6 Cloth Diapers That Are Surprisingly Easy to Use (and Super Effective!)

checked mark Fact-Checked by Erin Cavoto  | July 26, 2023
Best Cloth Diapers

Quick Summary

The best cloth diapers are the Mama Koala Pocket Cloth Diapers, according to testers in the What to Expect community. When choosing cloth diapers, parents look for ones that are absorbent, easy to use and adjustable.

Take a guess as to how many diapers your baby will use in the first year. Are you sitting down? Because the answer is a whopping 2,700 — and that’s just for the first 12 months! When you consider that number and factor in that your kiddo will be wearing diapers for another year or two until they’re potty trained, you can start to see why cloth diapers might be worth considering. 

There are some obvious drawbacks — such as more diaper changes and extra laundry — but the serious cost benefits and waste reduction might make it worth it. Some parents opt to switch between cloth and disposable diapers, using the former at home and the latter when out. Whatever you decide, there are cloth diapers out there that will best suit your family.

How we chose the best cloth diapers

The best cloth diapers are the ones that keep your baby’s bottom dry and everything around them protected from potential leaks. However, there are many cloth diapers to choose from — and they seem quite similar at first glance — so determining the right style and brand can be difficult. To discover what are the most important features to look for when buying cloth diapers, we used guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and feedback from parents in the What to Expect community who use cloth diapers. Based on this information, we ensured that all products select met the following criteria:

  • Absorbency: Although cloth diapers aren’t as absorbent as disposables, they can still contain messes to prevent leaks and even blowouts. Look for those with multiple layers or those that you can stuff with inserts. Many options also include an outer stay-dry cover to prevent messes from getting on you or baby’s sheets. You can also look for options that include elastic on the waist and legs to better contain leaks.
  • Ease of use: There’s definitely a learning curve to a traditional cloth diaper, as you’ll have to fold and pin them to fit baby properly. These are the cheapest options, but there are plenty of other slightly more expensive options that are made to be user-friendly. Fitted, pocket and all-in-one cloth diapers require no folding, so you can slip them on similar to a disposable diaper. In fact, we only included these types of diapers on our list to make your life easier, especially if you’re new to using cloth diapers. And, we ensured that every pick is machine-washable for hygiene and convenience.
  • Adjustability: The beauty of cloth diapers is that they’re made to be adjustable, with many including a variety of snaps that you can easily modify based on baby’s size. There are some you can buy specifically for newborns or toddlers being potty trained, but otherwise, you can use most for newborns through toddlerhood. 
  • Material: Depending on the type of cloth diaper you purchase, you’ll want to look for different materials. If you’re purchasing one with an exterior liner, like an all-in-one or pocket diaper, you’ll want to make sure it’s water-resistant at the very least, although waterproof is preferred. For the interior material, there are several options such as cotton, microfiber or polyester. Some parents may prefer cotton so it won’t irritate baby’s skin, while others don’t mind using polyester, which is usually cheaper. Many cloth diapers also contain a soft exterior, even if it’s waterproof, to keep baby comfortable.

Each of the cloth diapers on this list has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the What to Expect community members for this criteria.

Why Trust Us?

What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.

Best Overall Cloth Diaper

Mama Koala Pocket Cloth Diapers

Mama Koala Cloth Diapers
Buying Options
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Adjustable fit for newborns through toddlers
  • Six in a pack
Cons
  • Might leak around the legs

Weight range: 8 to 40 pounds

Material: Inner: Microfiber; Outer: Bamboo viscose

Type of diaper: Pocket

Waterproof liner: Yes

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

The Mama Koala pocket-style diapers, sold as sets of six, fit most babies from 8 to 40 pounds, thanks to the adjustable snaps — that means you likely won’t need to purchase additional sizes as baby grows. Plus, they come with two layers of microfiber on the interior (you can buy separate liners if your babe needs extra absorbency at nighttime) and two layers of stay-dry lining that wicks away moisture to keep your baby comfy longer. Not to mention, they are available in the cutest patterns! Some parents note that smaller babies with skinnier thighs may have issues with leaks in this style, but overall, they come highly recommended for their versatility since different liners can be used in this pocket style.

