How to Choose the Best Cloth Diaper Cover?

Diaper covers are must-haves for every cloth diaper user. They’re waterproof diaper pants that have got you covered while being very breathable and comfortable to use. Let us advise you on how to choose the best diaper covers among their multiple types, sizes, and variants.

Fabric: PUL Diaper Covers vs. Merino Wool Diaper Covers

Two most popular types of fabric for cloth diaper covers. What are their pros and cons?

PUL Diaper Covers (Classic Cut)

PUL = polyester laminated with a waterproof membrane that keeps wetness inside the diaper while being air-permeable. PUL diaper covers are much more breathable than any disposable diapers, no matter how eco-friendly and sustainable they claim to be. Diaper rash and other skin irritations caused by diapers are much less common among cloth diaper users — the longer the diaper changing interval, the more valid this statement. Cloth diapers are great for the night when your goal is the longest diaper changing interval.

PUL diaper covers are super easy to maintain. They don’t need to be washed after every use — toss them in the washer only when they’re soiled by stool or once in one or two weeks (trust your nose and wash your PUL covers when you notice a weird smell about them). PUL diaper covers can’t be tumble dried but they dry really fast (because there’s no absorbing layer on them). They air dry in just a few hours.

PUL covers can be machine washed (ideally at 60 °C). Do not wash them by hand — rubbing the fabric by hand might damage the delicate waterproof membrane, making the diaper covers leaky.

Most often, you come across PUL diaper covers in two types (cuts):

• in classic diaper cut — with velcro or snaps fastenings,
• Pull Up diaper covers.

Merino Wool Diaper Covers

100% natural fabric — wool or fine merino wool. Wool diaper covers are the most breathable, therefore very popular over a night fitted diaper. 

The maintenance of wool diaper covers is not for the faint of heart. Wool is not waterproof on its own — you need to soak your wool diaper covers in lanolin before you start using them. You need to dissolve natural lanolin in water and soak your wool diaper covers in it for a few hours. This bath needs to be repeated regularly — approximately once a month.

Wool diaper covers need to be washed by hand as washing machines and wool are not friends. Even hand washing needs to be gentle — no rubbing and scrubbing! Tumble dryer is also out of question, naturally. Air drying wool diaper covers takes space (ideally, they should be air dried in horizontal position placed on a towel) and time (a day or two).

Wool diaper covers are available as Pull Up diaper covers. The classic diaper cut wouldn’t work  — velcro would stick to the wool and snaps would most likely get torn off the delicate fabric every now and then.

Cut: Classic Diaper Covers vs. Pull Up Diaper Covers

We’ve already mentioned that diaper covers come in two basic cuts. Here are their pluses and minuses.

Diaper Covers in Classic Diaper Cut

The most popular cut of diaper covers, very similar to classic disposable diapers. It’s the most universal type — usable with cloth diapers of any type. Their size is adjustable so the claim “from birth to potty” is really true; you simply adjust the size of your diaper covers as your baby grows. 

Diaper covers in classic diaper cut are a great match for All-in-2 (AI2) diapers or Snap-in-One (SIO) cloth diaper systems. Absorbing diaper inserts fit well and don’t move around in them.

For really tiny (e.g. prematurely born) babies, newborn diaper covers could be a great solution. Parents rarely buy newborn cloth diaper covers beforehand as you never know how big your newborn will be or how quickly they are going to grow. Newborn sizes are popular as cloth diaper covers for prefolds — considered the best diapers for newborns by many.

For bigger babies and older toddlers, XL diaper covers might be the ideal solution. It’s no shame when your baby is over 15 kg and still on diapers — we’re advocates of the “every baby has their own pace” approach. Especially when it comes to diapers at night. It’s absolutely normal, even for a healthy child, to be a night-wetter at the age of 6. A lot of children sleep too tight to be able to fully wake up and realise they need to go to the bathroom.

XL Diaper Covers are for children from approx. 15 to 25 kg. Consider getting a pair if dressing your two-year old in one size diaper covers becomes a daunting task. Bamboolik XL Diaper Covers have the same cut as our one size diaper covers. 

Size comparison of One Size and XL Diaper Covers:

Velcro or Snaps?

Most PUL diaper covers come with two types of fastenings. Velcro is more universal — the hook stripe is sewn onto the entire width of the pants so the fit can be adjusted by milimetres. Velcro lapels can even be fastened over each other, making the diaper cover fit well, even on a tiny baby.

When fastening snaps, you need to snap them into countersnaps on the diaper cover. There’s a lot of them but they cannot be moved by milimetres as velcro stripes. The most appreciated benefit of snap diaper covers is that babies don’t unsnap them that easily. So when the time comes and your baby starts practising undressing themselves, it might take a while for them to figure out how to take their snap diaper cover off.

Pull Up Diaper Covers

Pull Up diaper covers are put on as waterproof diaper pants — they can be pulled down and up as regular underwear. They’re a great match for Fitted Diapers as you don’t need to fasten a diaper pant twice — you simply put on the Pull Up diaper cover over. Easy and quick to do even over a voluminous fitted diaper, therefore perfect over a Night Fitted Diaper which needs to last as long as possible, preferably the entire night. 

Pull Up diaper covers don’t require your baby to lie down calmly for a diaper change. Putting them on an active toddler when running or crawling is no problem.

Babywearing parents sometimes struggle with babies being uncomfortable in classic diaper pants as velcro or snaps might cause some minor bruising. Pull Up diaper covers have super soft elastic hems around the legs and waist — your baby can take a longer nap on you and still be absolutely comfortable. For the same reason, consider getting Pull Up diaper covers if your baby is on the chubbier side.

Pull Up diaper covers come in multiples sizes — often S–M–L. Choose them according to your baby’s weight and actual proportions: