How thick can I make a soaker in an AIO?

[Naomismom]

I just started making Very Baby AIO's for this new baby. I have a bunch of microfiber inserts left over from my old fuzzibunz and I also have a ton of terry towelling. Assuming I use 2 layers of birdseye or flannel for the body layers, how many layers of microfiber or terry can I get away with?

FYI, I do not have a snap press, so I either need to make the soakers internal (which is what I was planning on) or I need someone to explain how to do the external soaker. Do I just make a big pad and then sew it on top of the body layer in one long line down the middle?

[Isfahel]

I don't like more than 2 or 3 internal soaker layers because it just takes to long to dry. I would do an external soaker with it sewn down on one end, I usually do snap in soakers but sewn in will work just as good. You could do a couple body layers and a couple layers loose. That way it will wash and dry much better

[tulips117]

Keep in mind that the thicker you make your soaker, the bulkier the diaper will be. If you like your dipes to be trim (which is what the VB pattern is really well regarded for) then make one or two first to see how you like the fit.

[Teddy'sMom]

I just want to chime in and say that I think external soaks are the best! They get cleaner and dry faster. I like the idea of putting one layer in the diaper and then one or two layers in the soaker (if you have a heavy wetter).

[Leilalu]

I made an internal soaker pad with 8 thin layers of flannel, inside my nb Very Baby aio's. I am not making any other soakers for them. I wanted them to last through a wet nb poop,or several pees during a long nap in the sling. They are not at all bulky, and it is the recomended number.

For my fitteds, I plan to make snap in soaker pads, out of old colored prefolds. So whatever number of layers are in the center of a prefold, that will be my soaker pad.

I say if you are really on top of changes, you don't need too many layers.

[mehndi mama]

My rule of thumb is that 1 layer of a thicker fabric (terry, sherpa, fleece, or French terry) is the equivalent of 2 layers of thinner fabric (birdseye, jersey, flannel) in terms of drying time and how many layers would be recommended for a particular diaper.

[Sleepy Owl]

It depends on how quick you want them to dry. I like mine to get dry in one dryer setting, so I don't put more than two layers (of microfiber, or 3 of hemp jersey) inside. DD was a heavy wetter though, and I am planning on the same for DD2, so I always sew on an external soaker with as many layers as you would normally find in an insert (3 microfiber, 6 hemp jersey.)

I put more layers in fitteds, and no external soaker, but they will wash and dry from both sides, vs one side on an AIO.