What Goes In A Diaper Cover

Here's a good question. Diaper covers are great, but what goes in them? This can be a little confusing because really there are quite a few things than can go in a diaper cover, so let's cover the most common ones: inserts, prefolds, fitteds and flats.

First, to be clear, a diaper cover is the waterproof exterior layer that goes over some kind of absorbency. The diaper cover's job is to contain leaks. At change time, if it's just pee and the cover is still clean, you can replace the wet absorbency with fresh absorbency and re-use the same cover for a change or two. So you need about 3 pieces of absorbency for every 1 cover.

Types of absorbency that you can use in a diaper cover

1) Inserts
An insert is any absorbent material designed for use in a diaper. It's usually already shaped into a rectangle to fit into the cover and generally has several layers of material within it. Simply lay the insert into the diaper cover and it's ready to put onto baby. (Note: Sometimes your diaper cover might have a snap inside where you can snap an insert into the cover to help hold it in place. This is called and All-In-Two system). You can use inserts made of any material except microfiber. Microfiber is fine for use in pocket diapers where it doesn't touch the skin directly, but is not for use against the skin.

2) Prefolds
Similar to inserts, you can use a prefold diaper in a diaper cover. Prefolds are rectangular, usually natural fabrics like cotton and have more layers in the middle that on the sides. For use in a diaper cover, you can simply fold a prefold into thirds to make a rectangle shape and lay it into the cover, of you can fold it in different ways around baby like a diaper, secure it with a Snappi or diaper pins and then put the cover on top. For newborns or babies with runny bowel movements, an Angel Wing fold is great to help contain messes. How to fold a prefold.

3) Fitteds
If max absorbency for naps or nights is what you're after, then a fitted cloth diaper is where it's at. Even if you use other cloth diaper styles during the daytime, a fitted is the go-to for heavy wetters or overnight. A fitted looks like a diaper and has snaps or velcro to hold it closed, but the whole thing is absorbent material and the diaper cover on top is what makes it waterproof.

4) Flats
If you want to go back to basics with a very economical and very easy to wash option, have a look at flats. Flat cloth diapers are a large square single layer of material (usually cotton, hemp or bamboo) that you fold to fit your baby. Flats come in only one size and can be folded down to fit a tiny newborn or for an older baby (with maybe an extra booster in the middle for a heavy wetting toddler as they get older). You can hold a flat closed with a Snappi or diaper pins as you would with a prefold and the cover goes on top to keep it waterproof. Intimidated by flats? Never fear, I've got tutorials and videos (Pickman fold) (Origami fold) to get you started.

Those are the basic four things you can put in a cover. Is there anything else you can use in a diaper cover? Sure. You can use preflats, contours, pad folded flannel receiving blankets, flour sack towels, really any absorbent fabric that is safe against the skin can be used in a diaper cover.

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