I love a good doubler. It can make your favorite daytime diaper worthy for use during long naps or even nighttime.
Doublers come in many different fabrics, sizes and absorbency.
Here are a list of my favorites:
- Hemp Babies Diaper Doublers: LOVE the trimness! I ordered 10 from Cottonbabies to go in the 3.0 AIOs I bought. I wanted to be able to use the 3.0s at night and not have 2 different stashes. Camden has increased his output the last few days so I’ve learned to add one during car trips as well :) You could stuff 3 of these in a pocket diaper and still have a trim fit.
- sustainablebabyish Organic Bamboo Fleece Doublers: I add these to fitted diapers. The bamboo is absorbent and lays in nicely in small diapers.
- Kissaluvs Cotton Fleece Super Soaker Doublers: I am SO very glad I tried these. They are thicker than the Hemp Babies but super absorbent. I can add one of these to Bum Genius 3.0 AIO or Tots Bots Easy Fit for Sterling at night with no leaks.
- Softbums Bamboo Mini pod: like the sustainablebabyish, these are easy to grab and lay in a fitted diaper for that extra boost. Softbums, unlike sbish, stay soft and don’t curl up after repeated wash/dry cycles.
- Ragababe Organic Cotton Insert: thick, absorbent, soft. Even with a snap on the bottom I’ll lay these in a diaper or stuff it in a pocket for extra absorbency.
If your favorite diaper is a pocket then finding a trim, super absorbent insert is your nighttime solution.
- Knickernappies SuperDo 2G Insert: the #1 rated insert on Diaper Pin. Everyone raves about them, I haven’t used them. They do come prepped which is a nice time saver.
- Blueberry One Size Combination Inserts: this was my go-to nighttime insert when Paisley (now 4) was a baby. She was a heavy wetter and these combined with a Blueberry minky side-snap pocket (which they no longer make :( ) was my favorite combination.
- Hemp Babies Little/Bigger Weeds: did you know these were designed by Jenn Labit of Cottonbabies/Bum Genius? I just learned that. Using a flat is a great way to provide extra absorbency and still have a trim bottom. Flats can also be used with pins or a snappi inside a cover.
Remember when combining fabrics for nighttime that you lay microfiber on top of hemp. Why? Microfiber absorbs quickly, hemp very slow. As the microfiber fills up it will flow into the hemp slowly.
Also, just for note, don’t ever lay microfiber directly against babies skin. The high absorbency of microfiber will suck the moisture from baby’s skin causing redness and rash.
Having a selection of doublers on hand is an easy fix during those times of transition for your child.
Currently, both of my boys are giving me headaches with their floods. Sterling was a frequent small amount peer and now he holds it for long periods and when he goes he goes. This is great for potty training, not so great for times when the diaper isn’t prepared for excessive amounts.
Camden is 7 weeks old now and has increased his output. Bigger bladder and more nursing will cause that. I’ve had to make a concerted effort to change him more frequently to prevent multiple outfit changes throughout the day.
Another step I take is to double up the inserts or snap-in if I know I won’t change him for a while. For example, I always add 2 inserts to the Ragababe 2-step when we use it. The Ragababe 2-step system has become my favorite cloth diaper on the go. The snap-ins take up less space in the diaper bag which is limited when you have 2 in diapers.
Faith says
Trying to figure out what kind of doublers/inserts I need to purchase. In fact, I’m so new to CDing that I don’t even know if doublers and inserts are the same things! Long story short, I have 12 month old twins and we’ve been CDing for about 6 months. I own all Kawaii diapers with a variety of styles, and I LOVE the diapers themselves. My issues come with the microfiber inserts. My heavy wetting twins are basically soaking through everything at this point – I use two mf inserts inside the Kawaii pockets each night, and they leak everywhere. Sheets and clothing changes multiple times per day. I just can’t do this anymore – I’m busy enough just having two babies! I’m having MAJOR stink issues (not ammonia, thankfully) with the mf as well – which I’ve heard is par for the course. Right now, I’m soaking all my mf inserts in a hot bath of RnG because we’ve tried bleaching, boiling, sunning, rinsing, Tide, and NOTHING gets rid of it! So irritated! I have about 50 inserts, and all of them have the same issues. Now I’m wondering if it’s better to switch to bamboo and hemp rather than throw in the CD towel. I’ve already purchased some Hemp Babies Diaper Doublers but haven’t yet used them – I want to know if I should buy some bamboo or hemp flats to use with them. I can’t afford to spend a fortune, and am willing to buy on eBay if I have to. Wondering what would be a good combination with the Hemp Babies. Will I have major leak issues if I use ALL hemp? Is cotton fleece the same as microfiber? If it’s just cotton, will I be changing diapers a LOT more often? I don’t mind that, honestly. What kind of bamboo inserts/flats are best? Any suggestions on combos would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Vickie says
Have you or have you heard of covering premade microfiber inserts with cotton (ie flannel or jersey), suede cloth or another cloth to make them more suitable to put against baby’s skin? Any ideas or or direction would be helpful.
