We all belong to one of those cloth diaper groups on Facebook. Right? One of those groups, where everyone and their great aunt is praising pocket cloth diapers as the end all and be all of the worlds.
“I love my Happy Flute!”
The bumGenius 5.0 works perfect”
“Don’t know where I’d be without Alva.”
“Nothing better in life than a pocket cloth diaper and some charcoal bamboo.”
Oh ya, I call bullshit.
7 out of 10 times when people talk about cloth diapering they think about cheap cloth diapers and 85% of the time this is a pocket cloth diaper. Not real statistics – just my perceptions of cloth diaper facebook groups.
A pocket cloth diaper is a diaper with a pocket in it that you put the insert in. The pocket is typically made of microfleece, but sometimes other materials like AWJ (in Funky Fluff), or microsuede in bumGenius.
Today, I’m calling bullshit on the simplicity and awesome-ness of pocket cloth diapers.
Hey guys, I use affiliate links. This post is my honest opinion and not influenced by anyone.
Pocket cloth diapers suck.
- Standard Microfibre Inserts – Microfibre sucks because it feels weird on my hands and because it’s synthetic and because it’s not the best choice for everyone. The list goes on.
- It’s usually standard. That sucks.
- Girl wants choice.
- Stuffing Pockets – In what world, does a cloth diapering parent have the extra time to stuff cloth diapers? The mere act of putting an insert INSIDE a cloth diaper with ginormous adult sized hands is cause for a mental health break.
- But because they come with microfibre the inserts HAVE to go inside. Fuck that shit.
- Save time, use natural fibre inserts and cloth diaper covers and no more stuffing! This is also why I don’t like all in one cloth diapers (some of them).
- Gaps & Fussing Galore – If you stick an oversized fluffy microfibre insert into a pocket cloth diaper this sometimes gives room for fluff space and weird fit issues. If the fit isn’t just right, this can lead to leg gaps and spacing issues which equals LEAKY WET NIGHTMARES.
- Not always, the case, but the mama’s I’ve seen in real life who struggle with gaps and leaks, the problem was instantly resolved when we just put the insert against baby’s skin and the diaper overtop. Something about not being inside the diaper gave the diaper MORE ROOM to fit OVER TOP of the insert and create that nice tight seal for the elastics in the crease of the leg.
- Really, microfibre inserts are unusually wide, and they seem to just add space where space isn’t needed.
- This problem can even happen in other brands of pocket cloth diapers, and an issue I struggle with when using Funky Fluff Diapers and when I stopped stuffing them my leaks went away.
- One & Done – It’s no fun when you can only use a cloth diaper once and not ever again. With a pocket cloth diaper the diaper is tossed in the laundry pail for wash day, but with covers, you can use them again.
- Sadly, all in one cloth diapers have this fate too.
- But not a cloth diaper cover! You can reuse them, even if they are lined.
- Diapering is NOT rocket science – other care providers can figure out other cloth diapering systems that don’t involve pockets. All in ones, to hybrids, to snap-ins, and prefolds and covers are all easily managed by people have all ages and abilities. Want to learn more about the different types of cloth diapers? Check out this basic podcast from the Cloth Diaper Podcast.
Consider Other Options
Pocket cloth diapers are not the cheapest way to cloth diaper.
Yes, you can buy cheap grey market cloth diapers off Amazon and Etsy, and but really, what the track record on that?
As an advocate for sustainable consumerism, consider shopping in Canada, and check out the budget-friendly options on the market. Cloth diapering is not about having a million cloth diapers. Cloth diapering is about staying on budget, doing your part for the environment, and keeping baby health.
Every year I do the Flats & Handwashing challenge, and last year I showcased how I could cloth diaper a toddler for $100. It’s possible to do it.
Pocket cloth diapers are not the easiest way to cloth diaper. We need to break up with this myth. It’s just one way to cloth diaper, and for many families, like mine, it’s the hardest way to cloth diaper.
So, what else is out there?
So many other amazing options and depending on what you need will depend on what will work best for you.
Some families find pocket cloth diapers are AMAZING, but that’s just not me and my cloth diapering experience.
