Let's talk inserts, doublers, soakers, and liners!

What are they? 

Inserts are layers of absorbent fabric, usually sewn into a rectangular shape, that are used to create absorbency in diapers. Sometimes, you may hear the words insert and soaker used interchangeably.  However, inserts are usually part of a pocket diaper or used with a cover, whereas soakers are usually part of a fitted, AIO or AI2 diaper. 

A doubler is a thinner and smaller insert used to increase absorbency when paired with a regular insert. It often is part of a set that includes a larger "one-size" insert and a doubler. The doubler may be used alone for newborns (in fact, they are sometimes called "newborn inserts") or with another insert for heavier wetters and older babies. For the purpose of the rest of this article, doublers will be lumped in with inserts. A doubler is also sometimes called a booster. 

Soakers are layers of absorbent fabric that are often sewn into the diaper itself, or the soaker may snap into the diaper. The term soaker may be used interchangeably with the term insert. However, soakers are usually components of a fitted, AIO or AI2 system. (A soaker can also refer to a wool diaper cover; however, for this article we're talking about the absorbent soakers.)

Liners are usually single-layer pieces of fabric (disposable or fleece, which is reusable) that are laid in a diaper to either create a stay-dry feeling (fleece only), to make disposing of poop easier (either disposable or fleece), or to protect the diaper when using a non-cloth-diaper-safe diaper cream (fleece is preferred but disposable may work as well).  

The lining may also refer to what fabric is against the baby when referring to a pocket, AIO, or AI2 diaper. 

What do they look like?

A hemp Artsy Fartsy Foo-Foo snake-style insert.

A microfleece liner. 

A flip insert; stay-dry on one side and microfiber on the other.

A full-size insert, showing the detail of microfiber texture

A BumGenius doubler (AKA newborn insert)

An unsnapped soaker on a Fishnoodles diaper

A microfiber insert halfway pulled out of a pocket diaper.

A hemp insert in a BestBottoms shell.

A soaker in a Doodle Dypes AI2 diaper. 

A soaker in a Tangerine Baby fitted diaper. 

A soaker (sewn down at both ends, but pulled up in the middle for the picture)
in a BumGenius Elemental diaper. 

A Flip disposable insert.

A disposable liner.

A prefold diaper tri-folded to use as an insert.

A Flip stay-dry insert sitting in a Flip cover.

A Flip disposable insert sitting in a Flip cover.

What are they made of?

Inserts are often made of cotton, hemp, bamboo, microfiber, or Zorb.

Soakers may be made of cotton, hemp, bamboo, microfiber, or Zorb, and are often topped with either cotton velour (CV) or organic bamboo velour (OBV).

In general, hemp, cotton, or bamboo inserts may be trimmer then microfiber inserts, and may be more absorbent. However, microfiber is much cheaper. Some people have issues with microfiber trapping stink; usually this can be fixed with a good soak.

Liners, when referring to something that is laid into the diaper between the diaper itself and the baby, are made of either microfleece or a disposable tissue-like fabric.

Linings, when referring to the part of the diaper that is against the baby, may be made of fleece, microfleece, microsuede (all of which have a stay-dry feeling), cotton, hemp, bamboo, or velour (either cotton or bamboo), which do not have a stay-dry feeling.

Note: Microfiber products and Zorb I products CANNOT be placed against the baby's skin. They are over-drying and may cause irritation. They should only be used inside pocket diapers or, if topped with another fabric, with the microfiber side facing away from the baby.

How do I care for my inserts, soakers, or liners?
Synthetic fabric products like microfiber and microfleece need only be washed once prior to use. Natural fiber products, like hemp, must be washed 5-6 times prior to use. If the natural fiber is an insert without snaps, elastic, or aplix, you can boil it instead of washing it multiple times. Just boil for 10-20 minutes, then wash as normal. Some disposable liners can be re-used after washing if they were not pooped on; check the directions for the specific liners you are using. Some people have had issue with their septic systems when using disposable liners. When using re-usable liners to protect a diaper from non-cloth-diaper-safe rash creams, wash the liner separately with regular laundry. 

