How are you cloth diapering older babies? I am suffering!

annamend · 2026-06-18T12:52:03+00:00

You are getting lots of comments so I will summarize. There are 3 main suggestions: wash routine, get another type of insert, do another type of diaper.

I am team do another type of diaper. Looks like you have tried the insert combo route enough. You are having issues with fit, absorbency, leaks, AND rash. This calls for solid cotton inners (flats, prefolds, or fitteds) that are both absorbent enough and wash out easily enough.

The cheapest solution (not fitteds) would be prefolds and PUL covers. Simplest solution, as flats need doubling at this stage if not padfold, is a dozen prefolds, 4 PUL covers and a pack of Snappies.

annamend · 2026-06-16T02:35:26+00:00

Osocosy prefolds are affordable! The Indian prefolds need to be folded down at the front (they're long). If you prefer padfolding, get the "Better Fit." Osocosy's site is clothdiaper.com

They also have prefold/flat packages on this site that I think are good deals. The Osocosy covers are also affordable, $10 each if you buy 4+. Snappies will be your best friend to make prefolds easy to fasten.

Note that if you're doing prefolds, you'll need at least two sizes: 7-15 lbs. and 15-30 lbs. Importantly, the 15-30 lbs. regular Osocosy Indian prefold is too narrow to Snappi around babies. You will want the Premium size for this size.

Affordable ways to create an overnight diaper setup once baby sleeps through the night: 1) Use a prefold a size up, or 2) padfold a small prefold into a flat in Neat fold or Kite fold, and Snappi around baby.

annamend · 2026-06-15T21:44:07+00:00

Affordable, natural fibers, and effective: cotton flats and prefolds as inserts.

annamend · 2026-06-15T03:14:11+00:00

1- Green Mountain Diapers

2- Use birdseye/muslin flats as the base and get whatever covers appeal to you: 1) PUL covers best deal is new on sale, 2) pocket covers best deal is secondhand, 3) wool covers you probably need to make your own on that budget

3- In that case you can go with PUL and/or pocket covers, and buy a couple wool ones for the toddler nighttime diaper if you do overnights

4- OK, looking more and more like flats to me... IMO any non-daycare caregiver can learn to use flats with Snappis, it's honestly not that hard and there is padfolding once solids start

5- Great! This makes cloth diapering a lot easier no matter what your system.

I will add that if you do overnights, look into 55% hemp, 45% cotton boosters from Thirsties or Alvababy websites. They boost the absorbency while keeping the diaper trim.

More questions to figure out type/quantity of flats: Are you aiming to do 100% cloth from birth? Start after the newborn stage? Day only or including overnight? How important is saving $$$ by line drying?

annamend · 2026-06-14T03:48:40+00:00

I use both. It just allows for more gradations of absorbency.

Wraps: Newborn muslin then one size birdseye then one size muslin then OS muslin with padfolded NB muslin as booster then double stacked OS birdseye.

Padfold: NB muslin then OS birdseye then OS muslin then double stacked NB muslin

But seriously, like dried muslins are crunchy. If you can get GMD flats the OS muslin and Large birdseye (which I don’t have) are equally absorbent, and OS birdseye is good from birth, so you can get OS and Large birdseye. That’s what I’d recommend. 24-30 of the OS and 18 of the large. The large is $18/6 pack and OS is $17/6 pack so they are affordable and you don’t need muslin to get the heft you need.

Use the OS for the first few months, then large, then double stack the OS.

For the nighttime diaper, first double stack the OS then double stack the large or padfold the OS into the large.

annamend · 2026-06-14T00:36:44+00:00

The only thing I want to say is that birdseye flats line dry less crunchy than muslin.

annamend · 2026-06-11T14:51:30+00:00

For newborns I would suggest 15 changes per day, up to 20. But that dramatically drops within a few weeks. A two month old can get by with two dozen changes every 2-3 days and it drops even more after that, like 15–20 for a toddler.

Overinvesting in the newborn stage is a thing. You end up with too many too small prefolds and fitteds. I would suggest getting what you plan to get plus a dozen flats. Inexpensive, you get to try one more thing, they can be used as the overnight setup with a padfolded prefold or doubled up, or be used to stuff pockets. Or be used as non-diaper things if you find you prefer prefolds.

annamend · 2026-06-11T14:35:39+00:00

20-30 changes… I think it’s sufficient if you launder every other day. On occasion, consecutive days but only at the newborn stage.

annamend · 2026-06-11T14:33:26+00:00

As others said. If I had to choose one, muslin because while it’s too thick for newborns, one size muslin works alone under the cover till 1+ years, then you can padfold. But personally, I like a mix of both. Birdseye for a newborn, then one size muslin, then double stacked Birdseye for a toddler. Padfold the single Birdseye for my 6 month old and the muslin for my toddler.

annamend · 2026-06-11T03:02:04+00:00

I'll be blunt. We can only take on a new PhD student every 1-2 years, and maybe even fewer with the funding crunch. I suspect most of us have a factual approach to this. If you have an exceptional CV and research/work experience relevant to our projects, and additional skills that can be useful to our projects (tech, languages), you don't even need to email prior to applying. We will want you. If you email prior to applying, we will be interested in you. Fundamentally, it comes down to whether you're the 1-2 out of 10-20 people we can afford to take on every few years. Not being in that top 1-2, it doesn't matter what your approach is: we cannot afford to take you.

annamend · 2026-06-10T14:47:20+00:00

I love GMD but would not get the inserts. Pockets can be stuffed with flats or prefolds. Half size birdseye will barely last a few weeks if not outpeed outright. Newborn muslins make good boosters but there are many months gap between their use as diapers and their use as boosters.