For me, the time to stuff cloth diapers is not worth any perceived value. Instead, I rather use a stash of all in one cloth diapers (which I also find frustrating), or prefold cloth diapers and covers. I prefer to kick it old school because it means less fuss on laundry day.
I’m here to tell you, and encourage you, to check out other options and see what might work for you. That’s why I suggest these three cloth diapers to get you started and this is my perception of the best cloth diaper predicament.
There’s no one way to cloth diaper, and if you’re working on building a stash, start with a little of everything and pick and choose what works for you. It seems daunting, but you can do this and so can the people in your life. It’s just a diaper, we got this.
Oh my GAWD this post is so timely!
I literally read blog posts like this for YEARS but when the time came for the rubber to meet the road (or…cloth to meet the hiney?) I agonized over which type of cloth diaper to go with. Finally made the decision to use AI2 and mostly Thirsties brand. Great! Added them to my registry (this is our first kiddo), figured I wouldn’t get ANY because no one in our family has cloth diapered and probably secretly thinks we’re crazy!
In the meantime, someone want to GIVE us a big box of barely used cloth diapers, so of course I accepted. Turns out, they’re all pocket diapers. Ok, that’s fine, I’d read you should have a couple different styles anyways, this will still work if we get some smaller sized AI2…
At my shower last weekend, someone gave us a big set of brand new ALVA pocket diapers. More pockets! What is people’s fascination with them?? Do they not understand anything about the other kinds (or like, have the ability to read)? Needless to say, they WEREN’T on the registry and are getting exchanged. I don’t have anything against Alva – we may have bought them if we’d wanted pocket diapers. But nope, bye felicia.
We love our pocket diapers! I encourage you to not throw the baby out with the bath water! They aren’t horrible, as this author implied.
I agree, pockets are nice for my husband while I am at work. He can’t seem to get a snappy to work for nothing, lol. But I use cotton prefolds to stuff. Microfiber is terrible. I also have a small stash of Second hand AIOs but find they tend to get compression leaks (microfiber, bleach).
We love our pocket diapers! I would encourage you to try different types of inserts, ensure you’re changing your little one in a timely manner, and fitting it properly. Typically, it’s not the cloth diaper that’s the problem, but how it’s being used!
I’m no stranger to cloth diapers and inserts, but I still definitely don’t like them and hate recommending them. I find that exactly that people too easily use pocket diapers incorrectly and that leads to problems. I’d rather encourage people to use a system that’s less likely to be a finicky pain.
Preach sista ✊?✊??. I can’t bring myself to do more steps though, so probably won’t ever go back to covers+ inserts ??♀️. And even though I use microfibre daily it really is nasty stuff… I probably need one of those microfibre catcher balls. ALSO Maggie may be my fav print ever.
We used diapers and covers with our first and then pocket diapers with our second. Our kids our super slender and we never had an issue with either system and really liked our pocket diapers. I will admit though that microfibre is so scratchy on the skin, we used hemp at night and much preferred that! No more cloth diapering in our future as we are done having kids but there are definitely lots of great options out there!
We use pocket diapers and the only issue we ran into was at 9 months, she started leaking through them at night. We switched to disposables, and guess what, she still leaks through those at least twice a week! She’s 19 months now. She’s just a heavy wetter and nothing can stop it!
We tried covers and just weren’t a fan. I’m all for using what works best for you, but I think this post is a bit harsh and too negative. I say try pockets if you want, they may just work for you! Not everyone’s experience is the same.
Also dealing with a squirmy baby right now makes me glad I’m not dealing with prefolds! Imagine how much wrestling that would take to pin a diaper on. I can do a pocket while she’s standing! Also, they are the easiest for cleaning poop off. We have a couple of AIO, but spraying those in the toilet was a hassle.
We only use pocket diapers and love them! So simple, easy to use, easy to prep, and relatively cheap! You can definitely get pocket diapers without any inserts or with bamboo, hemp, etc. inserts included. Everyone has different preferences, but I’m personally so glad we went with pockets!
