualifying for Student Loan Refinance

As with any other loan, the refinance loan requires borrowers to satisfy some preconditions. Although refinance lenders may use unique eligibility criteria, it is likely any lender will take a look at the following to determine your eligibility.

Your Credit Score

A credit score is a number that estimates your creditworthiness – basically, it measures your ability to repay debts. In the U.S., you are creditworthy if your credit score lies between 300 and 850. Most refinance lenders prefer a credit score of 650 and above.

Your Credit History

Lenders record all your loan-related transactions for later use. And lenders share those files among themselves. Lenders classify borrowers with unsound credit history as risky and they might reject their applications.

Your Income

No lender will accept your refinance loan application without proof of employment and income statements. The lenders need to know that you’ll have the cash to meet your obligations when they kick in.

Proof of College Degree or Graduation

Some lenders accept non-graduate clients but most won’t consider your application without a college degree. The assumption here is that college-educated borrowers have better chances at securing meaningful employment, and subsequently paying off their debts. A college degree is also solid evidence that the loan you wish to refinance actually went to paying for education expenses.

Credit Score

As we mentioned earlier, a credit score is a metric that estimates your creditworthiness. A low credit score will turn lenders away because you rank among risky clients.

But because lenders are in a business environment with tough competition, some of them are willing to take on higher risk. It means the acceptable credit score varies among lenders.

Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is a leading provider of credit score information to lenders in the United States. The company’s FICO Scores are a common reference point for the accepted range of credit scores needed to secure a loan.

A FICO Score below 580 is poor and above 800 is exceptional. You need to be in the ‘fair’ range – between 580 and 669 – to qualify for a loan from some lenders, although most lenders prefer FICO Scores above 669, which are ‘good’ or better.

When to Refinance Your Student Loans

There are times when refinancing your student loans may be a more viable or useful option than others.

Look for Low Interest Rates

The economic climate often cycles through recessions and upturns. As with all central banks worldwide, the Federal Reserve responds to economic cycles by cutting or raising the federal funds rate. The interest rate environment is inhospitable during a period of the economic boom because when the Fed raises the funds rate, private lenders follow suit to hedge their profits.

Therefore, the interest rate environment is best in a recession when interest rates are low, assuming that private lenders follow the Fed. You may see significant savings if you refinance student loans during this period because the new terms may include interest rates lower than the previous loan.

Your Finances are Solid(ish)

A higher salary lowers your debt-to-income ratio.  Lenders prefer borrowers with a low DTI because they are likely to pay off debts as agreed. You are likely to secure better terms when lenders perceive you as a reliable client.

You Have Private Student Loans

Federal student loans enjoy specific benefits that aren’t offered by private lenders. For instance, federal student loans are eligible for forgiveness or forbearance. The bad news is that you risk losing the benefits if you decide to refinance federal student loans with private lenders. As such, it is only sensible to refinance private student loans.

Will Refinancing Actually Help?

Most of the time, people refinance student loans mainly to reduce the total amount payable. Let’s say the interest rate environment is looking better, which makes it the right time to refinance. However, your credit score could be poorer than before, meaning you are likely to face harsher terms. In the long run, harsh terms will increase the total loan amount, which defeats the reason for refinancing in the first place. Weigh all the factors when you’re considering refinancing your student loans.

Refinancing vs. Consolidation

As earlier stated, refinancing student loans involves taking a new loan to pay for the outstanding one. The new loan has completely different terms and interest rates.

Conversely, student loan consolidation does not replace outstanding loans with a new one, but instead involves aggregating existing loans into a single one. The consolidated loan incurs a single fixed exchange rate, which is a weighted average of the previous loans’ interest rates.

The primary difference between student loan refinancing and consolidation is that refinancing can result in new terms, while they remain constant after consolidation. Consolidation only offers convenience when paying student loans, and maintains eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs.

Don’t Expect Any Student Loan Cancellation

President Joe Biden (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Don’t expect Biden to cancel student loans.

Here’s what you need to know

Student Loans

In the ongoing debate over wide-scale student loan cancellation, it’s unlikely that Biden will unilaterally cancel student loan debt through an executive order without further authorization from Congress. Impossible? No. Unlikely, yes. Biden has asked the U.S. Department of Education to review his legal authority to enact student loan cancellation and provide him with a non-binding legal opinion. However, as some scholars have noted, the legal case for student loan forgiveness may be an uphill climb. So, if Biden doesn’t cancel student loans, it won’t be a surprise for these reasons:

1. Student loan debt cancellation originated with progressives, not with Biden

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a progressive senator, was an early champion of total and complete student loan cancellation. Sanders has repeatedly proposed to cancel all $1.7 trillion of student loan debt, including both private and federal student loans. As a presidential candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a fellow progressive, proposed to cancel student loan debt for 95% of student loan borrowers. Warren has since modified her proposal to cancel up to $50,000 of federal student loans for student loan borrowers who earn less than $125,000 annually. Student loan cancellation originated with the progressive movement, not with Democratic legislators and candidates. While Biden supports student loan cancellation, the push for wide-scale student loan cancellation has come largely from progressives in Congress and policy advocates.

2. Biden never said he would enact student loan cancellation

There have been recent declarations about Biden breaking his campaign promise to cancel student loan debt. However, Biden never said he would cancel student loan debt. Rather, Biden said he supports $10,000 of student loan forgiveness for borrowers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. For Biden, the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated financial distress for student loan borrowers was a driving factor in his proposal to cancel student loans. This is different than some other arguments that have been espoused for student loan cancellation, ranging from general unfairness to stimulating the economy. Biden also said that Congress, not the president, should cancel student loan debt. That’s an important distinction too, and Biden has never wavered on this point both as a candidate and as president. There are undoubtedly many policy initiatives that presidents would like to enact unilaterally by executive order, but there are constitutional and other legal limits in our system of checks and balances.

3. Congress is blaming Biden for not cancelling student loans, but Congress hasn’t cancelled student loans

It’s no secret that the blame game is alive and well in Washington. Some Democrats in Congress want to blame Biden, a fellow Democrats, and pressure him to enact student loan cancellation. However, Congress hasn’t passed any legislation on wide-scale student loan cancellation. None. The reason is that Congress doesn’t have enough votes to cancel student loans. Yes, Republicans won’t support wide-scale student loan cancellation. However, many Democrats won’t either. That includes a proposal for $50,000 of student loan cancellation, but it also includes $10,000 of student loan cancellation. If there were a roll call vote today on either of those proposals, you might be surprised to learn that there is not consensus among Democrats on student loan cancellation. Importantly, Biden has said he would sign any legislation on student loans that Congress sends to his desk. However, to date, that hasn’t happened. There have been plenty of proposals on student loan cancellation, including these four changes to student loan forgiveness. Proposals are not the same as action. That’s yet another setback for student loan cancellation. So, it’s not that everyone in Congress is simply waiting for Biden to act on student loans and he refuses. The reality is that Congress won’t act on student loans in the near-term, at least with current legislative proposals, and they’re hoping that Biden can somehow cancel student loans without clear authorization from Congress.

Student Loans: Next Steps

Will your student loans get cancelled? Biden dropped student loan cancellation from his new budget. He didn’t include student loan cancellation in his latest stimulus package or infrastructure package either. There are at least 5 reasons why Biden won’t enact student loan cancellation. The writing is on the wall: don’t expect student loan cancellation. Could Biden still enact wide-scale student loan cancellation? Sure. If the Education Department issues a memo that says the president has legal authority to cancel unlimited student loan debt for all student loan borrowers, then Biden would have some legal support to act through executive order. However, it’s unlikely the Education Department will say that for many reasons, including in January the Education Department during the Trump administration concluded the president cannot cancel student loans unilaterally without Congress. Importantly, Biden has cancelled more than $2.3 billion of student loans since becoming president. Student loan borrowers also will get $90 billion of student loan forgiveness through September 30, 2021, according to the Education Department. While some may challenge the amount of student loan cancellation or number of student loan borrowers who were impacted, Biden has acted swiftly to provide targeted student loan relief. Plus, Biden still wants to cancel student loans three ways. Expect more student loan cancellation from Biden, but it may not be as wide-scale as some hope.

If Biden doesn’t cancel student loans, which is a high likelihood, then make sure you understand all your options for student loans. Here are some potential options to consider, all of which have no fees:

Student Loans: Related Reading Democrats propose to forgive student loans with 4 changes Student loan cancellation faces major setback Biden wants student loan cancellation 3 ways A 4th stimulus check could look like this.👋👋👋👋👋👌👌👌👌👌👌👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

So You've Bought Best Baby Diapers ... Now What?

 

Best diaper pail to keep your nursery smelling fresh

Taking care of your newborn baby can be an absolute joy. That is, of course, besides the chronic lack of sleep and dealing with the endless amount of dirty diapers. (How can something so small produce this much…well, poop?) 

Buying good and highly functional baby equipment can’t solve every issue a new parent faces (by the way, you’re not alone—you’re doing great), but you can solve at least one of the problems: stinky nurseries. The last thing you want when you’re already exhausted and feeling a bit crazy is to be confronted with the smell of what comes out of a baby.

Did you know that babies can go through almost 10,000 diapers in 3 years? To cope with that amount of waste, to quote Spielberg’s “Jaws” saying, ‘We’re going to need a bigger boat,” or in this case, a bigger pail.

