Diaper Dictionary
Whether you call them cloth, fluff, nappy's or real diapers, sometimes different terms can get confusing! Here is a small list of the most common terms in the cloth diapering world. If you feel like something is missing, please let us know!
AIO (All-In-One) - Most like a disposable diaper, AIO's have absorbent layers and a waterproof outer built in. They tend to have a longer drying time, but are very easy to use.
AI2 (All-In-Two) - Covers with the option to secure and remove its absorbent layers for faster drying times.
Aplix (Velcro) - An easy hook and loop fastening system for diapers. Great for babies who are on the go and provide a good fit. These tend to wear out faster and can ruin other items in the wash too.
Baby Legs - A now trademarked name for the leg warmers cloth diapered babies use.
Bamboo - This fabric is great for wicking away moisture and used in diapers for its high absorbency. It can have antimicrobial properties and is usually mixed with cotton, polyester or hemp. Bamboo is an eco-friendly choice, as the plant is highly sustainable and usually grows without the use of pesticides.
CD - Cloth Diaper
Cloth Wipes - Economical and environmentally friendly, cloth wipes are the better alternative to disposable wipes. These can be made with an array of fabrics like flannel, cotton, terry, and velour. They are convenient to use with cloth diapers and some brands can fit well in recycled wipe containers, wipe warmers and small wet bags. When soiled, they can be washed in the next diaper cycle.
Contours - Usually sewn into an hour glass shape with no elastic, velcro or snaps, these diapers are a cross between fitteds and prefolds. They are made entirely of absorbent materials and require a snappi or cover.
Cotton - A natural sustainable fabric that easy to care for, soft an inexpensive.
Cover - A PUL (polyurethane laminate), wool or waterproof nylon lined diaper with no absorbency layers. Sometimes made with pretty fabrics on the outside, these work great with flats, fitteds, prefolds and cotton lined inserts. They are one of the most economical choices in diapering because you can use a cover through multiple changes.
CPF (Chinese Prefold) - Cheap Chinese made prefolds for the frugal parent.
Crunchy - A reference to living a natural lifestyle.
AI2 (All-In-Two) - Covers with the option to secure and remove its absorbent layers for faster drying times.
Aplix (Velcro) - An easy hook and loop fastening system for diapers. Great for babies who are on the go and provide a good fit. These tend to wear out faster and can ruin other items in the wash too.
Baby Legs - A now trademarked name for the leg warmers cloth diapered babies use.
Bamboo - This fabric is great for wicking away moisture and used in diapers for its high absorbency. It can have antimicrobial properties and is usually mixed with cotton, polyester or hemp. Bamboo is an eco-friendly choice, as the plant is highly sustainable and usually grows without the use of pesticides.
CD - Cloth Diaper
Cloth Wipes - Economical and environmentally friendly, cloth wipes are the better alternative to disposable wipes. These can be made with an array of fabrics like flannel, cotton, terry, and velour. They are convenient to use with cloth diapers and some brands can fit well in recycled wipe containers, wipe warmers and small wet bags. When soiled, they can be washed in the next diaper cycle.
Contours - Usually sewn into an hour glass shape with no elastic, velcro or snaps, these diapers are a cross between fitteds and prefolds. They are made entirely of absorbent materials and require a snappi or cover.
Cotton - A natural sustainable fabric that easy to care for, soft an inexpensive.
Cover - A PUL (polyurethane laminate), wool or waterproof nylon lined diaper with no absorbency layers. Sometimes made with pretty fabrics on the outside, these work great with flats, fitteds, prefolds and cotton lined inserts. They are one of the most economical choices in diapering because you can use a cover through multiple changes.
CPF (Chinese Prefold) - Cheap Chinese made prefolds for the frugal parent.
Crunchy - A reference to living a natural lifestyle.
Diaper Pail - Wet pails are buckets with water in them that allow the diapers to soak before washing. These can be messy and pose a drowning hazard to small children when not stored properly. Dry pails are Polyurethane Laminate (PUL) or Nylon lined hampers (or garbage cans) that can hold the diapers without wicking, dripping, or stinking up the house.
Diaper Sprayer - Can be installed without the need of a plumber to the toilet and used to spray off solids from soiled diapers, to clean training potties, for personal hygiene or to clean the bath!
Doubler - An optional second layer for extra absorbency.
DSQ (Diaper Service Quality) - This means an item has been made to withstand the abuse of many washes and uses.
