The 29 Diapers Cloth Diaper Dictionary

When I was researching cloth diapers, I was confused by the lingo. No more! Without further ado, I give you The 29 Diapers Cloth Diaper Dictionary! If there is a term you don’t see here, please contact me and I will add it right away. Thanks!

Additive-Free Detergent: You’ve probably heard you need a special detergent to wash cloth diapers, and it’s not just a gimmick. You need to use a detergent that has no additives–which means softeners, brighteners, and the like–because these things stick to your diapers and coat them with a film, making them repel moisture. Waterproof diaper inserts: not a good thing. You can find lists of good detergents here or here. Popular brands are Allens Naturally, Rockin’ Green, Charlie’s Soap, or the ultra ec0-smug Soap Nuts.

AIO: All-In-One, a cloth diaper that has an absorbent core sewn into a waterproof cloth shell. Absorbency is not adjustable, but sometimes the size of the cover is adjustable.

AI2: All-In-Twos consist of a diaper cover and the kind of terrycloth insert you would find in a pocket diaper. These inserts often snap into the cover, and if the insert is only wet, you can snap in a fresh insert and reuse the cover.

Angel Wings: This is a variation on the Tri-fold technique for folding a prefold diaper. Fold the diaper in thirds lengthwise, but pull the back corners out a bit on each side behind babies hips. This makes it easier to overlap the front and back corners of the prefold at baby’s hips, so you can cover with a cover or Snappi the diaper.

Aplix: Aplix is a brand name, just like velcro, and another term for hook and loop closures. I have used the term velcro on this site in the generic sense, to avoid confusion, but diaper manufacturers often use the brand Aplix, so you will see this term a lot out there.

Bamboo: Bamboo is a fabric used in some cloth diaper wipes and inserts. Bamboo is naturally breathable and anti-bacterial. It’s also stretchier than cotton, so it makes a very versatile diapering product. Bamboo can be grown sustainably and organically as well, so it’s an eco-friendly option.

Blue, Green, Red Stitching: The size of prefold diapers is often designated with the same thread color stitched at each end of the diaper. Infant prefolds often use dark green thread, premium size are blue, and so on. This varies a bit between manufacturers and types of prefolds, so the best way to figure out the size of a diaper is the name: preemie, infant, regular, premium, or toddler. Sizes for these names are pretty standardized.

Chinese Prefolds: Chinese prefolds are just prefold diapers made of Chinese cotton. These diapers are known for being hardier than Indian prefolds but pill more and aren’t quite as soft.

Contour: A contour diaper is like a prefold that is narrower in the center where it goes between baby’s legs, so you don’t have to fold it, and it has a fastener at the hips, such as velcro. Similar to a fitted diaper.

Doubler: A cloth insert for a pocket diaper that is thinner than a standard insert and can be coupled with an insert to add absorbency. Doublers are often made of hemp because it absorbs more liquid than terrycloth but absorbs slowly so it needs a cotton layer over it to prevent leaks. Good for nighttime diapering.

DSQ: DSQ stands for Diaper Service Quality, and refers to high-quality prefold diapers.

Dry Pail: The most common way to store cloth diapers these days is the Dry Pail Method, which just means you keep the diapers in a pail that is NOT filled with water. If you wash them every 2-3 days, your diapers will stay stink- and stain-free for the most part, and soaking them in water will not improve on this at all. If you have a front-loading washer, you will definitely want to use a dry pail to avoid messes when you dump your diapers in the wash.

Envelope Cover: As if you needed another term, now there is such a thing as an “envelope cover,” which is a diaper cover that can function as an AI2, a diaper cover, OR a pocket. The cover is lined with fleece and has a pocket opening, so you can stuff the pocket with an insert or place absorbent stuffings on top of the lining to use it as a cover or AI2 (if it’s an AI2 it will have a snap on the lining so you can snap the proper insert in place on top of the lining). Clear as mud, right? But it sure is versatile.

Fitted: Fitted diapers are cloth diapers that snap or velcro at the hips to fasten onto baby, but they do not have a waterproof outer layer, so you must use a diaper cover over these.

Flat: Flat diapers are, er, flat. These are cloth diapers at their most basic–just a flat, single layer of cotton that the user folds in various ways to fit onto baby. Flat diapers dry more quickly than prefolds but require more folding to use. They are the cheapest form of cloth diapering and, like diaper pins, are a bit of an endangered species because there are so many new varieties of cloth diapers that are quicker to get on baby. If you are focused on economy, though, you can’t get any cheaper.

Hemp: Hemp inserts absorb lots of liquid, but they absorb more slowly than terrycloth, so hemp inserts are often used coupled with a terrycloth insert to add more absorbency to a diaper. Hemp needs to be washed separately a handful of times before use, to strip the natural oils. Then it can be washed with your other diapers.

Hook and Loop Closure: This is another word for a velcro closure on a diaper. Velcro is a brand-name, so diaper manufacturers often use the term hook and loop, or the brand-name Aplix, instead.

Hybrid: Hybrid diapers consist of a cloth diaper cover and a disposable–often compostable–insert. These are popular for travel, because they can cut down on laundry and diaper bag bulk. People who love hybrids appreciate that they can go “half-cloth” without guilt. People who don’t like hybrids dislike having to dispose of a dirty cover and a dirty insert in two different places, plus sometimes disposable inserts don’t absorb as well as cloth, which equals more soiled covers than you bargained for.