Your baby’s nursery should be a calm, clean, and hygienic space, so a good diaper disposal unit is an essential part of your basic baby equipment. Each comes with their own features which can help keep it hands free and minimize any bad odors throughout your home. And of course, who says the diaper bin can’t be a cute feature which fits in nicely with your theme? The best diaper pails will completely lock in odors and conveniently pack away the mess.

Related: How to find the best baby monitor for your family

What features to look for when finding the best diaper pail

Getting the nursery ready is one of the most important parts of the nesting process for parents. Once you’ve chosen a theme or color scheme (Jungle? Space? Flowers? Dinosaurs?), the next step is to procure all the baby items you need to feed, change, and help your little one go to sleep. Every nursery has a core set of baby items that are a must for the arrival of a newborn, including a bassinet or crib, a dresser for clothes, toys, equipment, and somewhere comfortable to nurse or bottle-feed. And, of course, you need a designated space to change a diaper. For this you need a changing table complete with the two essentials: a wipe-clean mat and a diaper pail. 

Having a diaper pail may not be the first thing you consider buying when setting up a nursery, but it’s on the list for a reason. After changing the baby, it’s not ideal to carry the wet (or worse) diaper and dispose of it in other rooms of the house—it’ll bring unpleasant odors throughout your home. You definitely don’t want guests to say, “What’s that smell?” So, when looking for the best diaper pail for your nursery, there are a few factors to consider depending on the changing choices you’ve made for your baby.

Firstly, it’s important to think about what kind of diapers you use for your baby. Do you use cloth or disposable diapers? Would you ideally like the bin to match the decor or theme of your nursery, or is the form and functionality more important to you? Have you already blown your budget getting the nursery ready, or are you looking to get the best?  

All these different factors will help decide on the best choice for your diaper pail. We break it down for you to make sure you don’t end up with one that’s inadequate.

How to find the best diaper pail for your nursery Best hands-free diaper pail: Dekor Classic Hands-Free Easy to Use

A completely hands-free way of disposing diapers. DEKOR

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This Dekor diaper pail pretty much has everything you’d want from a diaper disposal system (and features you never even knew you needed). This includes a softly closing lid so it doesn’t disturb a sleeping baby, odor locks to keep the nasty smells at bay, and a convenient and safe child lock. It opens widely so you can replace the bag easily, and its foot pedal opening system keeps it completely hands-free. It’s designed to maximize on space, so this is a great option if you have twins, triplets (!), or baby siblings—it provides a high dirty diaper capacity with the least amount of constant emptying.

Best scented diaper pail: Muchkin Step Diaper Powered by Arm and Hammer Lavender Scented

A great option for those with delicate noses. Munchkin

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One of the great features about this award-winning pail is its sleek and elegant pedal bin design, which would fit well with any nursery decor. But the best feature is its lavender scented universal refill system, which makes the whole process acceptable to even the most sensitive sniffers. Added to this is its self-sealing system, meaning those nasty odors can’t escape into the room between bag changes. It’s compatible with both refill rings and snap, seal, and toss bags. The full set also comes with a snap and seal bag, starter ring refill, and a lavender scented baking soda puck. And if you want your baby diaper pail to give back (who doesn’t?), Munchkin will plant a tree for every diaper sold.

Best anti-microbial diaper pail: Playtex Diaper Genie Complete Pail Airtight Seal

Comes with built-in odor control. Diaper Genie

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The award-winning Playtex Diaper Genie has all the features of the best diaper pails, but is arguably one of the most hygienic on the market. This all-in-one diaper pail will completely seal out diaper smell with its unique carbon filter and air-tight clamps. Pails can harbor a lot of nasty of bacteria, but this model’s design actively prevents bacteria from multiplying on the pail, making diaper disposal easy. Another added bonus is its large capacity, holding up to 270 dirty diapers at a time. It’s positioned to be at a convenient waist level so you’re not juggling your baby whilst bending over to throw out a diaper. It is one of the largest in our list however, so if you are lacking in space this might not be the best model for your nursery.

Best diaper pail for cloth diapers: Odorless Cloth Diaper Pail Environmentally Friendly

One of the only diaper pails specifically designed for cloth diapers. Busch Systems

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Even when it comes to our baby equipment buying choices, it’s possible to help make a difference in the fight against climate change. Opting for reusable cloth diapers instead of disposable is a popular choice for eco-conscious—and wallet-conscious—parents. However, the cloth diaper option is a little more complicated than just removing and dumping, since you need to be able to conveniently retrieve the used diaper for washing and reusing. This cloth diaper pail’s carbon filter lets air in but stops bad smells from coming out, and you can replace it regularly to keep it fresh. Another plus for eco-friendly parents: the pail itself is also made from recyclable plastic, which not many diaper pails can claim. 

