The Best Cloth Diapers, According To Parents Who’ve Used Them (2024)

Many people think cloth diapering isn’t for the faint of heart, but the best cloth diapers make it a relatively simple and dare I say—enjoyable—process. When I cloth diapered my first baby, it was overwhelming at first. From all-in-one diapers and inserts to wet bags, there is a learning curve. However, once you find your groove, you’ll be well on your way to saving money in the long run and diapering your baby more sustainably. They can also be a great option for some babies with sensitive skin. Dr. Shoshana Marmon, M.D., Ph.D. and board-certified dermatologist explained that key parts of cloth diapers are typically made of natural fibers and free from many of the harsh chemicals that are found in disposable diapers.

Choosing the best cloth diaper is largely a matter of personal preference since there are many different types, styles and materials. “My biggest piece of advice for families researching cloth diapers is to look for organic cotton and a simple, unfussy construction,” says Nina Hawkes, owner of cloth diaper service Diaperkind. “In our experience, the more bells and whistles on a cloth diaper, the more things there are to fall off, wear quickly or worry about getting stained.”

When I cloth diapered my babies, I stuck to disposables for overnight and while out of the house to make things easier, so it might also be helpful to check out the best overnight diapers and the best diapers overall. Read on for the best cloth diapers on the market now.

  • Best Cloth Diaper Overall: Thirsties Natural One Size All-In-One

  • Best Budget Cloth Diaper: Alvababy Pocket Diaper

  • Best All-In-One Cloth Diaper: Bumgenius Freetime 2.0 All-In-One

  • Best Organic Cloth Diaper: Grovia Organic All-In-One

  • Best Cloth Diaper For Newborns: Kanga Care Rumparooz Newborn Cloth Diaper Cover

  • Best Prefold Cloth Diaper: Osocozy Unbleached Prefold Cloth Diapers

Best Cloth Diaper Overall

One Of The Easiest Cloth Diapers To Use

MOST POPULAR

Thirsties Natural One Size All-In-One

Diaper type: All-in-one | Material: Waterproof polyester TPU (outer); organic cotton (inner); organic cotton and hemp (inner soakers) | Size: One size (8 to 40 pounds)

If you’re just starting out with cloth diapering, Thirsties Natural One Size All-In-One diapers can help with the learning curve. They’re designed to fit all babies from 8 to 40 pounds with an adjustable snap closure, they have 11 layers of protection made from natural fibers to prevent leaks, and the outer layer is waterproof. Because it’s an all-in-one diaper, you don’t need to stuff any inserts into pockets or pre-fold any diapers. The outer layer is made of 100% polyester with waterproof laminate. The liners and absorbent layers are made of 100% Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton and hemp. It’s free of VOC’s, PVC, phthalates, PFAS and lead. Thirsties has a few different print options available, though not as many as some of the other cloth diaper brands.

What the reviews say: Thirsties Natural One Size All-In-One diapers have an overall rating of 4.7 stars at Amazon and 5 stars at Target. “My kids both soak their diapers, so this product is absolutely amazing for mamas who deal with the same. The natural material is great for keeping them cool and rash free and the liners are thick and absorbent,” says one reviewer, adding this is their go-to diaper for daytime.

Best Budget Cloth Diaper

A Six-Pack Pocket Diaper Set That Comes With Inserts

Alvababy Pocket Diaper

Diaper type: Pocket | Material: Waterproof polyester TPU (outer); faux suede cloth (inner) | Size: One size (6.6 to 33 pounds)

Because they’re so affordable, I used a lot of Alvababy Pocket Diapers when I cloth diapered my kids. The pocket diapers come in a pack of six that also includes 12 microfiber inserts. They have an adjustable snap closure, so the diaper can grow with your baby, and they’re available in a wide variety of colors and prints. My kids looked both adorable and comfortable in these diapers. I find the pockets are big enough to stuff multiple inserts to help my babies stay dry. Alvababy Pocket Diapers are for you if you’re looking to save some money or if you aren’t sure if you want to cloth diaper but you want to give it a try.