What are common brands of inserts, soakers, or liners?
Most diapers come with the insert or soaker you will need to use. However, some people prefer to use an "aftermarket" insert for various reasons - they may want to replace their microfiber inserts for hemp inserts, they may want to add inserts for overnight, etc. 

Artsy Fartsy Foo Foo - hemp inserts
Baby Kicks JoeyBunz (regular and premium) - hemp inserts
Swaddlebees - bamboo inserts
Rumparooz 6R inserts - hemp or microfiber
Hemp Babies - hemp inserts
BumGenius - microfiber inserts
Knickernappies Loopy Do and Super Do - mix of microfiber and hemp inserts

Bummis -  fleece liners
Bumkins - disposable liners
*You can make your own stay-dry fleece liners by cutting up a piece of microfleece.

What's the deal with prefold and flat diapers?

What are they?
Flat diapers are a large square of fabric single-layer fabric that can be folded into a diaper shape and wrapped around your baby, and secured with diaper pins or a Snappi. They can also be folded into inserts. A flat diaper has no elastic, snaps, or velcro - it's just one large piece of fabric.

Prefold diapers are flat diapers that have been "pre-folded" into a rectangular shape with extra layers of absorbency in the middle.  They can be folded into a diaper shape and wrapped around your baby, and secured with diaper pins or a Snappi. They can also be folded into inserts. A prefold  diaper has no elastic, snaps, or velcro - it's just one large piece of fabric. Prefold diapers are larger and flatter prior to being prepped, but shrink and "quilt up" after prepping. This is normal.

For more information and lots and lots of pictures on prefolds, click here.
For more information and lots and lots of pictures on flats, click here.

What do they look like?

Prefold diaper

Prefold diaper tri-folded for use as an insert with a separate cover

Flat diaper (courtesy of Sage Old Wisdom)

What size do they come in? How do they close?
Prefold diapers can be sized or one-size. The length and width of the fabric may vary depending on the size. One-size prefolds are simply folded down to fit a smaller baby. Flat diapers are one-size. Neither come with snaps or velcro, but you can use pins or a Snappi to secure them around the child.

What kind of variations are there?
Contour prefolds are cut to a diaper (hourglass) shape, but generally do not have leg elastic or back elastic.
Prefitteds are contour diapers with added leg elastics and/or back elastics.

Bleached diapers are bleached white and may be softer, but may not last as long as unbleached.
Unbleached diapers are left the natural color of the fibers and may be slightly rougher, but last longer since the fibers have not been weakened with bleach.

Indian prefolds are usually made of gauze cotton and are softer, easier to prep (3-4 washes), and more absorbent, but they wear out more quickly.
Chinese prefolds are usually made of twill and are not as soft, but are heavier duty and last longer. They take 7-10 washes to become fully prepped.

What are the pros and cons?
Pros:
Wash and dry easily, very absorbent, very cheap

Cons:
Can be difficult learning curve to fold

How do I care for a prefold or flat diaper?
Prefold and flat diapers need to be washed around 5-6 times prior to use (this may vary depending on the specific brand).  Rather than washing, you can also boil them for 10-20 minutes to prep, and follow with a regular wash. After prepping, wash using your normal cloth diaper wash routine.

How do I fold a prefold or flat diaper?
How to fold a flat diaper
How to fold a prefold diaper


What are common brands of prefold or flat diapers?
Green Mountain Diapers
Osocozi
Bummis
Gerber (highly recommended to avoid these diapers)
Thirsties Hemp prefolds

What's the deal with fitted diapers?

What is it?
A fitted diaper is a diaper made with absorbent fabric sewn together into a diaper shape, but not covered with a waterproof shell. You must add a separate cover to create a completely waterproof diaper. Because the entire diaper is absorbent and not just the insert or soaker, it generally is one of the most absorbent types of diapers available.  Fitted diapers may be all one piece, where all of the absorbency is sewn in, or it may come with a separate soaker that needs to be snapped or laid in. Sometimes the soakers are multiple layers that can have layers added or removed to create custom absorbency. Fitted diapers are very popular as a nighttime solution when paired with a PUL or wool cover. Around the house, some parents use fitted diapers without covers during the day and simply change the diaper when the outside gets damp. This allows the child to have a high amount of air circulation and is great for preventing diaper rash or helping clear up existing rashes.