Best budget diaper pail: Safety First Easy Saver Diaper Pail Small and Sturdy

For those tight on space, this diaper pail fits anywhere. Safety 1st

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The company behind the infamous (and life-saving) yellow “Baby on Board” car signs have created an affordable diaper pail that does the job. Their offering is perfect for those who need their pail to be a compact size so it can be tucked away into a cupboard or closet. Disposable, replaceable deodorizers will keep the nursery smelling fresh. This product is definitely the best one for parents on a budget—you know, the ones who say, “I am not spending more than $20 on a special bin for poop.”

FAQ: Can you use any type of bag for any type of diaper pail?

Not all diaper pail refills are universal, especially those with particular sealing features or pails which are a compact or larger size. All of our recommended units come with refillable units though. Depending on the design, though, you may have to stick with their recommended brand that conveniently fits in their constructed slot.

How do I stop my diaper pail from smelling?

The best way to eliminate all odors in the nursery is to get a diaper pail that is designed with an airtight seal (bonus for added scented carbon filters, like the Munchkin product. Choosing that kind of product will seal bad smells in and emit nicer odors to mask any smell that may emerge. However as a general rule, diaper pails should be sprayed with antibacterial cleaner and wiped down on a once weekly basis to prevent bacteria spread.

Can you use regular garbage bags in a Diaper Genie?

Yes. Diaper Genie comes with a certain number of accompanying custom bags to get you started, but once it comes time to replace you can of course opt for regular garbage bags which will fit. They won’t have as perfect a fit and may not have optimal sealing function but it is certainly doable.

Get the best diaper pail for your nursery needs

It’s not the first item we think of when it comes to building a nursery, but any parent will tell you that a diaper pail is an essential baby item for your home. Don’t forget, they’re not just for babies—if you’re a pet owner and need a place for pet waste like cat litter, hamster shavings, or bird box droppings, diaper pails are a good way to clean the mess and minimize the lingering smell. 

Related: Traveling with a baby? Here are the supplies you’ll need

The 8 Best Cloth Diapers of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

When we learn that baby is on the way, one of the earliest considerations for parents is whether to use cloth or disposable diapers. You may have heard that when it comes to diapering your baby, cloth diapers are better for the planet than any single-use product. That’s definitely true when we think about the sheer volume of disposable diapers heading for the landfill. The U.S. EPA estimates that a child diapered exclusively in disposables will send an estimated half-ton of disposable diapers to the landfill each year. That’s not all: The plastic in those diapers could take up to 500 years to degrade. That’s why more and more parents these days are looking for ways to reduce their baby’s contribution.

But the cloth versus disposable debate is about more than the landfill. There are other factors to consider. There are many situations where cloth diapers are just not practical or reasonable for everyone. We take a more detailed look at the disposable vs. cloth debate below.

To help you choose among wide variety of cloth diapering options, we’ve researched the best cloth diapers to give you and your family quality performance and peace of mind.

To earn the Best Overall spot on our list, the cloth diaper had to offer parents flexibility in their choice of absorbent material to adapt to a variety of situations, while also being simple to use and capable of top quality leak-resistant performance. GroVia Hybrid Cloth Diapers hit all of these marks while also being designed and manufactured ethically by a parent-owned company.

The Hybrid or All-in-Two waterproof shells come in a range of soft, adorable fabrics that come in either snap or hook and loop options, allowing you to customize the fit on your baby as they grow. Made from a solvent-free baked-in waterproof layer, the outer shell fits babies from 8 to 30 pounds and can be worn two or three times before you have to wash them giving them a longer lifetime than All-In-Ones. The inside of each cover is lined with a wicking mesh stay-dry material that dries quickly.  

You can choose from a range of absorbent layers called “soakers” that snap in to the cover. Options include certified organic cotton or microfiber terry that have a waterproof backing to keep the shell dry. You can also use soft prefold cloth diapers and biodegradable disposable inserts. GroVia’s prefolds are made from 55 percent bamboo, which is is incredibly absorbent and naturally resistant to bacterial growth, and 45 percent organic cotton.

For situations where you need more absorbance, GroVia offers "Boosters" made of organic cotton or a combination of organic cotton and polyester fleece and a disposable, compostable BioSoaker. The Boosters can be used at night time or during travel and are certified organic by EcoCert. The BioSoaker fits inside the shell with adhesive strips, much like a typical disposable diaper, and is made of a natural polymer by NatureWorks.

GroVia’s All-in-One, soft Buttah Velour, Trainer, and Swim diapers also earn get top marks for quality and environmental friendliness.

Higher upfront costs are often the reason parents opt to stick with disposables. Thankfully, there are many affordable cloth diaper brands on the market. Hero Pocket Cloth Diapers by Coquí Baby are a well-rated choice for about half as much as other brands. Parents find these pocket diapers comparable to more expensive counterparts.

Because it’s a pocket diaper, you can also shop around for the most affordable absorbent inserts. This brand usually comes with at least one or two inserts in a variety of types depending on where you buy them. You’ll also save because this diaper has adjustable snaps that enable them to fit your baby from 7 to 40+ pounds.

