4 Ways To Fold A Cloth Diaper - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Fold a Cloth Diaper: A Step-by-Step Tutorial PDF download Download Article Quick and easy ways to fold flat cloth diapers Co-authored by Denise Stern

Last Updated: January 3, 2025 References

PDF download Download Article
  • Creating a Triangle Fold
    • |
  • Using the Pad Fold
    • |
  • Doing a Jelly Roll Fold
    • |
  • Folding a Bikini Twist
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Expert Q&A
    • |
  • Warnings
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Denise Stern. Denise Stern is a Parenting Specialist and the CEO of Let Mommy Sleep, the country’s leading Baby Nurse and Postpartum Care service. After her own postpartum challenges, Denise started Let Mommy Sleep in 2010 to lend an extra hand to families with newborns. The service started by hiring Baby Nurses and Newborn Caregivers to provide childcare and education to parents during night hours. To this day, Denise and her company specialize in providing nurturing care to newborns and evidence-based education to their parents. Denise was the US Chamber of Commerce Leading Woman-Owned Business in 2013, a Washington FAMILY Magazine Mother of the Year in 2016, and on the elite White House Summit for Working Families hosted by the President and First Lady Obama in 2014. Let Mommy Sleep is the only company in the US that has developed a postpartum care curriculum that has since won a local government contract. Denise continues to be a leader in the in-home newborn care industry by building and maintaining a team of newborn care experts, baby nurses (RN/LPN) and postpartum doulas across the US. She received a BA in Public Relations from North Carolina State University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 530,270 times.

There are lots of different ways to fold a cloth diaper, and many of them are super simple to do. A pad fold is great for beginners and goes in a diaper cover, while a jelly roll fold is perfect for keeping liquids from leaking out of the diaper. Other simple folds include a triangle fold and a bikini twist. Whichever fold you choose, secure it snugly using safety pins or cloth diaper clips.

How to Fold a Cloth Diaper

Choose the type of fold depending on your supplies and situation. A triangle fold allows you to secure the diaper with 1 pin. A pad fold easily tucks into a pocket diaper. A jelly roll fold offers extra leak protection. A twist fold allows the child more leg movement.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 4:

Creating a Triangle Fold

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  1. Step 1 Bring one corner of the diaper to the opposite corner to form a triangle. 1 Bring one corner of the diaper to the opposite corner to form a triangle. Spread a clean diaper out on a flat surface. Pick up one corner of the cloth and bring it to the opposite end to form a triangle with 3 points.[1]
    • If the diaper is rectangular, fold in a longer side so the diaper is more of a square before forming the triangle.
  2. Step 2 Place your baby on the triangle so the longest edge is behind their back. 2 Place your baby on the triangle so the longest edge is behind their back. Situate the cloth diaper so the long flat edge is at the top with the 3 points on the left, bottom, and right. Set the baby down on the diaper so the long edge is up behind the baby’s back and the opposite point is between the baby's legs.[2] Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 3 Pull the bottom point up between their legs and hold it on their stomach. Take the point of the diaper that’s facing directly downwards and bring it up between the baby’s legs so it’s nice and snug. Keep this point held on the baby’s stomach using your hand.[3]
    • Make sure the cloth is covering the back of each leg.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 4 Bring the left and right points to the center and fasten them. Pull the left side to the center and hold it over the baby’s belly before pulling the right side to the center too. Use a safety pin to secure the cloth in place by pushing the pin through each layer of fabric, except the one touching the baby's legs. Cloth diaper clips work well too, as they have 3 attachments that simply clip right on to each section of the cloth.[4]
    • When it's time to remove the pins, do so carefully so you don't accidentally poke the child.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 4:

Using the Pad Fold

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  1. Step 1 Lay the diaper flat on a stable surface. 1 Lay the diaper flat on a stable surface. Spread a clean diaper out on a flat surface like a changing table or clean floor. Lay the cloth diaper down so it’s facing you vertically.[5]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 2 Fold the far left side into the center. Bring the third of the diaper on the left side to the center so it’s covering the second third. The fold doesn’t have to be perfectly precise, but it should be as even as possible.[6]
    • If you’re using a prefold cloth diaper, you’ll be folding it along the seams.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 3 Bring the far right side on top of the left side. Fold the last third of the cloth diaper that’s on the far right so it’s covering the left side, creating a trifold. Straighten up the fold so it’s even in width.[7]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 4 Position the diaper in a cover or pocket diaper. This type of fold is to be used in a cover or pocket diaper since it doesn’t have its own way of being attached. Once you place it in a diaper cover, wrap it around the child as you would a normal diaper and secure it.[8]
    • Look for covers or pocket diapers at your local big box store or online.
    5. Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 4:

