The Best Cloth Diapers
Cloth-curious or all-in? Find the best cloth diapers for every effort level and budget, + what you need to know to get started.
By
There are few baby products that elicit such a strong response as cloth diapers.
“Yes, there's a learning curve, but it was SO worth it!” one parent told us in Babylist’s annual Most Loved Baby Products survey.
“Cloth diapers? They never happened. Ain’t nobody got time for that,” said another.
Wherever you land, there’s no denying that cloth is having a moment. Once thought of as a thing of the past, many new parents are drawn to cloth for environmental reasons, long-term savings or simply because they prefer natural materials against baby’s skin. And whether you’re cloth-curious or all-in, this roundup is a great place to start.
We talked with veteran cloth-diapering parents, combed cloth diaper Reddit forums (oh so many Reddit forums) and researched the most popular styles, from ultra-easy all-in-ones to budget-friendly prefolds. Below you’ll find our top picks, guidance on choosing a system that works for you, washing and drying and how many cloth diapers you really need.
Our goal: surface options that actually work in real life, whether you want a low-lift system for daycare and grandparents or don’t mind a bit of folding to save money and speed up laundry.
How We Judged the Best Cloth Diapers
Best Cloth Diaper for Newborns
If you’re set on cloth diapering from day one, you’ll want a diaper specifically designed to fit your newborn’s tiny body and skinny legs. And because newborns go through so many diapers during the first month (about 10-12 a day), many parents prefer the easiest option available. The Newborn All In One from Thirsties checks all these boxes.
This newborn-specific diaper is perfectly sized for small babies and features an adjustable rise and an umbilical cord snap-down. It’s also an all-in-one option: everything is attached, making getting it on and off (and washing it) easy and straightforward. It’s also highly absorbent, made with microfiber terry and microfleece to absorb three times its weight in liquid and wick moisture away from baby’s delicate new skin.
💡 Pro tip: investing in a newborn stash of cloth diapers can be pricey, especially considering the short window of use. Consider reselling your newborn stash to recoup the cost, or buying used.
Additional Specs
Fit: Newborn: 5-14 lbs
Best Cloth Diaper Try-It Kit
Cloth-curious but not ready to fully commit? This cloth diapering kit is for you. It’s a great way to dip your toe into the world of cloth diapers without spending hours researching—or hundreds of dollars.
“We wanted to do cloth diapers but weren’t sure what style,” one parent told us in our annual survey. “We got the Esembly Try-It Kit and it turns out we love cloth diapering.”
“Esembly cloth diapers made cloth diapering a breeze and has saved us so much money over the months in not having buy diapers with the added bonus of being better for the environment,” said another.
The kit includes three organic cotton liners (AKA fitted diapers; more on those below), one waterproof outer, a waterproof drawstring laundry bag and a bag of washing powder.
Additional Specs
Fit: Size 1: 7-17 lbs
Best Affordable Cloth Diaper
The cloth diaper market was once dominated by small, independent brands, but it’s shifted over the last five years. Major retailers, namely Amazon, now carry many more affordable options. Quality can vary, but parents consistently rave about Alvababy for the balance of price and performance.
“I love Alvababy cloth diapers,” one parent said in our survey. “They’ve saved me a lot of money and stress since we haven’t had to buy disposables.”
“I started with a different brand of cloth diaper that was $25 a diaper,” Britt, a cloth diapering mom of four, said. “Then I discovered Alva, which were more like $25 for a bundle of six. They were great. They worked just fine.”
Alvas are pocket diapers, which means there’s a pocket inside the diaper where you slip in an absorbent insert. This popular pack includes six diapers and 12 inserts. “The advantage of using pocket is you can use another insert,” said one parent in their Amazon review. “Now I use inserts that are hemp and bamboo that I sewed myself.”
Just note these diapers don’t fit newborns well, so you’ll need a separate newborn stash. And some parents find them to be a bit bulky. For another popular, high quality and affordable Amazon pick, check out Nora’s Nursery, another brand of pockets that parents love.
Additional Specs
Fit: One size: 6.6-33 lbs
Easiest to Use Cloth Diaper
They’re called “all-in-ones” for a reason—this is about as easy as cloth gets. Everything you need is built right into the diaper; no messing with inserts, fasteners, pins or covers. The inside has multiple layers of organic cotton and hemp for absorbency, and the outer layer is waterproof. You can choose either hook-and-loop or snap closures.
