7 Best Prefold Diapers 2022 – (All Non-Toxic Diapers Reviewed)

Picking up the right diapers for babies is probably one of the biggest challenges a new parent has to face. There sheer range of materials and sizes these diapers come in can scare the living daylight out of the sanest man alive. 

On top of this, purchasing tons of disposable diapers for a heavy wetter can be huge budgetary stretch as well. That’s when prefold cloth diapers comes to the rescue.  

Prefolds are an amazingly cost-effective diaper solution for sensitive-skinned babies. Apart from being easy on the skin, these nappies are also capable of countering heavy nighttime wetting. 

If you are finding it difficult to pick the right prefold, you have come to the right place. I have rounded up and reviewed 7 best prefold diapers after relentlessly scouring the web for days. All this hard work just to make sure your baby receives only the best. 

Enough with the blabbering, now let’s cut to the chase: 

Images	Products Name
	OsoCozy Unbleached Prefold Diaper	Check Price
	Humble Bebe Prefold Cloth Diapers	Check Price
	GroVia Reusable Organic Cotton Prefold Diaper	Check Price
	OsoCozy Prefolds Bleached Cloth Diapers	Check Price
	Gerber Prefold Gauze Diaper	Check Price
	Fasoar Prefold Cloth Diapers	Check Price
	Thirsties Cloth Prefold Diaper	Check Price

7 Best Prefold Diapers 2022 Reviews

1.OsoCozy Unbleached Prefold Diaper

The unbleached version of OsoCozy is one of the finest prefold diapers for babies with rash-prone skin. It comes in various sizes and size 1 is suitable for infants of 7-15 lbs. Each diaper measures 12â€x16â€. The size reduces by 5-10% after washing. 

The size 1 can be a little too tight for big and healthy newborns. However, for small babies, this is the ideal size. Since the diapers are long but not wide enough, it’s easier to tri-fold the fabric instead of fastening with a Snappi. 

It doesn’t leave any extra fabric to fold down. But that’s not a big deal for me, anyway. These prefold diapers are quite easy to put on after two or three attempts. OsoCozy comes with simple step-by-step folding instructions to help you with the process. 

The unbleached material of the diaper is just as soft as a cotton ball. At the same time, it’s thick enough to contain lots of wetness and solid mess. Even if your junior is a hard-wetter, one diaper should last for a little more than an hour. It also hides stains better than pure white diapers, so extra points for that. 

For washing, I’d suggest using hot water and regular detergent. Refrain from using a fabric softener while washing. 

Pros:

• Very easy to fold. 
• Extra absorbency makes it an ideal sleep time diaper. 
• Soft material. 
• Size 1 is ideal for small babies with sensitive skin while size 2 is best for big and stout kids. 
• Hides stains well. 

Cons:

• Could have been a little bigger. 
• Quite Bulky when soiled. 

2.Humble Bebe Prefold Cloth Diaper

These cloth diapers are made from a super soft, breathable material. It keeps both diaper rashes and redness away from your baby’s skin. Compared to most cloth diapers I have dealt with in my mommy life, it’s lighter weight and exceptionally absorbent. 

The diapers consist of multiple thick layers that efficiently absorb pee and runny poop. This should save you the ordeal of waking up at midnight just to change nappies.

It has a perfect size for all babies below 1 year. However, for chubby kids, the diapers might be a little short for folding at the sides. In that case, you can use them as insert. Won’t make much of a difference. And should you choose to use it as a regular diaper, only use the tri fold method. These nappies are not enough wide to be fastened with Snappis. 

Another remarkable aspect of these diapers is that they are pre-shrunk. This means, even after 5-7 washing, it will effectively hold its shape, making them longer lasting than average cloth diapers. 

Pros:

• Uses highly absorbent material, capable of containing blowout poop. 
• Easy on the skin and safe for the environment too. 
• Great at covering stains. 
• Pre-shrunk, therefore, will hold its shape for a long time. 
• Requires minimal prepping. 
• Can double up as burp cloths. 

Cons:

• The dimensions are a bit odd for bigger babies. In that case, it can only be used as an insert. 

3.GroVia Reusable Organic Cotton Prefold Diaper

GroVia diapers come in size 1 to 4. For this segment, I will be focusing on size 2 specifically. After prepping, it should comfortably fit newborns with small bums. If you’re dealing with a chubby baby older than 3 months, you are better off with size 3 or 4. 

For maximum leakage protection, pair this up with Thirsties Snap cover. It will leave you with enough fabric to try out different kinds of folds. 

If your baby has a bigger bum, pinning the nappy could be a problem as you won’t have enough cloth in the front to fold down. Although, this won’t be an issue if you are going to use them as pocket diapers. If your little one is a heavy wetter, especially at night, tri-fold them as an insert for an easy clean-up.

These nappies offer high absorbency, making each diaper last for about 3-4 hours. Yes, they are a bit bulky but that’s a common drawback of most cloth diapers. I have a minor gripe about the material of the diapers. It’s 55% bamboo viscose (Rayon) and 45% cotton which makes removing the stains a bit tricky. 