Pockets are def an acquired taste – i had stuffing down to an exact science, and could stuff 20 diapers in about 10 minutes, double inserts and all – but the trick is finding what works. We used flats as inserts, cotton inserts and charcoal for better absorbency. The only problem we had with gaps with pockets, were those that had stretched elastics
Wow, this post is so negative lol. Who cares if people want to buy Alva pockets if that’s what they prefer and can afford? I do agree that microfiber inserts kinda suck, but you’re not obligated to get them as many places now offer them sans insert or allow you to upgrade to bamboo/hemp. Also why the hate for AIOs? They’re easier than any other method and that’s our entire stash now that has worked for us for over 2 years. It’s fine if something doesn’t work for you, but is it necessary to bash a product as a whole when people who are new to cloth will probably see this and feel discouraged to try if all they have are pockets? Not every diaper style works for every baby and family.
I felt because there were a million and one posts out there dedicated to the awesomeness of pocket cloth diapers it was about time I shed some light on the situation from my perspective. I see so many parents struggle with pocket cloth diapers and misconceptions thrown around that it felt right to share another perspective. Thanks for commenting.
Oh my goodness yes!!!!! I HATE pockets. Even with my tiny hands I had a hard time stuffing, had to double inserts which definitely made them fit weird and I am not a fan of pulling soiled inserts OUT. They were hard enough to get in there when dry, trying to pull them out wet was awful. Sold my entire stash of pockets for g diapers and covers, sooooo much better and way less laundry!
Confession: I used to hate posts like this. How dare people insult the mighty pocket with its ease of use and it’s massive appeal?
I did hours of research into cloth diapering and I knew I wanted prefolds and covers. Somehow, I still ended up with pockets because they looked so darn cute and useful.
I bought a huge stash of second hand Funky Fluff with my twins when they were born. I religiously stuffed pockets for months and couldn’t figure out why I’d get a leak every hour or two. Their clothes got washed more often than the diapers.
I donated all the microfibre, so that wasn’t it. I changed the padding amounts daily. My babies teeny tiny thighs were almost impossible to enclose. We had to go up multiple sizes in pants.
Finally, I switched to prefolds and with my pocket shells acting as covers. Where were these things months ago?! I’m in love with cloth diapering again.
Thank you for making me feel NOT COMPLETELY CRAZY. I actually did buy some ‘grey market’ pockets off Amazon, and while they seem well made, are cute, and fit reasonably well…WHY would I want to wash the whole diaper – waterproof layer and all – after every single little pee?!?
With Thirsties duo and some random cotton prefolds, I go through 1 shell on a good day, or 3-4 on a bad day. The prefolds can be washed and dried at high temps without worrying about causing leaks from waterproof layers breaking down. It takes literally 90 seconds each morning to grab everything from the dryer, put the prefolds in a neat pile, and set them back on the changing table.
I cannot understand pockets, and am glad I’m not the only one. I just wish I had known before I wasted money on a product I won’t use. But hey, that’s what FB marketplace is for…I’m sure there’s someone nearby who will love some ultra-cheap, nearly-new pocket diapers. Hopefully they aren’t as ill-informed as I was, and they might actually want to keep the pockets long-term.
While I find the agony of stuffing pocket diapers annoying most nights, there are some definite pluses to having them. The main one for us is that the daycare will only use diapers that are ready to go. We wouldn’t be able to expect them to use prefolds and cloth diaper covers more than once a piece. AIO would be even harder with the inserts not able to go in the dryer and trying to line dry the whole thing.
I don’t understand all this hate when the main thing you’re complaining about it the pocket feature. Yes, a pocket diaper does have an opening to put the inserts into, but most of what I know is people mainly lay the inserts into the diaper rather than stuff them. Such a simple solution and it would solve all your problems.
Pocket diapers used to be pushed obsessively in the cloth diaper community as the end all and be all choice for diapering. A lot has changed since this was first written in frustration over what was happening in the cloth diaper community.
I was against pockets coming into cloth diapering and we went with covers and prefolds. I loved them but my son has a wetness sensitivity and I would have to put a liner on every time we changed him and if it got bunched up at all he’d have a ton of irritation. We switched to pockets and they are so much easier and better for him. I just stuff the prefolds in the pocket. No more wetness against his skin. If you stuff as you go it takes about 10 seconds longer each diaper change.