What the parents say: “These are my go-to daily pocket diapers. We send them with our little one to daycare because they're durable, work to contain messes well, and are easy for other caregivers to snap to fit. The price can't be beat,” says Janice L. from Medway, MA.

Best All-In-One Cloth Diaper

Semi-Attached Inserts Allow You To Adjust Absorbency

Bumgenius Freetime 2.0 All-In-One

Diaper type: All-in-one | Material: Laminated polyester (outer); polyester (inner); cotton (absorbent layers) | Size: One size (8 to 35+ pounds)

All-in-one cloth diapers are ideal because they make cloth diapering as simple as possible. The Bumgenius Freetime 2.0 All-In-One has multiple re-positionable layers to help keep your baby dry. The layers are made of laminated polyester, polyester and cotton. The inner layer is moisture-wicking to keep your baby comfortable. With semi-attached inserts, you can adjust the absorbency even though this is an all-in-one diaper. It has a three-by-three snap-down design so you can customize the size and adjust the fit as your child grows. They’re designed to fit babies and toddlers from 8 to over 35 pounds.

What the reviews say: The Bumgenius Freetime 2.0 All-In-One has an overall rating of 4.4 at Cotton Babies. “I've collected lots of colors and patterns, so there's never a dull day. My experience with Freetimes has been leak- and blowout-free, and the washing just got incorporated into the laundry schedule,” says one reviewer who gave the diaper a 5-star rating.

Best Organic Cloth Diaper

The Unique Snap Design Allows For A Trim Fit

Grovia Organic All-In-One

Diaper type: All-in-one | Material: Water-resistant polyester TPU (outer); organic cotton (inner) | Size: One size (10 to 35 pounds)

Choosing an organic diaper is important to many parents because they want something clean and gentle on their baby’s private area, as well as sustainable as possible. This organic all-in-one diaper has snaps near baby’s hips, which is a bit different than most other brands. Many cloth diapers have snaps down the front of the diaper. According to Grovia, this snap design helps the diaper have a trim design and fit close to the body. The diaper is designed to fit babies from 10 pounds until they start potty training. The inner layers that are closest to baby consist of four layers of 100% organic cotton.

What the parents say: “Grovia was incredible. Our babysitters could use them just like regular diapers, and then throw the soiled ones in a wet bag for us to take home,” says Nikki Y. from New York City. “Up until our kid was about 2 years old, we just put him in a Grovia diaper (fun colors!) and a shirt without ever worrying about pants. It was great.”

Best Cloth Diaper For Newborns

Designed To Fit Babies As Small As 4 Pounds

Kanga Care Rumparooz Newborn Cloth Diaper Cover

Diaper type: Cover (for prefold or fitted) | Material: Water-resistant polyester TPU | Size: Newborn (4 1o 15 pounds); one size (6 to 35+ pounds)

Cloth diapering a newborn can be difficult because it’s sometimes hard to get a good fit on such a tiny baby. This newborn cover is available in nearly 50 colors and prints, so you can coordinate with your baby’s outfits or simply have the most adorable diaper bottom. Because this is a cover, it goes overtop a fitted or prefold cloth diaper. The diaper has three adjustable rise settings and is designed for babies from 4 to 15 pounds. It has a water-resistant layer, so you can use the cover multiple times before needing to wash it. It has a double gusset to help prevent leaks, and you can choose from a snap or a Velcro-like closure.

What the parents say: “These covers have worked wonders, especially during the newborn stages,” says Janice L. from Medway, MA. “The front elastic at the waist keeps everything underneath tucked in well, and the lining wipes clean easily between changes. The rise snaps adjust easily to fit babies at all sizes.”