Pros:

• No scratchy labels on the nappies to cause skin discomfort.
• Sturdy and solid build. 
• Doesn’t shrink too fast. 
• Easy prepping. Just trifold and lay it in a cover.
• Absorbent enough for overnight use. 
• Can be used as burp cloths. 

Cons:

• Long drying time. 
• Taking off the stains can be a bit cumbersome. However, GroVia’s website has some amazing tips to get rid of this problem.  

4.OsoCozy Prefolds Bleached Cloth Diaper

When it comes to the best prefold diapers for newborns and toddlers, very few brands can match the fabric quality and absorbing power of OsoCozy. 

These particular diapers are made from Indian cotton which goes gentle on the delicate skin of babies. A very interesting thing about this material is that it tends to turn softer every time you wash it. My only small gripe with the fabric is that the top and bottom edges are finished with blue stitches instead of simple white. 

Moving on, these nappies come in two sizes: size one for the newborns and size two for older babies (weighing 15-30 pounds). The size 2 is a bit larger than expected but you can actually use it to your advantage by folding the extra fabric 3†down in the front or back. 

This will ensure better coverage and extra protection from wetness and leakage for up to 12 hours. If you want to just trifold and lay it in a cover, go for size 1. 

The nappies are quite thick and bulky which makes them ideal for overnight use. You will be glad to know that you can bleach these diapers to get rid of the stain. Just a small tip: use an oxygenated bleach and avoid chlorine to make the fabric last longer. 

Pros:

• Made from soft and fluffy Indian cotton.
• Nicely padded and super absorbent. 
• Extra-wide nappies provide a great coverage. 
• Lasts for up to 12 hours.
• Can serve as burp cloths too.

Cons:

• Takes a considerable amount of time to dry. 
• Size 2 shrinks very fast. 
• The serged edges have blue stitching instead of plain white. 

5.Gerber Prefold Gauze Diaper

Made from 100% pure cotton, these prefold diapers are exactly what you need for a heavy wetter. I loved how cushiony and fluffy these nappies are.

I noticed that the diapers have the maximum thickness at the center which can effectively prevent leakage from the sides. The diapers have the perfect size for chubby toddlers of up to 25 pounds. 

If you are confused between this cotton cloth gauze version and the regular Gerber gauze diapers, go for this one. These 6 ply diapers are much more absorbent and thicker than regular gauze-type nappies. Therefore, I think it could also make a great burping cloth for babies having acid reflux problem.

Pros:

• Ideal for containing a large amount of solid mess overnight. 
• Thicker in the middle for optimal leakage protection.
• Stains go away completely if you follow the washing instructions carefully. 
• Safe and extremely comfortable on diaper rash-prone skin.
• An excellent choice for a burp cloth, can last a whole day.

Cons:

• The diapers tend to get wrinkly and flat after washing. 

6.Fasoar Prefold Cloth Diaper

If you are okay with spending a little extra to ensure solid protection against leakage and diaper rashes, this brand worth taking a look. These diapers are made from tightly woven unbleached and lint-free cotton. That’s a big plus if you prefer keeping things organic.

The center panels of these diapers are thicker than the sides which makes the fabric supremely absorbent. Therefore, the nappies are able to stand up to a large volume of solid poo poo, rendering them perfect for nighttime use.

Another great thing about this prefolds is that it grows with your baby. The 20â€x14†diapers should comfortably fit infants and toddlers weighing between 10-35 lbs. Since the diapers are plain white, you can remove the stool stains easily using bleach. 

Pros:

• The fabric has a soft and pillowy feeling.
• Can handle high volumes of wetness and solid mess. 
• Thicker middle panel makes each nappy easily last whole night.
• Easy to wash. 
• Wide enough to work as a burp cloth for nursing and acid reflux. 

Cons:

• The nappy material becomes a little crinkly after washing. 

7.Thirsties Cloth Prefold Diaper

Most parents prefer Thirsties Duo prefolds as inserts including me. I would just fold in half, place it in a cover and be on my way. Easy-peasy. If you wish to use it as a diaper, use the tri fold method instead of fastening with Snappi. 

Tri-folding will leave you with extra fabric which you can fold down in the front to get extra wetness protection. You can also pair it up with a doubler as a solution for heavy nighttime wetting.

Thirsties Hemp prefolds are build from a super soft and breathable material that keeps skin irritation to a minimum. It is absolutely amazing how slim these nappies are. Your little guy will be able to move freely while having it on. 

The prefolds come in 4 sizes to accompany your baby through the different stages of his growth. The smallest size is meant for tiny newborns (6-18 lbs.) while size two is best suited for 18-40 lbs. kids. I also noticed that these prefold diapers are sewn into a circle. This means you can separate the layers for easy washing. 

Pros:

• Doesn’t trigger diaper rash, itching or general discomfort. 
• Can survive heavy wetting. 
• Easy to trifold in a cover and use an insert. 
• You can separate the layers for deep cleaning.

Cons:

• Takes forever to dry. 
• Cannot be Snappi’d.

Why Prefolds Diapers Are a Must-have Baby Item?

Disposable diapers are easy to put on, easy to toss in the trash can whereas prefolds do require some prepping. Despite that, prefold cloth diapers are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to regular disposable diapers. What could be the possible reason?

