Hook and Loop Vs. Snaps: Which Closure is Best?

By April Duffy •  Updated: 02/18/24 •  5 min read
FAQ

Part of the confusion around getting started with cloth diapers is the number of choices. All-in-one, all-in-two, Thirsties, AppleCheeks, one-size, sized, snaps, velcro, and so on, and so on; it can be exhausting. To help you with at least one of those decisions — snaps vs. Velcro — I’ve put together this article.

So what’s better for cloth diapers, snaps or Velcro? Well, according to 150 cloth diapering moms on the Cloth Diapers for Beginners Facebook Group, snaps are by-far the better choice. In fact, 94.7% of those moms prefer snaps.

Cloth Diaper Lingo Note: Velcro is a brand name. Velcro is a company that makes fasteners and other products, but is known most for being the original creator of the hook-and-loop fastener.

Aplix is also a company that produces hook and loop fasteners used by some cloth diaper makers.

In cloth diapering, you may see hook and loop closures called Velcro, Aplix, or hook and loop. In this article, I use them interchangeably because they are all the same basic product.

Snap Vs. Velcro Cloth Diapers Survey Results

As mentioned, when putting this piece together, one of the first things I did was go straight to the moms using cloth diapers right now, for their opinions.

Here are the results:

Here’s what a few of the moms who answered the poll had to say:

“Snaps! My son pulls Velcro off like he does disposables so that’s annoying and I don’t want to deal with them getting stuck in the wash if I forget to put the tabs together.”

“I don’t like the sound of Velcro.”

“Snaps! The Velcro cover I have gets caught on the sheets/blankets when my daughter rolls around in bed at night.”

“The Velcro works easier but I always forget the close the tabs and it gets stuck on inserts when I wash. The snaps are harder to get centered for tightness but I’m sure I’ll prefer them once she gets more mobile and tries to pull it off.”

“Snaps! I like Velcro when I am the one using it. But it just isn’t a good option for childcare/ other caregivers. I like that I can mark the snaps and tell them how tight it should be. Also, it just makes sense to invest in something that will last through toddler years!”

” I like snaps and use those at home. At daycare I use Velcro.”

I” thought I would prefer Velcro, but instead prefer the snaps. I don’t know exactly how tight/loose to leave the Velcro, my boy likes to pull at it, and the top will even roll down (or he pushes it down) sometimes on my covers and the Velcro strip will leave a scratch mark on baby’s belly.”

If you’re a member of the Cloth Diapers for Beginners Facebook group, you can check out the poll here.

If going with the popular choice isn’t always your choice, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each closure.

Pros and Cons of Snap Closing Cloth Diapers

Pro Con
Said to be harder for baby to take offwhen they’re older (though I have heard of many little ones figuring it out).Harder to do up at night, especially when you’re so tired you can’t remember which snaps you’re on. 
Don’t have to remember to fold the tabs over to avoid damage in the wash.It’s more difficult to get a good fit when the baby is between sizes.
Cute colored snaps are much more pleasing to the eye than Velcro.Harder to get on with a struggling toddler.
Don’t wear out very often.The diaper may take longer to put on, especially when sizing it.

Pros and Cons of Hook and Loop (Velcro/Aplix) Cloth Diapers

ProCon 
Much easier to do up at night when you’re just too dang tired.It can wear out over time, faster than snaps.
Much easier for grandparents, daycare, babysitters other caregivers who are not used to cloth to put on (as it’s closer to disposables)If you don’t remember to close the tabs they can stick together or on other things in the washing machine, possibly damaging clothes.
Very easy to get a good fit all the time.Not as cute as colored snaps.
Much easier to do up a diaper with a squirmy toddler. Said to be easier for baby to take off when they’re older.

Conclusion

As with so many cloth diaper decisions, it always boils down to personal preferences, but I hope this article helped you weigh the sides and make a decision that suits you and your family best.

If you’d like more help with cloth diaper choices, do check out the FAQ page and reviews page for helpful tips and recommendations.

April Duffy

April is the founder of Cloth Diapers for Beginners and author of The Cloth Diaper Wash & Care Handbook. Since 2015, April has helped well over 75,000 parents and caregivers cloth diaper their children through this website, her book, her YouTube Channel, and the Cloth Diapers for Beginners Facebook Group.