Cloth diapers are often bulkier through the hips and seat, so clothes that fit well over a disposable can pull tight over cloth. A little extra room, a bodysuit extender or a trimmer diaper setup solves many fit problems. It is worth getting right, because tight clothing is also a cause of leaks.
Why cloth needs a little more room
Absorbent layers add thickness exactly where clothes fit closest: around the hips, thighs and bottom. An outfit that suits your baby's weight may fit the body fine and still strain at the seat.
- Look at the seat and thighs, not only the waist, when you try an outfit on.
- Stretchy knits forgive more than stiff woven fabrics.
- Sizing varies from maker to maker, so use each maker's chart rather than the age on the label. For diaper sizes, see the diaper sizing guide.
- Try an outfit on over a diaper before you buy several of the same piece.
Bodysuits: sizing up and extenders
Bodysuits close with snaps at the crotch, and over a thick diaper those snaps can strain or refuse to meet. Going up one size gives more length from shoulder to snaps, though the sleeves and body may then be long on your baby.
A bodysuit extender is a small strip of fabric with snaps that adds length at the crotch closure, so a bodysuit you already own can still close over cloth. Snap size and spacing differ between clothing makers, so check which bodysuits an extender is made to fit, and follow its instructions for how it attaches.
Snaps that close are only half the test. If the fabric pulls tight across the diaper once it is fastened, the bodysuit is pressing on it, and the section on tight clothing below explains why that matters. On warm days, a T-shirt with no crotch snaps avoids the problem.
Pants and leggings that work
- Choose a soft, stretchy waistband that sits comfortably without digging in.
- Look for roomy seats and legs, such as relaxed-fit or bloomer-style pants.
- Size up in bottoms if the waist or thighs feel tight over the diaper. Many families go up one size, then adjust.
- Save stiff denim and narrow-legged pants for days when you use a thinner setup.
- Try snow pants and one-piece snowsuits on over a cloth diaper before the cold arrives. A suit that is short in the body pulls at the seat.
- Check that the leg openings are wide enough that they do not pull the diaper's leg elastic out of place when your baby sits.
Sleepers and sleep sacks
Footed sleepers should let your baby's legs bend without the fabric pulling tight across the diaper. Sizing up one size is a common fix, as long as the feet and sleeves are not so long that they get in the way. A two-way zipper that opens from the bottom lets you change a diaper without fully undressing your baby, which helps at night.
For sleep sacks, choose by the maker's size chart and leave room for the diaper, rather than buying a size that is far too large. For safe sleep questions, ask your doctor or public health nurse.
What tight clothing does to a cloth diaper
Pressure from clothes can cause several problems, even when the diaper is not full.
- Pressure squeezes liquid out of the absorbent layers, which is how a compression leak happens.
- A tight waistband can drag the cover down or roll its top edge, and tight legs can pull the leg elastic out of place.
- If a corner of an insert or inner layer pokes out of the cover, the damp fabric can touch the outfit and spread moisture into it.
When you undress your baby, look for red marks from waistbands or leg openings, and for clothes that are damp at the edges while the diaper is not full. If marks or redness on the skin do not fade, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Trimmer diaper setups for fitted outfits
Sometimes you want a fitted outfit, such as jeans for an outing or a dressy piece for photos. A trimmer setup makes that possible for short stretches.
- Use one thinner insert instead of two, and plan to change sooner.
- Choose the smallest rise or size setting that still fits comfortably, following the maker's chart.
- Use an inner layer that lies flat inside a well-fitted cover, so there is less loose fabric to bunch.
- Keep the thicker setups for nights at home, where fit under clothing matters less.
A cover is the outer layer that goes over the absorbent part. A cover that is too big for your baby adds loose fabric under clothes, so go by the weight range or size chart in the listing. One option is the Esembly Cloth Diaper Cover, Fantastic Fungi, Size 1 (7-17 lb), which gives its weight range in the title, and the ALVABABY Cloth Diaper Covers, Cactus, Lion and Koala Prints, 3 Pack is sold as a pack of three. Browse the cloth and reusable diapers collection for more.
Shop this guide
- Cloth Diaper, One Size, Pink Forest with Insert (ships via Amazon)
- ALVABABY Cloth Diaper, 6-Pack with 12 Inserts, 5-Layer Charcoal Bamboo (ships via Amazon)
- ALVABABY Cloth Diaper, 6-Pack with 12 Microfiber Inserts (ships via Amazon)
- Nora's Nursery Pocket Cloth Diapers with Inserts and Wet Bag, On The Farm, 7 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Cloth & Reusable Diapers
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
Do I need to size up every piece of clothing?
No. Bottoms and fitted pieces are where cloth shows most. Tops, cardigans and coats sit mostly above the diaper, so start with your baby's usual size there. Try one size up in pants and see how it feels before buying more.
What if clothes are labelled by months and my baby is between sizes?
Month labels vary between makers. Go by the weight or length chart on the label, and choose the larger size when the piece will go over a cloth diaper.
Does a trimmer setup mean more leaks?
It holds less, so it needs more frequent changes. Use it for shorter stretches and keep thicker setups for nights and longer outings.
Not sure which cover or setup suits the clothes you already own? Ask us on the contact page and we can go over sizes and covers with you.