Some people choose to use disposable, or hybrid diapers while traveling, but that’s not always possible due to budget constraints, skin sensitivities, or personal preference.
Whether you are flying or driving, space is often a concern, as is washing. If you will not have access to laundry facilities, I recommend using flat diapers. You can easily pad fold them, but since they unfold to a single layer, they are easy to wash in the sink or tub, and hang dry fairly quickly. Pair them with a wipeable cover, and they don’t take up much space in your luggage.
Above, I’ve pictured 6 pocket diapers stuffed with a single microfiber insert, 8 2-layer wipes are on top. Beside that are 6 4-layer hemp prefolds (folded in half) and 2 covers. On the far right, I’ve pictured 6 5-layer hemp inserts (folded in half), 2 covers, and 8 single layer wipes. When you’re packing several days worth of diapers, your diaper choice can make a big difference in the space they take up!
An all-in-two system, prefolds and covers, or inserts and covers are a great choice for travel.
I prefer stay-dry inserts, and my son’s skin is too sensitive to use diapers that aren’t stay dry for more than a few diaper changes in a row. I’ve paired Geffen Baby hemp absorbers with fleece liners to make my own AI2 system. I brought along Geffen Baby hemp prefolds in pocket diapers for night time. I will be able to wash diapers probably twice during the trip, and I can always wash covers by hand if needed.
Flip stay-dry inserts (affiliate link) are 3 layers of microfiber and 1 layer of stay-dry fabric and are $4.99 each. Thirsties stay-dry duo inserts (affiliate link) are 5 layers of hemp, 2 layers of microfiber and a layer of stay dry fabric for $7.00 each. The Geffen Baby Quick Absorbers Plus I’m using are 5 layers of hemp for $3.54 each (when purchased in 12 packs) and the fleece liners are approximately $1 each. This puts my system at .55 cents less per change than Flip inserts, but they are hemp instead of microfiber. They don’t have the added microfiber that the Thirsties do, but at over $2 less each, I can always add a doubler. In fact, Geffen Baby’s full size, 3-layer microfiber inserts are $2.08 each when purchased in 12-packs. You could really just top them with a stay-dry liner, but I would be concerned that it might irritate baby’s skin in the liner bunched or didn’t cover the microfiber completely. Naturally the stay dry layer of my setup isn’t attached, so it takes an extra step to lay it on top, but the inserts make excellent pocket inserts when I’m not using them as an AI2, so they do double duty.
I’m also taking along the Geffen Baby hemp wipes, since they are very compact, as well as soft and absorbent!
Have you traveled with cloth? What did you use?
FTC compliance: I received some products as samples at no cost and others I purchased at normal, retail prices. Though I have a business relationship with the manufacturer, I was not asked to write, nor was I compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 18, 14 and 11-year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. 
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Great suggestions…last I travelled with baby I did use my Grovia AI2’s with disposable inserts. I’ll have to try these techniques next time for sure! Thanks so much!