Starting with cloth diapers is a thoughtful choice. But once you start looking, most people realise there are more models and variations than they expected. This guide keeps it simple: you really only need to make two choices — and then you’re set.
How a cloth diaper is built
Before we get to the choices, it helps to know how a cloth diaper actually works.
A cloth diaper has two parts. The outer part is a fabric shell with a TPU coating — waterproof on the outside, but still breathable. Inside sits the insert, the inner part that soaks up the liquid. Time Ahead uses prefold inserts in bamboo — a three-layer insert that’s folded in use. When needed, you can add an extra insert for longer stretches — this is called boosting (adding an extra insert for more absorbency).
It’s this build that makes it possible to choose a system — but more on that shortly.
Choice 1 — Fit: Slim or Comfort?
We offer two fits: Slim and Comfort. Both are one-size with snap adjustment — you adjust the fit as your child grows, you don’t change sizes. The idea is that the same diapers follow you through the whole diapering period and then pass on to siblings.
Slim (3–15 kg)
Slim is a smaller fit that suits babies with a slimmer build, and many can start using it from birth. Slim has elastic at the front edge so the waist can be fastened extra gently around the tummy on the very smallest.
What sets Slim apart from Comfort isn’t the thickness of the insert — that’s the same — but the size of the diaper and how it sits. For long, slim children, Slim can fit the whole way through. For children with a little more to them, or who’ve grown into themselves during the second year, Comfort often starts to sit better.
Slim can be boosted for longer stretches, but doesn’t fit our night diaper. If you need a diaper for the night, choose Comfort.
Comfort (5–17 kg)
Comfort is the most-used fit and suits most children from a few months old all the way to the end of the diapering period. It’s roomier than Slim and gives more space — both for the insert and for children who’ve grown.
Comfort is the only fit that can be combined with our night diaper. Most people need Comfort together with the night diaper to get through the whole night — some manage with a prefold and a boost, but Comfort gives you the option to adapt to what your child needs.
Not sure which fit? Go by your child’s build and the kg ranges on the diaper, not their age. Still unsure — choose Comfort. It’s the fit that suits the most children for the longest time.
Choice 2 — System: Cover or Pocket?
Comfort comes in two systems: cover and pocket. Slim comes only as a cover. This choice is about how you want everyday life to work.
Cover — fewer loose parts, less laundry
With the cover diaper, you only change the insert at each change — the cover is reused until it’s actually soiled. That means you need fewer diapers in rotation and get less laundry. For many, this is the strongest reason to choose a cover: it’s economical and practical.
Pocket — prepared in advance, easy to put on
With the pocket diaper, you tuck the insert into a pocket in advance. That makes it quick to put on — grab one from the pile and go, much like a disposable. Pocket is the model most appreciated by preschools and babysitters, precisely because it’s so easy to handle with no prior knowledge.
Closure is with snaps on our main range, Comfort and Slim.
Newborn — do you need a special newborn diaper?
A regular one-size diaper sits too big in the very first weeks. The Newborn model (2–6 kg) is made for baby’s earliest days and gives a better fit right from the start.
If you’d rather not buy newborn diapers, Slim is a good alternative — for most babies it works from birth.
Newborn is used until your baby reaches 6 kg — for most around 2–3 months, but slim and slower-growing babies can use it considerably longer. You don’t need a big stash, but don’t count on it being just a few weeks either.
How many do you need?
The easiest way is to think in number of changes. The first weeks can mean up to 10 changes a day — then it gradually drops to 6–8 and a little fewer as your baby grows.
Multiply changes per day by how many days you want between washes — and you’ll know roughly how many inserts you need. The number of covers depends on the system: if you choose covers you need fewer, since the same cover can be used for several changes in a row.
If you want to try before investing in a full stash, a starter kit is a good way to get going — it contains three diapers and gives you a feel for the system before you build on.
Want to add to your set?
Basic is our more affordable range — for those who want to get started with cloth diapers at a lower cost.
Frequently asked questions
Slim or Comfort — how do I know which fits?
Go by your child’s build and the kg ranges on the diaper, not their age. Slim suits slim, light children; Comfort takes over when your child needs more room. If unsure — start with Comfort.
Can I mix cover and pocket?
Absolutely. Many have a mix — covers for everyday to cut laundry, and pocket when someone else is handling the change.
Which fit suits a newborn?
The Newborn model suits the very first weeks (2–6 kg). Slim can often be used in parallel from birth, depending on your child’s build.
Are cloth diapers harder for preschool to handle?
Cloth diapers work fine at preschool if the preschool allows them. There are longer stretches between changes at preschool, so we recommend Comfort — ideally packed with an extra insert for more capacity. Send enough so staff always have one ready to use.
How long do cloth diapers last?
With the right care (wash at 60°C on a long cycle, no fabric softener) they often last for 2–3 children. How long depends on whether they’re used full-time or part-time and how often you wash — more wash cycles wear more than if you have many diapers on the shelf and wash less often.
In closing
Two choices: fit and system. The rest adapts to your everyday life.
Not sure what suits you? Write to us — we’ll help you choose, without any fuss.
- See all cloth diapers and starter kits.
- Read more in our guide to cloth diapers.