Best Diaper Inserts for Cloth Diapers and Overnight Leaks

Diaper inserts are absorbent layers that add soaking capacity to a diaper. Reusable cloth inserts slide into the pocket of a pocket cloth diaper or lay inside a cover, disposable booster pads add a throwaway absorbent layer for overnight, and thin disposable liners sit on top to catch solids. In this lineup the Babygoal, AlVABABY, Mama Koala and Nora's Nursery are reusable inserts, the Eli with Love and Super Boosties are disposable boosters, and the Naturally Nature sheets are disposable liners.

Reusable cloth inserts are washed and used again, which lowers the long-run cost but adds laundry, and the Babygoal, AlVABABY, Mama Koala and Nora's Nursery all fall in this group. Disposable boosters and liners such as the Eli with Love Super Sleepers, the Super Boosties and the Naturally Nature liners are used once and thrown away, which is convenient for travel and overnight but is an ongoing purchase. Many families mix both, using cloth inserts by day and a disposable booster at night.

More layers generally mean more absorbent capacity, but also more bulk and a longer dry time. Among our reusable picks the Babygoal is a 3-layer microfiber insert, the AlVABABY is 5-layer, and the Mama Koala is a 6-layer natural cotton insert, so a heavy wetter or an overnight stretch may do better with the higher layer counts. The Nora's Nursery listing does not state a layer count, so check its product page if layers matter to you.

Common insert fibers include microfiber, cotton, bamboo, hemp and charcoal bamboo, and each has its own balance of speed, capacity and dry time. In this lineup the Babygoal states a microfiber build and the Mama Koala states natural cotton, while the AlVABABY and Nora's Nursery listings do not name a fiber, so confirm the material on the product page. The disposable boosters and liners here do not state their material in the listing.

For heavy wetters, a higher layer count holds more, so the AlVABABY 5-layer and the Mama Koala 6-layer natural cotton inserts are the strongest reusable options here. For overnight, many parents add a disposable booster on top of the usual insert, and the Eli with Love Super Sleepers and the Super Boosties are made for that. Always check the fit and change the diaper as needed rather than relying on capacity alone.

Not automatically, so fit matters. The Mama Koala insert is listed as adjustable to fit any baby cloth diaper, while the Super Boosties list a size of 4.3 by 13 inches and a fit for Pampers sizes 4 to 6 and certain hybrid covers. Check the insert dimensions against your diaper or cover, since pocket diapers and covers vary in the space they allow.

Reusable inserts are usually washed before first use, and some fibers reach full absorbency only after several washes. The listings here do not all spell out wash and prep steps, so follow the care guidance on each product page for water temperature, detergent and drying. As a general rule, keep microfiber inside a pocket rather than against the skin, and wash inserts with your other cloth diaper laundry.

Match the insert to your diaper system first. The Babygoal 3-layer microfiber inserts are our overall pick for an everyday reusable rotation, the AlVABABY 5-layer and Mama Koala 6-layer natural cotton inserts add absorbency for heavy wetters, and the Mama Koala is the choice if you want a natural fiber. For overnight without extra laundry, the Eli with Love and Super Boosties add a disposable booster, and the Naturally Nature liners keep diapers cleaner at changes.