The inner lining is made of soft polar fleece polyester for comfort and wicking. It also has a waterproof outer lining and all materials are certified with the Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX, meaning they were tested and determined to be harmless to human health. An elastic leg and back gussets help prevent leaks. They come in a wide range of solid and print colors, so you can save a few bucks without having to sacrifice on style.

Choosing organic materials not only protects your baby, it also protects workers, maintains healthier soils, and reduces the use of persistent pesticides and fertilizers in the environment.

Esembly Organic Cloth Diapers have two separate pieces, an “inner” and an “outer” waterproof cover. The inner is made from Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton grown responsibly in South Asia. The cover is made from waterproof fabric that is made of 100 percent recycled yarn derived from post-consumer plastic bottles. Each cover uses between 2-10 bottles to produce! 

Parents love the ease of using the Esembly website that guides you through the size and number of each piece in addition to optional reusable baby wipes, overnight inserts, washing powder, pail deodorant, and a range of skin products.

You’ll feel good about supporting Esembly, a women-owned business committed to sustainably grown, low-impact, high-quality ingredients and responsible manufacturing. They also take their values to the next level. All of their paper packaging and shipping envelopes are made from 100 percent recycled material and are fully recyclable.

Not ready to commit? Esembly offers a Try-It Kit for under $100 so you can test it out.

At night and/or with a heavy wetter, you need a fitted, leak-proof diaper that can hold a large volume of liquid but with breathability that also protects your baby’s skin from diaper rash. The Ecoable Hemp Night Fitted Cloth Diaper is a great choice. The snap button design means one adjustable diaper can be customized to fit your baby from 10 to 30 pounds.

Like bamboo, hemp grows more quickly (and more sustainably) than cotton. It is also incredibly absorbent and naturally antibacterial. Its main challenge is that it is slower to absorb than cotton or bamboo. This diaper combines the best of both worlds by using two inserts made from 55 percent hemp for maximum absorbance and 45 percent cotton to prevent flooding leaks.

One caveat to note is that Ecoable recommends that you store dirty diapers in a dry pail only (no pre-soak), and that you avoid boiling the fabric and tumble dry on low to medium heat to avoid shrinkage. This cloth diaper must be used with a waterproof cover of your choice. You can try Ecoable’s Baby Heavy Duty Diaper Cover with Leg Gussets (view on Ecoable) made from polyurethane laminate or any other brand of you like best.

For both Ecoable’s cloth diapers and fair trade apparel line, the company preferentially selects sustainable, zero-waste fabrics that reduce the greenhouse gasses produced during traditional fabric production.

Parents like pocket style diapers, where a variety of absorbent inserts can be placed in the pocket between the inner stay-dry fabric that touches your baby’s skin and the outer waterproof layer. Because one can decide which insert to use in which situation, they’re very customizable. The main drawback of the pocket style compared to other types is that, unlike separate waterproof covers, they must be laundered after each use. However, some tired parents may not want to decide which insert to use or the extra step of stuffing them for each use.

Rumparooz’s One Size Pocket Cloth Diaper by Kanga Care is another awesome one-size-fits-all choice that adjusts to fit as your baby grows. They come in two sizes, Newborn (4 to 15 pounds) and One Size (6 to 35+ pounds). The snaps system allows for easy size modification.

Parents love this pocket diaper cover because it has soft double inner-leg gussets that prevent leaks without causing rash or irritation. The inner layer is a soft, wicking micro-chamois and the outer waterproof cover layer is biodegradable, and comes in more than 50 colors and prints.

Rumparooz come with your choice of hemp, bamboo, or microfiber "6r soakers," which are two cloth inserts of different sizes and thicknesses that you can use separately or combine to obtain a wide variety of absorbance levels. You can buy more than one type of 6r soaker separately and combine them in different ways. Rumparooz’s pocket design means they can also be used with inserts from other manufacturers.

The best swim diapers fit snugly around the legs and waste without being too tight or scratchy. That’s so they can hold in leaks at the beach or the pool. Charlie Banana Reusable Swim Diapers fit the bill. They’re an All-in-One style diaper made with a waterproof outer layer. Inside the diaper is a super soft, highly absorbent Tencel Lyocell and polyester blend fabric. Tencel is produced from sustainably sourced wood, through environmentally responsible processes.

Parents love the wide back elastics and adjustable waist draw strings that deliver a snug yet comfortable fit for your baby. They’re available in four sizes (S, M, L, XL) fitting kids from 10 to 55 pounds. Perhaps the hardest choice you’ll need to make is which of the more than 70 adorable colors and prints to choose from.

A big bonus is that all Charlie Banana products are Climate Neutral Certified. Charlie Banana also participates in 1% For The Planet, so some of every purchase is invested in nonprofits working to protect our planet for you and your baby.

