Starting with cloth diapers is a considered choice. But once you begin looking, most people realize there are more models and variants than they'd expected. This guide makes it simple: you really only need to make two choices — and then you're done.
How a cloth diaper is built
Before we get into the choices, it helps to know how a cloth diaper actually works.
A cloth diaper consists of two parts. The outer part is a fabric cover with a TPU coating — waterproof on the outside, but still letting the air circulate. Inside lies the insert, the inner part that absorbs the wetness. Time Ahead uses bamboo prefold inserts — a three-layer insert that you fold when using it. When needed, you can add an extra insert for longer stretches — this is called boosting (that is, adding an extra insert for more absorbency).
It's this construction 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 the child grows, you don't change size. The idea is that the same diapers follow you through the whole diapering period and then pass on to a sibling.
Slim (3–15 kg)
Slim is a smaller fit that suits babies with a slimmer build, and many can start using it right from birth. Slim has elastic along the front edge, so the waist can be fastened extra gently around the tummy on the very smallest ones.
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 for the whole diapering period. For children with a little more on them, or who have grown into themselves during their second year, it's common for Comfort to start fitting better.
Slim can be boosted for longer stretches, but doesn't hold our night diaper. If you need a diaper for the night, you choose Comfort.
Comfort (5–17 kg)
Comfort is the most-used fit and suits most children from a few months of age and 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 have grown into themselves.
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 particular child needs.
Unsure which fit? Go by the child's build and the kg figures on the diaper, not the age. If you're 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'd like things to be in everyday life.
Cover — fewer loose parts, less washing
With the cover diaper you only change the insert at each diaper change — the cover is reused until it actually gets dirty. That means you need fewer diapers in circulation and get less washing. For many, this is the strongest reason to choose covers: it's economical and practical.
Pocket — prepared in advance, easy to put on
With the pocket diaper you tuck the insert into a pocket system in advance. That makes it easy to put on quickly — take one from the pile and put it on, much like a disposable. Pocket is the model that tends to be appreciated most by preschools and babysitters, precisely because it's so easy to handle with no prior know-how.
Closure is with snaps across our main range, Comfort and Slim.
Newborn — do you need a special newborn diaper?
An ordinary one-size diaper sits too big in the very first weeks. The Newborn model (2–6 kg) is made for the baby's earliest time 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 right from birth.
Newborn is used until the child reaches 6 kg — for most, around 2–3 months of age, though slim and slower-growing babies may keep it considerably longer. You don't need a big stock, but don't count on it being only a few weeks either.
How many do you need?
The easiest way is to think in terms of the number of changes. In the first weeks it can be up towards 10 changes a day — then it gradually drops to 6–8, and a little fewer as the child 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 stock, 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 top up?
Basic is our more affordable range — for anyone who wants to get started with cloth diapers at a lower cost.
Common questions
Slim or Comfort — how do I know which fits?
Go by the child's build and the kg figures on the diaper, not the age. Slim suits slim, light children; Comfort takes over when the child needs more room. If you're unsure — start with Comfort.
Can I mix cover and pocket?
Absolutely. Many people have a mix — covers in everyday life for less washing, and pocket when someone else is doing the change.
Which fit suits a newborn?
The Newborn model suits the very first weeks (2–6 kg). Slim can often be used alongside from birth, depending on the child's build.
Are cloth diapers harder for the daycare to handle?
Cloth diapers are fine at preschool if the preschool allows them. At preschool there are longer stretches between changes, so we recommend Comfort — ideally packed with an extra insert for added capacity. Send enough so the staff always have a ready one to reach for.
How long do the cloth diapers last?
With the right care (washing at 60° on a long program, without 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 them 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.
Unsure 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.