Best Prefold Cloth Diaper

Unbleached Cotton Available In Preemie To Toddler Sizes

Osocozy Unbleached Prefold Cloth Diapers

Diaper type: Prefold | Material: 100% unbleached cotton | Size: Size 1 (7 to 15 pounds); size 2 (15 to 30 pounds)

Prefold diapers are designed to have more absorbent layers in the middle where your baby needs it the most. These can be a bit intimidating for new cloth diapering parents and caregivers because they don’t look like a typical diaper. I often used these prefolds as an absorbent layer to stuff into my pocket diapers. You can also use them along with Snappis fasteners to create a fitted diaper and cloth diaper covers for leak protection. The three-ply cloth is made of 100% unbleached cotton. Choose from various sizes to fit babies and toddlers from 7 to 45 pounds. The brand recommends washing the prefolds in hot water two to three times before using them, as it can take a bit of wearing in to make unbleached cloth absorbent.

What the parents say: “When he was still a super teeny tiny baby (under 6 pounds), we used Osocozy cloth diaper prefolds with Snappi fasteners,” says Nikki Y. from New York City. “These were super intimidating to think about, but once we started using them, I loved them. Taking a flat piece of cloth and magically making it into a diaper was soooo satisfying in a weird self-sufficient kind of way.”

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Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted team has extensive experience testing and reviewing baby and kids gear, from diaper rash cream to diaper pails. The author of this story, Alicia Betz is a mom of three who used cloth diapered her kids, so she has extensive firsthand experience.

I also spoke to many cloth diapering parents about their preferences and experiences and interviewed Nina Hawkes, owner of cloth diaper service Diaperkind and Dr. Shoshana Marmon, M.D., Ph.D., FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at New York Medical College.

How We Chose The Best Cloth Diapers

To choose the best cloth diapers, I relied on my own experience with cloth diapers (I tried many different brands along my cloth diapering journey) as well as recommendations from experts and other cloth diapering parents. Often, a diaper that works for one child may not work for another, so I aimed to include a variety of different types of cloth diapers with different levels of absorbency.

I also read online reviews to help narrow down the best brands. Price and availability was an important consideration as cloth diapering can be a pretty big upfront investment. Because many parents and caregivers delight in “fluffy” cloth diaper butts, I also considered pattern and color availability when making the top picks.

What To Consider When Shopping For Cloth Diapers

Type

As described above, there are several different styles of cloth diaper, and some are more user-friendly than others. If you want a simpler option, try all-in-ones or hybrids, although one downside to downside to all-in-one styles is that they may be thicker and take longer to dry. Prefolds, flats and fitteds with covers can take a bit more time to assemble. Pocket diapers are a good middle-of-the-road option.

Absorbency

You’ll want to make sure your diapers have enough absorbency to prevent leaks. Toddlers and heavy wetters need more absorbency, as do babies that wear cloth diapers overnight. Pocket diapers, prefolds, flats and fitteds allow you to customize the absorbency as your baby grows and their needs change.

Ease Of Use

Some cloth diapers are easier to use than others. If you want something you can put on quickly, look for diapers that fasten with Velcro rather than snaps. It’s also worth taking into account washing requirements, as some cloth diaper makers don’t recommend putting their products in the dryer.

Cost

Cloth diapers can be an investment at first, but if you stick with it the majority of parents save money in the long run. As you’re deciding which type of cloth diaper you prefer, it may make sense to try less expensive brands or to only buy one or two diapers to start. You can also offset the cost by purchasing used cloth diapers, selling your cloth diapers after your child is potty trained, or using cloth diaper bank charities such as Share the Love or The Cloth Option.

Childcare Requirements

Some daycare centers don’t allow children to use cloth diapers, often because they don’t have a setup where they can store the dirty ones in a sanitary manner before sending them home. Other daycares may charge parents extra for managing cloth diapers. This is worth considering as you decide if cloth diapers are right for your family.

The Best Cloth Diapers, According To Parents Who’ve Used Them (2024)

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