There is no single right number of cloth diaper inserts, because the count comes from three numbers: how many times a day you change, how many days you wait between washes, and how long your inserts take to dry. Multiply the first two, add a cushion for drying, then extras for nights and a few spares, and you have a starting stash to adjust. The worked example below lets you swap in your own numbers.
Start with changes per day and days between washes
Before you buy, count your real changes over two or three ordinary days, including the night ones. If your baby has not arrived yet, ask a friend who has a baby of a similar age or use your own estimate and plan to adjust.
Then choose a wash interval you will actually keep. Many families wash every second day, but a daily wash needs fewer inserts and a wash every third day needs more. Check your diaper maker's care instructions as well, since some give a longest time between washes. Changes per day multiplied by days between washes gives the number of used inserts waiting at wash time.
One insert or two per change
How many go in a single change depends on the insert's thickness and your baby, so start with what the diaper maker supplies. One insert per daytime change is a common starting point. If it regularly comes out soaked from end to end at your normal change time, the next step is a second insert or a slimmer booster, and either one counts as an extra piece in your total.
Pack listings give a clue. ALVABABY Pocket Cloth Diapers with 12 Microfibre Inserts, Yellow & Green, 6 Pack is named as a 6 pack with 12 inserts, which suggests two for each diaper, so confirm the contents on the product page. Whatever you use, multiply your changes per day by the inserts per change.
Extras for nights and naps
Longer stretches often call for more absorbency, such as a second insert or a booster at night. Add one extra insert for every night your stash has to cover, which means the nights between washes plus the drying time. If naps use a thicker setup than daytime changes, count those separately.
Allowing for drying time
Washing does not make inserts ready straight away. You need enough clean inserts to carry you until the washed batch is dry. Add one day's worth of inserts as a drying cushion if your inserts take about a day to dry, and more if they take longer.
Thick natural-fibre inserts on an indoor rack take longer than thin microfibre or a turn in the dryer, and in freezing weather an outdoor line is not much help. Time one load from washer to fully dry, and size the cushion from that.
Newborn stage vs older baby
Newborns tend to be changed more often than older babies, so changes per day is higher at the start. As your baby grows, changes may drop but each insert may need to hold more. Recount when your pattern shifts rather than assuming the first number stays right.
Check insert sizes too. Inserts made for small babies may not suit a larger diaper later.
A worked example you can adapt
These numbers are an example only. Replace them with your own.
| Step | Example | Running total |
|---|---|---|
| 8 changes a day, 1 insert each | 8 per day | 8 |
| Wash every 2 days | 8 x 2 | 16 |
| Drying cushion of 1 day | + 8 | 24 |
| 1 extra insert per night, 3 nights | + 3 | 27 |
| Spares for daycare or a slow day | + 3 | 30 |
So this family would start with about 30 inserts. A family changing 6 times a day, washing daily and using a dryer would run the same steps and land much lower: 6 for the day, a few to cover the hours a load spends in the washer and dryer, one for the night and two or three spares, or about a dozen. If you use a pocket or cover system, also count the diapers and covers themselves, because they dry and rotate on their own schedule.
Buying in stages rather than all at once
You do not have to buy the full number on day one. Start with a smaller set that covers a few days, learn how your baby wets, how fast things dry and how often you really wash, then add inserts where the gaps show.
A smaller set is one way to begin. Two sets that we list are Esembly Try-It Kit Cloth Diaper Starter Set, Fantastic Fungi, Size 1 and Nora's Nursery Pocket Cloth Diapers with Inserts and Wet Bag, On The Farm, 7 Pack. Check each product page for what is in the pack. To add inserts later, browse the cloth diaper inserts and liners collection, and see the cloth and reusable diapers for complete sets.
Shop this guide
- Cloth Diaper Insert 5-layer Washable Liners Absorbent, Medium (ships via Amazon)
- Cloth Diaper, One Size, Pink Forest with Insert (ships via Amazon)
- Adult Cloth Diaper Inserts, 4 Layers, 3-Piece (ships via Amazon)
- ALVABABY Cloth Diapers, Newborn, Floral, 6-Pack with 12 Inserts (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Cloth Diaper Inserts & Liners
- See all: Cloth & Reusable Diapers
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
How do I know my count is too low?
Common signs are running out before wash day, washing more often than you planned, or reaching for inserts that are still damp. Add to your stash or shorten the wash interval.
Do I need a cover for every insert?
With pocket diapers, each change uses a fresh shell as well as fresh inserts, so the two counts rise together. With covers, ask the maker whether a cover that is clean and dry inside can be reused between changes.
Should I send extra to daycare?
Ask your daycare or caregiver what they accept and how they want things packed, then send a full day plus a spare change. Count that into your total.
How often should I change my baby?
That is a question for your doctor or nurse, and the answer can change as your baby grows. This guide only helps you count inserts once you know your own number.
Want a second opinion on your numbers? Send them through the contact page and we will help you plan a starter set. We reply within one business day.