Community Reviews
  • “I’m totally in love with my Mama Koala pocket diapers. We tried so many different brands, and ended up getting rid of the rest and ordering more Mama Koala. Super affordable too - I think they are $40 for a six pack, and the cutest prints!”

  • “We love Mama Koalas for pocket diapers & Thirsties for their duo covers with Green Mountain Diaper cotton prefolds. Hemp and Bamboo liners are the best. For heavy wetting add the hemp/bamboo under another liner (cotton is preferable to microfiber), but they also work well alone.”

  • “I don’t have that brand but I bought Wegrecco and Mama Koala off Amazon and I love them. Wegrecco runs a little bigger, but it comes with bamboo inserts instead of microfiber, plus a wet bag. Downside...they don’t have much options of prints, but The ones they have are cute and vibrant. Mama Koala has soooo many cute prints, but it doesn’t come with a wet bag, and it has microfiber inserts.”

Best Cloth Diapers for Newborns

GroVia Newborn All-In-One Reusable Cloth Diaper

GroVia Newborn All in One Cloth Diaper
Buying Options
Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Soft
  • Designed for newborns
Cons
  • These won’t fit past the newborn stage

Weight range: 5 and 12 pounds

Material: Inner: Hemp-cotton blend; Outer: Microfleece, polyester

Type: All-in-one

Waterproof: No, but it is water-resistant

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Specifically designed for newborns weighing between 5 and 12 pounds, the GroVia Newborn All-In-One Snap Cloth Diaper features a convenient snap closure that’s a cinch for sleep-deprived new parents to use. It's highly absorbent thanks to an hourglass-shaped internal soaker with three layers of super absorbent hemp/cotton blend, topped with soft microfleece, plus it has a water-resistant outer shell. Parents love how the buttery-soft exterior is gentle against a newborn's skin and that the entire diaper is machine washable. The same design also comes in a larger size that is intended to last older babies through toddlerhood, if you find that this one works for your newborn.

Community Reviews
  • “I loved the Grovia AIOs!! You would need at least 15-20 unless you do laundry every single day. Go with the snaps if you can, the velcro is convenient but it wears down pretty easily.”

Best Overnight Cloth Diaper

Thirsties Duo Wrap

Thirsties Duo Wrap Cloth Diaper
Pros
  • Waterproof exterior shell
  • Room for layering interior inserts
Cons
  • Need to buy separate inserts

Weight range: 6 to 40 pounds

Material: Polyester

Type of diaper: Pocket

Waterproof: Yes

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

For overnight protection, most cloth diaper parents will tell you that the key to maximum absorbency is to use a layered approach with a waterproof cover. For that, the Thirsties Duo Wrap is our top pick. Parents love how easy they are to stuff with multiple layers of “fluff” (aka inserts, prefolds, or flats) and that the cover is waterproof, but totally soft, so it doesn’t seem as harsh as other waterproof fabrics against baby’s skin. You can wipe the wraps clean between uses, and machine washing is recommended every three to four wears. They come in two sizes — one for babies 6 to 18 pounds and another for babies 18 to 40 pounds — both of which offer a tall gusset with three snap settings for an adjustable fit that grows with your baby and works to contain leaks like a total pro.

Community Reviews
  • I have Thirsties Duos, Flips, and Baby Goal covers and the Thirsties are definitely my favorite. The Flip are also good; the elastics are gentler, so they feel a bit softer and seem to me to fit now and also to have a lot of growing room left. I also like the little flaps to tuck a prefold into. But the Thirsties keep in poop explosions like nothing else, and feel a bit sturdier to me.”

  • “Overnight we used a stack of 3. My 2 year old was a heavy peer overnight lol it was a hemp on the bottom, a hemp folded in half to the front, and then an overnight cotton on top. All 3 stuffed in the pocket. We didn’t have any issues with it.”

  • I did cloth with my first and I used All-in-ones style Thirsties brand, highly recommend. This time I’m also going to have some pocket diapers with inserts as well.”