Doing a Jelly Roll Fold

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  1. Step 1 Lay the cloth diaper down on a flat surface. 1 Lay the cloth diaper down on a flat surface. Spread the cloth diaper out on a clean changing table or other surface. Situate the diaper so it’s facing you vertically.[9]
    • This fold is great for keeping runny liquids from escaping a diaper.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 2 Roll the lower corners inward to the center of the diaper. Use your fingers to roll the bottom left corner to the center, and then the right corner to the center. This creates a V-shape with the diaper.[10]
    • Keep the back of the cloth diaper, the upper two corners, flat.
  3. Step 3 Situate the baby on the diaper so the flat edge is at the baby’s back. 3 Situate the baby on the diaper so the flat edge is at the baby’s back. Place the baby on the diaper while holding the bottom edge of the cloth to keep the edges rolled. The flat edge of the diaper should be at the baby’s upper back.[11]
  4. Step 4 Pull the bottom of the diaper to the baby’s belly. 4 Pull the bottom of the diaper to the baby’s belly. Bring the rolled edges up to the baby’s belly, going in between their legs. Keep one hand on this section to keep it in place on the child.[12]
    • Keep the edges rolled when you bring them up to the baby’s belly.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 5 Bring the left and right edges to the center and secure them. Pull the left corner of the diaper around the baby’s waist and onto the belly, and then do the same with the right corner. Use a safety pin or cloth diaper clips to secure the cloth and keep all the edges in place.[13]
    • Pull the left and right edges around the waist snugly so the diaper isn’t too loose.
    6. Advertisement
Method 4 Method 4 of 4:

Folding a Bikini Twist

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  1. Step 1 Lay the cloth diaper flat on a table. 1 Lay the cloth diaper flat on a table. Spread out a clean cloth diaper on a flat surface like a changing table. Position the cloth so that it’s facing you vertically.[14]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 2 Twist the cloth 180 degrees in the center. Pull the bottom right corner of the cloth diaper to the left side and move the left corner to the right side, forming a twist in the fabric. Once the twist is formed, spread out each corner so they’re lying flat.[15]
    • Make sure the twist is in the center of the fabric.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 3 Place the child on the diaper so the twist is between their legs. Set the baby down on the diaper so the top flat edge is against the baby’s back. The twist should be in between the baby’s legs with the bottom edges still laying flat.[16]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 4 Bring the bottom, left, and right edges to the baby’s belly. Pull the bottom section up over the baby’s stomach and hold it in place. Bring the left corner around the baby’s waist and place it over the center, and then the right corner over.[17]
    • Pull each side up against the baby snugly so the diaper isn’t too loose.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Fold a Cloth Diaper 5 Secure the diaper with safety pins or cloth diaper clips. Use safety pins to attach the right and left edges to the cloth at the baby’s stomach, carefully pushing the pin through the fabric and attaching it in place. If you’re using cloth diaper clips, press each attachment to the left, right, and bottom edges of the diaper.[18]
    • If you’re using safety pins, put your fingers under the cloth as you’re pinning to make sure you don’t clip the baby’s skin.
    6. Advertisement

Video

Expert Q&A

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  • Question How do I keep my cloth diapers from leaking? Denise Stern Denise Stern Parenting Specialist Denise Stern is a Parenting Specialist and the CEO of Let Mommy Sleep, the country’s leading Baby Nurse and Postpartum Care service. After her own postpartum challenges, Denise started Let Mommy Sleep in 2010 to lend an extra hand to families with newborns. The service started by hiring Baby Nurses and Newborn Caregivers to provide childcare and education to parents during night hours. To this day, Denise and her company specialize in providing nurturing care to newborns and evidence-based education to their parents. Denise was the US Chamber of Commerce Leading Woman-Owned Business in 2013, a Washington FAMILY Magazine Mother of the Year in 2016, and on the elite White House Summit for Working Families hosted by the President and First Lady Obama in 2014. Let Mommy Sleep is the only company in the US that has developed a postpartum care curriculum that has since won a local government contract. Denise continues to be a leader in the in-home newborn care industry by building and maintaining a team of newborn care experts, baby nurses (RN/LPN) and postpartum doulas across the US. She received a BA in Public Relations from North Carolina State University. Denise Stern Denise Stern Parenting Specialist Expert Answer There will always be leaks, but if you want to give yourself a fighting chance, buy diaper covers with elastic bands that go around the baby's legs and bottom. There are also now some hybrid diapers with compostable insides if that's a concern for you. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 8
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Tips

