If you’ve seen fleece diaper covers in stores or shops and wondered how well they perform compared to the more popular PUL covers, read on! Fleece is a synthetic poly fabric that works by drawing moisture away from the skin (or from the diaper underneath it), through its fibers to the outer surface. It’s often marketed as an easy-care alternative to wool.
I used fleece wraps on Samuel when he was little because they fit great over his chunky tummy and legs. And when Erik was born last December, one of my favorite newborn covers was the Little Bear Bums microfleece. It was so cozy! I have it stashed away in case we have another….
ADVANTAGES
If you’ve never tried fleece before, here are some of the benefits:
- Fleece is easy to clean and dries fast; you can wash it with your regular laundry (if you like) and use dryer sheets occasionally to boost its repelling properties.
- Fleece is cheap; handmade covers start at just $5 and go up from there.
- Fleece is soft and gentle; not once did it ever leave marks on Sam’s fat little legs like PUL covers sometimes do.
- Fleece has some of the benefits of wool (soft, breathable and water repellent) but without the higher price tag.
- Fleece pants can do double duty as a diaper cover and an article of clothing.
- Fleece covers can be re-used before washing if not soiled or stinky.
- Fleece has a stay-dry quality which is nice for the parts that might touch your baby (waistband, gussets).
- Fleece can be a skin-friendly option if your baby is sensitive to PUL or allergic to wool.
Fleece covers come in three basic styles: soakers, wraps and pants (either shorties or longies). Staccinator and Happy Heinys both make a popular snapping cover, and the pull-on soakers can easily be found by searching on Etsy or Hyena Cart. This style is also extremely easy to sew on your own from free patterns.
Update 2019: I made my own fleece cover pattern! Check out my No-Sew $2 Fleece Diaper Cover Tutorial.
As with every fabric, there are some drawbacks. Here’s what I learned while using fleece covers:
- Fleece (as mentioned before) is water-repellent, but it is not waterproof like a PUL diaper cover. More frequent changes will be needed.
- Fleece can result in compression leaks when the diaper underneath is soaked. The more thick and absorbent your diaper is, the better a fleece cover will work. The trade-off is that your baby is going to have a bulkier bottom.
- Fleece is synthetic so over time it might become stinky from trapped odors and detergent buildup, unlike wool. Use a good, strong detergent for thorough cleaning, and consider a good stripping if you suspect there’s buildup or detergent residue.
- Fleece is not as stretchy as wool, so you have to get the sizing right to make sure it’s going to fit over your prefolds and bulkier fitteds.
- Fleece is not typically available in the “one size” option, so you have to buy over and over again as your baby grows.
You might be wondering Can I use fleece covers overnight? The answer is yes. Many mothers do this, but remember it’s mainly the diaper underneath and not the thick fleece cover that you are relying on. You have less wiggle room with a fleece cover vs. a wool or PUL cover. It also pays to make sure there’s extra padding up front if you have a tummy sleeper, because this is where you might experience compression leaks through the fleece.
Overall, I had a good experience with our fleece diaper covers, as long as I didn’t go too long between changes. However, I still prefer PUL and wool covers for more insurance against leaks over long periods of time, a trimmer fit and the fact that they will fit a wider range of sizes.
Have you ever tried fleece covers before?
Someone should make a fleece cover with adjustable leg elastic like a softbums diaper, I bet that would work for a one size cover.
That would be neat! I wonder if there’s something about fleece fabric that makes it not work very well for one-size designs? ~Anne
Great post! We have 1 fleece cover that I got to add to our wool for the summer. You can’t beat the price of fleece covers, it’s super breathable, and it retains it’s shape (vs. wool). I rotate my wool & fleece covers every day (often rotating during 1 day), so I’ve had no issue with stink, thus far.
Thanks for bringing up that additional perk! I do like how fleece doesn’t shrink or felt. ~Anne
My baby boy will soon outgrow is wool cover I use for overnight. I will have to look into getting some fleece instead! Thanks for sharing!