Like most one-size-fits-all diapers, these won’t work on newborns. (Thirsties recommends waiting until your baby is at least eight pounds before trying these.) They also take a while to dry, so keep that in mind as you’re deciding how many to buy.
Editor’s note: GroVia’s O.N.E. Cloth Diaper is another excellent all-in-one cloth option; however, tariffs forced the company to pause operations earlier this year. The good news is that the brand has been acquired by Kanga Care and will be relaunched soon. You can sign up for the Kanga Care newsletter for updates on this transition.
Additional Specs
Fit: One size: 8-40 lbs
Best Pocket Cloth Diaper
The pocket diaper’s claim to fame is customizable absorbency: add more or less depending on if your baby is a heavy wetter. Rumparooz has been leading the pocket diaper pack for over a decade. You can mix and match a wide variety of inserts, including different sizes, shapes and thicknesses. There’s also double gussets for leak prevention, a breathable, waterproof outer shell and a “poop scoop” pocket to help contain messes.
This newest G3 version features upgrades like a tummy panel for extra protection for belly sleepers and a laundry snap to roll up and secure a soiled diaper until it’s wash day. Rumparooz also widened the back elastic and wing span and extended the rise, addressing parent feedback that earlier versions felt small and were outgrown too quickly.
For another pocket diaper pick, check out Charlie Banana, available at Target.
Additional Specs
Fit: One size: 6-55+ lbs
Best Prefold Cloth Diaper
Cloth-eez Cloth-eez Prefold Diapers
From $39.96Prefolds take practice, but the value is tough to beat. Known in the cloth community as “GMD Prefolds,” these are made from raw organic cotton that’s thick, very absorbent and durable enough to handle repeated wash cycles. “I’m a total Cloth-eez fan girl,” said one parent on Reddit’s (very active) cloth diaper forum. Parents love pairing them with the Thirsties Duo Wrap waterproof cover and either Snappi fasteners or diaper pins.
If you like the economics of prefolds but feel intimidated by the folding process, check out fitteds. They’re more expensive, but still affordable compared to AIOs and pockets, and much easier to use. The Cloth-Eez Workhorse is a cloth diaper crowd favorite.
Additional Specs
Fit: Preemie through XL; view the size chart for measurements
Best Diaper Pail for Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers are bulkier than disposables; you’ll need a diaper pail with a wide opening and a reusable cloth liner so you can haul the whole thing to your laundry area for wash day. This Dekor pail is made from recycled materials and has a large opening and a foot pedal for ease of use. The plastic is designed to deter odors and, unlike some other diaper pails, it’s safe to clean with bleach or other household cleaners without rusting.
“We keep two [Dekor] diaper bins in the living room, one for disposable diapers and one for cloth diapers, and haven’t had a problem with smell,” noted one parent in our annual survey.
Best Wet Bag for Cloth Diapers
A bag to stash dirty diapers is a must-have if you’re going to be cloth diapering on the go. Cloth diaper parents love this economical, machine-washable pick from Alvababy. It’s made from 100% waterproof material and features two compartments to keep wet and dry items separate. There’s also a handle for easy carrying or attaching to your diaper bag.
💡 Pro tip: Wet/dry bags are good for cloth diapers but also perfect for wet swimsuits, pump parts or anything else you need to keep separate from other stuff.
Why Trust Babylist?
Babylist is the expert in baby; we know baby gear inside and out. We talk with parents face-to-face in our showroom and on our user panels and hear from thousands annually via our Best Baby Products online survey. We know what items millions of expecting parents are adding to their baby registries.
Firsthand and professional experience. As Babylist’s gear editor, I’ve been writing about baby products since 2019. I’ve researched, tested and reviewed hundreds of products, including everything from car seats and strollers to monitors and diapers. I’m also a mom of two boys, a middle schooler and a preschooler.
Expert POV. Since I didn’t use cloth diapers with either of my kids, I spent a long time talking to someone who has: Britt, a California mom of four, science teacher and cloth diaperer for over a decade. I used many of the insights she shared to help me craft this guide. For an expert POV, I spoke with Dr. Joey Korah, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician with Akron Children's Pediatrics in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.
