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Writer's pictureJanike Robertson

Types of cloth diapers explained

Updated: Jun 21

As a mom that's new to cloth diapering it can be a little overwhelming when faced with all the different options and lingo that goes with the journey. I know that it took me a good amount of time to figure out different types of nappies and what worked best for us. A lot of my learning was trial and error. Understanding the types of nappies can help you not purchase nappies that you regret buying later on. Different nappies have different pros and cons and also suit different baby and family needs. Let's dive in and have a look at the different nappies you get.


1. Snap in One Diapers

  • A snap-in-one diaper is made up of a waterproof shell and an absorbent inner which are separate parts but that snap into each other. A snap-in-one is a whole diaper and all the parts need to be washed after each change, meaning that the shell can't be reused between changes. Snap-in-one diapers usually use a type of PuL waterproofing in the shell as well as a lining on the inside of the diaper. They have back and leg elastics, as well as various adjustable snaps, to give a good fit around baby.


  • Snap-in-one's are easy and simple to use, you can put the whole diaper, with the inserts snapped into it into the washing machine although it's recommended to separate them for gentler wear on your diapers. If you separate the two parts then nappy prep after washing consists of snapping the inserts back into the shell. Many mom's prefer this over pockets where you need to stuff the diaper inserts into the shell.


  • Snap-in-one diapers are a good option for the OSFM (one size fits most 5kg-19kg) stage, as day time diapers. They contain diaper inserts which should hold enough urine to change nappies every 1.5-3 hours on average but they are normally not sufficient for night time use or newborns as newborns have a very high urine output.



2. All in one Diapers

  • An all-in-one diaper is made up of a waterproof shell and an absorbent inner which are sewn into each other. As the name suggests it is a full one step diaper and it's the closest nappy you will get to a disposable in terms of ease of use. As there are no separate parts to the diaper there is no post washing preparation that needs to happen. All-in-one diapers are a favourite for this reason. They have back and leg elastics, as well as various adjustable snaps, to give a good fit around baby.

  • One of the cons of All in One's is that you can not dry the waterproof shell and absorbent inners separately and they take a bit longer to dry. They also tend not to be as absorbent on the bum but mom's can boost the diapers absorption with absorbency boosters.


  • All-in-one diapers are a good option for the OSFM (one size fits most 5kg-19kg) stage, as day time diapers. They contain diaper inserts which hold enough urine to change nappies every 1.5-3 hours on average but they are normally not sufficient for night time use or newborns as newborns have a very high urine output.



3. All in 2 Diapers

  • An all-in-2 diaper is made up of a waterproof outer shell which can be wiped clean and aired out between diaper changes as well as a separate absorbent inner which usually gets snapped into the cover.


  • A pro of the all-in-2 diaper is the wipeable cover. Usually the cover's inner lining is made of a soft flexible waterproof fabric with the shiny lining on the bum side. The lining is wipeable and reusable as long as the elastics are dry and have not been soiled by poop.

  • Having an all-in-2 diaper system means you can reuse your covers, needing less covers and more inserts. So if you have 24 insert changes you might only need 6 or so covers. Covers are versatile as you can also use pad folded flats as inserts instead of traditional inserts and your covers can also work over night nappies if they are roomy enough.


  • All-in-2 diapers are a good option for the OSFM (one size fits most 5kg-19kg) stage as day time diapers. They contain diaper inserts which should hold enough urine to change nappies every 1.5-3 hours on average but they are normally not sufficient for night time use or newborns as newborns have a very high urine output.

  • If you use wipeable covers paired with wrap around diapers such as flats or fitted diapers for the new born stage then you can work with the same rotation principal, although I found that often newborn liquid poop does escape onto the elastics of the covers meaning the cover can't be rotated.



4. Pocket & Sleeve Diapers

  • A pocket or sleeve diaper is made up of a waterproof shell and an absorbent inner which are separate parts but the inserts get stuffed into a pocket that is part of the diaper shell.

  • A pocket or sleeve diaper is a whole diaper and all the parts need to be washed after each change, meaning that the shell can't be reused between changes.

  • Pocket and sleeve diapers usually have a type of PuL waterproofing in the shell as well as a soft lining on the inside of the diaper which is sewn in to create a pocket, holding the inserts in place.

  • A pocket diaper's pocket is open on one side and closed on the other side where as a sleeve diaper is open on 2 sides. 


  • Pocket diapers are the most common commercially available diapers. They are the most affordable as they are mass produced, usually in China. Once stuffed with the inserts they most closely resemble a disposable diaper making them popular amongst care givers and day cares.


