How to Stuff an Adult Pocket Diaper

A pocket diaper has 2 main benefits: easier to wash and dry and the ability to customize the absorbency.

Made of an outer shell with lining and inserts for absorbency, a pocket diaper allows for faster drying times, as the absorbent inserts can be dried on medium high heat. The PUL or TPU in the shells should be line dried or dried on low. High heat can damage the waterproof coating and the elastic.

What does it mean to customize absorbency?

The ability to choose exactly how much and what type of absorbency to put in a pocket diaper is what makes this style of diaper customizable. 

The majority of pocket diapers that come with inserts, come with a microfiber one. Microfiber absorbs very quickly and is cost effective to make. However, while microfiber is an excellent catch when it comes to moisture, it is terrible at holding on to it.

Microfiber is the #1 cause of compression leaks. When microfiber gets oversaturated in any place, the pressure of being worn can cause that moisture to squeeze out and leak around the leg opening. 

How to Layer Inserts In a Pocket Diaper

For an in-depth look at types of inserts, check out my Quick Guide to Inserts.

But to keep things simple, there are 2 things to keep in mind when layering inserts in a pocket diaper:

1. Quick absorb layer
2. Hold layer

Step 1: Choose an insert made from quick absorbing fiber like microfiber, cotton, or zorb.

Step 2: Underneath the quick absorb layer, place an insert made from a fabric type like bamboo, cotton, or hemp.

Using Baby Inserts in Adult/Teen Pocket Diapers

Unfortunately, in the adult cloth diaper world, there are not a lot of options when it comes to inserts. A few places sell bamboo and/or cotton inserts, but these can be pricey.

You can use baby inserts, trifolds, prefolds, and flats as the absorbent layers in adult pocket diapers. Just be sure to choose items that are at least 16” long for S/M pocket diapers and 18” long for L/XL. Don’t forget to account for shrinkage, which is generally around 10%, with the exception of hemp, which shrinks much more.

When using a baby flat, prefold, or trifold, simply fold the item over to form a rectangle.

Stuffing a Pocket Diaper

While you can stuff each layer individually, it’s often easier to layer inserts how you want before you put them into the pocket diaper.

Once you’ve got them stacked, simply feed them through the pocket opening until there’s no part of the insert sticking out. Then, smooth the wrinkles and layers so everything lays flat.

When I used pocket diapers for my daughter I found that even though it was a royal pain in the ass to stuff those things, if I took the time after laundering to stuff them, then subsequent changes would be a lot less hassle.

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