Hands down, the most fun part about cloth diapering is the cute little covers.

My original newborn stash consisted almost entirely of one single brand- which went completely against what is now one of my top pieces of cloth diaper advice.

Those covers did actually work out great for me, but I was more than happy to try a larger variety of them this go around.

I wish I had had the opportunity to test even more, but this is what I did.
All covers are pictured and used over my favorite newborn prefold, Snappi-ed in an angel fold.

We are still using all these covers, at 2 months, and over 10lbs.
All of my babies have been pretty average size- between 7 and 8 lbs at birth, and all of these fit under their cords from day one.
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Newborn Size Covers

Sweet Pea Newborn:
This diaper brand has stopped selling.
This was the first newborn cover I purchased, over three years ago. It is one of my favorites.


Pros: It's very small and trim, which I absolutely love. The hook & loop makes it easy to use. Double gussets help contain explosive newborn poop.
Cons: It is a small cover, so though I love it for my average-size babies, it may be maxed out quickly for larger babies. It doesn't work well over fitteds or bulky inners. It is ONLY available in hook & loop, which just isn't as durable as snaps.


Luludew Newborn:
Though very similar to the Sweet Pea cover, there is something about this one that I like just slightly more. I think it may be the slightly larger cut, and the extra softness and thinness of the PUL. It gives it an effortless, amazing fit.


Pros: Also small and trim, but with better coverage. Double gussets keep everything in. Extra soft and trim cover. Comes in both hook & loop and snap closures.
Cons: A newer brand, not available at many retailers. May also max out early for bigger babies.

Retails for $9.99



Diaper Rite:
I was initially nervous that this cover only came in snaps, but it completely converted me. It gives SUCH and amazing fit from day one. I highly, highly recommend it for little babies.


Pros: Fits small and trim. It was the best fitting diaper in the first two weeks. Double gussets hold everything in. Made of super soft, stretchy PUL. Has tuck flaps, for fans of those.
Cons: It runs small, and it is the first cover we're going to outgrow. I feel like when the rise is out, the fit is just off. It needs more waist snaps, so it can fit a wider waist, then it would be absolute perfection. Bigger babies will max this one out very quickly.

Retails for $9.95


Buttons Newborn:
I was SO skeptical of this newborn cover, because it the largest cut of any newborn-specific covers in my stash. It was more bulky in the first couple weeks for us, but it worked. Became one of my absolute favorites at 2 months old.


Pros: Double gussets and elastics all around contain everything. Fits well over fitteds and bulkier inserts. Has the most longevity of any newborn diaper cover I own- there's people putting this one on their 12+ month-old-babies! PERFECT for bigger babies. For some reason, out of all my covers, this one NEVER wicks moisture when the insert is soaked.
Cons: May be bulkier on small babies (I found from 9 lbs and on, the fit was awesome).

Retails for $11-12.50

Rumparooz Newborn:
I have no qualms about saying this was my least favorite cover. Interestingly, it was THE most recommended on an Instagram crowd-sourcing poll I did awhile back. I find the elastics too tight for how thin the PUL is, so it always went wonky when trying to put on. The gussets would fold around and everything. I also feel like it's cut too wide between the legs, so it folds oddly there. This will be the one I de-stash.


Pros: Double gussets. Available in both snap and hook & loop closures. Larger fit, for bigger babies and over fitteds.
Cons: Unfortunately, almost everything for me. They always seem to fit bulky, even at 2 months. Getting a good fit isn't effortless, the way I think it should be, because of the elastics and how thin the PUL is.

EDITED TO ADD: After months, and months (like at 6 months old), I began to like this diaper cover a LOT more. It seemed to get a much better fit after 12-13 lbs.


Retails for $10- $12.00



  
Non- Newborn Diapers

Thirsties Size 1 Duo Wrap:
If you've read my review on Duo Wraps, you would know I am a huge fan of the size 1. They do work from birth, though quite bulky.


Pros: Double gussets. Fit well over fitteds- was my go-to overnight cover. Could be a good newborn diaper for bigger babies.
Cons: Bulky for babies under 10 lbs, and probably any weight baby at the beginning, due to all the fabric between the legs.

Retails for $12.75

Buttons One-Size:
This was always the first one-size diaper to fit my babies. It does actually fit from birth, though it is bulky- not nearly as bulky as other one-size. I was glad to have a ton of these in my regular stash, because I had to supplement on days when all my covers got pooped on.