Fitteds, especially those that are WAHM (work-at-home-mom) made, are often made with cute or even hard-to-find fabric prints.  Sometimes these prints or diapers even become collectible and are sold and resold at much higher prices than the original diaper was sold for by the diaper maker. A common question with fitteds that use prints is...why? Why have a cute diaper that has to be covered up with a separate cover? The answer is simple: because it's cute - the same reason one might wear cute underwear they cover with clothes! Additionally, since many parents use them coverless during the day at home, they get to enjoy the prints during that time. 

What do they look like?

 SBish snapless fitted

Thirsties Fab fitted

Tangerine Baby fitted; inside showing two-layer snap-in soaker

Tangerine Baby fitted

Tetro fitted with tie closure

What size do they come in? How do they close?

These can be sized or one-size and may close with snaps or velcro, though most close with snaps. Some are also snapless, meaning they need pins or a Snappi to close. A few rare brands close with ties.

What are the pros and cons?
Pros
Very absorbent, very breathable, often made with very cute fabric, often have a high resale value

Cons
Need a separate cover, can be bulky, can be pricey

How do I care for my fitted diapers?
Most fitted diapers are made of natural fibers and need to be washed 5-6 times prior to use.  After prepping, wash using your normal cloth diaper wash routine. Be sure to attach the laundry tabs for velcro diapers. 

What are common brands of fitted diapers?
Goodmama
Twinkie Tush
BagShotRowBamboo
Monkey Snuggles
BuBuBeBe
SBish
Kissaluvs
Thirsties Fab Fitteds

What's the deal with double gussets?

What is it?
Double gussets are often a prized feature in the cloth diaper world. Double gussets are an additional row of elastic at the leg of the diaper that offer an extra layer of protection to help contain messes.  Sometimes the double gussets are internal and made of the same material as the lining of the diaper, while other double gussets use the same material as the outside or cover of the diaper and are finished the same way as the outside leg elastic.

Rumparooz internal double gussets (inner row of elastic)

Blissful Booty internal double gussets (the inner row of elastic)

BestBottoms double gussets (the two rows of white elastic at the legs), closed diaper.

 

BestBottoms double gussets, front view

 

Thirsties pocket diaper double gussets

 Open Thirsties pocket diaper with double gussets,
showing how gussets are separate from the lining.

Thirsties cover double gussets

What brands of diapers come with double gussets?
Thirsties covers and pockets diapers
Rumparooz covers and diapers
BestBottoms covers
Blissful Booty diapers
Alva diapers (some)
Bummis covers - Super Brite only
Prowraps covers
Blueberry covers (not diapers)
Weehuggers covers
Capri covers

What's the deal with all-in-one diapers?

What is it?
All in one diapers are just what the name says: all in one. Everything you need for the diaper is included - both the waterproof outer and the absorbent layer. All sewn together in one big happy package!  These are great for dads and daycares, as they are essentially just like disposable diapers, except instead of throwing them away, you put them into a wetbag or diaper pail.  These types of diapers usually do have a stay-dry feeling for baby, but not always.

What do they look like?

 Blissful Booty all-in-one with double gussets

Blissful Booty all-in-one, closed

BumGenius Elemental all-in-one; ends of soaker are sewn down but middle is free

BumGenius Elemental all-in-one; ends of soaker are sewn down but middle is free 

GroVia AIO, showing tongue-style soaker attached at one end only.

BumGenius 3.0 all-in-one with stuffable pocket

BumGenius 3.0 all-in-one, showing the microfiber soaker (inside the opening on top)
as well as the stuffable pocket opening.

Bummis Tots Bots Easy Fit with attached tongue-style soaker that folds into the diaper

Bummis Tots Bots Easy fit with attached soaker folded part-way inside

Bummis Tots Bots Easy Fit with attached soaker tongue folded all the way inside

What size do they come in? How do they close?
These can be sized or one-size and may close with snaps or velcro.