I’d love to know how it works out for you, Amber! ~Anne
Those are super cute!
I have several fleece covers that I like to use as extra protection the occasional time I put baby in a disposable diaper. My favourite part is how easy they are to wash and dry – wool still intimidates me a bit!
Thanks for the info, been curious on fleece! im going to try some with the free patterns! 🙂
I have used a newborn one with not that good of results. But I don’t have good newborn fitteds, so that was probably the problem! I think for diaper rashes days they would be great!
I think you’ve swayed me to try fleece!
Super easy to sew your own too! I think it’s easier to work with than PUL b/c it’s not slipper.
For me the biggest disadvantage is the bulkiness, but my kids are skinny so it’s not too bad.
Sewing with fleece is definitely a project I’d like to try. Do you know if a special needle is needed when you’re sewing the thicker polar fleece? ~Anne
I would recommend a ball point or stretch needle. Fleece is pretty thick, but very simple to sew through. I’ve made many fleece covers for my daughter, she’s almost 2 now and I started cloth diapering at 6 months.
I have one I made its a real cute Gator cover, not my first pick but great for game day!
Thanks for the info! I don’t see fleece covers that often. I just got my first soaker. Everyone always talks about how great wool is but I prefer vegan materials.
Meagan, they are definitely less publicized because few mainstream cloth diaper brands produce them (the Stacinator fleece cover by Happy Heiny comes to mind). Etsy and Hyena Cart seem to be the main places you get them now. Thanks for pointing out that fleece has the advantage of being a vegan option, for those so inclined. Didn’t even think of that when writing my post! ~Anne
I’m disappointed that you barely mention making your own and start the cost of diy ones at $5.
Fleece covers work great for all ages provided you change your kid as soon as they need it. Even in cloth they shouldn’t be left in a wet diaper any longer than necessary so it shouldn’t be an issue. I made my own from throw blankets we already had and weren’t using and diapers from hubs old work tees I’d planned to cut up for rags. The cost for me to diaper 2 boys at the same time for a year, then another year for the younger and for 2 years with a 3rd baby was simply the cost of the pins. $1.00 for a 4 pack of diaper pins. Over time I figured out a few things to make it easier and less bulky. I used a tee towel as a soaker with a tee shirt material liner against the skin, even the shammy towels at the dollar store will do in a pinch if you’re out too long and run out of diapers. To keep stink down RINSE out the diapers as soon as you change them and leave in a bucket to soak with whatever detergent you plan to wash them in.
Almost every person in the US has something already at home they can use as a diaper even if they have to cut up old towels, sheets or clothes. Same for a cover those fleece blankets are everywhere and if you don’t have one I bet someone you know would happily give you one to get it out of their hair.
Try the jelly roll fold it works great to get a good fit and is simple to do. It’s not about being economical or eco friendly, it’s about babies and toddlers having clean butts, you can do it and it doesn’t need to cost a fortune.
If you soak them and don’t have access to a washer then it’s simple to hand wash them and rinse well in a sink then clip them to a wire hanger and hang in your shower, off a curtain rod or closet bar. If you do it before you go to bed every night then you have clean and dry diapers for the next day!
Btw my youngest is now 8 1/2 I still use those diaper pins, the fleece covers have been cut down to doll size and some of my diapers are still being used to scrub floors. Not too shabby of an investment I’d say.
Hi Melissa, thanks for sharing your experience and tips! Your comment reminded me that I have a free DIY fleece tutorial on my website. I added that to the post. Have a great Christmas! ~Anne Marie
Thanks for sharing your experience. This is very helpful. I think you should write an article in this regard❤️
This gave me so much confidence to try some diy fleece diapers for my newborn. I’m planning to use one size pocket diapers but I want something less bulky for my newborn. 😁
Thank you. I am going to try no sew fleece cover as it will make baby comfortable as it is more breathable.