Diaper data. I regularly analyze which baby products our users are adding to their baby registries the most (and which ones they aren’t) and what our team of merchandising experts—our buyers who are responsible for ensuring the Babylist Shop is stocked with the best and newest gear—is excited about. Studying this kind of data also influenced which cloth diapers made this list.
Feedback and reviews. I reviewed comments and feedback from Babylist’s annual most loved baby products survey of thousands of parents, read customer reviews from hundreds of Babylist users and spoke to parents on our staff about their real-life product experiences.
Why Choose Cloth Diapers?
You don’t need all the baby things as a new parent, but diapers are a non-negotiable. Which kind you choose—cloth diapers, disposable diapers or a combination of both—is a personal choice.
Families choose cloth diapers for a few reasons:
Less waste. Disposable diapers don’t biodegrade. Most babies will go through upwards of 6,000 disposable diapers before they are potty-trained. That’s a lot of diapers sitting in a landfill. (Over three million tons in 2018, to be exact, according to an Environmental Protection Agency report.) Since cloth diapers are reusable, they don’t end up in a landfill after every change.
Cost savings. There is a fairly significant upfront cost with cloth diapering, but over the long run, cloth can save you money, especially if you use your diapers for several years and for multiple children.
Materials. Disposable diapers contain ingredients that some families aren’t comfortable with touching their babies’ skin.
“Honestly, I loved the conservation aspect of it. I love how many diapers I’ve saved from the landfill,” says Britt. “My husband and I are both teachers, and to be totally frank, disposable diapers are incredibly expensive. And, I realize that not everyone is like this, but I truly enjoyed learning a brand new system.”
🤔 Cloth-diaper-curious but not ready to go all-in? Consider this: using cloth diapers doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Many families use cloth diapers at home but switch to disposables for outings, babysitters or overnights.
Types of Cloth Diapers
There are many different types of cloth diapers, ranging from all-in-one options to diapers that are a single large piece of cloth that needs to be folded and secured. The variety is pretty overwhelming, and one of the first things that makes choosing cloth diapering feel so daunting for many new parents. Here’s a basic rundown of the different types.
Flats and Prefolds
The original cloth diapers, flats are large, rectangular pieces of fabric (think dish towel size). Prefolds are smaller pieces of fabric that have been doubled over. Both need to be folded, secured and covered with a waterproof shell. They’re easy to wash, quick to dry and very inexpensive.
Fitted
These ready-to-wear diapers have elastic leg openings and snaps or Velcro tab closures around the waist. They’re made entirely from absorbent fabric and require a waterproof cover to go over them. They offer full-coverage absorbency (on the legs, waist and hips), and you can reuse the waterproof covering with a fresh diaper.
All-in-ones (AIOs)
Most similar to disposable diapers, all-in-ones have a waterproof cover and an inner cloth lining 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 or stuffing required.
Hybrids
Also called all-in-twos, hybrids are similar to AIOs as they have a waterproof shell, but feature a removable inner cloth lining. At changing time, you pull the dirty liner or insert out of the diaper 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 that you can purchase fewer shells (AKA covers) and stock up on liners instead.
Pockets
Pockets have a waterproof exterior and an inside pocket for stuffing absorbent inserts. The main benefits of a pocket diaper are the ability to adjust the insert for different absorbency levels and position the insert where your little one needs it most.
How to Choose the Best Cloth Diaper for You
Which Cloth Diaper Should I Choose?
Other considerations to think about:
What’s your budget? Cloth diapers are an investment, but some types are much more expensive than others. (AIOs versus flats or prefolds, for example.) Considering your budget and the amount you want to spend can influence the type of diapers you choose.
What’s your laundry situation? Think about both your access to laundry and how often you want to do it.
Who’s changing your baby? Will your baby be at daycare? Are the grandparents pitching in to babysit? Do you have a regular sitter? You’ll need to gauge the cloth diaper comfort level of everyone who will be taking care of your baby to determine which cloth diapering system is best.
🧷 Don’t be afraid to try before you buy. Instead of committing to a full set of one particular type of diaper, test out a few styles first.
How often should you change a cloth diaper?
According to most experts and cloth diapering parents, you should change a cloth diaper about as frequently as you’d change a disposable: every few hours, or immediately after a bowel movement.
