A Cloth Diaper Glossary

Here you will find our handy, dandy cloth diaper glossary, defining the most commonly used cloth diaper terms. We also have a glossary of cloth diaper fabric if you are wondering what the difference is between the different kinds of diaper fabrics.

AIO - All in One Diaper

A diaper with all the parts attached, including a waterproof cover and the inner soaker. Click here to read more about All in One diapers.

AI2 - All in Two Diaper

Much like an AIO, but you can remove the soaker part for easier washing.

Contour Diaper

Similar to a fitted diaper, but without the elastic, snaps or velcro. Kind of like a big maxi pad. You will need pins or a fastener to keep in place along with a waterproof cover.

Diaper Covers

Goes over the absorbent diaper (fitted, prefold, etc) to make it waterproof. Often made from PUL, wool, or fleece. Click here to read more about Diaper Covers.

Diaper Pail

A bucket or pail to store dirty diapers in until wash day. Often just a small trash can with a lid.

Doubler

Goes inside the diaper to add absorbency.

DSQ

Diaper Service Quality. Refers to prefold diapers that are made with better quality fabrics to stand up to the industrial cleaning used by cloth diaper services.

Flats

A big piece of fabric, usually cotton or hemp, that is folded into a diaper shape and secured with pins or a snappi. Click here to read more about Flat diapers.

Fitted Diaper

Fits baby snuggly by using elastic at the legs and sometimes at the back. Secured with snaps or velcro and requires a diaper cover. Click here to read more about Fitted diapers.

Insert

What is used to stuff a pocket diaper.

Liners

Made from cloth or paper. Lies inside the diaper to give a little stain protection and helps with diaper changes.

Longies

A wool diaper cover that looks like pants, often knitted.

One Size

Diaper that can be adjust for different sized babies. Click here to read more about One Size diapers.

Pail Liner

A fabric bag used inside a diaper pail to keep it clean. Often made with a waterproof fabric like PUL. Can be washed at the same time as your diapers.

Pocket Diaper

A diaper with an opening, or pocket for you to stuff and customize absorbency. The inner part is usually made with a material that will "wick" moisture away from baby, while the outer part is make from a waterproof material like PUL. Click here to read more about Pocket diapers.

Prefold

Similar to a flat diaper, but has extra layers to help with absorbency. Comes in different sizes. Needs to be folded into a diaper, secured with a fastener and requires a diaper cover. Click here to read more about Prefold diapers.

PUL

Polyurethane laminate. A thin fabric that is coated with PUL to make it waterproof. Click here to read more about Pul Diaper Covers.

Shorties

A wool diaper cover that looks like shorts, often knitted.

Snappi

A nifty little device made from plastic that holds a fitted or prefold diaper in place with having to use pins.

Soaker

Can refer to a wool soaker, or is the inner part of the diaper that holds all the pee. You will see soakers that are sewn directly into the diaper, sewn on just one end to help with cleaning, and secured with a snap so it can be removed for laundry time.