Reusable Diapers from Birth. A newborn cloth nappy guide.

More and more parents are now deciding to cloth nappy their children, which is great. Building a versatile stash of nappies for your baby and perhaps subsequent babies is a great way to save money and help the environment, as well as looking very cute on babies bottom. However many parents do not start using cloth nappies from day one for a few reasons. Most cloth nappies won’t fit a tiny newborn and because they don’t want to put more pressure on themselves in the early days, which of course is fine. However, if you do want avoid disposables nappies this is the guide to help you with everything you need to know to use reusable nappies from day dot, doing it cheaply, simply and without putting pressure on yourself.

Can I use Cloth Nappies on from birth?

You will need newborn sized reusable nappies to use cloth from day one. Standard birth to potty cloth nappies fit from around 10-12lbs (around 6-8 weeks). You can start with trail packs or rent a newborn kit if you don’t want to invest in newborn sizes for the short period of time.

If hiring or borrowing nappies isn’t for you there is a whole range of newborn nappies on the market to fit every budget.

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Best types of reusable nappies for a newborn baby.

1. The easy option. All in ones and pocket newborn nappies,

These are the most popular for new parents because they are simple and easy to fit. All in one as it suggests in the name are a nappy with everything sown in so their nothing to do other than put it straight on your newborn baby. Pocket nappies are very similar but you can take the insert out, often making drying times quicker. These are buy far the easiest of all the types of nappies and great for having ready folded in your hospital bag or in drawers ready for when your baby arrives. They are the most like a disposable nappy which make them seem less daunting for new parents, because let’s face it putting that first nappy on whichever type it is seems like a strange hard thing to do the first time.

My favourite all in ones are Tots Bots Teeny Fit and pockets are Baba and Boo Newborn size shown in this picture below.

2. The budget option. Flats and a wrap.

A flat nappy is probably much closer to what your parents and Grand parents may have used. Simple put a large piece of material folded into a nappy and then put on baby and fastened with a nappy nippa (your parents would have used a safety pin) followed by a waterproof wrap/cover over the top, or folding into a rectangle and placed inside the wrap/cover and then placed on baby. It sounds complicated but once you’ve figured out which folds you like its really very easy.

These are often a very cheap option compared to all in ones or pocket nappies because the flat nappies are cheap to pick up and the covers can be used multiple times in between washes so you need less of them.

There are a number of materials and types you can choose from. More absorbent terry nappies, prefolds which have serval lays sown in already and muslins.

Muslins work especially well for newborns because they are less absorbent (fine for a newborn), very quick drying (when your changing so much), cheap (so you don’t have to spend much money for just a few months) and can be used after the newborn stage for a whole manner of things.

Follow the link to Aboderie’s blog post for a great tutorial on how to get started with flat nappies, there’s also a YouTube video included so you’ll be folding nappies in your sleep before you know it.

3. The bomb proof option. Fitted nappies with a wrap.

A fitted nappy is similar to a flat because it is part of a two part system and will need a waterproof cover over the top but there is no folding involved. It looks like a regular nappy which velcro or poppers so is easy to put on but they whole thing is absorbent making it an extremely reliable nappy.

I have always found this type of nappy a little bulky for day to day use but have loved them for night time use because they last so much longer than a regular cloth nappy and are very soft and comfy.

4. The natural option. Wool nappy covers.

Wool cover can be a scary thing for parents to start with, but they are easy to use, easy to lanolise, are cost effective and perfect for the newborn stage. Though I would avoid using them until meconium has past as you have to hand wash them and meconium (a babies first poo) can be explosive and get everywhere.

Although wool covers need hand washing, you only need to do this every few weeks in warm water unless they get poop on them.

I would also recommend joining the Facebook group Wolly Bum Mum’s if your interested in getting started with wool. I also have a step by step guide and videos to help you understand how to use them. Read: “The Complete Guide to Wool Nappy Covers.

Remember that you do not need to pick and stick to one type of nappy. In fact I recommend exactly the opposite of this. Pocket nappies for the day time are my personal favorite, as they are easy when out and about, easy for partners, grandparents and friends to help with and look super cute, however I like having fitted nappies with wool covers for the night time and lots of muslins to bulk out my stash of nappies cheaply. I use them when I’m at home and running low on pocket nappies.

How many cloth nappies do I need for a newborn baby?

25-30 reusable diapers is a good number to have for a newborn if you want to use cloth diapers full time. Newborns tend to need to be changed more often (8-12 times a day) so this number of nappies will allow you to wash every 2-3 days and allow for drying time.

This sounds like a lot and overwhelming when you have a new baby but there are lots of ways around managing it easily. Using nappies like muslins and a wrap is very cost effective and both dry extremely quickly meaning you don’t have to worry about keeping to on top of the washing too much.

You can also put baby grows, burping cloths and other small baby clothes in the wash too, this helps you keep on top of the other baby washing, which FYI there’s a lot of.

What extra’s will I need to start cloth nappies from birth?

The only essentials are somewhere to store your dirty cloth nappies, a bucket with a lid or a dirty bag, as well as a decent washing powder and an idea of how your going to wash your cloth nappies.

Read: “The Best Washing Detergent for YOUR Cloth Nappies.”

You may also decide to use reusable cloth wipes, in which case you’ll need some accessories to help you, you can find everything you need to know in “How to use Cloth Baby Wipes.”

