14 Types of Adult Cloth Diapers

If you cloth diaper, then you know there are about a million brands. As far as actual types of diapers, however, there are only about a dozen. The thing to keep in mind about the different types of cloth diapers is that there really is no “best” style of diaper or brand of diaper. 

Yes, some brands are simply made better than others and will last longer and be more effective — but that’s a brand thing, not a particular type thing. Each type of adult diaper has its pros and cons, but ultimately work well as long as the fit is good and you have enough absorption for your needs. 

When choosing your cloth diapering system and building your stash (see my post on the difference between stash and system here) you may have to try out a few different ones to figure out something that will work. 

1. Flats

These are the proven, old school diapers our grandmothers used. Each is a large, square single layer of fabric you fold origami style to wrap around the body. 

• Very customizable for shape and size
• Extremely easy to clean and dries fast 
• Works well for hand washing and line drying
• Optimal product for traveling or if access to washer and dryer is limited
• Cheapest method of cloth diapering
• Requires pins or snappis & must be used with a cover

Traditionally, these puppies were cotton all the way, but today you can also find hemp or bamboo options. Flour sack towels, which you can find at places like Walmart and Target, can be used as a cheap alternative. While it does feel a little sacrilegious to use a kitchen towel on the booty, there is no way to beat the $1 per towel price. Flour sack towels make excellent inserts and can hold as much as microfiber, according to one absorbency test.

2. Prefold

Prefolds entered the world in 1950, taking out several steps of a flat’s folding process. A prefold is a rectangular shaped diaper that has been folded multiple times with the most amount of absorbent layers concentrated in the middle third of the diaper and then sewn down.

You’ll come across terms like “Chinese prefold” and “Indian prefold.” These terms mainly refer to only one thing, according to Nicki’s Diapers website: where they were manufactured. 

“The only difference between Indian vs. Chinese prefolds is where the material and diaper is sewn. It is all the same type of material. The main difference in quality, performance and feel is how the material is weaved and sewn,” according to the website. 

Chinese prefolds are made in China, while Indian prefolds are made in India or Pakistan.

Another term you’ll see is “DSQ” which stands for “diaper service quality.” These diapers are the highest quality of prefolds you can get and known for their durability. Don’t be tempted by the super cheap price of some brands of prefolds. Seriously, some of these “prefolds” are nothing more than a thin cotton birdseye fabric folded in half with a layer of batting down the center, not a true prefold at all. (Gerber, I’m looking at you.) 

True prefolds come with designations like 2x4x2, 2x6x2, 4x6x4, or 4x8x4. These designations refer to the number of layers in each panel of a trifold, with the most layers concentrated in the center panel.

Now, to choose bleached or unbleached? Again, this is a matter of preference. Cotton starts out in a natural, light tan color, so the bleaching process removes natural oils and pigments in order to make the fabric white. However, the harsh chemical process of bleaching leaves the fabric stiffer and weaker than the unbleached version. 

The diaper company Thirsties recommends pre washing bleached prefolds 3 times and unbleached 7 times. Cotton, like all natural fibers, contains natural oils that need to be washed away in order for max absorbency to be reached.

3. Fitted

A fitted diaper is made solely from multiple layers of absorbent materials with no water proof barrier. It features an hourglass shape like disposable diapers with a front closure of either hook and loop or snaps and has elastic bands at leg openings. A fitted does not need to be folded before use. A diaper cover is required. Though they tend to be bulkier than other diaper styles, they offer more absorbency.

4. Contour

A contour diaper sits somewhere between a prefold and fitted diaper. It is shaped in an hourglass silhouette like a fitted but requires diaper fasteners to close them.

5. Hybrid Diapers

A hybrid diaper is sometimes grouped under the AI2 as it features a shell (cover) with a moisture wicking liner and the absorbency is either snapped or tucked on top of the shell.The main difference is that the diaper can be used with disposable inserts and/or cloth ones. Disposable inserts are made from materials similar to disposable diapers, only in a smaller rectangular form.

