Reusable diaper inserts are made from a variety of fabrics and materials, but they all serve the same purpose, to absorb liquids to make sure that your little one stays comfortable and leak free. Finding the best cloth diaper inserts is a question all its own, but with a variety of materials and absorbancies to choose from, the right insert can really perfect your cloth diapering system.
Diaper insert pads are an affordable way to expand the usability of your other cloth diapers. Designed for use with pocket diapers, inserts can also easily be added to other diaper styles to add some extra absorbency. If you’re finding that your existing cloth diapers just need an extra boost, adding a diaper insert is a great way to expand its usefulness.
You can use cloth diaper inserts over and over again by washing them between uses. Good diaper inserts will last you for years and are a great investment in your baby’s comfort.
Reusable diaper inserts are a great way to go green and reduce the amount of waste you produce. Not only that, diaper inserts are also super soft, and can hold up to three times their weight in liquid! You'll be surprised at how easy it is to use these cloth diaper inserts. You simply place them in your pocket diaper or on top of another cloth diaper itself putting the whole thing on your baby. And considering how many years it takes a diaper to decompose, any cloth diapering is a win.
Knowing which type of cloth diaper insert you need for your baby's cloth diapers is crucial because they are available in a variety of materials and sizes. The best types of inserts for cloth diapers will be absorbent, quick-drying, and affordable. Here are some of the most popular options:
Bamboo Diaper Inserts - These are made from bamboo fibers and are very soft against your baby's skin. Bamboo is known for its absorbency power, it can hold a lot of liquid! Bamboo inserts are the cheapest option, but we do love how it’s made from renewable resources!
Microfiber Inserts - These cloth diaper inserts are made from polyester fibers and offer a great balance between performance and cost. While not the most absorbent option available, microfiber diaper inserts do a good job at soaking up liquids and are a good all-around budget option.
Hemp Cloth Diaper Inserts - Hemp is another great diaper insert option. Hemp may be the most absorbent option, but it does absorb a little slower than some other options, so some parents combine hemp with other faster-absorbing inserts to create an awesome custom solution. But other parents have great success with hemp inserts alone.
The answer can be a little complicated and depends on how you’re using your diaper inserts, but we’ve looked at all the variables in our post on “How Many Cloth Diapers Do You Need?” In short, figure out how many inserts you’ll go through in a day and multiple that by how many days you want to go in between washings. For example, if you’re using pocket diapers, you might use 8 inserts per day. Then if you want to do laundry every 3 days, you’ll need 24 cloth diaper inserts. But you’ll need fewer inserts if you’re using them to boost your cloth diaper absorbency overnight, for example.
Basically, you’ll change diaper inserts every time you change your baby’s diaper. How often that happens depends on your child and on their age, from 12 times a day as a newborn down to just a handful of times a day for toddlers.
For overnight use, cloth diaper inserts are an excellent option. Many parents find that leaks are most common overnight, especially as babies learn to sleep longer and longer periods. If you’re not using a specially designed overnight cloth diaper, a good diaper insert can be added on top of your regular cloth diapering solution before bedtime. This extra absorbancy can often make sure that you last the night leak free. There are even nighttime diaper inserts just to solve this problem.