kristi says
Ok, so new to this world! Almost feels like my head will pop off with so much information. Seems like there are too many diaper options to love. how do you pick the right ones…it seems like you need diff ones for day and night and going out, right? My hubby sug that I make my top tick for each category and just buy one of each, to try it out, see if its the best fit for us. But what would be the #1 pick in each section if you could only get one, and do i need all these categories?
Every time I read a diff review, I think I like that item best! Ragabebe, Rumparooz, Grasshopper, Bum Genius AIO, Kiwaii, Flip…. what to do.
We are starting late to the game. i have a 3 year old daughter and a one year old son… then also one on the way. i want to start cloth diapering my son now so i can have a better handle on it by the time #3 comes.
The other question i have not been able to find any answers for:
My 3 year old has been day time potty trained for over a year now, but still has nighttime wetness every night. She is reg size but tall, 40 lbs, and 41 inches tall. is there some thing out there I can use for her at night that is not a disposable night time pullup?
Thank you for all your help! i love your web page and what you are doing!
Thanks,
Kristi
Plus added question…
Autumn Beck says
Kristi, there is a whole world of cloth trainers available to you :) Banana Peels Diapers has a nice selection.
You don’t have to have a different diaper for day, night and going out. I pretty much use Bum Genius AIO on Camden all the time. For nighttime I just add a Hemp babies booster or Kissaluvs booster. These diapers are being discontinued so you can get a bunch for a great price. Check http://www.cottonbabies.com to see what they have left. Other retailers have them discounted as well.
Ragababe are great for anytime but are harder to get. Flip and Rumparooz work all the time. You won’t go wrong trying out any of the ones you listed. They are all great.
kristi says
thank you so much Autumn. A few more questions….
1. why are they being discontinued?
2. how many of each size will I need? 20 or so?
3. I was going to wait to buy the smaller sizes for the new baby closer to when i will be needing them, fall. Should i go on any buy what I can of these ones now, while there are out there, or just try them on my son?
4. you said to add the booster at night, will I also need to buy a daytime pad as well right?
thank you!!!!!!
kristi
Erin says
We’re expecting our first baby this summer, and I’m wondering how many doublers I should be included in a well-stocked stash? I realize we might not need them right away, but I like to be prepared. My plan is to start with about 24 diapers, a combination of pockets (BG 4.0 and Rumparooz) and prefolds/inserts with covers (Flip and Thirsties Duo). Is 6 hemp doublers a decent amount? Or should I aim for closer to 10-12?
Erin says
I should have mentioned, I’m specifically interested in the Hemp Babies Diaper Doublers. Thanks!
Autumn Beck says
6 should be good. I use one hemp baby in a bg aio at night.
Alison says
There are so many choices! I started building my collection of diapers about a year ago and now I think I have every kind! My favorites are pretty much the natural ones like hemp, cotton, and bamboo. I can’t believe how absorbent bamboo actually is! I also had so much trouble deciding between snaps and velcro. Snaps just seemed scary at first but I like them so much better now! I really like having a variety of options but my ‘go to’ tends to be the EcoBritches.
Emily D says
Why didn’t the rumparooz 6r soaker make the list? I seem to remember you mentioning them before… I hav ejust one and so far it’s good, but it hasn’t been pushed very far yet.
Autumn Beck says
Rumparooz 6r is awesome! It’s just not as trim as the ones I listed.
Cerita says
So I just startih CD’ing and I am curious about Latin the microtones on the Baby’s skin directly as well because that is all that infant for newborn doublers. Is it really that bad and if so what do you recommend instead for a newborn doubler?? Thanks!
Autumn Beck says
you can’t lay microfiber against baby’s skin. for a newborn doubler you can go with Kissaluvs boosters or Grovia.