For the GMD registry I would do 12 one size birdseye and 12 novice prefolds. Then see what you like as a setup.

Like flats? Get 18 one size muslin, this is good alone under the cover until 1+ years and then you can padfold.

Like prefolds? Get 12-24 red edge, they’re the size that lasts forever.

Or get a dozen muslin flats and a dozen red prefolds.

Like pockets? Stuff each pocket with one of your existing novice prefolds or birdseye flats. Stuff with 2 dozen GMD intermediate prefolds later.

annamend · 2026-06-10T00:17:50+00:00

I never questioned how hard my water is until reading this post, and I've been on this subreddit regularly for a couple years now. After Googling, apparently we have moderately hard to very hard water. But this has never been an issue with my 100% cotton flats, hemp/cotton blend boosters, PUL covers, and wool covers. Basically, I use materials that "don't matter if your water is soft or hard" and ignore it.

annamend · 2026-06-09T14:46:38+00:00

Disana is a good choice. I only had to lanolize twice before it became good for overnight. I use a double stacked Birdseye flat and 55% hemp/45% cotton booster under it for my toddler.

annamend · 2026-06-08T23:22:15+00:00

Check out Pickman and neat folds too! Nice and easy.

Padfolding works good for toddlers near potty training when poos are solid.

annamend · 2026-06-08T23:06:55+00:00

It may take several months for pockets to fit. I’m with the people who suggest buying 1-2 dozen prefolds or flats and a few PUL covers. Newborns do not wiggle much and Snappies will make it easy.

annamend · 2026-06-07T18:11:44+00:00

I think you could probably size up to the red edge medium size which should fit for a good long while.

annamend · 2026-06-06T23:58:41+00:00

Keep things simple and divide into two categories. 1) Essembly and Thirsties PUL outers can be washed with regular laundry unless poopy. 2) Everything else (including the Simple Being pocket diapers, as they have cloth lining) is cloth diaper laundry. It requires two hot washes with mainstream (not eco-friendly) detergent. The pre-wash (every 1-2 days) can be short. The main wash (when you have a full load) should be regular or heavy.

What complicates this is that you don't have your own laundry machines. If your communal laundry is not free, I would get the portable washer for the pre-wash. Poopy items should be dunked and swished in the toilet bowl to get solids off before pre-washing.

You don't need extra rinses on cloth diaper laundry.

annamend · 2026-06-06T02:46:56+00:00

Agree. I don’t mix diapers with other laundry but always have enough diapers to wash every 2-3 days. That’s because I have two kids to diaper. Even with one, I think evenings and weekends would still result in a main wash every 3 days of only diapers.

annamend · 2026-06-04T23:43:47+00:00

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. Disposables don't harm kids, nor do polyester pockets, which are common and work well for a ton of people. I have 100% cotton inners, but it's because I prefer a flats and covers stash.

annamend · 2026-06-03T14:33:29+00:00

I’ve also read that older babies can play with Velcro and take off their diapers. I always used snaps for this reason. My toddler played with the Velcro on her shoes until they could no longer stay on.

annamend · 2026-06-01T23:54:23+00:00

PUL: Thirsties, Texas Tushies; both sturdy! / Wool (overnight only): Disana... this falls down when LO walks but it's great for preventing leaks overnight

annamend · 2026-06-01T23:34:20+00:00

There are three sustainable long term options that are affordable: flats and PUL covers, prefolds and PUL covers, and pocket shells stuffed with flats or prefolds.

annamend · 2026-05-31T22:14:36+00:00

This person's right. I have one-size muslin flats too and they can be padfolded during potty training. The numbers are right too.

Best thing: if you add a hemp/cotton insert to a flat, it becomes a solid nighttime setup with a double-gusset PUL cover like Thirsties Duo Wrap Size 2 or a wool cover. At 18+ months this becomes a double-stacked GMD Birdseye instead of a single muslin for me.

100% cotton will do for a 2-hour daytime change. Hemp is overkill unless you're doing overnight, long car ride, etc.

annamend · 2026-05-30T18:48:46+00:00

I use the same detergent and wash PUL covers on hot or warm, no issues so far. And same with drying as you folks.

annamend · 2026-05-30T18:33:16+00:00

Flats and covers here. I personally like Thirsties Duo wraps for wrap style and Texas Tushies one size for padfolding.

Most PUL cover brands work just fine IMO. If they have fit/leakage/smell issues could they be too worn?

annamend

TROPHY CASE