Tired parents may appreciate the ease of an All-in-One diaper that’s both soft and comfortable. Thirsties Natural Newborn All-in-One’s combine the best of all options to keep your new baby dry and content from 5 to 14 pounds. The snap closure diaper design offers an umbilical cord snap-down feature that can be used when the cord is present or the belly button is healing. Or you can opt for the hook and loop closure.

The absorbent interior includes eight layers of natural fibers — two layers of GOTS-Certified organic cotton and six layers of a hemp/organic cotton blend offering reliable absorbance without leaks. The waterproof layer is waterproof laminate over polyester with an inner liner of organic cotton. The diaper has a trim fit and gentle leg and waste elastic.

These diapers that are made by Colorado moms, from fabrics that are 90 percent sourced in the United States. Choose from 20 cute colors.

Wool garments have been used for centuries because they are naturally breathable so it keeps you dry and prevents overheating. It’s also considered a renewable fiber because it’s biodegradable, while also being naturally antibacterial. So it makes sense to use it for diaper covers, although it's not vegan.

MamaBear BabyWear One Size Wool Diaper Covers are one of the most popular and well-rated wool covers on Etsy. They’re handmade from soft merino, cashmere, alpaca, or mohair wool and come in three closure options: snap, hook and loop, or none.

You’ll get three different wool covers: one lightweight, one medium weight, and one thick. Although you can’t select exact colors, you can choose boy, girl, or neutral gender and include your preferred colors when you order.   

MamaBear BabyWear was created by a widowed mother of two, Amy Washington of Murray, Kentucky. She hand knits and sews the covers herself to support her family. Amy notes that the covers fit over any cloth diaper you choose for babies from about 8 to 40 pounds. They arrive pre-washed, lanolized, and ready to use.

Final Verdict

With so many options to choose from on the market these days, it’s hard to beat the reliable versatility of the Best Overall GroVia Hybrid Cloth Diapers (view at Amazon) when paired with organic cotton and hemp inserts. Esembly Organic Cloth Diapers (view at Esembly) are also appealing because of the many environmentally-positive choices the company has made, including the use of post-consumer recycled plastic covers.

Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers

In most situations, cloth is the more sustainable diaper choice. However, they may not be the best choice for every situation. Upfront costs of $300 to $400 for each size are beyond some family budgets. Cloth diapers aren’t accepted at some child care centers and many don’t have easy or affordable access to regular laundry facilities. Tired working parents will also be the first to admit that cloth diapers require more parent time to process and launder compared to disposables. Let’s also not forget that there are many situations when you don’t want to carry a dirty diaper around, like when you’re traveling.

When comparing the impact of cloth versus disposable, we also need to consider factors like energy and water consumption needed to manufacture the diapers as well as the landfill and factory air and water emissions. According to a UK life cycle assessment, using cloth diapers can have more or less environmental impact than disposables depending on how they are laundered. Like your other clothing, if you do things like line dry them outside, wash fuller loads in newer, energy-efficient appliances at lower temperatures without harsh detergents and other chemicals, and reuse them on multiple children then cloth are better than disposable diapers.

There is no clear cut answer and the pros and cons must be weighed with each families’ unique circumstances in mind. For many, a combination of cloth and disposable may make the most sense. When choosing disposable diapers, there are a number of more eco-friendly brands on the market that will help you decrease your impact on the planet.

Understanding Cloth Diaper Styles

When trying to choose a cloth diaper, the variety of choices might feel overwhelming. You can choose from All-in-One, pocket, All-in-Two, or prefold styles. Then of course, there are also trainer and swim diapers.   

All-in-One Diapers

One of the most popular choices are All-in-One diapers that are a single unit made of a combination of materials. They’re easy to manage but they don’t allow as much flexibility (like changing the absorbent layer), so be sure they are the right fit for your baby and family before buying a full set. Because you wash the whole unit each time, they can wear out as quickly as the less expensive prefolds or inner absorbent layers of other diaper systems. Worn out diapers leak more often and lose their waterproof nature over time.

Pocket Diapers

Pocket diapers are similar to All-in-One styles except the waterproof outer layer is connected to an inner “stay-dry” layer with a pocket separating them that allows you to insert a disposable (sometimes compostable) or reusable absorbent layer. The layer you choose can come from different manufacturers and depend on the situation. More absorbent inserts can be used for travel and more breathable inserts can be used for around the house for less chance of diaper rash.

Some use the term pocket and hybrid diapers interchangeably. But beware, some companies also use the term “hybrid fitted diaper” that is really closer to an All-in-One where disposable inserts are not an option. So be sure you are clear about what you’re buying before you make the purchase.

All-in-Twos

You’ll also see “All-in-Twos” where the absorbent insert and the waterproof cover are two separate pieces that need to be snapped together to create a complete cloth diaper.