Shelly says
I’m getting overwhelmed. Baby is still in my womb and I think it would be nice to cloth diaper, but it is quite complicated when you really start looking into it. I just want a simple diaper that is absorbent enough to make it through the night. I also hope it will fit in his or her clothes. I don’t mind spending a little more to get all of these benefits. I just want to buy 20-24 diapers that will adjust to my growing baby and never buy another diaper. I’m considering using disposables because I’m too confused on which type of diaper and what brand is really the best.
Natalie says
Shelly, when I started cloth diapering, that’s what I said too! I just wanted one system and that was it. But the more you read, the more you want to try a bunch of different kinds. Now my stash has about 5 or 6 different kinds! Pocket dipes are good for baby sitters and husbands. I have some of those! Fitteds are good for night time. I have some of those! Covers and inserts are good for the rest of the time and are more economical. I have some of those! Buy one or two of a few different kinds before you commit yourself to buying a bunch of one kind. And yes, cloth diapering is addictive! :)
Allison says
Shelly-
I agree with Natalie. CDing can be simple if you want it to be. Some people (like me) buy CDs like other women buy purses or shoes, it is just so fun to keep trying something new.
I’ve found the simplest to be Bumgenius Elemental. They are truly a one step diaper.
Shelly says
I see what you’re saying. What type of covers and inserts are best? Which fitteds do you suggest for price and absorbancy? Do you use the same covers with fitteds as you do with inserts? I keep changing my mind every time I read about a different diaper. One day its “BumGenious all the way!” and the next day I read about Softbums and I’m dedicated to it even though I’ve never touched one. Someone could just tell me which ones to buy! :)
Natalie says
I know! It’s so hard to decide. When I started, I was determined to start with one kind and stick to it, but you read reviews and you want to try them all! When I started, I got Flip diapers with the stay-dry inserts, and I do love them. The only thing is that they have limited colours. And they can be a bit bulky when baby is very small. They started to fit better at about 2 months of age, give or take. But now Flips do offer newborn inserts, I do believe. I also do have Softbums Echos, which I love love love! But again, not a lot of choice in cutesy pattern covers. And they are only in velcro, and I do prefer snaps. But the Softbums are so soft, and very absorbent without being bulky, and I love the rise sizing using the “slide2size” elastics. I did score some BumGenious 4’s in Ebay for a good price, but they are with the velcro, I would have preferred snaps. They are a good diaper! But I do find too expensive if you want to create a complete stash with just those. The fitteds that I have, I got from an ecobabybuys.com sale, and got them for a good price. I bought some Gen-Y covers to use with those, as they have the cutest patterns. I just made an order of “Cloth by Tel” to see what those are like. See what I mean? It’s really hard to stick to just one kind of diaper, because there are so many to choose from, and they are all good in their own way. It really is best not to get a whole bunch of one type right at first, because you never know what you might like or not like. But if you were to put a gun to my head and made me choose just one kind, and price didn’t matter, I would pick the Softbums.
Maria says
Vary it! Different babies have different builds, and different mess types! My dd does little […] through the day and two big ones, and is a good pee-er. She’s also lean in the torso with chunky thighs. FB don’t work for her, but I have a kawaii one size that works as well as my BG 3.0. I use them for night time, and she just started fitting them at 10 lbs. Dh loves the fitted(lazy men haha!) but she soaks through the kissa contours too fast(I’m waiting for my pooters to try…) but the core of my cloth diaper stash(gimme 6 months and it will be a collection) are my gmd prefolds and Thirsties. But I want to get some fitted sbish, Happy Heinies(for the skull print), Rumparooz, and the new BG. And maybe another Kawaii or 3. And maybe an envibum. The most I have of one type are prefolds(18), everything else the max I have of them is 6. I wish it was so simple, but at the same time it’s nice having a varied stash for growing baby needs and your own preference /situation as well.
cleo says
that’s also what we want. we’ve never wanted to stray from that even after cd for a year and a half. My new favorite is the softbums omni. they fulfill every need we can imagine. I think they’re worth the money and easy to use.
Natalie says
Yes, I have Softbum Echos, and read about the Omni. They are a great diaper!
Shelly says
Wow, I never looked at that one. I really like it. What’s the difference between the Omni and the Echo? Size? How many did you buy? Does it come with the snap-in pods and/or inserts? How many pods/inserts/diapers do you need to get through two days? From the review on this site, there are three ways to use this diaper. What combination works best for the night?