Flannel - Usually found as 100% cotton, this absorbant fabric has a soft side that is great for layering and lining diapers.
Flat - Made with either one or several layers of fabric (usually 100% cotton gauze), these old school diapers fit the most range in size. While most require folding and pinning, these dry the fastest and are the easiest to clean.
Diaper Sprayer - Can be installed without the need of a plumber to the toilet and used to spray off solids from soiled diapers, to clean training potties, for personal hygiene or to clean the bath!
Doubler - An optional second layer for extra absorbency.
DSQ (Diaper Service Quality) - This means an item has been made to withstand the abuse of many washes and uses.
Flannel - Usually found as 100% cotton, this absorbant fabric has a soft side that is great for layering and lining diapers.
Flat - Made with either one or several layers of fabric (usually 100% cotton gauze), these old school diapers fit the most range in size. While most require folding and pinning, these dry the fastest and are the easiest to clean.
Flat Folding Tutorials
Fluff - A reference to the sometimes bulky cloth diaper.
Fitted - These are made entirely of absorbent materials and still require a cover. They usually come with snaps or velcro to secure them and have elastic around the legs and back to insure a good fit and keep messes in.
Granola - See Crunchy.
Hemp - A trim, natural fabric great for lining diapers and unlike MicroFiber, it can be used next to the babies skin.
Hyena - A mom who stalks hard to find diapers.
Insert - A long rectangle of microfiber, zorb, bamboo or hemp, these are primarily used for stuffing inside pockets. Some inserts can be made with a cotton layer on top so they can lay against the babies skin inside a cover.
Lanolin - Used to waterproof wool covers.
Laundry Tabs - Small squares on the inside of diapers with aplix that prevent the hook tabs to ruin themselves or other items while going through the wash.
Liners - Flush-able pieces of fabric that line diapers for easier cleaning and fewer stains. These can also be reusable and made with flannel, but are generally laid in when using diaper creams and ointments that are not cloth diaper friendly.
Longies - Fleece or wool pants made to cover prefolds and fitteds.
MicroFiber - Also known as MicroTerry, is a synthetic fabric used for it's absorbency in diapers. It must be covered with a wicking fabric like polyester or bamboo to keep the childs skin safe, as it can dry it out and cause rashes.
MircoFleece - Thin fleece that allows moisture to pass through into an absorbant material. Mainly used in pocket diapers and not recommended for night time use, since babies sometimes pee with less force than needed to pass through fleece during their sleep.
Fitted - These are made entirely of absorbent materials and still require a cover. They usually come with snaps or velcro to secure them and have elastic around the legs and back to insure a good fit and keep messes in.
Granola - See Crunchy.
Hemp - A trim, natural fabric great for lining diapers and unlike MicroFiber, it can be used next to the babies skin.
Hyena - A mom who stalks hard to find diapers.
Insert - A long rectangle of microfiber, zorb, bamboo or hemp, these are primarily used for stuffing inside pockets. Some inserts can be made with a cotton layer on top so they can lay against the babies skin inside a cover.
Lanolin - Used to waterproof wool covers.
Laundry Tabs - Small squares on the inside of diapers with aplix that prevent the hook tabs to ruin themselves or other items while going through the wash.
Liners - Flush-able pieces of fabric that line diapers for easier cleaning and fewer stains. These can also be reusable and made with flannel, but are generally laid in when using diaper creams and ointments that are not cloth diaper friendly.
Longies - Fleece or wool pants made to cover prefolds and fitteds.
MicroFiber - Also known as MicroTerry, is a synthetic fabric used for it's absorbency in diapers. It must be covered with a wicking fabric like polyester or bamboo to keep the childs skin safe, as it can dry it out and cause rashes.
MircoFleece - Thin fleece that allows moisture to pass through into an absorbant material. Mainly used in pocket diapers and not recommended for night time use, since babies sometimes pee with less force than needed to pass through fleece during their sleep.
Nappy - A term for diapers generally used in Europe.
OS (One Size) - A diaper designed to fit a large range of sizes like from birth to potty training. These diapers can come with rise snaps down the front and/or adjustable elastic around the legs to help extend the life of the diaper.
Pocket - Fabric lined covers with an opening in the front and/or back to allow inserts to be placed. These versatile diapers can work with microfiber and zorb inserts, flats and prefolds as inserts or as a cover in a pinch. Lining materials can be anything from micro-fleece to organic bamboo velour, so long as the materials wick away moisture from the babies skin to the hidden insert. The outside of a pocket is generally a PUL (polyurethane laminate) material which is waterproof yet allows the skin to breath more than disposable diapers. Other outside materials include fleece and nylon.