Here’s a dirty truth about disposables: each year, around 24.7 billion disposable nappies are dumped into landfills. On top of that, this humongous amount of waste can take more than 500 years to decompose. Mind you, this is an approximate figure of America alone. Scary, isn’t it?

Now, let me quickly list down the benefits of prefold diapers to give you a clearer picture:

• Prefold cloth diapers are much more cost-effective than regular disposable diapers. You can easily wash and re-use cloth nappies several times.
• Prefolds don’t contain harmful chemicals like dioxin, phthalates or sodium polyacrylate associated with several health issues in babies. 
• Natural fibers used in these diapers are ideal nappies for diaper rash-prone skin.
• Cotton prefolds are way more comfortable than traditional disposables. 
• Environment-friendly. 
• Great for potty training as they don’t feel as dry against the skin as disposables. 
• Doubles up as burp cloths/cleaning cloth for furniture and cars. 
• Available in a huge range of cute colors, designs and sizes. 

What Are the Different Types and Sizes of Prefold Diapers?

Most manufacturers offer 3-4 size options to accompany your child from day 1 to the first 36 months of his life. It’s a no-brainer that the smallest size is meant of newborns.

However, most kids outgrow this size too fast. So it will be more cost-efficient to move up a size if your baby is older than 6 months. 

Prefold diapers can be broadly divided into two categories: Indian and Chinese. Both are pretty much the same except for a few minor differences:

Indian prefold diapers, made from 100% Indian cotton, are incredibly soft and pillowy. This material is highly breathable and gentle on the skin. Thus, it keeps diaper rashes, itching, redness and inflammation to a minimum. What’s even better is that this fabric turns softer with each wash. 

On the downside, Indian cotton doesn’t last very long. And that’s where it’s different from Chinese prefolds. The latter uses bigger and wider cotton fabric that lasts considerably longer than its Indian counterpart. 

However, this durability comes at the cost of comfort. If your baby has an impossibly sensitive skin, it’s best to go with Indian prefold diapers. 

I have further divided prefolds into two categories based on the fabric texture, namely bleached and unbleached prefolds. 

Unbleached cotton diapers have a brownish hue on them due to the presence of natural oils in cotton. You need to wash them about 5-6 times to get them ready for use. 

Bleached cottons are plain white as the manufacturer already removed the natural oils. Therefore, their prep time is less but on the downside, bleaching can compromise material durability. 

Proper Ways to Use Prefold Diapers

Using prefold diapers is not rocket science. All you need is a little practice to get the hang of different folding techniques e.g trifold, angel fold, jelly roll fold etc. 

As I said earlier, prefold cloth nappies alone can’t provide protection from leakage. That’s why you need to lay them in a factory-made plastic shell or wrap. To hold the diaper securely in place, you may consider fastening it at the sides with Snappis or the good ol’s safety pins. I personally prefer diapers covers with hook and loop style fasteners. They are a little pricey but very convenient to use. 

If you are purchasing bleached diapers, you can use them straight out of the box. But in the case of unbleached diapers, you need to wash them 5-6 times with hot water and a mild detergent for maximum absorbency. 

How Many Prefolds Do You Need?

It is hard to give a definitive answer to this question as every baby is different. The number of diapers you’ll need to stash also depends on the following factors:

• Age of your baby. 
• Do you change nappies the moment he pees or strictly follow an hourly diaper changing schedule?
• Do you intend to you use prefolds as pocket inserts?
• How often do you wash the diapers?
• The thickness of your prefolds. 

Considering all the relevant factors, you need at least 3 dozen prefolds along with 6-8 covers to build up your diaper stash. Remember that on some days, a newborn may need 15-24 diapers in a day. This number will reduce as your baby grows older. 

How to Store Prefold Diapers?

“What’s the best way to store prefold diapers?â€. I get this question a lot. 

Well, you can store them wherever and however you want as long as they are easily accessible to you. 

Just remember to store them in a cool and dry location with other baby essentials like wet wipes, covers and diaper rash creams. I personally prefer keeping my prefolds, pocket diapers, shells and Snappis in a diaper bag. These nifty bags help to everything organized and quickly accessible, especially when I’m traveling with my baby. 

Make sure the prefolds are thoroughly clean and dry before you put them in a diaper bag. 

The Bottom Line

So that brings us to the end of our quest for the best prefold diapers money can buy. I hope this article has cleared up every doubt you had in your mind before you came here. Before you make up your mind, just remember that not all diapers are created equal.

Make sure you are familiar with your baby’s quirks before making a purchase. Your little guy is not able to speak for himself. So being a parent, it’s your responsibility to figure out his needs just by observing his reactions. 

Now, if you are still not sure which diaper would suit your baby the most and you need my personal opinion, my vote will go to OsoCozy Unbleached prefolds. It uses a soft cushiony material with incredible absorbing power that would keep the mess away from your baby’s delicate skin. The prefold is very convenient to put on and maintenance is fuss-free. Moreover, you don’t have to break a bag to stock them up. What else can you possibly ask for from a prefold nappy?