6. Diaper Cover

A diaper cover is a waterproof covering used to prevent leaks in cloth diapers like prefolds, flats, fitteds, and pull on diapers. Since it is made solely from water proof materials like PUL or vinyl, it has less chance of leaking. Diapers covers can either be front closure or pull on. Either way, they are a separate outer shell.

7. Pocket Diaper

A pocket diaper consists of an outer shell of PUL with a liner of stay dry material that wicks moisture away from the skin. An opening between the shell and liner creates a pocket for absorbent inserts to be stuffed in. Most commonly, the pocket lies at the back, though some brands like Applecheeks has the opening closer to the center of the diaper to allow for self-unstuffing in the wash. The inserts need to be taken out before laundering and replaced before use. Once stuffed, however, the diaper acts as an all in one, meaning you put it on, fasten it, and then go.

8. AIO

An All In One (AIO) diaper features a waterproof outer shell and sewn in absorbent layers topped by lining fabric that rests next to the body.  Sometimes an additional flap is sewn in at the front and/or back of the diaper for additional absorbency and ease for cleaning. Perfect for a quick change, an all in one is most similar to a disposable diaper.

9. AI2

Again, like the pocket diaper, an All-In-Two features a waterproof outer shell, a lining, and absorbent layers called the soaker. The main difference is that the soaker neither gets stuffed into the diaper nor sewn to it. Rather, it attaches (usually via snaps) to the outside of the liner so that the absorbent materials are closest to the body. These do not necessarily need to be unsnapped before washing, though taking the time to unsnap the insert can help extend the life of your diaper. The shell can be reused while the insert gets laundered each time it gets dirty

10. Sleeve Diaper

A sleeve diaper is very similar to a pocket diaper, but has an opening both at the front and back of the diaper. Due to the sleeve, these diapers do not need to be unstuffed before washing as the inserts come out during the cycle. However, the insert will need to be re-stuffed before use. This is a good diaper if you like the convenience of pocket diapers, but hate having to pull out dirty inserts prior to washing.

11. Pull On Diaper

A pull on diaper is made from an absorbent material like cotton, hemp, or bamboo with additional absorbent layers sewn inside the diaper. This diaper has no closure and instead is put on like underwear. A waterproof covering is needed for extra protection.

12. Side Snap Diaper

A side snap diaper is a cross between a front closure diaper and a pull on diaper. The side snaps do not offer as much flexibility in sizing, but offer the convenience of snapping off a soiled diaper rather than pulling down the legs like a pull on diaper. Further, the ease of pull on a diaper rather than struggling with snaps. The nice thing about side snap is that they go on like a pull on, but simply unsnap at the sides to remove a soiled diaper without having to drag it down the legs.

The downside is that the snaps can sometimes dig into the skin at the hips, especially if the diaper is tight or the wearer is bed ridden and spends a lot of time on their side.

13. Pull Up

A pull up is more of a training pant – basically, thick padded underwear that pull on over the hips. It does not offer the protection of a diaper, but tends to fit snugly around the body for a more discreet fit. A pull up can have a waterproof outer with a sewn in absorption layer and a lining next to the body. Sometimes, the whole pull up is made from cotton with a sewn in absorption layer and no waterproof barrier. The key difference between a pull on diaper and a pull up is the fact that a pull up tends to be more moderate in protection.

14. Wool Soakers

Wool is an amazing natural fiber for cloth diapers. It can absorb up to ⅓ of its weight in liquid and not feel wet to the touch. It is even more breathable than PUL and is a 100% natural fiber. Wool comes from sheep. It does need to be “lanolized” before use in cloth diapers. However, wool should only be used as the outermost layer of your diapering system. Wool covers are often called “soakers,” not to be confused with the soakers that go on the inside of the diaper as absorbing layers. The one flaw with wool is that any cloth that is placed over the wool will get wet. The one exception is polyester fleece,as it is natural moisture resistant. Wool soakers are often called “longies” or “shorties” and are worn both as a diaper cover and clothing.