“Why are my newborn's cloth nappies leaking?”
If you're new to cloth nappies, a leak can be enough to make you wonder whether you've made the wrong choice.
Is the nappy not absorbent enough?
Is it the wrong size?
Is the nappy faulty?
Do newborns just leak in cloth?
Before you panic and start looking for a different nappy, there's something important to know:
A leak doesn't automatically mean the nappy isn't working.
With a newborn, fit can make a huge difference.
Tiny legs, skinny thighs, different body shapes and lots of wriggling can make getting a good fit a little tricky at first.
The good news?
Fit is something you can learn.
Once you know what you're looking for, those tiny adjustments can make a huge difference.
What should a newborn cloth nappy fit look like?
A well-fitting newborn cloth nappy should be snug without being uncomfortably tight.
You want the nappy to sit close against your baby's body, particularly around the legs and back, without digging into their skin.
When you're checking the fit, look at:
- The legs
- The waist
- The tummy
- The position of the nappy
- The rise or overall size
The most important thing is that there aren't obvious gaps where wee can escape.
Think snug seal, rather than tight squeeze.
Your baby should still be comfortable and able to move their legs normally.
Check the legs first
For many newborn leaks, the legs are the first place I'd look.
Newborns can have surprisingly skinny little thighs, particularly when they're very young.
If there's a visible gap between your baby's leg and the nappy, you've found a potential escape route for wee.
And believe me, newborn wee is very good at finding the smallest possible gap. 😂
What you're looking for:
✔️ The nappy sits snugly against the leg
✔️ There are no obvious gaps
✔️ The elastic is sitting in the right place
✔️ The nappy isn't folded or bunched up around the leg
If you're seeing leaks around the legs, try adjusting the nappy so the leg elastics sit properly in the creases around your baby's legs.
Sometimes it can be as simple as making a small adjustment to how the nappy is positioned.
Check the waist
Next, look at the waist.
You want the nappy to sit securely around your baby's tummy without being so tight that it's digging into their skin.
A good fit should stay in place when your baby moves, kicks and wriggles.
If the waist is too loose, the nappy may move around and create gaps.
If it's too tight, you may see marks or notice that your baby seems uncomfortable.
Snug is the goal.
And don't be afraid of a little bit of elastic marking.
Cloth nappies need to sit close to the body to create a seal, so a light imprint from the elastic isn't necessarily a problem.
What you don't want is deep, persistent marks or obvious discomfort.
Is the nappy sitting too high or too low?
Where the nappy sits on your baby can also affect the fit.
If it's sitting too high, too low or isn't positioned evenly, you can end up with gaps in places you wouldn't expect.
Take a look at your baby from the front and back.
The nappy should be sitting just below belly button level. If baby still has their umbilical cord then the nappy should sit below this or be folded down at the front.
Is the nappy sitting straight?
Is the absorbent part sitting where it needs to?
Are the leg openings sitting evenly?
Sometimes taking the nappy off and starting again can be more helpful than trying to keep adjusting it while it's on.
What about the rise?
Many newborn cloth nappies have some way of adjusting the size of the nappy.
Depending on the design, this might involve snaps, a fold, hook-and-loop fastening or another adjustment system.
The aim is to get the nappy small enough to fit your newborn without creating unnecessary bulk.
But don't assume that the smallest setting is automatically the right setting.
The correct setting is the one that gives your baby a snug, comfortable fit.
Your newborn's shape will also change quickly.
A setting that works beautifully this week might need adjusting next week.
That's completely normal.
What if there are gaps around the legs?
If you're seeing obvious gaps around the legs, don't immediately assume you need a different nappy.
First, check the fit.
Make sure:
- The nappy is sitting at the correct height
- The leg elastics aren't folded over
- The nappy isn't sitting too low
- The absorbency isn't creating a bulky section that is pushing the nappy away from the legs
- The fastening is secure
- The nappy is sitting evenly on both sides
If you've checked all of that and you're still getting significant gaps, the particular nappy may simply not be the right fit for your baby's shape.
That's one of the realities of cloth nappies — different nappies suit different babies.
A nappy that fits one newborn beautifully might not work as well on another.
That's why having a few different styles to try can be useful, particularly when you're starting out.
What if the nappy is leaking but the fit looks good?
This is where we need to look beyond fit.
If you're getting leaks despite a good seal around the legs and waist, there are several other possibilities.
The nappy is saturated
If the nappy is completely soaked when you change your baby, you may simply need more absorbency.
