I need help with leaks

Leaks… Step #1: Keep calm and read the following

Leaks have a cause and we'll help you find it. Please make sure you answer each question correctly in order for the process to be successful! We’re not kidding when we say that all leaks are caused by something that can either be improved or changed, to become much less frequent or even nonexistent. However (and I can't stress this enough) you need to make sure you validate each of the following steps. If you go through each point too quickly, the simple solution you are looking for may be very difficult to find.


1. IS THE DIAPER SUITABLE FOR YOUR BABY?

It’s important to check that your baby is respecting the recommended weight. For example, our one size diapers are from 10 to 35 lb. If your baby weighs 11 lb and has small thighs, waiting a week or two may fix all your troubles! Every baby is unique with a different body type which means that some babies will be able to wear certain diapers faster than others, so rely on your baby's weight AND body type.

SOLUTION: Make sure that your baby is filling their diaper well and if not, wait to use the cloth diaper after they has gained a little more weight!
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2. IS YOUR INSERT SATURATED?

This point is CRUCIAL. This is the most common cause of leaks. Does the liquid flow through the snaps, the seams, or even directly through the fabric? Chances are your insert is too full and you have found the cause. Our cloth diapers are made out of a fabric that is water resistant but not waterproof because babies bottoms need to breathe. If your diapers are in contact with a saturated insert, liquid will inevitably find its way, even directly through the fabric.

SOLUTIONS:
1. If your insert gets saturated quickly, you can add absorption by adding a 2nd insert or by using a more absorbent insert. See our inserts here
2. You should normally be able to leave your cloth diaper on your baby for a period of about 2 hours and a half to 3 hours, unless there are stools, then you can change your baby as quickly as possible! If you see that you experience leaks more or less after 3 hours and a half, you can also decide to change your baby more often to solve the problem.


3. YOU HAVE QUICK LEAKS WITHOUT THE INSERT BEING SATURATED?

There are a few possible solutions to this problem. However, you have to validate certain points:

Water test: Run a little water on the white fabric inside your diaper. With a little finger pressure, the fabric should absorb the liquid quickly. If the water seems to bead, it is possible that the use of a product has impaired its performance. If the liquid cannot pass through the fabric, the inserts cannot absorb the urine and leaks are inevitable.

SOLUTIONS:
1. If the diaper is waterproofed, use a degreaser to make it look like new again! You can scrub the inside of your diapers with dish soap (Blue Dawn has been proven to work, we recommend it!).
2. If you don’t see much improvement with the first method, it’s time to move on to more serious means and do a strip with bleach. You will find the procedure here.

4. ARE YOU FOLDING THE DIAPER THE RIGHT WAY?

When your baby is still small and you are not using the diaper in its full extended size, you should use the snaps on the front to reduce the size in order to fit your baby properly. This gives you excess fabric that must be folded back towards your baby's navel.

SOLUTION:
Fold the excess fabric upwards.

5. DO YOUR INSERTS ABSORB WELL?

We talked above about the water test for the inside of the diaper. You can now perform this same test directly on your inserts as a product may have impaired their absorption capacity. If you see that the inserts are taking a long time to absorb the liquid, this is most likely the cause for your leaks!

SOLUTIONS:
The most effective solution is to strip your insert. You just have to follow the procedure detailed here.
* Other important information: if your inserts have become dirty, there is room for improvement in your washing routine. 😉 We suggest that you review our maintenance section!

6. HOW MANY INSERTS DO YOU USE IN THE DIAPER?

It comes down to the same point as the saturation of the inserts ... But it is important to specify it!

Normally, when your baby is still small, one insert is enough. If after a few months you start to have sudden and more frequent leaks, it may be because your baby needs a second insert. Since all babies are different, some may need 2 inserts at 4 months old, and others after 1 year. It's very difficult to say exactly when to add a second one, but generally speaking, if you were not experiencing leaks and all of a sudden you do, try adding a second insert to see if it fixes the problem!


7. DOES THE USE OF A ONESIE OR BAMBOO LINER OCCASION LEAKS?

It is possible that leaks wet your baby’s clothes because they come from a transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the diaper. Using a liner that protrudes a little from the diaper can cause pants or pajamas to get wet. The same thing can happen with a onesie that follows the diaper outline very closely, to the point of getting wet from the liquid inside the diaper.

SOLUTIONS:
Make sure the liner does not protrude from the diaper by folding it back inside as needed. Another solution for the onesies would be to not button them under the diaper.

8. ARE THERE COMPRESSION LEAKS?

Some types of inserts are more prone to compression leaks. This is the type of leak that occurs when the insert is fairly full and you sit your baby in a place that will put pressure on the diaper (for example, her car seat or in a baby carrier). The pressure exerted on the insert creates leaks due to this compression..

SOLUTION:
Make sure to change your baby immediately before going for a ride in the car or putting her in a baby carrier. You can also favor fibers such as bamboo or hemp, which retain much better than microfiber.
Are your cloth diapers still leaking?
Contact us!