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If there's one thing new moms will have to do every day, it's to change diapers. When it comes to cloth diapers, you become overwhelmed by the array of choices and acronyms. What is a prefold? What is an AIO? Will it handle a big blowout? Do they smell after you wash them?
These kinds of questions make cloth diapering confusing. Yet, today's cloth diapers are super-absorbent, easy to clean, and environmentally friendly. But not all cloth diapers are created equal. When you get down to finding the perfect cloth diaper, it comes down to four factors: cost, sustainability, absorbency, and cuteness (your baby has to look good, after all).
As for a baby's health, is there an advantage to using cloth diapers over disposable versions? Not really, says Dr. Dominica Wood, a pediatrician and a mother of two. But, every baby reacts differently. Ultimately, it's a matter of preference.
"It's fine to use [cloth diapers] if you time on your hands," Wood says. "Your baby could have less exposure to chemicals used in disposable diapers, but then again, even with cloth diapers, the chemicals in detergents used to wash them is also something a parent might need to worry about."
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To narrow down our selection to five great options, I researched hundreds of reviews, consulted other moms, and used my own experience to find the absolute best cloth diapers.
Here are the best cloth diapers you can buy in 2019:
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When my two little ones were infants, I used these simple-yet-flexible cloth diapers every day for a few years. The system combines a soft outer shell with a combination of soaker pads. Shells come in vibrant and fun designs with either snap or loop closures. You'll want the snap to keep toddler hands from taking off the diaper.
At night, you can snap-in extra soakers to prevent accidents. Some parents even use the cotton soakers to clean the house or wipe up finger marks long after their little one is out of diapers — I know I still do. If you don't want to add soakers, GroVia has an Organic All-In-One (AIO) Cloth Diaper with no cover, stuffing, or folding.
As a working mom, I loved that I could use the shells three to four times before washing. Some cloth diapers take a long time to dry, but GroVia makes laundry a breeze. One Amazon reviewer said GroVia cloth diapers "are crazy absorbent, are lined with fleece to keep baby dry (which means no rashes), and typically dry in one cycle (some diapering options do not)."
The best part is the cost savings. Disposable diapers cost anywhere from $700 to $2,500 per year. The entire GroVia Hybrid cloth diaper system costs roughly $400, and that's from newborn to potty training. You can even use cloth diapers for multiple kids.
GroVia cloth diapers are also made with eco-friendly organic cotton. Swaddle your baby in a chemical-free product that doesn't clog up the landfills. Sure, you're using water and soap to wash them, but when you compare cloth diapers to disposable, GroVia Hybrid cloth diapers are way better for the environment.
Pros: Super affordable and absorbent, landfill friendly, toddler proof, impossibly cute, less diaper rash, make potty training easier
Cons: Bulky baby bottom, some daycares won't accommodate cloth diapers
OsoCozy Prefolds are high-quality, super absorbent, and cost-effective. You can use them long after your baby is out of diapers.
Prefold diapers are layers of 100% cotton, bamboo, or hemp woven together in a durable square. These cloth diapers have maximum soaking capacity down the center, with thinner edges for easier folding. In the past, prefold was the luxury diaper.
When you purchase OsoCozy Prefolds, you will also need waterproof covers and fasteners. Thirsties Duo Wrap Cloth Diaper Cover is by far the best choice. The covers work seamlessly with OsoCozy and come in super-cute designs and colors. You can use the covers three to four times before washing. All you have to do is wipe clean between changes. The covers are breathable with an adjustable rise, making them fit well from newborn to toddlerhood. For fastening, Snappis make securing the prefolds easy and secure. I used Thirstie covers with OsoCozy for three years and never did one cover come apart or tear.
From newborn to potty training, the OsoCozy and Thirsties combo system cost about $225. The cost-savings make this cloth diaper system a smart choice. You can even use prefolds as burp rags or a water overflow catcher during bath time. The use lasts way after your kiddo is out of diapers.
OsoCozy Prefolds come in two different sizes and fabrics. As far as size goes, you'll need to start with size 1 for newborns to six months (6-18 pounds) and size 2 for bigger babies, although this will depend on the prefold fabric. Moms tend to purchase the bleached cotton, but the unbleached, 100% organic cotton is bigger and softer, and hides stains easier.
OsoCozy proclaims it's the best-selling cloth diaper on the internet. On one Amazon product page alone, OsoCozy has more than 800 reviews (average 4.4 out of 5 stars). One reviewer says, "I found that prefolds are the most consistently reliable — no leaks, rarely a blowout." I definitely agree: I used OsoCozy Prefolds with my babies, and you can't beat the cost savings, durability, and softness.