Pros: Double gussets. Affordable option for those who don't want to invest in an actual newborn stash.
Cons: Bulky, especially for smaller babies.

Retails for $11.50- $13


Overall, I highly recommend trying a variety of covers. Different covers will work differently, depending on the size and shape of baby.

Two months old is around the time that a lot of one-size diapers will begin to fit the average baby.
A lot of newborn diapers will actually go beyond that stage, and give a much better fit still than the one-size will.

Here is how they are all fitting now, at two months old, 10-something lbs (SPOILER: it's almost the same as three lbs ago):


 My Top Recommendations
For smaller babies and the best fit at the beginning, Diaper Rite and Sweet Pea would be my top recommendation, just because it's more accessible to purchase.
For longevity and bigger babies, Buttons newborn are my hands-down winner.

Where to Buy
Almost all covers (except Luludew) can be purchased through Amazon, and Nicki's Diapers.

Luludew can be purchased through their website, but you should request for your favorite retailer to carry them. Diaper Rite can be purchased through Diaper Junction, but I would love to see them in more retailers, too.

You can even create an Amazon Baby Registry, to compile your wish list of diapers for your upcoming little one!

I hope you have found my newborn series helpful!

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This is it.
This is what ultimately ended up making or breaking my newborn cloth diapering success: the absorbency I used.

In Part 1 of my Newborn Cloth Diaper series, I covered the things you need to know in order to be successful from day one, and why I chose to cloth diaper using covers and prefolds for this stage.

In part 2, I will go over all the different inserts I tried, and my gritty, honest reviews of each.

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through this links pay me a small commission for my referral, at no extra cost to you.
-Flats-
Flour Sack Towels (FST):
With my last baby, I had attempted to use flour sack towels, since that is what I was using on my two-year old. They fit SO well, they seriously made the cutest and trimmest newborn flat.
Unfortunately, they were just not absorbent enough for us at this stage, wrapped around baby. They quickly were soaking through diapers and clothes.
I know some families are able to successfully use them from birth, so it is worth a try if you're curious for yourself.
This is by far the most affordable option, at less than $1 apiece at Walmart (ten/$7.88).

You can read more about my love for flour sacks on older babies here.

Birdseye Cotton Flats:
I have two different types of birdseye cotton flats. I have some (organic) one-size that I purchased from Green Mountain Diapers, and some mystery ones (I highly suspect are Osocozy) that I purchased second-hand. These are my current favorite, and full-time absorbency for my bigger boys. My initial intention was to use these flats right from birth.
Unfortunately, I quickly found that though super absorbent for my little guy, they were also quite bulky. The jelly-rolling around the legs was especially bulky, and just seemed like it would be uncomfortable. I also found all the folding a drag, as someone who prefers quick folds.

These flats retail for $12.95- $15.95 /six for GMD, and $12.26/six for Osocozy.
Both have bleached/unbleached, and organic/conventional options, which vary the price.


-Prefolds-
1. Cloth-Eez Newborn prefold on baby, at 2 months old. >> 2. All prefolds stacked, for comparison. 3. (Bottom Left) Geffen Baby XS, next to Cloth-Eez Newborn >> 4. Geffen Baby on baby at 1 week old. 5. Top to bottom: Cloth-Eez, Luludew, and Imagine

Imagine/ Nicki's XS Cotton Prefolds:
Both Imagine and Nicki's brand prefolds are the same, just tagged differently. These were the first newborn prefolds I purchased over three years ago for my first, based on blogger recommendations. They are really tiny, and thin, which makes for a trim pad-fold and fit, but they just do not provide enough absorbency. I see these recommended a lot, but I could not these to work for us.
Sizing up to smalls may work better, but I didn't want to put up the money to try, because of how little faith I have in this prefold. 
I have heard the bamboo ones are better, but I have my own issues with bamboo, and generally avoid it.
They are super budget-friendly, at $12.95 for six, with free shipping, which was probably a huge reason I went for them initially.

Geffen Baby XSmall Jersey Prefolds
These were sent to me by Geffen Baby to try out.
They are cotton/hemp, which makes them super trim and absorbent. They are too tight of a weave for a Snappi to grab, which is a major bummer for me. I don't think I would ever have a full stash of these, but I do love them for times when I need the extra absorbency, like during the super long afternoon nap he takes.
They are on the pricier side, at $8.91 apiece.
Can be purchased from Nicki's.