BTW, thank you, ladies, for your help!
cleo says
The echo is just a cover with a snap in pod. the omni is the one with flexibility…it can be a pocket, an AI2 which is the snap in pod or a cover. I prefer the omni because I like that flexibility. I typically use it with the snap in pod…but if I am going out I will use it as a pocket so I can add more absorbency. Some daycares will allow you to use cd if it is a pocket or AIO so they also advertise the pocket that way. I have not yet used it as a cover but I am liking the idea. My son doesn’t wet much at night anymore so I can’t tell you if that is a better overnight choice than a pocket or not. I was just going to buy prefolds and try it as a cover. Softbums is a one size diaper. There is a toggle in the front like you’d find on a jacket or backpack that you squeeze together and then slide it to the correct size. It’s actually really easy to use once you get the hang of it. You can quickly go between two children in diapers of different ages. I only bought one so far to try since my son is dabbling with potty training but I’m pregnant with #2 so I expect he will regress when baby is born. Therefore the quick adjust feature is very imp to me. This is the only one size diaper I found to have a quick adjust without the snap down front. I hate the bulk that gives a smaller child. For a newborn there is less fluff due to the fact that you can just use the mini pod unless you got a baby super soaker :) The pods are great doublers down the road too. If you use the snap in pods (inserts) you can reuse the shell every other change as long as it’s not poopy. There is no liquid barrier on the inside the the pod so the shell fleece does get damp….let it air dry and the next change it’s good to go. They say up to three times a day you can reuse the shell. # of pods depends upon the age of the child. a newborn stash is typically 12-15 diapers per day. My recommendation is either buy one here or there that you’d like to try or do a diaper trial. many sites offer these. Jillians drawer is the one I hear about most but if you google cloth diaper trial you’ll get others too. Often times if a site doesn’t offer a diaper you want to try as part of the trial they’ll let you try it anyways if you ask. My favorite site is sweet bottoms baby boutique. I believe she allowed you to return diapers within two weeks if you didn’t love them. sites that have these programs usually sell the gently used ones at a discounted rate. sorry this became a novel :)
Cleo says
another thing to think about it snaps vs velcro closure. they both have pros and cons. I personally prefer snaps since toddlers cannot undo these themselves…or it takes them longer to figure it out. Mine has yet to figure out snaps but velcro is off in two minutes. velcro is more adjustable since with snaps you’re limited to the placement of the snaps velcro will stick anywhere along the strip. velcro is also easier to put on a squirming toddler but for me snaps were the way to go because I felt that even if I got it on if it didn’t stay on what was the point. You get pretty quick at fastening the snaps. I know it’s hard to make a decision and then I give you even more to think about. Honestly once you take the plunge and try a few you get a really good idea of what you like and dislike. suddenly it doesn’t seem so overwhelming then.
cleo says
Oh sorry for posting again and again but I did want to mention for snap lovers that softbums is coming out with a snap closure for their diapers. I have seen softbums with snaps but never for sale so I asked them about when they’d have more available. They are slowly working at setting up their snap press so they can have them more readily available. I’m hoping they have them ready by Sept so I can try them on a newborn. yes i have developed the cd addiction.
Emilie says
I felt the same way when I started CDing! My little guy is 7.5 mos old, now, and I’ve been CDing since he was 2 mos. I’ve tried A LOT of things (prefolds and covers, fitteds and covers, AppleCheeks, Fuzzibunz, Flips, bumGenius 4.0, bumGenius Elemental, Bottombumpers, sustainablebabyish, Kissaluvs, various cheap diapers from ebay, and maybe more that I’m not thinking of) and now wish I could undo it all and just buy exactly what I need and no more.
It’s hard to learn from someone else’s experience, because everyone is so different, but if I had it to do over again I would buy 24 bumGenius Elementals and 20 Hemp Babies size large doublers . That combo is a bit pricey ($589.90), but you’d never have to buy diapers again and you would never have to stuff pockets (I don’t enjoy stuffing pockets). I like snaps over velcro, natural fibers over synthetic, all-in-ones over pockets or two-piece diapers, stretchy tabs over regular tabs, and Cottonbabies just makes very durable products. Hemp Babies doublers make the Elementals work for over night (12-14 hours for my baby). That said, I realize most moms need to experiment a little to find what works for them. Once your little one arrives, you could take advantage of some of the diaper trial packages offered on different diaper sites:
– Diaper Junction 30-day test drive: http://www.diaperjunction.com/try-cloth-diapers.html
– Nicki’s 15-Day Wash: http://nickisdiapers.com/pages/15DayWash.php
– Jillian’s Drawers–Try Cloth for $10: http://www.jilliansdrawers.com/products/clothdiapers/tryclothfor10
In any case, don’t let the overwhelming options keep you from cloth diapering. Just use disposables until you figure out what you want–you’ll still save a ton of money and landfill space in the long run and you won’t feel so panicked right now.