Pros: Low cost, super absorbent, soft, durable, multipurpose (baby and cleaning), less leakage, easy to clean
Cons: Folding makes quick changes harder, bulky baby bottom
Charlie Banana One-Size Diaper is eco-friendly, innovative, and high-quality. The award-winning cloth diapers are highly-absorbent, easy to take care of, and last from newborn to potty trained.
The hybrid cloth diaper system comes with soft covers and organic cotton and hemp inserts. At night, add an extra insert for added protection. The earth-friendly materials are snug and can withstand big blowouts. For those concerned about the cleanup, you can add biodegradable bamboo liners between the baby's bottom and cloth diaper to collect the waste.
Charlie Banana cloth diapers come in fun and bright colors. For those who adore Sophie La Giraffe Baby Teether, you'll love that they've partnered with Charlie Banana to create a Sophie Classic One Size Hybrid and AIO. The cuteness factor is out of control with this design.
As with most cloth diapers, fewer chemicals touch your baby's skin, and some reviewers report fewer diaper rashes with Charlie Banana cloth diapers. A Target customer says, "Its super absorbency is what amazed me the most. It's rash-free, eco-friendly, and so affordable at the same time."
While diaper rash happens regardless of whether you use disposable or cloth, it's important to change diapers regularly and wash cloth diapers with natural laundry detergent like Rockin' Green Natural Laundry Detergent Powder. Cloth diapers need special soap to help the cloth retain their absorbency and skin-protective qualities. Reusable cotton cloth wipes with essential oils help too.
Charlie Banana cloth diapers are on the more expensive side. Usually, a six-pack runs between $115 on sale to $130 on the high end. Target sometimes offers promotions for $15 gift cards when spending $75 or more for baby products.
Pros: High quality, eco-friendly, super soft, vibrant colors and designs
Cons: Small pockets make it hard to stuff extra inserts, not great for overnight, more expensive
Super Undies Pull-On Undies 2.0 act like underpants with potty-training superpowers. Toddlers dislike the feeling of wetness from soggy diapers and will potty train earlier with these super absorbent pull-ons.
For some parents, potty training is easy, and for others, you need a helping hand. In comes Super Undies Pull-On Undies 2.0 to the rescue. Super Undies makes potty training easier with its pull-on sides and stretchy fabric. You can start using them right before you start potty training, to help your little one get ready for big-kid land (life without diapers).
Most babies don't like the feeling of wetness from a soggy diaper, and wearing cloth undies accentuates this irritation. Wearing Super Undies Pull-On Undies protects your growing toddler like a diaper, but be careful when your kid has a blowout — pull-ons smear the poop when pulled down.
But the point of these undies is, you can teach a child from going to the bathroom in the undies by reminding her to tell you when she needs to go potty. Once this happens, you place them on the potty, and hopefully, she will go to the bathroom — without getting the undies dirty.
At night, your kiddo can wear them like bedwetting underwear, further preparing her for letting go of diapers or needing night diapers at all. Long after your child is out of diapers, she could still require a night diaper. Kids slowly learn how to control their bladder at night; this may take some time.
Super Undies come in fun designs shaped like big-kid underwear. Since you can use these overnight undies from toddlerhood to preschool (and beyond) the price is affordable too.
Pros: Best for potty training and overnight accidents, easy to pull on and off, cute designs, transitional pants (between diapers and underwear)
Cons: Smeared poop accidents, only for the transition between diapers and underwear
When it comes to cloth diapers, sometimes you want ones that look and act like a disposable diaper. BumGenius is an all-in-one (AIO) cloth diaper that mirrors a disposable diaper: The butterfly closure system makes it easy to put on and secure. Most moms love that there's no added stuffing, extra inserts, or liners. Inside the shell is an extra layer of microfiber already sewn to protect against accidents. When you have a lot to do, adding something extra, even as small as a liner, might be too much.
One drawback to AIO cloth diapers is how long they take to dry. But BumGenius doesn't take as long as other cloth diapers in this category. Another consideration is the big baby bottom. One Amazon reviewer says that "since these diapers have been washed more, they have also lost their bulk. They are not as bulky and fluffy as they used to be. They are still [very absorbent and very soft]."
The cost of AIOs are usually higher than other types of cloth diapers, but since there's no stuffing, you have your entire diaper system streamlined. The average cost of one BumGenius Freetime All-In-One Snap Closure is $20. You'll need around 20 or so to last until potty training. Even so, this system still beats disposable diapers by a landslide.
Pros: All-in-one cloth diaper (no stuffing), easy to put on, absorbent, soft, durable, dries faster than other AIO brands