Prefolds and Covers

The pre-fold cloth diaper has been around for ages and while some of the various folds that can be done may be intimidating, it's nothing that you can't figure out with some practice! So, what's a pre-fold? It's a rectangular diaper that usually is constructed in 3 vertical panels, with the center having more layers than the two outer panels. This unique construction allows for you to fold it in several different ways to get the best fit and absorbency for your baby. 

Smart Bottoms Pre-folds come in three sizes: Small, Medium or Large and are made out of 45% Organic Cotton/ 55% Hemp. The front and back of our prefolds are a brushed fleece, this specific fabric style allows the fabric to absorb liquid quickly and more evenly than other styles.

Pre-folds can be used inside of any cover or pocket diaper as the primary absorbing layer. If you have a very heavy wetter or a baby that is sleeping through the night, using a small pre-fold inside of your AIO style diaper may also be a good option for you. Trying to decide which size pre-fold to buy? You will want to consider a few different things before making your decision. 1) How big is your baby? 2) Are they a heavy wetter or average? 3) Are you concerned about bulkiness?

As a general rule we recommend the size Small for babies up to 16lbs, Medium for babies 16-24lbs, and Large for babies over 24lbs. If your baby is a heavy wetter we would recommend going up a size or changing more frequently. If you aren't concerned about the bulkiness, the size medium is usually sufficient for day-time diapering regardless of the baby's age or weight. If you want the trimmest diaper possible, it may be best to invest in all three sizes as your baby grows and/or needs more absorbency.

If you are using our Too Smart Cover you may not need a fastener to keep your prefold secure. Depending on the size of your baby and the fold you use, the Too Smart Cover may hold the diaper snuggly enough to avoid using a Snappi or pins. 

Now, onto the folding styles! The best fold you can do for a newborn is called the Jelly Roll Fold.

Now, onto the folding styles! The best fold you can do for a newborn is called the Jelly Roll Fold.

The Newspaper Fold is easy to do and is great for little boys where absorbency is needed in the front of the diaper.

The Angel Fold is probably the easiest fold you can do with a pre-fold. It's also extremely easy to fasten and keep in place. You can also do another fold that is similar to the Angel Fold. It's called the Diva Fold. The only difference is that baby will be on his belly and what would be the front of the diaper for the Angel Fold will simply be pulled up and fastened in the back. This creates a smooth look in the front and also helps if you happen to have the next Houdini as your child.

The Bikini Twist Fold is a favorite among parents with little girls as it places the most absorbent part of the diaper right in the middle, however, some hate this fold because it isn't the greatest at catching poo-explosions. You'll have the Too Smart Cover though so all of those blueberries Grandma fed to little Jenny will at least be contained in the cover.

Once your baby's poo is a little more solid you can also pad fold the prefolds and lay inside the cover just like you would an insert. To pad fold you would start on the short side of the diaper (bottom) and fold up approximately 5", continue doing this until the entire diaper is folded into a smaller rectangular "pad" and then place inside of the cover.