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Warnings

  • Never leave a baby unattended when you're changing their diaper. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1
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References

  1. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/diapering.html
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV4YNYMG7m4#t=1m55s
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV4YNYMG7m4#t=1m58s
  4. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/diapering.html
  5. ↑ https://momlovesbest.com/fold-cloth-diapers
  6. ↑ https://momlovesbest.com/fold-cloth-diapers
  7. ↑ https://momlovesbest.com/fold-cloth-diapers
  8. ↑ https://thiswestcoastmommy.com/6-ways-to-fold-a-prefold-diaper/
  9. ↑ https://momlovesbest.com/fold-cloth-diapers
More References (9)
  1. ↑ https://thiswestcoastmommy.com/6-ways-to-fold-a-prefold-diaper/
  2. ↑ https://momlovesbest.com/fold-cloth-diapers
  3. ↑ https://thiswestcoastmommy.com/6-ways-to-fold-a-prefold-diaper/
  4. ↑ https://thiswestcoastmommy.com/6-ways-to-fold-a-prefold-diaper/
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV4YNYMG7m4#t=2m19s
  6. ↑ https://thiswestcoastmommy.com/6-ways-to-fold-a-prefold-diaper/
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV4YNYMG7m4#t=2m32s
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV4YNYMG7m4#t=2m37s
  9. ↑ https://thiswestcoastmommy.com/6-ways-to-fold-a-prefold-diaper/

About This Article

Denise Stern Co-authored by: Denise Stern Parenting Specialist This article was co-authored by Denise Stern. Denise Stern is a Parenting Specialist and the CEO of Let Mommy Sleep, the country’s leading Baby Nurse and Postpartum Care service. After her own postpartum challenges, Denise started Let Mommy Sleep in 2010 to lend an extra hand to families with newborns. The service started by hiring Baby Nurses and Newborn Caregivers to provide childcare and education to parents during night hours. To this day, Denise and her company specialize in providing nurturing care to newborns and evidence-based education to their parents. Denise was the US Chamber of Commerce Leading Woman-Owned Business in 2013, a Washington FAMILY Magazine Mother of the Year in 2016, and on the elite White House Summit for Working Families hosted by the President and First Lady Obama in 2014. Let Mommy Sleep is the only company in the US that has developed a postpartum care curriculum that has since won a local government contract. Denise continues to be a leader in the in-home newborn care industry by building and maintaining a team of newborn care experts, baby nurses (RN/LPN) and postpartum doulas across the US. She received a BA in Public Relations from North Carolina State University. This article has been viewed 530,270 times. 33 votes - 67% Co-authors: 19 Updated: January 3, 2025 Views: 530,270 Categories: Diaper Changing | Youth and Adult Diapers Article SummaryX

To fold a standard cloth diaper, unfold 1 diaper and place it flat down on the table. Pick up the lower left corner of the diaper and fold it about one third diagonally. Then pick up the lower right corner and fold it up about one third diagonally. These two folds will overlap at the lower center of the rectangle. Fold the bottom of the rectangle a third of the way up so that you have a diaper that has a 6- ply. To learn how to do a bikini twist fold, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Lynn Staab

    Lynn Staab

    Jan 8, 2017

    "I am planning a baby shower for my daughter. We will play the diaper-poop game, and I needed to learn how to fold a..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Denise Stern Co-authored by: Denise Stern Parenting Specialist 33 votes - 67% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 19 Updated: January 3, 2025 Views: 530,270 Lynn Staab

Lynn Staab

Jan 8, 2017

"I am planning a baby shower for my daughter. We will play the diaper-poop game, and I needed to learn how to fold a..." more Colin Brown

Colin Brown

Feb 25, 2017

"I'm a bedwetter, and I just started using flat cloth diapers for the first time a couple of months ago." Kenna Singer

Kenna Singer

Jun 26, 2018

"I liked how there were many ways, so my entire family now has their favorite way." Anonymous

Anonymous

Jul 19, 2017

"The steps are shown very clearly. Easy to understand for a layman." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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