cloth diapers (thanks, Alison!) (Photo credit: ethan.john)
You will want to make sure that your diapers are fitting well to ensure baby’s comfort and to avoid leaking. Below are some tips to help ensure a good fit.
Don’t try to size up to soon, or extend the diaper’s use beyond its capability. Using a diaper that is to big will cause sagging and gapping. Using a diaper that is to small will not offer enough absorbency, and will most likely be too tight.
Try before you buy. One kind of diaper will not work for all babies, as all body types are different. Also, a baby may fit differently in say a pocket diaper compared to an AIO diaper. You can use a trial program for trying different types of diapers. Also, whether the diapers are sized, one sized, or duo sized makes a difference in the fit.
Snug as a bug in a rug. Make sure your diapers are snug on baby, but not tight. There should be no gaps between the waist or leg openings and baby’s skin, and the absorbency should be up against the skin. Gently stretch the leg openings as you are putting the diaper or cover on baby, and stretch the wings up and over to give the diaper a secure and gap-free fit. Make sure the elastic is lying flat, and not folded in. If your diapers have snap closures, utilize both snaps on each side. Generally, hook and loop fasteners should be fastened straight across, not angled.
* Your baby should not have deep red indentations left from the diaper – that means it is too tight. Slight indentations and light red marks around pressure areas are normal.
Avoid diaper sag. Make sure that the diaper is pulled up and not sagging. Where the top of the diaper falls on baby depends on the length of the torso. With experience, you will know exactly where the diaper should fall on baby, but it should be near the waist.
Regularly check the elastic for wear. If a diaper or cover has stretched out elastic at the legs or waist, then it is likely that you will have leaking issues.
I hope these tips are of use to you. If you have any questions, please send them to me at support@thirstiesbaby.com.
~Sonya
Thanks for the great tips on diaper sizing. Always good to be reminded. My daughter fit in size 2 Duo wrap @ 16 lbs because she is long in the torso. Had to size up early but a good fit means to leaks.
Thanks for the tips, I will keep these all in mind when baby gets here. I just hope that what we already have decided to buy works well for her
My little one is tricky- she’s long, but has a little apple belly her diaper has to be below, so low-rise diapers work best on her!
Thank you for the tips. It is so hard with new babies to find a diaper that fits well especially if they are teeny. The tips are definitely going to be helpful with our next one
Any tips on ensuring snug elastic, other than avoiding high heat? I know that the standard elastic on Thirsties is the Lastin, but what is the soft elastic around the gussets? I hear this is the first to relax on the Duos.
These are helpful tips. I definitely think that you have to try out diapers first. Every diaper and brand fit differently, so its best to try 1 out first
Looking more carefully at the inner leg gussets, it seems that they are more of a 1/2″ cotton/spandex fabric rather than a 1/2″ fold over elastic. Does anyone have any idea who perhaps have replaced this? I would like to know for our own maintainance. Thanks
These are helpful hints. I have been trying not to buy too many of one kind of diaper until I see how they will fit him, but it’s hard because buying diapers is my way of nesting!
Thanks for these helpful tips! I know we had fun when we first started CDing dd as we knew nothing about using them or the fit.I’m sure we would have avoided lots of leaks if we would have had them tight enough!
great tips! My little one is difficult to fit sometimes because he usually takes the tightest setting around the waist, but a looser setting around the hips…. which doesn’t work well when snaps are set at a certain distance apart!
Great tips! It was hard for me to believe how differently my baby fit into different brands of diapers so the trial program is really nice before you invest into one kind. but once I find a kind that really fits, I stick with it!
Great tips! Would love to see a blog post on how to replace elastic on Thirsties products.
These are great tips! We just started cloth diapering and this was very helpful!
This is very helpful. I will be cloth diapering our 7th due in 6 months and I am trying to learn all I can. I cloth diapered our last one, but that was 11 yrs ago and it was only for a year when he was 2-3 yrs old.
thanks
great tips! i hope to get my 7 month old in cloth soon
I love the thirsties fab fitted with applix, we get the best fit with those!
I’ve had constant issues with fit with our second child. Snaps result in wing droop and velcro seems to fold over when he’s playing and scratch his belly raw. Haven’t found a solution that works well, except for wool on occasion but I don’t like it for going out, plus having to remember to relanolize is a hassle.
This is really helpful. Will share this with friends who are new to cds.
Thanks!
I had no idea they had diaper trial programs…. I’ll have to look into that.
Such great tips! I must share this. thank you!
Great tips thanks!
Great tips!
Good tips, but for many babies with chunky thighs, angling the velcro tabs provides a much better fit than straight across.
Thanks Rikky! Yes, that may work better for some babies. These tips have to be general, so we recommend finding out what works best for you and your baby.
~Sonya
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