Is it a liner, a doubler or an insert? What does a liner do and how is it different than a doubler?
Let’s break it down so you’ll be able to easily differentiate between a liner, a doubler and an insert.
Liners
Liners are usually made of one layer of fabric (reusable or disposable) and are used on top of your diaper and against baby’s skin. You’d use a liner when you want easier clean up after a poop, when you’re using a diaper cream and want to keep it from touching your diapers, and at times it’s used to wick moisture from a baby’s skin (such as when using fleece liners). Liners can be reusable or you can also use disposable liners. Liners are not for absorbency. They are used as barriers and should not be confused with doublers or inserts.
Doublers
A doubler is fabric that is used to add absorbency to your diaper, but without a lot of bulk. Doublers are multi layered and are often made of cotton, bamboo, hemp, or blends. Hemp and bamboo are more absorbent than cotton, so we recommend them for doublers if you need more absorbency but not as much bulk.
Inserts
Inserts are made of multilayer micro terry, fleece, hemp, bamboo or cotton and are used as the main absorbency in diapers. In pocket diapers, inserts are inserted in the pocket of the diaper. In all in one diapers, the inserts are sewn into the diaper. And in hybrid diapers, the inserts have a layer that can be worn against the baby’s skin and so you simply lay it on top of the diaper cover and against the baby’s skin.
For cloth diapering questions, please contact Giselle at Granola Babies any time. We’re always here to help in your cloth diapering journey.
From left to right: Liner, Doubler, Insert
Top to bottom: Insert, doubler, liner
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this. I was actually wondering what the difference was the other day!
I'm glad it helped!
I just love how much info you put on your site as it can be a bit confusing!
Thanks Jodi!
Thanks so much for the information! We use prefolds. Does this automatically mean we’d want to use doublers to add absorbancy? (i.e. Inserts are only for particular types of diaper covers and are used instead of prefolds?)
Hi Leslie, yes you’d add doublers for extra absorbency, you can also take a preemie or an infant prefold and use it as a doubler too – a little bulky but can be done.
OK. I had ordered some inserts to use with my prefolds (not understanding the difference between inserts and doublers at the time). Will they just not be as absorbant as a doubler if used with the prefold? Should I return them altogether and get doublers instead? (We’re having daytime leak issues even though I change LO every 2 hours and covers and prefolds seem to be laundered correctly.)
What are the inserts (brand)?
Thirsties Hemp inserts.
Oh ok – if it is the hemp inserts than your ok as those are different because they were made to be used also with just covers unlike regular inserts. If the hemp and microfiber inserts than those are more for pockets.