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Cloth 101: How should my cloth diapers fit?
March 12, 2018 7:54 pm | by
How should cloth diapers fit? A guide to getting a good fit.

Having a cloth diaper that fits properly is incredibly important — especially if you want to prevent leaks. But when it comes to cloth diaper fit, how do you really know what’s right? Every baby is different, and there are many different types of cloth diapers available so fit can often vary. With that being said, there are a few commonalities that will help you know you’ve got a good cloth diaper fit every time.

To check the fit, first, pick up your baby’s legs after putting the diaper on and observe how it hugs their bottom. Is it snug? Can you see any “gaps” between your baby’s leg and the diaper? Does it slide down your baby’s body while moving? If so, you’re going to want to make your cloth diaper a bit more secure and ensure it is laying flat on your baby’s waist. With bumGenius or Flip that might mean fastening the tabs more securely around the waist or adjusting the rise setting on your one-size cloth diapers to get a better fit on the legs. A good rule of thumb is to have your diaper tight enough so no moisture escapes, but loose enough that you can slide in a finger.

Remember.. a well-fitting cloth diaper will always be tight around your baby’s legs and waist no matter what. It may even be tight enough to leave red marks on your baby’s skin during normal wear, which is FINE. Think of it this way: if you wear socks with shoes for a few hours, you will have red marks left on your skin once you take off the socks. The same analogy can be said for cloth diapers. Red marks will happen and should not cause any concern. Check out the picture below for reference.

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My cloth diapers are leaking — how do I adjust the cloth diaper fit accordingly?

If your cloth diaper is leaking out of the top, make sure that the insert isn’t pushing any of the lining fabric up against your baby’s clothing.  That will cause the diaper to wick moisture up and out of the top.  The top edge of the diaper should be flat against your baby with the soft fabric against your baby’s skin.  If you have a boy who only has leaks during sleep, you might need to “aim down” to avoid leaks.

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If your diaper is leaking out of the side around the leg openings, change the diaper and remove the insert.  If the insert is oversaturated, you need to add more absorbency, like an additional insert or hemp.  If it isn’t saturated, then you either have a fit or a repelling issue or will need to adjust the tightness of the diaper.

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If your diaper is leaking out the back, double check that the insert and all inner fabrics are tucked in completely. If the insert is sticking out of the top of the diaper, it will wick moisture onto your baby’s clothing.  We also occasionally see leaks up the back with little girls who are heavy wetters or little boys who are aimed off to the side of the insert.

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Are you still experiencing leaks? Here are a few additional things to keep in mind:

  • Add more absorbency. This could mean double stuffing your pocket diapers or laying Hemp prefold under the built-in inserts in your all-in-one.
  • Sanitize your diapers with ¼ cup of regular liquid chlorine bleach. We only suggest doing this once a month.
  • Call us! Our customer service team wants your diapers to fit. When you call us at 314-892-1855, we can ask a few more questions to troubleshoot this with you and provide personalized assistance.

How should cloth diapers fit? A guide to getting a good fit with cloth diapers.

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About the Author

Brittney is a social media coordinator for Cotton Babies. She has three sisters, loves pizza and enjoys listening to obscure bands no one has heard of. Outside of posting on the Cotton Babies Facebook and Instagram pages, she babysits a few cloth diaper-wearing kids and likes playing with her dogs.

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