 Luludew Newborn Cotton Prefolds
I needed to supplement my newborn prefolds after I discovered that the flats I intended to use were too bulky. I decided to try Luludew newborn prefolds. They run a cloth diaper service with these, so I figured they had to be pretty good. I tried them, I really did, but these also were just not absorbent enough for my baby. They're also more narrow than other newborn prefolds, which makes pinning them around baby more of a challenge. I'm not a fan of prefolds that are only sold in packs of 12 for this very reason- I dished out almost $30 for a pack that didn't work out for us.

Cloth- Eez Newborn Cotton Prefold
These newborn prefolds are my HANDS-DOWN WINNER.
I promise you, if you skip over all the other newborn options, and go straight to these, you will NOT be disappointed.
When I found out I was pregnant for the third time, I was determined to make cloth work from day one. So I asked all the followers on my Instagram what their prefold recommendations were. When a mama I trust recommended these, I took her advice and order a dozen of them. It SUCKS that these are not a diaper you will see recommended on blogger platforms very often, because they are everything.**

If I could do my whole newborn stash over- I would just order 2-3 dozen of these and call it a day.
They're thicker than all the other prefolds, so they absorb way more. It also protect the covers from all those million little baby poops and sharts, because it won't seep right through to the cover, like with the other, more thin, prefolds. They wrap around nicely, which helps eliminate bulk.

Other prefolds:
I also used Buttons size 2 cotton prefolds after a couple weeks. They were kind of bulky still at this point, and needed to be folded down in front, but they were perfect otherwise. I'm curious if the size 1 would have been a winner for me, too. If they are the same thickness as the ones I own, I definitely think they would be.
I'm hoping to get my hands on a few some day, but I couldn't find them in stock anywhere the night I was looking.

Osocozy is another brand I would like to try, because I've heard it recommended a lot. Though a lot of people do recommend diapers I don't have success with. The fact that they have these "maxing out" at 10lbs makes me especially hesitant.


-Fitteds-

Okay, so maybe this should be singular, because I only used one type of fitted, and that was the Cloth-eez size small snap fitted. Fitteds are crazy absorbent, but they are also bulky, and expensive, so this was my nighttime go-to, with a Geffen Baby quick absorber. This combo gets us through the night without leaks. I didn't buy these until he was a couple weeks old, so I just went with the size small instead of the newborn.



-Pinning A Prefold Around A Newborn-
I thought my first set of newborn prefolds were too small for pinning three years ago, but it turns out that I just didn't really know how to put them on.
This is a SUPER quick, easy, and fool-proof way to put a prefold on. You will be able to use your prefolds far past when you'd think they will no longer wrap around.


1. Slide the prefold under baby, lining the top up with their belly button.

2. Grab the two sides of the prefolds in the front and tri-fold them together. This should make a nice little pocket right under their bottom, which will help contain some poo.

3. Fold the front up to their waist.
If the prefold is the perfect size, you will be able to pull the wings around and pin it.
If the prefold is too small for the wings to overlap the middle, fan the middle section apart until they can.
If the prefold is too long, fold the top down before pulling the wings around.

4. Snappi or pin that baby up!

In part 3, I will be sharing the fun part- my experiences and recommendations of newborn diaper covers

**This is not a diaper you see recommended on cloth diaper blogs, which I think is majorly due to the fact that we can't be compensated in any way for it.
I don't blame bloggers- because you can't work for free, or I guess, PAY to work. Since Green Mountain Diapers doesn't have any kind of affiliate, or even reward referral program- you need to buy these products outright yourself. and then, you can't be compensated for the time of testing and reviewing them anyway. It's just difficult, because bloggers don't have access to these products in the way they do others.
I don't blame GMD, either, for not having any kind of program, because I know it is not feasible to every business. Though I really hope they do some time in the future! They are an absolutely amazing diaper company. Their Cloth-eez brand is probably the highest quality of any diaper I have ever used, and they are an amazing resource of information. I highly, highly recommend them, and am thankful that they were recommended to me!





Okay, I am SO unbelievably excited to share this newborn cloth diaper series!

