A hybrid cloth diaper is a cross between an all-in-one (AIO) and a fitted cloth diaper. An AIO is fully waterproof due to the PUL outer layer while a fitted diaper requires a cover due to the absence of a waterproof layer.
What makes a diaper a hybrid fitted
One of the first WAHMs to produce a hybrid fitted was Anne of Little Boppers. Here is her description defining a hybrid fitted cloth diaper:
“What is a Hybrid Fitted? It is a fitted diaper that has a hidden body layer of poly fleece, sandwiched between the outer print and the inner velour. This layer of poly fleece helps the diaper to be more effective.
Liquid hits the fleece layer and is deflected back into the absorbent inner, soaking up into the rest of the soaker pad and inner velour instead of just saturating the middle and immediately needing a change. The hybrid fitted is still a “fitted” diaper, meaning it is breathable and it isn’t totally waterproof. It would require the use of a cover to be considered waterproof.
Many folks like to use these coverless around the house because they are more water-resistant than a regular fitted. They are not as waterproof as AIOs or AI2s made with PUL, but they are more breathable than them.”
Ann of Little Boppers
Final Thoughts
I personally love hybrid fitteds. They are much softer feeling than most other cloth diapering options. If you stay on top of changing every 2-3 hours they allow air flow without getting everything wet.
If you’ve ever used hybrid fitted cloth diapers I’d love to hear what you think!
Jenn is a long-time cloth diaper educator and a passionate small business advocate. She has worked in the reusable diaper industry for over a decade, helping millions of families via her websites All About Cloth Diapers, Thinking About Cloth Diapers and Cloth Diaper Geek as well as hundreds of small businesses during that time. Her goal always to provide simple, reliable information.
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