What kind of variations are there?
Some all-in-ones are stuffable (like BumGenius 3.0 sized diapers). These have all the absorbent layers sewn in, but also have an opening where you can add additional inserts if needed (for example, for overnight).

Other all-in-ones are tongue-style, which means they have all the layers sewn in, but on one end only, leaving the other end free to flap around. These again have all the absorbency included, but since they absorbent layers (called a "soaker") can move freely they dry faster, and you can add additional absorbency under the flap.  A variation on this is to have both ends of the soaker sewn down, with the middle unattached.

What are the pros and cons?
Pros:
Very easy, no separate cover to worry about, great for people who aren't familiar with cloth diapering, generally fairly trim.

Cons:
Take much longer to dry, some hold stink more (particularly microfiber).

How do I care for an AIO diaper?
Prepping your AIO diaper depends on whether the inside of the diaper is made from synthetic or natural fibers. If it's made from synthetic fibers, simply wash once. If it's made from natural fibers like hemp or cotton, wash 5-6 times prior to use.  After prepping, wash using your normal cloth diaper wash routine. Be sure to attach the laundry tabs for velcro diapers.

What are common brands of AIO diapers?
BumGenius 3.0 sized (there are also 3.0 and 4.0 pockets)
BumGenius Elemental
BumGenius FreeTime
Blissful Booty
GroVia AIO (they also come in AI2/hybrid)
Little Joey (newborn only)
Itti Bitti D'Lish
Bummis Tots Bots Easy Fits
Ones & Twos

Help! What are the different kinds of cloth diapers?

First, know that within the types of diapers, you can get several types of fits and closures.  You can read about the difference between sized and one-size diapers here, and diapers can either be snapless or close with snaps or Velcro (also called aplix).

There are six basic types (though each type has many subtypes!). For more detailed information on any type, including pros and cons, pictures, and brand lists, click on the name.

Diapers That Need Covers

These diapers need a separate cover to become waterproof. 

Flat

A flat diaper is just a layer or two of an absorbent material like cotton, sewn into a large square. You can fold the diaper into various configurations to create an absorbent diaper that is secured with pins or a Snappi, or fold it to use as an insert. A flat diaper needs a cover to be waterproof. If your grandmother cloth diapered, this is probably what she used.

Prefold

A prefold diaper is a flat diaper that has been pre-folded and sewn to create a more absorbent area in the middle. You can fold a prefold diaper around a baby and secure it with pins or a Snappi to create a diaper, or fold it in thirds to use as an insert.  If your mom cloth diapered, this is probably what she used.

Fitted

A fitted diaper is a prefold that has been sewn into a diaper shape. It looks like any other cloth diaper, diaper, but it doesn't have a waterproof layer, so needs to be covered with a cover to become waterproof.  The one above is snapless and needs a Snappi or pins to close it, but they can have snaps or velcro as well.

Diapers That Do Not Need Covers

These diapers have the waterproof layer included and don't need a separate cover.

All-in-One 




All in one diapers are just what the name says: all in one. Everything you need for the diaper is included - both the waterproof outer and the absorbent layer. All sewn together in one big happy package!  These are great for dads and daycares, as they are essentially just like disposable diapers, except instead of throwing them away, you put them into a wetbag or diaper pail.  On the downside, they usually take a long time to dry.

All-in-Two/Hybrid

 
All-in-two (AI2) diapers can be confusing, as there are essentially two types of all-in-two diapers, and they are quite different.  However, they are all named for the fact that there are two parts: the waterproof outer and the absorbent layer, and these two parts are separate.

• Hybrid all-in-two diapers are waterproof shells (covers) that can be used with different types of inserts, for instance, with a disposable insert or with a reusable insert. 
• Snap-in or lay-in all-in-two diapers are all-in-one diapers that come in two parts.  Rather than having the absorbent layers sewn into the waterproof outer layer, the absorbent layers are separate and can be snapped in or lain into the waterproof cover. 

