The Leaky Diaper
Below are causes to why a diaper may not work properly.
Fit -
Every baby is built different. No matter what kind of diaper is on your baby it should fit snugly secured around the child, but not tight enough to leave red marks. Prefolds, flats and contours maybe be a little out dated in these new diapering times, but they all allow the absorbent materials to lay close to the baby where they need it most These all usually need to be matched with a cover or waterproof outer and are the best choices for a night time use. Pockets, fitteds and AIO's generally have elastic around the legs which can wear out over time. If you notice the elastic is going out, there are simple ways to fix them and some big companies even sell repair kits.
Absorbency - Most newborns should be changed every 1-2 hours (even if they're using a disposable diaper) and older babies can go 3-4 hours. One insert per diaper is usually sufficient for several hours. For night time uses, you will usually need to double up. Materials play a big roll in this department. Microfiber, zorb, cotton, hemp and bamboo are thirsty fabrics, but if you do not have a sufficient amount of fabric layers, the urine will have no other place to go except out the sides of the diaper. Be careful not to over-stuff your diapers so the elastic can stay around the legs.
Baby - Pockets are generally lined with micro-fleece which is a wicking fabric and not absorbent. Some babies do not pee forcefully enough (mostly at night) for the urine to pass through the micro-fleece into the absorbent material behind, which causes it to run out the legs.
Build Up - Some diapers just wont absorb anything! This can be caused by a build up of detergent. If your fabrics are repelling water (which can be tested by running an insert, prefold or other absorbent fabric under the faucet) you may need to strip your diapers. For more information and techniques, check out our Stripping Methods page.
Construction - Every once in a while you may come across a diaper that is poorly made. It could come from a large manufacturing company or a small WAHM business. The best way to avoid cloth diaper heart ache is to research before you purchase and never buy an entire stash in one brand before you have tested one or two out.
Absorbency - Most newborns should be changed every 1-2 hours (even if they're using a disposable diaper) and older babies can go 3-4 hours. One insert per diaper is usually sufficient for several hours. For night time uses, you will usually need to double up. Materials play a big roll in this department. Microfiber, zorb, cotton, hemp and bamboo are thirsty fabrics, but if you do not have a sufficient amount of fabric layers, the urine will have no other place to go except out the sides of the diaper. Be careful not to over-stuff your diapers so the elastic can stay around the legs.
Baby - Pockets are generally lined with micro-fleece which is a wicking fabric and not absorbent. Some babies do not pee forcefully enough (mostly at night) for the urine to pass through the micro-fleece into the absorbent material behind, which causes it to run out the legs.
Build Up - Some diapers just wont absorb anything! This can be caused by a build up of detergent. If your fabrics are repelling water (which can be tested by running an insert, prefold or other absorbent fabric under the faucet) you may need to strip your diapers. For more information and techniques, check out our Stripping Methods page.
Construction - Every once in a while you may come across a diaper that is poorly made. It could come from a large manufacturing company or a small WAHM business. The best way to avoid cloth diaper heart ache is to research before you purchase and never buy an entire stash in one brand before you have tested one or two out.