How to... prefold diapers

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Parenting Toolbox

I don't use a Snappi or pins, so here's how I get a good fit with a prefold and wrap.

Evalina is 35 months old, weighs about 33 lb, and is approximately 39" tall.

The white diaper is a Premium sized CPF. The off-white diaper is a Toddler sized UBCPF. They may look like they're almost the same size, but the difference is great when you put them on!

I use a Medium Bummis Super Industrial Whisper Wrap (BSIWW) over the Premium CPF and a Large Prorap (second) over the Toddler UBCPF. I like BSIWW better, but that boils down to personal preference.

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A Premium CPF and Toddler UBCPF side by side.

The premium prefold...

Premium CPF in wrap.

Fold it in thirds, fan out the back/top and lay it in the wrap.

Fold it up.

Fold the front up, then fold the excess back down. The diaper should be snug through the crotch.

Cover.

Bring the cover up over the diaper. It must be SNUG!

Fasten it securely.

Pull the corner of the cover up and toward the outside as you fasten it for a secure fit. SNUG FIT!!

All done.

Here's what it looks like from the front. No sagging here! It will stay secure for hours.

And from the back.

Not as trim as a 'sposie, but not bad!

The process is the same for the Toddler prefold.

Toddler UBCPF in wrap.

Fold it in thirds, fan out the back/top and lay it in the wrap.

Fold it up.

Fold the front up, then fold the excess back down. The diaper should be snug through the crotch.

Cover.

Bring the cover up over the diaper. It must be SNUG!

Fasten it securely.

Pull the corner of the cover up and toward the outside as you fasten it for a secure fit. SNUG FIT!!

All done.

Here's what it looks like from the front. No sagging here! It will stay secure all night long!

And from the back.

Not as trim as a 'sposie, but not bad!

It is critical that you make sure that there are no pieces of diaper sticking out of the cover. Otherwise, the diaper will "wick" moisture out of the cover and onto your child's clothes. Ewwwww!

I use the Premium CPFs during the day and the Toddler UBCPFs at night. During the day, I change pretty much as soon as she wets (she usually tells me as she's going, although she uses the potty quite often as well), and that prevents leaks. If I wait too long (30-45 min), they will leak! We really need the extra absorbency the Toddler prefolds offer at night, but because I change her immediately during the day, I can get away with using the "too small" Premiums for trimness.

For more cloth diapering information, check out:

Karen's Cloth Diapering Page