Choosing the best cloth diapers for your baby can be an overwhelming task. The best cloth diapers need to fit your infant’s body style, have a good fit in the legs to prevent leaks, and be sensitive enough for your baby’s delicate skin. The worst cloth diapers will contain leaks and those all too familiar blowouts. Finding the best cloth diapers for your baby will depend on what you want in a cloth diaper.
Some families choose the basic flat diapers that are the old-fashioned cloth diapers we all remember. These flat diapers are a great choice for families who want simplicity yet ease of use. These will need to be pinned or clipped to stay on and require a waterproof cover. Flat diapers are often considered to be one of the best cloth diapers by many parents, because they also make great burp cloths, cleaning rags, and can be used through multiple children.
There are many reasons that families are choosing to cloth diaper again. Disposables have been popular for many years, but a lot of parents realize that cloth diapers can save them lots of money, and are better for both the environment and their baby.
Comparison Table
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Product FAQ
1. What Is A Cloth Diaper?
A cloth diaper has the same function as a disposable plastic diaper, except that unlike a disposable diaper, these can be washed and used over and over, even through multiple children. Cloth diapers come in many different types such as flat fit, fitted, all in one, all in two, hybrid, and more. The best cloth diapers can sometimes give you several different options in one diaper.
2. What Do The Best Cloth Diapers Do?
The best cloth diapers enable you to diaper your baby without the fear of added chemicals on your baby’s skin. You also get the satisfaction of knowing that you are saving money by not having to buy diapers every week. Imagine the money you can save by using cloth diapers. The best cloth diapers offer you the best options for your baby and the environment.
3. What Types Of Cloth Diapers Are Available?
The best cloth diapers are available in several types including:
Flat Folds
Flats are a big, rectangular piece of fabric (think dishtowel size), and pre-folds are smaller pieces of fabric that have been doubled over. Both need to be folded, clipped and have a waterproof cover put over them. These are the granddaddies of the cloth diaper world. Their benefits include being easy to wash, quick to dry, and super cheap
These diapers have a waterproof exterior and inside pockets where you place absorbent inserts. The main benefit of a pocket diaper is being able to adjust the insert so that it absorbs more or less, and is positioned where your little one needs it most.
Fitted
These are fully designed diapers with elastic leg openings and snaps or velcro tab closures around the waist, made entirely from absorbent fabric. Fitted diapers also require a waterproof cover to go over them. Their benefits include absorbency throughout the diaper (on the legs, waist, and hips) and being able to change the soiled cloth diaper, but reuse the waterproof with a fresh diaper.
All in Ones
The most like disposable diapers, all-in-ones are the full package: waterproof cover and attached cloth liners to absorb fluid. When you change your child’s diaper, you toss the entire diaper into the dirty pile to be washed, and then grab another (no folding, no inserting). The primary benefit of these is convenience.
Hybrids
Very similar to all-in-ones, hybrids have a waterproof shell as well but feature a liner that snaps in. At changing time, you just pull the dirty liner/insert out and snap a fresh one into the same shell (as long as there was no leakage onto the shell). The benefit of this system is you can purchase fewer shells (AKA covers) and just stock up on liners.
4. Where Can You Buy Them?
The best cloth diapers can be bought on Amazon, Etsy, Boutique baby stores, and other online retailers. You can also sometimes find them in your local retail stores, such as Walmart or Target.
How We Reviewed
The following cloth diapers were researched and reviewed by us and were rated based on the features available, the pros and cons, how easy they are to purchase, and what kind of warranty if any was available.
What We Reviewed
- Charlie Banana
- OsoCozy
- GroVia
- BumGenius
- Thirsties
- Lil Joey
- Kanga Care
- Smart Bottoms
- Bambino Mio
- Imagine Baby Products
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FEATURES
Charlie Banana is a hybrid diaper but puts whatever liner you use – cloth or disposable – on lockdown. Cloth liners are inserted into a front-loading pocket (to avoid having to pull the liner out through a mess in the back), while disposables are held on by an end flap. Soft fleece along the back makes for a comfy fit.
Pros
- Easy to put on/take off
- Wash well
- Lots of cute colors
Cons
- Leg elastic has to be adjusted when your baby grows each time
- Parents wish they were a bit cheaper
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FEATURES
OsoCozy prefolds come in two different sizes: size 1 (7-15lbs) and size 2 (15-30lbs), creating a better fit when folding around your baby. The even better news is that you can trifold them and stuff them in your baby’s pocket diapers or lay them in a cover when they grow out of the sizes for the origami folds.
Pros
- Easy to care for
- Super absorbent, soft, and durable
- A budget-friendly option
- Excellent leak protection with a fastener and cover
Cons
- Will shrink some after the first wash
- Mastering the different folds may seem daunting to some parents
- Can take a long time to dry
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FEATURES
The GroVia includes everything you will ever need to cloth diaper from birth through toddlerhood. It is designed to fit babies from 10 to 35 lbs and also comes with snaps and a removable velcro option. This diaper is excellent for heavy wetters because it has a custom super soaker system. It even works great as a nighttime solution for moderate wetters.
It comes with small and large cotton blend soaker pads that are easily snapped together to create a double insert for optimal absorbency. The larger soaker pad has grooves in it, which helps catch all the liquids, maximizing the diaper’s leak protection.
Pros
- Exceptionally soft and durable
- No extra prepping
- Absorbent
Cons
- Has a unique fit
- Not the best diaper for thin-legged babies
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FEATURES
The BumGeniusFreetimesare an all-in-one system designed to fit babies from 8 to 35lbs. This diaper is available in a variety of colors and prints, and comes with a custom butterfly closure system, making it easier for parents to get a good fit around their baby’s waist and legs.
Because the inserts are sewn in, this diaper is ready to go, making it hassle-free for busy parents and caregivers. All you have to do is fold the flaps the way you want them and put it on. Adjust the insert to accommodate where your baby tends to soak their diaper the most.
Pros
- Properly gusseted for leak protection
- Quick drying
- Sewn-in inserts save you time and stress
- Available in hook and loop and snap closures
Cons
- Bulky
- Sewn-in flaps can make rinsing solids off difficult
- Some parents dislike the synthetic fabrics
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FEATURES
These diapers are designed to fit babies from 8 to 40 pounds, so you’ll be able to use them pretty much throughout your entire cloth diaper journey. The inner soaker is sewn in, making it convenient and stress-free for those new to cloth diapering.
The insert is comprised of microfiber and microfleece, which absorbs well for most babies. If this material isn’t enough for your heavy wetter, then there is a pocket inside the diaper where you can stuff another insert of your choice.
Pros
- Goes on in one easy step
- No folding or stuffing required
- Trim fit
- Dry quickly compared to other cloth diapers
Cons
- Not the best fit for babies with chunky thighs
- Velcro typically doesn’t hold up as well as snaps
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FEATURES
This cloth diaper is pretty much the only one out there that will fit preemies and smaller newborns. It fits from approximately 4-12 lbs and is designed to fit well around those tiny legs. It also features a snap down option to keep the diaper from rubbing against and irritating the umbilical cord.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Slim fitting
- Great at containing leaks and blowouts
Cons
- Most babies will grow out of them fairly quickly
- Can take a long time to dry
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FEATURES
The best thing about Rumparooz is how you can get the “just right” absorbency level. This pocket diaper comes with two inserts that can be used together or separately. There are six different ways to configure these inserts, before stuffing them inside the diaper pocket, to increase absorbency and place padding where your child needs it. Also, Rumparooz have both an inner and outer elastic barrier around the leg openings to make leakage near impossible.
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Have inner/outer barriers
- Parents love that these are dryer friendly
Cons
- Pockets can be a pain to stuff
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FEATURES
With Smart Bottoms 3.1 organic all-in-one, you won’t have to worry about your baby having any harsh chemicals against their skin, as the inside of this diaper is made of 100 percent certified organic cotton. The organic cotton is super soft and helps prevent diaper rash, even among the most sensitive of skin.
Pros
- Super trim
- Organic cotton is soft and ideal for sensitive skin
- The insert can be folded to suit absorbency needs
Cons
- Requires 5-6 washes before first use
- Long sewn-in flap makes spraying off mess difficult
- A bit pricey for the work
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FEATURES
This stylish all-in-one diaper is just as easy to use as a disposable, making it an excellent choice to send to daycare. The Miosolois designed to fit from birth up to potty training and comes in 18 adorable designs. The rise snaps and hook and loop closure make it simple to get a good fit for your baby. It also comes with fold back laundry tabs to protect the velcro when it’s in the wash.
Pros
- Incredibly soft and stylish
- Super simple to use
- Dry quickly
- Designed to keep moisture away from baby’s skin
Cons
- Velcro may not hold up as long as snaps
- Doesn’t have the best fit on petite babies
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FEATURES
The no-pill fleece inner lining stays soft and comfortable wash after wash and keeps baby dry and comfortable between changes. The gentle leg casing prevents red marks and allows baby freedom of movement. As the liner is sewn on one side and snapped in the front, these diapers conveniently dry quickly after washing. Suitable for babies weighing 5-13 pounds, these diapers are an affordable choice for your first set of cloth diapers
Pros
- Very economical
- Fits preemies and newborns
- Very gentle
Cons
- Some parents say fit is a bit strange
- Parents seem to either “Love” or “Hate” these, no in between reviews
- Some leaking reported by reviewers
The Verdict
Our winner was the Bambino Mio all in one diaper. For the price, you can’t beat the options of absorbancy by adding or taking away liners. These are great for beginners and advanced moms alike.
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