I had never been successful in cloth diapering a newborn before now.
With my first two babies, I attempted to, but both were a failure.
In this three-part series, I will share why I failed, what I learned, and what worked for me.
Hopefully my mistakes and recommendations will ensure YOUR success, from the start.
What makes cloth diapering a newborn hard
It is a really hard thing to test newborn cloth diapers, so I have been anxiously waiting for the opportunity to do so! The newborn stage is SO fleeting, if you don't figure something out within a few weeks, you'll be on to one-size diapers and you won't have that chance again until you have another baby.

There are a few factors that make cloth diapering a newborn what I consider a "special circumstance". These are things you need to realize in order to have success in cloth diapering at this stage.

The first is that newborns are small. Like, really small. The first two weeks, especially, even a "big" baby still has skinny limbs and a small body that make one-size diapers loose or bulky.

The second is that with their tiny little body mass, these little humans are super soakers, and usually super-poopers. Their output is unbelievable.

So, you need something that will both fit their tiny frames, and be able to withstand their wetting.


The advantage of cloth diapering a newborn
Using cloth from the newborn stage has it's perks. And they all revolve around poop.

The first is that newborns poop. A lot (usually). You will go through so.many. diapers. When you use cloth, you aren't throwing money away in the trash because your baby pooped 18 times in one day.

The second is that cloth is MUCH better at containing these sometimes explosive newborn poops. Disposable diapers are notorious for blowouts, but cloth hasn't failed me yet. 

The third, is that cloth diapering from the beginning is easy because the poop is so easy to deal with. Exclusively breastfed (and probably formula-fed*) poop can go directly into your washer without needing to remove it (like you'll need to with solids). It is water-soluble, so it will wash right away in the washer.

*It's undetermined whether or not formula-fed poop is water soluble. It's another one of those things that people (cough Fluff Love) get their diapers in a bunch over. Many people wash without rinsing with no problem, but it is your choice whether you want to or not.

Meconium. There is still a lot of false information floating around about meconium. It is, in fact, also water-soluble, isn't anything special, and can go directly into your washer. It is more likely to stain, apparently, but trust me, it's not as bad as the blueberry poops you're going to have.

Diaper changes
For an older baby, you can expect to change their diaper about every two hours.
For a newborn, it's usually about half of that, or more frequently.

When my newborn baby is awake, I basically just change him all the time.
I don't ever want him sitting in a wet diaper, and I never know when he is just going to fall asleep for hours, so changing frequently is really good idea.

My advice: Don't watch clocks, because time gets away from you with a newborn.
Get in the habit of changing with events- change before feeding, after feeding, and/or upon waking.

Sometimes it would only be about 15 minutes, and I will change again because he has already peed. Or you will end up changes like twice in a row, because they pooped, again. I was really thankful to be using cloth then.
It sounds like a lot, but the long stretches of sleep without changes kind of balance it out.

Even with changing this frequently, you need something super absorbent.
This is WHY I failed my first two attempts. My babies would soak through their diaper and clothes in one pee, and I couldn't do it.

I will go over the best insert choices more when I talk about the absorbency I chose, in part 2 of this series.

What diapering system I chose
I ultimately ending up choosing the most popular newborn cloth diapering system: covers with prefolds.
My main reasons were:
  1. This is the most economical choice. For the short amount of time they will be in the newborn stage, and the amount of diapers you will need just to get through a day during this stage, this system makes the most financial sense.
  2. It is generally one of the most absorbent choices of diapers, if you choose the right prefolds.
  3.  This is pretty close to my normal one-size system, which I am using for my "big boys", and love.



First time mom, or new to cloth diapering?
I always, always feel the need to take pressure off of new (cloth) moms by saying you do not HAVE to cloth diaper from day one.

Yes, washing diapers is easy, and cloth diapering is easy, but it does come with a learning curve. This can be very stressful for someone who is just learning how to take care of another human, period.
You do what you feel comfortable with.

I DO recommend using newborn-specific cloth diapers if you want to cloth at this stage, because most one-size diapers don't generally fit until around two months old. If you just want to wait until then to use cloth, then you do that!

If you are completely new to cloth diapers and looking for all the basics, my complete guide to cloth diapering can help.

In Part 2, I go over my absorbency options. Which prefolds did and didn't work. I will also touch on flats, FST, fitteds, and overnights.

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