Waterproof shells also come in a wide variety of materials but are often made from polyurethane laminate (PUL) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). It’s important to verify that solvents aren’t used in the production of these materials and that any spray-on water repellants used in their production don’t contain formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen.

Prefold Diapers

Perhaps the most flexible option is to use prefold cloth diapers like our grandmothers used (simple rectangles made from a variety of fabrics) that you cover with a separate waterproof diaper shell. Each is sold separately or can be purchased from the same company. Instead of prefolds, some families choose more expensive fitted cloth diapers with leg and back elastic because they may fit better, leak less and fasten with Velcro for easier use.

FAQs What’s the best fabric for cloth diapers?

To answer this question, we first have to consider the anatomy of a cloth diaper. Most are made with an inner absorbent layer that pulls liquids away from your baby’s skin. This layer may be of one or a combination of types of fabric, such as cotton, hemp, bamboo, or polyester. Another “stay dry” fabric separates the inner absorbent layer from your baby’s skin to prevent irritation and diaper rash. Then there is an outer waterproof layer that protects clothing and bedding. This outer layer may be made of several different fabric layers and/or be sprayed with a synthetic outer coating. The manufacture of waterproof fabric and its coating can employ the use of organic solvents and/or formaldehyde. Most cloth diapers are made from at least three or more different fabric types.

There are a great number of factors to consider when choosing the best fabric for each of the parts of a cloth diaper. We must consider the ability to absorb liquids and prevent leaks, plus breathability, cost, availability, connection to diaper rash, and the environmental impact associated with fabric production and global shipping. As you might guess, the real answer to “What is the best fabric?” is, it depends.

Each of the fabric has its own pros and cons. For example, cotton is non-synthetic, absorbent, and affordable but grows more slowly than hemp and bamboo. Hemp holds a lot of liquid but because it absorbs more slowly than cotton, you may observe more leaks when your baby is older and produces a larger volume of liquid. Bamboo grows very quickly and more sustainably, but requires chemicals to make it soft.

When making our list above and choosing from among the many fabric options for cloth diapers, we balanced a combination of these pros and cons as well as best-available technology, manufacturing processes, and environmental and human health factors.

How many cloth diapers do I need?

If you have access to laundry at least every other day, most manufacturers and parents recommend a minimum of 24 diapers so there is no chance you run out before the laundry is dry.

Newborns usually go through about twice as many diapers in a day than toddlers who have larger bladders. If you’re using a system where inserts and covers are separate, plan to use three times as many inserts as covers (a minimum of 8 covers and 24 inserts). You’ll need more than this average if you have a heavy wetter or need more time between laundry days.

What is the best way to wash cloth diapers?

Wash diapers separate from other laundry. Waiting more than a couple of days can result in mildew stains, residual smells, or more washes to get the diapers clean. Remove and flush any solids from the diaper immediately. Some parents swish the diaper in the toilet or use a sprayer attached to the toilet water supply to spray off the mess. Diapers that are just wet can get tossed into a waterproof bag, bucket, or cloth diaper pail immediately. You’ll want a system that can be opened easily with one hand or a foot pedal that also contains odor.

Many parents store dirty diapers waiting to be laundered at room temperature in a pre-soak solution. Keep in mind that a bucket of liquid can be a drowning hazard to small children so keep it properly secured or out of reach. What the solution contains depends on who you ask, but many use baking soda in a ratio of about a half a cup per gallon of water. You can add a few drops of essential oil to help with odor and/or distilled cleaning vinegar. Avoid warm or hot water that can set in stains. Pre-soaking isn’t required, but without it, you are more likely to end up with permanent stains and stronger odors.

When you’re ready to wash, drain the pre-soak liquid by hand or use the rinse cycle of your washer. Then use an eco-friendly detergent and hot water for the wash cycle. If your machine is capable, add a cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle using the fabric softener dispenser. This will help remove any remaining residues from the fabric.

Avoid the use of fabric softener because many are full of chemicals and they’re designed to stick to fabric, resulting in a less absorbent surface.  

You might see recommendations to use old-fashioned borax and bleach as part of your wash cycle. However, borax has been banned in the European Union based on animal studies that show it has reproductive health consequences in high concentrations. Chlorine bleach is toxic to both you and the environment. You can effectively skip the borax by using baking soda to boost the effectiveness of your detergent in the wash cycle. Avoid bleach by adding a quarter cup of vinegar, lemon juice or peroxide (choose one, do not combine them) to the pre-soak step for whitening and brightening then try vinegar in the rinse cycle to strip away remaining residues.

When it comes to drying diapers, line-dry in the sun whenever possible. Sunshine lightens stains, kills germs and helps eliminate odors naturally while also reducing your energy use.

