All-in-one nappy — what is it and is it right for you?

July 29, 2026

White Cover/All-in-one cloth nappy from Time Ahead in a woven basket outdoors

An all-in-one is the easiest cloth nappy to understand — everything is attached, nothing to stuff in or match. Here we go through what it is, the pros and cons, and how we've built ours so we ourselves find it really easy to live with. But first things first: you don't need to know most of this guide to get started.

From Emelie: This guide is thorough — but don't let that scare you. When I first started with cloth nappies, I read for hours and was almost put off by all the information. In reality it was so much simpler. An all-in-one really is one of the simplest — almost like a disposable. Read what you need, skip the rest. With us, it should be easy to make a good choice.

Just want to get started? Grab a Cover/All-in-one in Comfort or Slim, or a starter kit — and you're up and running. The rest of the guide is for those who want to understand more; you don't need most of it to succeed.

What is an all-in-one nappy?

An all-in-one nappy is exactly what the name says: everything is attached in one and the same nappy. The waterproof cover and the absorbent insert are one package, so you don't need to stuff, fold, or match anything — you put the nappy on and take it off just like a disposable. It's the easiest cloth nappy to get your head around.

That's also why an all-in-one feels reassuring when someone else is helping out — a babysitter or grandparents: no explanation needed. Open, change, close — done.

A beloved child has many names. All-in-one is often abbreviated AIO. When the insert is instead removable — like ours — it's usually called all-in-two (AI2), snap-in-one, or 2-in-1. In everyday life most people just say all-in-one, and that's how we use the word here.

All-in-one, pocket, or cover — what's the difference?

There are three common ways to build a cloth nappy, and they differ mostly in how you handle the insert:

All-in-one: everything is attached. On like a disposable, nothing to stuff in.
Pocket nappy: a pocket where you stuff the insert in advance. Ready-packed and easy to put on, but you stuff in and take out the insert at wash time.
Cover: a waterproof cover where you lay the insert in loosely. If the cover is clean you just change the insert and reuse the cover — less laundry.

Here's something we're glad about ourselves: our Cover/All-in-one is really the first and the last of these — all-in-one and cover baked into one and the same nappy. Precisely to make it simpler: you choose yourself whether to run it as an all-in-one or as a cover. More on that shortly.

If you want the full rundown of which model suits your particular everyday life, we have a dedicated buying guide for cloth nappies. Here we're sticking to all-in-ones.

Pros and cons of a classic all-in-one

We believe in being honest, so here's the full picture. A classic all-in-one — where the insert is sewn into the cover — has clear strengths, but also a couple of downsides worth knowing about.

The pros:

Simplest of all. Nothing to stuff in or match. Perfect when someone else is handling the change.
Easy when someone else handles the change. Handled and stored just like a disposable — no instructions needed.

The downsides of the sewn-in version:

Slow drying time. Because the insert is sewn in, the nappy is the thickest option, and the layers can't dry separately. A classic all-in-one may need around two drying cycles.
Hard to customise. The absorbency is built in, so it's hard to add more when your child starts peeing larger amounts or for nighttime.
Often the most expensive per nappy, precisely because everything is attached.

This isn't a reason to rule out all-in-ones — it's just good to know. Because there's a way to get all-in-one simplicity without these downsides.

How we thought about our Cover/All-in-one

Our Cover/All-in-one is our attempt to give the best of both worlds — and the one we're proudest of ourselves. The difference from a classic all-in-one is that the insert isn't sewn in, but is a separate, removable insert. It sounds like a small detail, but it changes a lot in practice:

The all-in-one simplicity is still there. Prep the nappy in advance, and you've got a ready nappy to just grab and put on.
It dries faster. At wash time you take out the insert, so the cover and insert dry separately instead of in one thick lump.
You can boost. If you need more absorbency for a long day or for nighttime, you simply add an extra insert — something a sewn-in all-in-one can't do.
You can reuse the cover. If the cover is clean you just change the insert and carry on — less laundry. If you'd rather wash the whole nappy every time, that works just as well of course.

In other words: you choose yourself whether to use it as an all-in-one (prepped, on like a disposable) or as a cover (change the insert, save the cover). Same nappy, two ways to run it.

Time Ahead cover/all-in-one cloth nappy with a separate insert, outdoors on a wood slice

The insert also has two sides — one in soft bamboo and one in stay-dry. The bamboo side lets your child feel wet (good when potty training is approaching), while the stay-dry side keeps them dry against the skin for longer stretches. You simply flip it as needed. The materials are chosen with care: soft bamboo inserts closest to the skin, and covers in recycled polyester (rPET) with a waterproof TPU layer — certified to OEKO-Tex Standard 100.

Cover/All-in-one comes in two sizes: Slim (3–15 kg) for the slimmer and the very smallest, and Comfort (5–17 kg), which is roomier and fits most children longest — and the only one that fits our night nappy.

Cover/All-in-one Comfort cloth nappy, 5–17 kg

All-in-one · roomierCover/All-in-one Comfort · 5–17 kgRemovable insert, boostable, the cover can be reused. Fits most children longest.See Comfort →

Cover/All-in-one Slim cloth nappy, 3–15 kg

All-in-one · slimmerCover/All-in-one Slim · 3–15 kgNarrower fit for the smallest, often from birth. The same smart removable insert.See Slim →

Who is an all-in-one right for?

An all-in-one is rarely wrong, but it shines especially in a few situations:

Babysitters and grandparents. Prepped, it goes on like a disposable — no one to train.
On the go. Easy to toss in the bag and change out and about.
The beginner who wants it simple. If you want the lowest possible threshold to get started, an all-in-one is a safe start.

If you want to try without buying a whole stash right away, a starter kit is built exactly for that — nappies, inserts, and a wet bag in one.

How many do you need?

It depends on how you run it:

As a full nappy (wash the whole nappy every change): count as with pocket nappies — around 20–25 nappies for full-time if you wash every third day.
As a cover (reuse the cover, change the insert): then you need fewer covers but more inserts — roughly 6–8 covers and 20–25 inserts.

The newborn period is an exception with more frequent changes. If you need help counting, there's a table in our buying guide.

Washing and care

Simple: tip solid poop into the toilet, store used nappies airy in a wet bag, and wash at 60 °C with fragrance-free detergent — no fabric softener. Air-dry the covers if you can. And thanks to the removable insert, you skip the long drying time a sewn-in all-in-one has — take out the insert and the parts dry separately. The whole routine is in our washing guide for cloth nappies.

Frequently asked questions about all-in-one nappies

What's the difference between an all-in-one and a pocket nappy?
In an all-in-one everything is attached (on like a disposable). In a pocket nappy you stuff the insert into a pocket in advance. Both have the strength of being ready to put on; the difference lies mostly in how you handle the insert at wash time.

Does an all-in-one dry slowly?
A classic all-in-one with a sewn-in insert does — it's thick and the layers don't dry separately. Our Cover/All-in-one has a removable insert, so the parts dry faster separately.

Can you make an all-in-one more absorbent?
With a sewn-in all-in-one it's hard. With our version you just add an extra insert (booster) when needed — for example for a long day or for nighttime.

Is an all-in-one enough for the night?
For many children it's enough with an extra insert. If your child sleeps long and pees a lot, a dedicated night nappy may be needed — our Comfort is the size that fits the night nappy. More in our night nappy guide.

Ready to start?

An all-in-one is a lovely entry into cloth nappies — easy to understand, easy to use, and with our removable insert you skip the usual downsides. If you want to get started without guesswork, a starter kit is the easiest way.