Homemade Cloth Diaper Series: Troubleshooting Leaks

Here are the leaks I've been experiencing and the reasons why I think they're leaking. Stay tuned for more videos!

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• baby
• sewing
• cloth
• diapers
• leaks
• troubleshooting

[TiffanyPanini]

I also make my own cloth diapers and do video vlogs! I love finding new faces :) I'm so glad I found someone else who makes their own. Do you think you can do an update on them, or have you been working on them? I hope to have a video of my journey in homemade cloth diapering! I made 6 while pregnant with my daughter 15 months ago and they didn't work like I thought! Anyways, I'm not sure what could be the problem, it looks like yours are better than mine, maybe you need another pattern?

[pregnantinparadise]

@TiffanyPanini Hi! nice to meet you! I've kinda had to stop making my cloth diapers because we've been doing a lot of traveling this summer and we're about to make a big move in a couple weeks so i can't wait to get settled down and start sewing again. I will also do more videos. I tried a couple patterns and made my own tweaks. I've thought of a couple different things I could try to make them better. i have to wait and see! I REALLY want them to work though.

[pregnantinparadise]

I do pin them, but when you dry them in the dryer, the holes in the PUL are supposed to close. I know of others who pin their diapers and have no problem with leaks. I really do think that it comes down to fit and absorbency. If I could do it all again, I probably wouldn't make AIOs for an infant. I would just use prefolds and covers. When we finally get settled down again, I'm gonna focus on making one sized pocket diapers like fuzzibunz, and switch to natural fibers instead of the microfleece

[Raynebowfish]

I'm sure that you are, but something I read came to mind watching this (Now I haven't made any cloth diapers yet lol, but I do plan on it) Are you using a high quality polyester thread? What I read is that if you use cotton, it will wick the wetness through.

For the leaks in the back, a thing to maybe try is to have the liner slightly lower.

Again, I haven't made any yet, but I'm just trying to think of what I would try if/when this all happens to me :)

BTW, your baby is adorable!!! 

[pregnantinparadise]

@Raynebowfish Thanks! Yes, I do use high quality polyester thread, which makes it all the more confusing as to why I'm getting leaks. You're totally right about the liner. I need to be more conscious of how I place it. One thing that I think I need to work on is the thread tension, because sometimes there are gaps in the thread and it doesn't sew evenly, but I have no idea how that works. Good luck making your diapers!

[glemmestad]

This video was really helpful and I like how honest you are about the issues. You are right you can get leaks with any diaper and every baby is different. I wish i could give you some tips and try figure out how to solve it but since i haven't yet got a chance to try out our diapers, I'm really not sure :( I have read allot about the different materials used, and I have ordered bamboo fabric which I have used to sew nursing covers and extra lining for the nappies, maybe you could look into that?

[pregnantinparadise]

@glemmestad Thanks! I just ordered some bamboo...well, it feels like itʻs been a while and hasnʻt come in. For that reason I haven't made any new diapers in the last couple weeks because Iʻm not wasting my PUL pairing it with an inner fabric that doesn't work. I'm SOOO excited for my bamboo. I really think I need to increase my absorbency. That seems to be the main issue. I'll keep updating. Best of luck to you! I bet you're giving birth RIGHT NOW :)

[jhartist123]

Go to an automobile store. They have the most absorbent cloths you can find.

[monalisasus]

if you can figure out how to add gussets to the diaper, that may help the leaks around the legs. I have made liners with gussets and one AIO with gussets which work well.

[Raynebowfish]

@pregnantinparadise When you sew them, do you pin the fabric at all, or just try to hold it all in place? Something else I read was when using PUL not to pin, or to pin as little as possible...

I want to figure out why you're getting leaks, so when I do get to make some, I can be sure to try and avoid the leakings :)