Happy hunting!
Julie says
Do you lay the hemp doubler on top of or under the sewn in cotton soaker part of the BG elementals?
Emilie says
I fold it in half and lay it underneath. I was putting it on top at first, but found that I still got some leaks, because the hemp doesn’t absorb as quickly as the cotton. My son has become a heavier wetter in the last couple weeks (he’s 9 mos, now), so I’m experimenting with putting multiple hemp doublers underneath. So far the bulletproof combination is a Flip cover, organic Flip insert, and a Hemp Babies doubler underneath. He’s made it through the night with two Hemp Babies under the BG Elemental soaker, but I’ve also had a couple leaks with that. I think some of my doublers aren’t fully prepped, yet.
Julie says
Thank you! I’m going to buy hemp babies doublers now.
Raychel says
I really like MotherEase organic cotton doublers. They are very soft, trim and absorbent. I have two very heavy wetters and these paired with a Green Mountain Diaper prefold inside Disnawool covers work wonders! In fact, one fell asleep with this combo inside a Imse Vimse organic cotton cover one night. I just knew he would be soaked in the morning, but to my shock and suprise, he was totally dry after 12 hours!
Just for the record:
I can’t sing the praises of GMD enough. Anyone wanting to go with prefolds should give them some serious consideration. They are WELL worth the extra 10 to 12 dollars.
Sarah Woodard says
We’ve been using Kawaii heavy duty and goodnight dipes for overnights and both have microfiber (not the insert, but the inside of the diaper itself). My son has yet to have a diaper rash or redness and he’s almost 6 months old. Is microfiber really that bad??
Autumn Beck says
I like microfiber. It can be annoying when the child becomes a toddler and the pee is stronger. Microfiber traps in the urea leading to ammonia problems. It can also be prone to detergent buildup.
Z's Mama says
If the Flip Stay Dry insert is made of “3 absorbent layers of microfiber and a smooth stay-dry suede that wicks away moisture from your baby’s bum”…does that mean that it will trap the urea? I’ve noticed lots more rashes though I’m changing my son as often as I always did, and we use the Flip Stay Dry all of the time.
Also–I don’t know a whole lot about CDing, though I research a lot. The first diapers that I ordered were made by a WAHM and AIOs with a flannel outer and inner with a 5-layer soaker built in and a PUL layer, but I always had problems with them wicking around the legs (I really think I was changing often enough, though I was new to CDing and may just not know how to use those kind of diapers…sometimes he’d leak out and get his clothes wet in 30-40 minutes, though–does that seem normal?). Long story short, we ended up with the Flips, which I love. Do you think the Kawaii are like those WAHM diaps?
1. Do I need something else between the Flips Stay Dry and my son’s skin?
2. Do you always need a wool or PUL cover over AIO diapers?
3. How often to AIO diapers typically need to be changed?
4. Are the Kawaii like the AIOs or hybrid? Really, I guess I just need to know if I need covers or if they’re a one-shot deal. If I buy a couple, do I need accessories?
Thanks so much for this site and for everything. You have no idea how helpful it is to people like me who don’t know what they’re doing or have anyone to ask. :)
Autumn Beck says
https://www.allaboutclothdiapers.com/cloth-diaper-qa-vol-4/
Z's Mama says
Thank you so much! You really are a blessing to me!!!
Sarah Woodard says
Aha! That would explain it!
Brianna says
The pocket lining of the Kawaii is microfleece, not micro fiber. :)
Kawaii’s bamboo inserts make awesome doublers for night diapers. We use a snappied GMD prefold with 2 Kawaii bamboo inside a wool cover at night and have NEVER had a leak since we started that combo several months ago. Before, we were triple stuffing various pocket diapers, and they were completely soaked every morning, and leaked 2 or 3 times a week.
Autumn Beck says
Duh! Thanks, Brianna for seeing what she actually said!
Amanda Miller says
I really like the Monkey Doodlez doubler. Except they take forever to dry. A great tip for potty training boys, keep a empty bottle with lid in the car for when you are out and about.