Pocket



Pocket diapers are a waterproof cover and a liner sewn together, with a pocket opening at the front or back (or both). The diaper on its own has no absorbency, but when you place absorbent inserts into the pocket of the diaper you have a complete diaper. This allows you to customize absorbency and wash and dry the diapers quickly.

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While not types of diapers, these are important components to some types of cloth diapers:

Covers

Covers are placed over non-waterproof diapers like pre-folds or fitteds to create a waterproof layer. Covers are commonly made of PUL, TPU, wool, or fleece. 

Inserts, Soakers, Doublers, and Liners

Inserts, soakers, and doublers are layers of absorbent material that are placed into covers or pocket diapers or are part of an AIO or AI2 diaper. They are commonly made of hemp, bamboo, microfiber, or Zorb. Liners are thin pieces of fabric that are placed between the diaper and the baby to help with disposing of poop, to create a stay-dry feeling for the baby, or to protect the diaper from a non-cloth-diaper-safe rash cream.

Double Gussets

Double gussets are additional rows of elastic at the legs of the diaper to help contain leaks.

What's the deal with pocket diapers?

What is it?
Pocket diapers are similar to all-in-one (AIO) diapers, and, when stuffed, are essentially the same thing. So what's the difference? And what's stuffing? A pocket diaper has a lining sewn into the waterproof outer, with an opening (or two) left at the front of the diaper, back of the diaper, middle of the diaper, or both, which allows you to put the unattached absorbent layer (the insert) into the diaper.  Before washing, you remove the insert so it washes separately outside the diaper, and before placing it on the baby, you'll need to "stuff" the insert back into the diaper.  The pocket opening and removable inserts allow you to customize the absorbency; for instance, some people will "double stuff" a pocket with two inserts for night, and use just one insert during the daytime.

Some pockets have elastic or  foldover pieces of fabric at the opening to help contain the insert, while others are loose.

Pocket diapers almost always have a stay-dry feeling.

What do they look like?

Happy Heiny pocket diaper showing pocket opening

Happy Heiny pocket diaper with insert halfway removed

Bum Genius microfiber insert shown alone (without pocket diaper)

Oh Katy diaper showing pocket opening in front (hard to see, but on the right side of the picture), with a foldover layer of fabric to protect the opening.

 Rumparooz pocket opening at back

Alva pocket opening, with elastic

Thirsties pocket diaper with elasticized openings at front and back

What size do they come in? How do they close?
These can be sized or one-size and may close with snaps or velcro.

What kind of variations are there?
Sleeve pockets have openings at both ends instead of just one.  This can make it easier to stuff and supposedly allows the insert to agitate out on its own during the wash - but many people unstuff them anyway, just to be sure. And not all washers will agitate out the pocket (HE washers are notorious for leaving them "stuffed".)
Envelope pockets have openings in the middle. Again, this supposedly allows the insert to agitate out on its own in the wash.

What are the pros and cons?
Pros:
Can add or remove inserts to personalize absorbency, can replace included insert with a different kind, dries quickly, inserts get very clean since they are washed separately.

Cons:
Have to stuff and unstuff. Can be bulky. Unstuffing diapers can be difficult with a very poopy diaper.

How do I care for my pocket diapers?
Most pocket diapers are made of synthetic materials, which means to prep your pocket diaper you just need to wash it once.  After the diaper has been prepped, you can wash using your normal cloth diaper wash routine.  Depending on the brand of diaper and type of washing machine you have, you'll likely need to pull out the insert prior to washing. Some people do this immediately after taking the diaper off the baby and some people unstuff just before putting the diaper in the washing machine. Be sure to attach the laundry tabs for velcro diapers. After the diaper is washed and dried, you'll need to re-stuff the insert back into the shell before use. Again, some people do this for all their diapers immediately; others stuff as needed.

What are common brands of pocket diapers?
Bum Genius 4.0
FuzziBunz
Rumparooz
SunBaby
Alva
AppleCheeks
Blueberry
Happy Heiny
Kawaii
Knickernappies