Cloth Nappy Compression Leaks: What They Are and How to Fix Them

Few things are more frustrating than changing your baby’s nappy, only to discover a leak not long afterwards. If the nappy appears to fit well around the legs and waist, the cause may be a compression leak. Compression leaks are one of the most common types of leaks experienced by cloth nappy users, particularly as babies get older and become more active. The good news is that they are usually easy to identify and even easier to fix.

What Is a Compression Leak?

A compression leak occurs when pressure is applied to a wet nappy, forcing moisture out of the absorbent inserts. Unlike leaks caused by poor fit where urine escapes through gaps around the legs or back, compression leaks happen because the absorbent layers are unable to hold any more liquid when pressure is applied.

A good way to think about it is like a wet sponge. When the sponge is full of water, squeezing it causes water to come out. The same principle applies to cloth nappies. If the inserts are already holding a large amount of liquid, pressure can force some of that moisture out of the nappy.

When Do Compression Leaks Happen?

Compression leaks often occur when babies spend time in positions that place pressure on their nappy. This can happen while sitting in a car seat, highchair, pram or baby carrier. In many cases, the nappy may seem perfectly fine while the baby is moving around, only for a leak to appear after a period of sitting or lying down.

Compression leaks cal also sometime occur if baby’s clothing is too tight.

Why Do Compression Leaks Occur?

The most common reason is simply that your baby needs more absorbency than the nappy currently provides. As babies grow, their bladder capacity increases and they generally produce more urine. A nappy setup that worked perfectly at three months old may no longer be sufficient for a twelve-month-old. Some babies are naturally heavier wetters and require additional absorbency much earlier than others. Every child is different, which is why there is no single absorbency solution that works for every family.

How to Prevent Compression Leaks

The easiest way to prevent compression leaks is to increase absorbency. Adding an extra insert is often all that is needed to solve the problem. Many parents find that as their baby grows, they need to gradually increase the absorbency of their daytime nappies. If leaks are occurring during naps, outings or longer stretches between changes, it may be time to review your insert combination. It’s also worth checking that the inserts are lying flat inside the nappy and that they are fully absorbing moisture. Inserts that are folded awkwardly or not positioned correctly may not perform as effectively as they should.

As your baby grows and their needs change, don’t be afraid to experiment with additional inserts or boosters. A small absorbency adjustment is often all that’s needed to get back to leak-free cloth nappying.

Don’t Assume It’s a Fit Problem

One of the most common mistakes parents make is tightening the nappy when leaks occur. While fit issues can certainly cause leaks, tightening a nappy won’t solve a compression leak and can sometimes make your baby less comfortable.

Regular nappy changes are also important. Most daytime cloth nappies are designed to be changed every two to three hours. If leaks are occurring before this timeframe, it is usually a sign that more absorbency is needed

Final Thoughts

In most cases, a simple absorbency adjustment is all that’s needed to get back to leak-free cloth nappying. Once you understand what causes compression leaks and how to prevent them, they’re usually one of the easiest cloth nappy issues to solve.

Not all leaks are caused by compression. If you’re still having issues, read our complete guide to cloth nappy leaks to learn about other common causes and how to fix them.