This becomes increasingly important as your baby gets older and their wee output increases.
The absorbency isn't positioned correctly
Make sure the absorbent part of the nappy is actually sitting where your baby needs it.
For newborn boys, for example, you may find that positioning the absorbency appropriately at the front makes a difference.
The nappy is being changed too late
Newborns generally need frequent changes.
If you're waiting until the nappy is completely saturated before changing it, you may simply be asking more of the nappy than it can hold.
The nappy isn't being washed properly
If your nappies aren't getting properly clean, absorbency can be affected.
A good wash routine is an important part of preventing ongoing leakage problems.
We'll cover newborn cloth nappy washing separately because there's quite a bit to talk about there.
What if you're getting poo leaks?
Poo leaks can be a little different from wee leaks.
With newborns, particularly breastfed newborns, poo can be very runny.
And newborn poo has an impressive ability to travel.
If you're getting poo escaping around the legs or back, start with the fit.
Check that the nappy is sitting snugly and that there aren't obvious gaps.
If the nappy is fitting well but you're still getting frequent poo explosions, it may simply be a case of finding the style or fit that works best for your baby.
And remember:
Some newborn poo explosions are going to happen regardless of what they're wearing. 😂
Don't make the nappy too tight
When parents are dealing with leaks, there's sometimes a temptation to tighten everything as much as possible.
More pressure = fewer leaks, right?
Not necessarily.
A cloth nappy needs to be snug, but tightening it excessively won't automatically create a better fit.
You want:
Close contact + comfortable fit + no obvious gaps.
Not:
“Let's see if we can squeeze this baby into a tiny nappy.”
Your baby should be comfortable, able to move their legs and not have deep or persistent marks from the nappy.
Newborns change quickly
One of the tricky things about fitting a newborn cloth nappy is that your baby isn't going to stay the same size for long.
Their legs will get chunkier.
Their body shape will change.
Their nappy requirements will change.
And a nappy that looked enormous on day one might fit completely differently a few weeks later.
That's why it's worth checking the fit regularly rather than assuming that once you've found the right setting, you're done.
If your baby grows, check the fit again.
So, how do you know if you've got a good fit?
Here's your quick newborn cloth nappy fit check:
✔️ Around the legs
The nappy should sit snugly against the legs with no obvious gaps.
✔️ Around the waist
Secure, but not uncomfortably tight.
✔️ Around the tummy
The nappy should sit comfortably against your baby's body without excessive pressure.
✔️ The rise
Adjusted so the nappy fits your baby's current size without unnecessary bulk.
✔️ The inside
Make sure the absorbent material is tucked inside the waterproof outer and isn't sticking out around the legs.
✔️ Baby's comfort
Your baby should be comfortable and able to move their legs normally.
If all of those look good, you're off to a great start.
Still getting leaks?
Don't throw the nappies in the cupboard just yet.
If you're new to cloth nappies, it can take a little while to work out what you're looking at.
And sometimes the issue isn't the nappy at all — it may be the fit, absorbency, washing routine or simply that a particular style doesn't suit your baby's shape.
That's completely normal.
This is one of the reasons we recommend buying from a specialist cloth nappy retailer where you can actually get help if something isn't working.
At Darlings Downunder, we stock multiple cloth nappy brands and styles because there isn't one nappy that fits every baby perfectly.
If you're struggling with leaks, get in touch.
Tell us:
- Which nappy you're using
- Your baby's approximate age and size
- Where the leak is happening
- How long the nappy was on
- What the nappy looked like when you changed it
A photo of the fit can also be really helpful if you're comfortable sharing one.
Sometimes a small adjustment is all that's needed.
The bottom line
If your newborn's cloth nappy is leaking, don't automatically assume the nappy has failed.
Start with the fit.
Check the legs.
Check the waist.
Check the rise.
Make sure the absorbency is positioned correctly and that nothing is poking out around the waterproof outer.
And remember that different nappies fit different babies differently.
You aren't doing anything wrong if you don't get the perfect fit on your first attempt.
Cloth nappies are a skill — and like any new baby skill, it gets easier with practice.
New to cloth nappies?
If you're still working out where to start, our other newborn guides can help:
Can You Really Use Cloth Nappies With a Newborn? The Honest Answer
How Many Cloth Nappies Do You Need for a Newborn?
And if you're trying to decide between newborn-sized and one-size nappies, we'll help you work through that too.
You don't need to figure it all out on your own. ❤️