When you use a dryer, use the heat setting recommended by the manufacturer to avoid heat damage and shrinkage. Many covers aren’t meant to be dried on high heat. Unless otherwise noted, use the hottest available temperature in combination with the “more dry” setting to ensure that any bacteria that survived the wash cycle won’t make it out of the dryer. But skip the dryer sheet which includes chemicals that reduce absorbency and might irritate your baby’s skin.

What’s the best detergent for cloth diapers?

There are many eco-conscious laundry detergents on the market, with several that have been designed specifically for cloth diapers. You want to look for something that has simple, natural ingredients that wash out cleanly to protect your baby’s delicate skin. Many parents like Rockin’ Green Dirty Diaper Detergent (view on Amazon) that can be used in the pre-soak and in place of other detergents because it’s simple, vegan, and removes diaper stains and odors better than many other eco-friendly detergents. 

Why Trust Treehugger?

Lorraine Wilde changed so many of her twins’ diapers that she could do a double change in the dark by the time they grew out of them. She has only the highest of standards for what goes on her children’s skin. Lorraine also holds a Master’s degree in environmental science and is a firm believer that consumers can make healthy, informed and environmentally-conscious choices to protect their families and our planet.

Pampers Introduces New Hybrid Diaper--Part Reusable and Part Disposable

CINCINNATI -- Pampers knows that part of caring for babies is caring for the environment and the planet where they grow up. In an era of reusing and reducing, parents are increasingly exploring more planet-conscious options, and that includes diapers. That is why Pampers created Pampers Pure Protection Hybrid Diapers, our first diapering system that is part reusable, part disposable. The Pure Protection Hybrid Diaper uses trusted Pampers technology and provides superior dryness and leak protection1 from a diaper that uses 25% less disposable materials.2

A recent Pampers survey found that nearly half of all parents have tried cloth diapers but not as many continue to use them because leaks are common and changing them more frequently means more wash cycles.3 Pampers Pure Protection Hybrid Diapers combine what parents love about both cloth and disposable diapers by pairing soft, reusable cloth diaper covers with disposable inserts. Made to lock wetness away from skin for up to 12 hours, Pure Protection Hybrid Diapers help keep your baby’s skin dry and healthy while producing less waste.2

“At Pampers, we’ve spent thousands of hours speaking with and listening to parents globally about what will best fit their needs,” said Marty Vanderstelt, father of two and Senior Vice President – North America Baby Care. “That’s why we’ve created Pampers Pure Protection Hybrid for parents who want a diaper that produces less waste2, but still seek the convenience and protection of a disposable diaper. Pampers Pure Protection Hybrid is one of our many steps forward in the journey to a sustainable planet, and a happy, healthy future for every baby.”

Pampers Pure Protection Hybrid Diapers offer:

A disposable insert made with a plant-based liner, enriched with shea butter and other thoughtfully selected materials. It features Pampers’ trusted absorbent core and high leg cuffs to help prevent leaks.

“One size fits most” super soft reusable cloth covers made with premium fabrics, adjustable leg elastics and waist snaps that will last through multiple changes. The machine washable covers are easy to clean with simple laundering instructions.

14 playful and fun prints (fruits, animals, and sweet messages) so you can customize your collection.

Pampers disposable diapers are the #1 U.S. Pediatrician Recommended Brand and Pampers Pure Protection Hybrid Diapers meet the same high-quality standards as all Pampers products. Just like other products in the Pampers Pure Protection family, our Pure Protection Hybrid Diapers are hypoallergenic and contain 0% fragrance, elemental chlorine, latex (natural rubber), or parabens.

Pampers is committed to caring for every baby and the planet they grow up in. This includes improving sustainability for the generations to come. In addition to launching Pampers Pure Protection Hybrid, our Pampers business overall continues to innovate toward more sustainable diapering solutions to use 30% less diapering materials per baby over their diapering time. Over the past 25 years, we have reduced our disposable diaper weight by 50% and our packaging by 70%, generating less use of resources in our products.

Pampers Pure Hybrid Diapers are now available at Target locations and online at Target.com. Diaper pricing is at the sole discretion of the retailer.

1 Pampers data vs. Grovia Biosoaker2 Less waste than Pampers Pure Disposable Diapers Size 1-53 2017 Habits & Practices data, P&G on file

About Pampers®

For 60 years, parents have trusted Pampers to care for their babies. Pampers is a part of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) and is the #1-selling diaper worldwide. Every day, more than 25 million babies in 100 countries around the world wear Pampers. Pampers offers a complete range of diapers, wipes and training pants designed to provide protection and comfort for every stage of baby’s development. Visit www.pampers.com to learn more about Pampers products, join the Pampers Club program, and find ideas and information to help you and your baby ‘love the change’ together.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. For other P&G news, visit us at www.pg.com/news.

Best Diapers 2021 – Best Baby Diaper Brands (whattoexpect.com)