I’m Canadian, so Target for me is a magical place I head to every single time I cross the border. But while I come back with many treasures every time I visit a Target, cloth diapers are not among it’s most reliable of finds. That’s not to say that you can’t find cloth diapers at Target, or on their online store.
But, are Target cloth diapers any good? Some are, and some aren’t. Here’s a quick list of cloth diaper Target hits and misses:
Cloth Diaper Target Misses
1. Gerber Prefolds
Gerber prefolds seem like such a good find. The brand is well-known, the package is inexpensive, and prefolds are so versatile (click here to learn about how great prefolds are).
But though they seem like a great buy, they are not! It’s true, it’s hard to make a bad prefold, but Gerber succeeded. Instead of making their prefolds out of good, absorbent cotton fabric, they chose “gauze weave fabric” which they boast about being durable. Durable it may be, but absorbent it’s not.
Gerber prefolds make far better burp rags than they do diapers. They completely miss the target, pass on these.
2. Charlie Banana Reusable Cloth Diaper
- Very high and quality materials used
- Snaps and unique leg elastics offer a ton of adjustability
- Super-thirsty inserts included in the box
- Amazing company and customer support
- May not be suitable for some heavy-wetters overnight (as with all pocket diapers)
First off, to clarify, Target calls this diaper an all-in-one, but it is not, it is a pocket diaper sold with two synthetic inserts.
If this diaper actually was an all-in-one, the cost would be appropriate and on-par with other all-in-one diapers. If the inserts it comes with were made from natural fibers, like bamboo or hem, the cost would be appropriate. But, given the materials used and the fact that these are just synthetic pocket diapers, the cost makes no sense.
Sure Charlie Banana has a great brand reputation, and a lovely mission statement, but the cost for quality is off far enough that these diapers just miss the mark.
Note: While I find these diapers too expensive for the quality, sometimes Target does have them in-store on sale or even in clearance. If you find these cheap enough, go ahead and grab them. They are still a very decent pocket diaper!
3. Thirsties Reusable Potty Training Pant
For those looking for a training pant that resembles "big kid underwear" more than a diaper, while still needing a good amount of absorbency for light daytime accidents, Thirsties may offer the right combination of features.
- Larger PUL "wet zone" than many other competitors
- Adequate absorbency for light daytime accidents
- Does have room for boosting
- Large and bulky compared to other options
- Low durability, and will show wear and tear from washing
- On the expensive side
I may get some heat for this one, but hear me out.
When my daughter was potty training I already knew I’d want to talk about training pants here too, so I tested a lot out. Since my daughter is also stubborn, I also tested them for a long time (roughly a year and a half from start to zero accidents during the day, ever).
Thirsties were definitely among those I tested because I do love Thirsties diapers (I’ll talk about them more below). But despite my best expectations, Thirsties training pants we’re not as good as some other premium training pant brands I tested out (the best being AppleCheek’s Learning Pants). Not only were they very large in size (making them big and bulky, and awkward under clothes), and have fewer absorbent layers than the other premium brands, but they also came apart at the seam after some months of use.
Now, are these the best training pants you can get at Target? Yes!
Will they work? Yes!
Are they the best training pants out there? No, definitely not.
I just can’t recommend these knowing there are better, cheaper, premium options out there, so this is a miss for me.
Cloth Diaper Target Hits
Thirsties Wet-Dry Bags
I recently wrote an article all about wet bags and what to look for when buying them, which you can read here.
In that article, my top recommendation for traveling around with your baby is the Thirsties Wet-Dry bag. I love these bags!
What I love about these wet bags is that not only is the PUL of the great Thirsties quality, but it has two pockets: one “wet”, or fully PUL, and one “dry” made of mesh. this let’s you carry around wet/soiled and dry things around in one bag.
That makes trips to the change table so much easier.
My favorite travel wet/dry bag available at Target; that’s a bullseye!
Thirsties Duo Wraps
Speaking of Thirsties products I regularly recommend, Target also carries Thirsties Duo Wraps, which you’ll see recommended all over the Cloth Diapers for Beginners website.
The Duo cover is Thirsties’ one-size diaper cover. Thirsties does also have a “diaper cover” but they are sized. The Thirsties diaper covers are roomier than the duo cover, which has a trimmer fit, so the sized diaper covers may be better for bulky overnight diapers if you’re debating between the two, but all-in-all the Duo cover is a great, quality cover that will protect most babies in most situations well.
I can’t recommend them enough and think every cloth diaper parent should have one of these along with a pack of prefolds or flats.
Thirsties Natural All-In-Ones
You’re probably noticing a theme here — Thirsties. This is because the cloth diaper options at Target may be limited, but their choice to carry the premium brand, Thirsties, means they have some great options!
The Thirsties Natural all-in-one is a great diaper for anyone looking for a very absorbent natural diaper, and/or an all-in-one.
It should also be noted that not only are Thirsties diapers made of high quality and made from top-notch materials, but their customer service and company as a whole are worth the price.
Charlie Banana Disposable Diaper Inserts
I know I gave Charlie Banana a hard time about the price/quality of their diapers earlier, but one product they have that may be worth the investment for you is their disposable inserts.
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Though they are not as absorbent and convenient as outright disposable diapers, they could be good to have on hand during long vacations or trips where cloth full-time isn’t possible.
I think for cloth diaper users, having a disposable insert available at their local Target is a hit!
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Swim Diapers at Target
It bears mentioning that Target does carry quite a few swim diapers, likely because reusable swim diapers are more mainstream than cloth diapers for whatever reason.
For more information about swim diapers and what to look for when shopping for one at Target, click here.
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.
Save Your Sanity and Avoid Diaper Smells and Rashes with This Easy-To-Follow Digital Handbook. This Ultimate Wash and Care Guide Will Give You the Step-By-Step Coaching Your Mom Group Can't Provide!