Pins - A more fickle system for fastening diapers, but can be easily learned. They can prick the parent or baby, but are harder for toddlers to remove.
Prefold - Similar to flats, this diapering option has extra layering down the middle.
PUL (Polyurethane laminate) - A plastic laminated fabric that usually comes in two thicknesses, 1mil and 2mil, that serves as a waterproof barrier for many cloth diapering products and breaths more than the plastics in disposable diapers.
Pull on Pants - Sometimes called Plastic Pants, these can be used over any absorbant lining like Covers without the need to use snaps or velcro.
OS (One Size) - A diaper designed to fit a large range of sizes like from birth to potty training. These diapers can come with rise snaps down the front and/or adjustable elastic around the legs to help extend the life of the diaper.
Pocket - Fabric lined covers with an opening in the front and/or back to allow inserts to be placed. These versatile diapers can work with microfiber and zorb inserts, flats and prefolds as inserts or as a cover in a pinch. Lining materials can be anything from micro-fleece to organic bamboo velour, so long as the materials wick away moisture from the babies skin to the hidden insert. The outside of a pocket is generally a PUL (polyurethane laminate) material which is waterproof yet allows the skin to breath more than disposable diapers. Other outside materials include fleece and nylon.
Pins - A more fickle system for fastening diapers, but can be easily learned. They can prick the parent or baby, but are harder for toddlers to remove.
Prefold - Similar to flats, this diapering option has extra layering down the middle.
PUL (Polyurethane laminate) - A plastic laminated fabric that usually comes in two thicknesses, 1mil and 2mil, that serves as a waterproof barrier for many cloth diapering products and breaths more than the plastics in disposable diapers.
Pull on Pants - Sometimes called Plastic Pants, these can be used over any absorbant lining like Covers without the need to use snaps or velcro.
RLR - A powder additive used to strip diapers.
RNG - Rockin' Green Detergent
Shorties - Fleece or wool shorts made to cover prefolds and fitteds.
Snaps - Less adjustable than Aplix, but take longer to wear out and do not create the worry of ruining other items in the washer and dryer.
Snappi - A safer upgrade to pins, these Y shaped clips help hold diapers like prefolds, flats, and fitteds together.
Soaker - Fleece or wool water resistant covers that resemble underwear.
Stripping - The process in which build up from detergent, oils, and other chemicals is removed from diapers. Check out our page on Stripping Methods for more information.
WAHM ( Work At Home Mom) - Many diaper brands are made by work at home parents to provide income for their families.
Wet Bag - A nylon or PUL lined bag with a drawstring, zipper or aplix closure that holds dirty diapers in lue of a diaper pail.
Wicking - Some fabrics are extra "thirsty" and tend to pull moisture away from other fabrics. While wicking from the microfleece barrier to the insert hidden inside is a good thing, wicking from the inside of the diaper to a cotton outer can cause clothes to become damp.
Wipe Solution - Generally a home made mix of natural oils and water used with cloth wipes to aid in cleaning dirty bums. For more information on the different things you can add to a wipe solution, check out our Home Remedies page.
RNG - Rockin' Green Detergent
Shorties - Fleece or wool shorts made to cover prefolds and fitteds.
Snaps - Less adjustable than Aplix, but take longer to wear out and do not create the worry of ruining other items in the washer and dryer.
Snappi - A safer upgrade to pins, these Y shaped clips help hold diapers like prefolds, flats, and fitteds together.
Soaker - Fleece or wool water resistant covers that resemble underwear.
Stripping - The process in which build up from detergent, oils, and other chemicals is removed from diapers. Check out our page on Stripping Methods for more information.
WAHM ( Work At Home Mom) - Many diaper brands are made by work at home parents to provide income for their families.
Wet Bag - A nylon or PUL lined bag with a drawstring, zipper or aplix closure that holds dirty diapers in lue of a diaper pail.
Wicking - Some fabrics are extra "thirsty" and tend to pull moisture away from other fabrics. While wicking from the microfleece barrier to the insert hidden inside is a good thing, wicking from the inside of the diaper to a cotton outer can cause clothes to become damp.
Wipe Solution - Generally a home made mix of natural oils and water used with cloth wipes to aid in cleaning dirty bums. For more information on the different things you can add to a wipe solution, check out our Home Remedies page.