Best Organic Cloth Diaper

Smart Bottoms Dream Diaper 2.0

Smart Bottoms Dream Diaper 2.0
Buying Options
Pros
  • Made from all-organic materials
  • Room for additional inserts
Cons
  • Some parents report gaping around the legs with smaller babies

Weight range: 10 to 35 pounds

Material: Inner: Organic hemp/cotton blend; Outer: PUL (polyurethane laminate)

Type of diaper: All-in-one

Waterproof: No, but they are water-resistant

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

If high-quality organic materials in an all-in-one design is on your radar, these cloth diapers come highly recommended by real parents. The Smart Bottoms Dream Diaper 2.0 is made from a blend of hemp and organic cotton with a water-resistant, laminated outer liner. (Don’t worry: The water-resistant material polyester contains no solvents or harmful chemicals.) They also have four rise settings that grow with your baby from 10 to 35 pounds, plus elastic around the legs to help prevent blowouts. Parents also appreciate that there’s space to add multiple inserts, so they can easily be used as an overnight diaper, too. 

Community Reviews
  • “I used newborn and one size smart bottoms. I love them. My baby was 9lbs to start so I cant really say how well they would fit small babies but I believe I started on the second rise so they might be okay. She is now 15 months and the one size still work so well!”

Best Cloth Diapers for Potty Training

Kanga Care Lil Learnerz Reusable Toilet Training Pants

Kanga Care Potty Training Cloth Diapers
Pros
  • Easy to pull on and off
  • Multiple sizes
  • Over 35 colors
Cons
  • Not adjustable

Weight range: 28 to 45 pounds

Material: Inner: Polyester; Outer: Waterproof TPU

Type of diaper: All-in-one

Waterproof: Yes

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

As your little one grows and they’re ready to start potty training, a reusable pull-up style cloth diaper like these can help them gain their independence. The outer layer is waterproof while the inner layer is comprised of two layers, a quilted core and soft inner liner. The interior layers won’t leak but will let your toddler feel wet, so they’ll know when they’ve had an accident. They’re available in two styles — a pull-on style with side snaps in the two smallest sizes and a pull-on style with no snaps for sizes medium, large, and extra large. Simply use their size chart to find the right fit for your child’s height and weight. Bonus: These handy cloth pull-ups double as swim diapers!

Community Reviews
  • “I have a two year old we have been using lil learnerz for daytime and the motherease overnight pull-up for bed time. It's hard to find a pull up that will absorb a full bladder and isn't bulky.”

Best Affordable Cloth Diapers

Alvababy Adjustable Cloth Diapers

Alvababy Cloth Diapers
Buying Options
Pros
  • Comes with inserts
  • Affordable
  • Over 20 color options
  • Six in a pack
Cons
  • Elastic in legs can stretch out over time

Weight range: 6.6 to 33 pounds

Material: Inner: Polyester; Outer: Waterproof TPU

Type of diaper: Pocket

Waterproof: Yes

Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

When it comes to affordability and versatility, parents most often turn to pocket-style cloth diapers like these by Alvababy. The outer layer is waterproof, and the inner layer is made from a soft suede cloth. They offer three levels of adjustability with easy-to-use snaps to fit babies from 6 to 33 pounds. Each diaper also comes with two 3-layer microfiber inserts, which makes this set even more affordable. You can swap these for others if you prefer, or simply use the waterproof cover with any other flats or prefolds you might have. Parents love that these are easy to find online and order in bulk (they come in sets of six on Amazon) and can hold up through use with multiple babies.

Community Reviews
  • “I use Alvababy, they have more (and cuter) patterns on their own website than on Amazon. And I love these diapers ! I use one bamboo insert per diaper for daytime and I add one micro fibre insert for nighttime.”

Our Research

We used guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about cloth diapers and how they compare to disposable diapers.

We also used feedback from parents in the What to Expect community who use cloth diapers.

FAQs

Newborns go through nine to 12 diapers a day, so you’ll probably want to double or triple that amount and have a stash of 24 to 36 cloth diapers so you’re not washing them daily. You’ll likely have more frequent changes because cloth diapers aren’t as absorbent as disposable, so you’ll need to account for that as well. You’ll also want to stock up on waterproof covers, unless you’re using all-in-ones, which have them built in.