Indian Prefolds: Indian prefolds are just prefolds made of Indian cotton, which has a reputation for softness. They are slightly less durable than Chinese prefolds but pill less.

Insert: A diaper insert is a fabric rectangle that has several layers sewn together. The standard pocket diaper insert or All-In-Two insert is made of terrycloth, but inserts can also be made of bamboo or hemp.

Liners: Diaper liners are either flushable or washable single-layer pieces of paper or fleece that keep poop off your diapers. They make it easy to get the poop into the toilet, so you don’t have to take the whole diaper over to the toilet to scrape it off or deal with stained diapers. Liners are a convenience item. You don’t need them to cloth diaper, but if you hate dealing with solid poop these might make diapering easier for you. If you want to try them, you could buy just one or two washable liners, or even make your own out of clearance fleece swaddling blankets cut into insert-size rectangles.

Longies: Longies are long-legged wool diaper covers that double as pajamas or pants. They absorb leaks and are also breathable.

Ply: Ply is a term for the number of layers in a prefold diaper. You will see notations like this: 4x8x4, 3x6x3, 4x6x4, etc. This means that the prefold has 8 layers of fabric, or 8 ply, sewn into the center and 4 layers on each side. Look for the higher numbers for a more absorbent diaper. “Regular” diapers are 4x6x4 ply, but “Premium” are 4x8x4. Premium cost a little more but will work for longer because of the extra layers/absorbency.

Pocket: A pocket diaper is a cloth diaper that has a waterproof shell lined with fleece or microfleece, and an opening at the front or back of the diaper between these two layers creates a pocket you can stuff cloth inserts into in order to adjust the absorbency of the diaper.

Prefold: Prefolds are several layers of cloth, usually cotton, that have been sewn together so there are more layers, and more absorbency, down the center of the diaper. These can be folded various ways to fit on a baby, and need to be covered with a waterproof diaper cover.

PUL: The game-changer for cloth diapers, this laminated fabric is breathable cloth AND waterproof at the same time. It’s magic, basically. Machine washable and dryable, durable, flexible, and fabulous. Pail liners are made with PUL these days, which means your diaper pail liner is both waterproof and machine washable along with your diapers. Wet bags are also made of PUL, as are most diaper covers.

Snappi: Snappis are the replacement for diaper pins. They are stretchy plastic fasteners that grab a prefold or flat diaper at both hips and on the center of the diaper to keep it snug. They won’t scratch or poke baby. Invented by a cloth-diapering dad. Hats off to him!

Soaker Pants: Soaker pants are wool diaper covers that are a full pair of pants with long legs. They work as diaper covers to absorb leaks, and they double as pajamas or pants.

Soap Nuts: Soap nuts are a natural detergent that comes from the oils of the dried fruit of the Soapberry tree, which grows in Asia. You can place a few of these in a bag directly in with your laundry and reuse them until they disintegrate, composting the remains. Soap nuts to do not create suds. You can also buy soap nuts in powder form, which goes in with your laundry directly, or a liquid form that goes in your detergent dispenser.

Tri-fold: One way to fold a prefold diaper. Just fold the diaper in thirds lengthwise. Voila! Tri-folded.

Twist/Bikini Twist: One way to fold a prefold diaper. Hold one end of the prefold in each hand, then twist one wrist toward you. That’s a bikini twist. It’s good for when you want the most absorbency underneath baby (i.e. good for girls).

Wet bag: These cool bags are made of PUL, a laminated fabric that is waterproof but machine washable, so you can store your diapers in one of these on the go and then throw the diapers and the wet bag into the wash when you get home. When baby grows up, you can use the same wet bags for wet swimsuits, or to keep dirty clothes separate in your luggage when travelling.

Wicking: Wicking happens when the inside of your diaper, such as a prefold or fitted diaper, peeks out of the cover and gets moisture on baby’s clothing or bedding. To avoid wicking, make sure the insides stay stucked inside the diaper cover or shell.

Wing Droop: Wing droop is what causes diapers to leak out of the leg holes. It happens when the diaper is fastened either too loosely at the leg or at to rakish of an angle, and the lower layer of diaper droops down over the leg.

Wipe Solution: You can make your own diaper wipes by soaking cloth wipes in a solution of liquid soap, essential oil, and/or carrier oil and other conditioners. You can also put the solution in a spray bottle and spray it on a wipe or on baby directly. Check out zany-zebra.com for wipe solution recipes.

Wool Cover: Wool is naturally breathable and absorbs leaks like you wouldn’t believe, so it makes a great diaper cover. Wool covers even come in long pant varieties and can be used as bulletproof nighttime diaper/pajamas. These are called soaker pants or longies. Wool needs to be washed separately from your other diapers and needs to occasionally be lanolized, so read up on wool before you commit. They are one of the more expensive diaper options but people who use them swear they are unbeatable for performance and comfort, and of course they’re all-natural. More affordable wool options include snapping wrap-style covers that work just like PUL covers over prefolds or fitteds, but they’re more breathable.

Wrap-Style Cover: The popular diaper covers today fit snugly against baby, fastening with velcro or snaps over a fitted or prefold diaper. They are usually made of PUL, a laminated waterproof fabric, which is machine washable and dryable. If a diaper is just wet, you can throw it in the pail and put a fresh diaper inside the same wrap cover to be reused again. They’re pretty fabulous. Wool covers also come in wrap styles these days, but they need to be hand washed. Also reusable after wet, though, because the lanolin in the wool neutralizes urine (turns it to water), so you can let your wool covers air dry and then reuse them.