  • A con of the pocket nappy is that the inserts need to be removed before it is washed and then it needs to be stuffed with inserts again after it has been washed and dried. Many families find the stuffing of pockets time consuming. 


  • The pocket diaper can be stuffed with a variety of available dedicated inserts so the absorbency is customisable for baby's needs.


  • Pocket and sleeve diapers are a good option for the OSFM (one size fits most 5kg-19kg) stage, as day time diapers. They contain diaper inserts which should hold enough urine to change nappies every 1.5-3 hours on average but they are normally not sufficient for night time use or newborns as newborns have a very high urine output.



5. Diaper Covers

  • Diaper covers are made to go over fully absorbent inners, like flats and fitteds. Diaper covers are usually a bit of a larger cut so that it can accommodate more layers underneath. They have different elastics for a snug fit around baby. Some covers have adjustable snaps and others have hook and loop closures (like Velcro).

  • Some diaper covers have a wipeable, waterproof PuL lining and some have a waterproof lining that isn't wipeable, like softshell. You also get water resistant fleece covers which you can read more about in this blog post.


  • Covers are very versatile and a must have for night times over fully absorbent diapers. Many mom's use an all in 2 system for day time, then using the same covers over their night time diapers. Covers and flats are the number one recommend solution for the newborn phase (2.5kg-6kg) (blog post coming soon), they are also used for OSFM (5kg-19kg).


6. Flat Diapers

  • Flat diapers are the original old school diapers but in modern cloth we have changed our fabric from the traditional cotton towelling to fabrics like cotton fleece, flannel, bamboo and hemp jersey. Flat diapers are essentially a flat piece of square absorbent fabric that comes in various sizes to suit various stages of growth.

  • Flats need to be folded into a diaper shape (click here to see folds) and clipped closed with a snappi (see here for more info).

  • And they do need diaper covers to keep bedding and clothing dry. Many mom's are put off by the folding but families that favour flats will tell you that using flats becomes second nature and the pros of flats far outweigh the issue of folding.

  • Flats can be the most cost effective cloth diapering solution.


  • Flats are wrap around diapers, meaning that they go between baby's legs and also wrap around their hips. This makes them very absorbent. They are also easy to boost with absorbent boosters or you can use 2 flats together for more absorbency.

  • Flats can also be pad folded (folded into a rectangle shape) and used laid in covers or it can be stuffed into pockets as the absorbent inserts. Flats can be used a a burp cloth or a blankie in a pinch; they have so many uses. 


  • Flats are the number one newborn solution due to their high performance in versatility and absorption. Flats are also a favourite for day time amongst seasoned cloth diapering families and a favourite for night time use during the OSFM (5kg+) stage.



7. Fitted Diapers

  • Fitted diapers are fully absorbent diapers, meaning that the whole diaper absorbs urine and can feel wet. Fitted diapers need to have covers to contain moisture so that things don't get wet. It is a wrap around diaper, coming between baby's legs and also around the hips. 


  • Fitted diapers are fitted on baby with elastics around the waist as well as around the legs and usually has adjustable snap closures. Some fitted diapers can have no snaps and close with a snappi and some fitted diapers have a hook and loop (like Velcro) closure. 


  • Fitted diapers can be made from a variety of different absorbent fabrics (read more about absorbent fabrics here), they have many layers and usually have some kind of additional absorbent inserts and boosters to aid in high capacity absorption.


  • Fitteds are a favourite for night time use as they generally have a very high capacity for holding liquids, working well to keep baby dry through a 12 hour stretch of sleep. It's important to understand that individual babies have different needs so one fitted may not last 12 hours on a baby who is a heavy wetter and babies that don't have a high urine output might do better with flats and a booster as a night time option which is also more trim on the bum. (Keen an eye out for our post on night time cloth.) Different fabrics also absorb differently so it's good to know your absorbent fabrics and what fabric your fitteds are made from (see our explanation of different fabrics here).


  • Fitted diapers are a loved newborn solution for both day time and night time use, due to their high performance in absorption and their ease of use above flats. Their ability to contain runny poop very well. Due to all their layers they tend to be a little more bulky on the bum. Fitteds are also a favourite for night time use during the OSFM (5kg+) stage. Usually you need at least 3 fitteds and covers in your stash to wash every 2 days




8. Conclusion

There are many different types of cloth diapers to suit many different types of needs; shape and weight of babies / how much babies urinate and poop / what stage babies are in (like newborn or toddlers) / how families function (stay at home moms, daycare etc) / individual budgets. It can seem like so much information to take in but once you understand how cloth diapers work then it becomes much easier to choose the best choice for your family. Any of the above types of diapers can work for any families if you can make them work for you.


*Infographics used with permission from SACNU.com

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