“In general, the same rules apply when changing a cloth versus a disposable,” explains Dr. Joey Korah, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician with Akron Children's Pediatrics in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. And if you’re worried about a rash, try to get ahead of one by using diaper rash cream at the first sign of any irritation. (Any cream is safe for cloth diapers, but most parents recommend a cream made from zinc oxide.) “If the rash is not improving within two to three days, then you may need to try something different,” or visit your pediatrician, says Dr. Korah.
How to Wash Cloth Diapers
If you’re a little grossed out by the thought of washing cloth diapers, know that it’s a pretty common worry. The good news? It’s not as hard (or icky) as it seems.
“When I first started cloth diapering, I saw people do things like soak their dirty cloth diapers in tubs or spray them off and rinse them,” shares Britt. “I didn’t do anything like that. I kept it really simple. And it was really just an extra load of laundry—and an extra cycle—every two days,” she says.
First, be sure to always consult the specific laundering instructions for whichever brand of cloth diapers you choose. Keeping those directions in mind, you’ll want to follow these steps:
Poop removal. For breastfed babies, you can deposit a messy diaper directly in whatever diaper pail or bag you’re using to store dirty diapers, because breastfed baby poop is water-soluble. If you’re dealing with a diaper from a formula-fed baby or a baby who’s eating solids, you’ll want to dump the contents of a poopy diaper into the toilet or into a separate diaper pail before tossing the diaper into your cloth diaper pail.
Wash (Twice.). You’ll want to run two wash cycles: a lighter first cycle to remove the visible surface-level dirt and waste, and a second heavy-duty cycle that tackles the deep-down mess and odors. You’ll see a lot of different opinions in the cloth diapering world as to the specifics of each of these cycles. Whether you have particularly soft or hard water matters, too. But the general idea is that you’ll run the first cycle on cold or hot either without detergent or with just a small amount, and the second cycle on warm or hot with detergent. (You can also add an extra rinse cycle to the warm wash cycle if your machine offers that option.) Always skip the fabric softener or any other laundry additives.
Dry. Dry your diapers per the manufacturer’s instructions. Some cloth diapers require air-drying, while others can be dried in the dryer on low or medium settings.
🔎 Cloth diapers also need to be washed prior to use. (This is called “prepping.”) Most come with prepping instructions, so be sure to follow them closely.
What is the best detergent for cloth diapers?
Most commercial detergents are suitable for washing cloth diapers, as long as they don’t contain any fabric softeners. (Fabric softener can make a diaper or insert less absorbent over time.) Many brands also recommend skipping detergents with added fragrance and anything that claims to “brighten” clothing. Some cloth diaper brands have their own recommendations on which detergent is best to use with their specific diapers, so always check first before hitting the laundry room.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cloth diapers do I need?
If you’re planning on using cloth diapers from the start, you’ll need between 12-36 newborn-size diapers, depending on how much laundry you want to do. After around three months, you’ll want to invest in a minimum of 10-12 cloth diapers if you plan on doing laundry every day and between 28-36 if you do laundry every other day, plus about six to eight diaper covers.
A note about newborn-size cloth diapers. Because newborns are so tiny, most one-size cloth diapers don’t fit them well, so you’ll want a separate newborn-specific stash on hand. Newborns also go through a lot of diapers: at least 8-10 each day, sometimes even more. Some parents choose to use disposable diapers for the first few months and then switch over to cloth once baby grows a bit.
I’m so confused. What are the best cloth diapering resources?
We hear you; cloth diapering comes with a lot of information! Here are some places to start.
Green Mountain Diapers’ New to Cloth Diapers information page
Reddit’s r/clothdiaps forum and the Getting Started pages
Give yourself permission to scroll: YouTube, TikTok and Instagram are packed with cloth diapering accounts, how-to’s and FAQs
Can I use a cloth diaper overnight?
While many families use cloth diapers during the day and disposables at night, it is possible to use cloth overnight, too. Most parents recommend a fitted diaper with an insert, a liner and a cover added as the best overnight solution.
Can I buy used cloth diapers?
Yes, as long as you sanitize them properly, buying cloth diapers used is a good way to save money on your stash or try out a new-to-you type of cloth diaper. (You can also make money by selling your stash once you’re done!) This used cloth diaper post outlines what to look for, the questions to ask the seller and other important information.