Better is subjective to your experience, but cloth diapers offer several benefits over disposable ones, including:

  • You’ll save money. Depending on the brand, you can expect to spend up to $900 a year on diapers. Cloth diapers, on the other hand, can cost as little as under $1 per diaper depending on the brand you buy (although you’ll need to factor in additional items like liners, waterproof shells and pins, plus laundry costs). And, if you plan on having more than one child, that initial investment on cloth diapers for baby number one will double your savings because they can be reused.
  • They have fewer chemicals. Cloth diapers don’t use most of the chemicals (like dioxin), dyes or gels that can be found in disposable diapers, so they’re less likely to cause an allergic reaction to your little one's delicate skin.
  • They create less waste. Eco-friendly parents will appreciate that organic cloth diapers are produced without any pesticides, and unlike disposables, cloth diapers don’t take up landfill space. That said, cotton cloth diapers require a lot of water to be made, and require more water when washed in the laundry machine, especially if washed in small loads. 

That’s not to say cloth diapers are superior to disposable diapers in every way. The cons include:

  • There’s a learning curve. Cloth diapers can be challenging to put on, at least until you get the hang of it. However, buying fitted or all-in-ones work pretty similarly to disposable diapers.
  • You’ll do more laundry. There’s a ton of laundry involved — think two to three extra loads a week. That’s not only time-consuming, but it adds to your utility bill as well. And if you don’t have a laundry machine at home, it can be an extra couple of hours spent at the laundromat.
  • You’ll change more diapers. Cloth diapers aren’t as absorbent as disposables, which means more frequent changes and a higher likelihood of leaks. If you don’t give your baby a fresh diaper frequently, the untended-to moisture can lead to diaper rashes. Not to mention, diaper rash creams that contain ingredients like zinc oxide or petroleum jelly are incompatible with cloth diapers because they stain and leave behind a residue that can make them less absorbent. And, if you’re heading out with a cloth diaper-clad baby, you may have to carry soiled diapers around until you get back home. (Some parents opt to use disposable diapers for outings to avoid this.)

There are several different cloth diaper styles to choose from. Each has its own pros and cons, and the best one will ultimately depend on your preferences and lifestyle.

  • Flats and prefolds: These are the least expensive cloth diaper option of the bunch. (Read: No-frills.) Flats are a square or rectangular piece of cloth that you fold into a diaper shape to fit your baby’s tush. Prefolds are exactly what they sound like — a pre-sewn piece of cloth with three sections, the middle one being the most absorbent. While easier than flats, they do still require folding and pinning. You fasten flats and prefolds with a safety pin or snap, and both require a separate waterproof diaper cover that you slip on top to keep your tot’s clothes dry. Although flats and prefolds are the cheapest, they require a number of accessories like pins or snaps as well as diaper covers that slightly raise your overall cost.
  • Contoured cloth diapers: Contoured cloth diapers are a good meeting point between flat fold diapers and fitted ones. With an hourglass shape that fits around those chunky thighs and a tab that goes over the belly, they’re easier to get the hang of than flats and are less expensive than fitted cloth diapers. They also use less material than prefolds, which means they dry faster and spend less time out of baby’s diaper rotation. But, as with flats, you’ll also have to pin or snap these in place and slip on a waterproof cover on top.
  • Fitted cloth diapers: As the name suggests, these diapers are shaped to fit around baby’s tush and have elastic leg holes — which translates into fewer leaks. They’re easier to use than flats and contoured cloth diapers and come with built-in snaps or Velcro fasteners. You’ll still need to slip on a waterproof cover over fitted cloth diapers, however.
  • Pocket cloth diapers: A step above from fitted cloth diapers are pocket diapers that do include a waterproof cover. Although they contain a stay-dry lining inside, they’ll need a diaper insert added to add layers of absorbency.
  • All-in-one cloth diapers (AIOs): With the inner lining, outer lining and wicking layer all sewn together, these cloth diapers are the most like disposable diapers, complete with elasticized leg openings: You just slide them on and off. As you might have guessed, all-in-ones are the priciest cloth diaper option. These are the easiest types of cloth diapers to use, a big plus if caregivers or grandparents will be changing baby’s diaper on the regular. Even if you don’t plan on using all-in-one cloth diapers all the time, it’s super convenient to have a few for on-the-go changes.

WhatToExpect.com, Cloth Diapers vs. Disposable Diapers: Which Should I Use?, May 2023.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Diapers: Disposable or Cloth?, May 2021.