Is using newborn cloth nappies cost effective?

Unlike buying birth to potty (one sized) nappies which you will use for an average of 2.5 years (longer if you use them on subsequent children), buying a newborn stash of nappies will cost you more than disposable nappies. However, there are ways of keeping the cost similar to disposables and will have a positive environmental impact.

You can buy muslins from as little as £1.50 each (although my favorite Disana ones are £3 each). To this you will need a wrap to go over the top to make your muslin waterproof. These average at £9-£15 (you’ll probably want roughly 6 wraps), plus I would recommend a few all-in-ones for out and about and ease of use. These average around £10-£12. Adding all this up I think you could acquire enough newborn nappies to cloth full time for around £150. This can also be done cheaper if your happy buying second hand.

Also bare in mind you can use these on more than one child, lend to friends or sell them on when your done.

Read: “Navigating the Pre-loved Cloth Nappy Market.”

“Are Newborn Cloth Nappies Worth It? The facts and figures.

Hiring and borrowing newborn nappies.

The most cost effective and eco-friendly way you can cloth diaper a newborn is to hire a newborn kit from a company or a volunteer run nappy library.

The Nappy Lady offers a range of these which you do have to pay for, as do Bigger Bums but first I recommend you search for a nappy library in your local area if there is one because you’ll be able to go and see them and what nappies you might like to try out.

how to fit newborn cloth nappies.

The good news is newborn move around less so it’s easier to practice fitting nappies on a smaller baby. The bad news is newborns have such tiny skinny legs it can be hard to get a nice snug fit to stop leaks.

Combat this by checking the elastic around the legs when you have fastened the nappy and adjust if needed. It can take a little practice and tweaking. You want the elastic to be snug on babies leg but loose enough that you can run a finger between their leg and elastic easily.

Rest assured they start putting on weight and filling out soon enough and this become much easier.

FAQ’s about newborn cloth nappies.

Do I need to remove newborn poo before washing cloth nappies?

You do not need to remove the poo off a newborns nappy as milk poo is water soluble and will wash away in the washing machine. Once they are 6 months and begin weaning you will need to flush any poo down the toilet before putting in the nappy pail.

When researching this, you will find nearly every article states that exclusively breast fed poo does not need to be washed off before going in the washing machine. However, they make no mention of what to do with the poo of formula fed babies. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. You do not need to flush a formula fed babies poo. Milk fed poo is what it should be called to avoid parents feeling confused or judged for the way their baby is fed, which is what I found when asking this question in a cloth nappy parents forum.

The only exception to this rule is milk fed babies that perhaps go longer between poos or babies with reflux that are prescribed Gaviscon which can make a babies poo a thicker consistency. My rule is if it is plopable flush it down. It is is runny throw it straight in the wash.

Will Meconium poo stain my cloth nappies?

Meconium poo (your babies first few poos) though a tar like substance will wash easily out of your cloth nappies and is not something to worry about. If you do get any staining hanging your nappies in direct sunlight, even near a window, will get rid of the stains in a few hours.

Many parents say they will not use their cloth nappies until meconium has past but if you want to use cloth from day one this horrid poo will wash out like any other and does not need to be rinsed before going into the wash. Remember that staining does not mean the nappy is not clean, though it is not nice to look at so I recommend the sun light tip.

Do I need to use fleece liners for a newborn?

Whether you use fleece liners in your newborns cloth nappy or not depends on whether there is already a lining within you nappy. Some nappies come with a fleece or a stay dry layer already sown in. If this is the case you do not need a liner.

With other styles of nappies such as muslins or all-in-twos I would advice using a fleece liner as this wicks moisture away from babies bottom keeping them feeling dry and preventing nappy rash.

You do not need a liner in order to remove the poo for a newborns nappy as it will go straight into the wash. Many parents often buy disposable liners but I feel this is unnecessary especially for a newborn as these paper liners become wet, clinging to babies bottom and do not help with milky poo removal. However, this is personal preference. You can give them a go if you feel they will aid you in using cloth nappies. The only time I personally feel disposable liners are a help is in the early stages of weaning when poo can be a thicker consistency and harder to plop into the toilet. Please note that disposable liners are not flushable, even if some state they are on the packaging.

Can I use Birth to Potty sized nappies on a newborn?

Most Birth to Potty (often called One Sized) reusable diapers likely won’t fit your baby until 6-8 weeks. One sized nappies will still look huge on your baby for the first few months but this is fine. The bulk does not effect them in anyway and can actually do them good.

Read: “Do Cloth Nappies Affect Crawling or Walking?”

If you are keen to get your baby in one sized nappies sooner there are folding hacks to can try. Check some out here.

How long will my baby fit in newborn sized cloth nappies?

Depending on the brand you can use your newborn sized cloth nappies for up to 3 months or even longer depending on the size your baby. However as they get older they may start to out wee the smaller newborn inserts before they outgrow the nappy. This can be rectified by boosting your nappy with extra absorbency should you want the newborn size to last longer.

How often do you need to change cloth nappies on newborns?

You should change a newborn every 2 hours unless they are sleeping. Though disposable nappies will last longer than this I would not expect a cloth nappy to last any more than 2/3 hours. As they get older you can boost the nappy more for it to last 3-4 hours.

Of course if they have done a poo you should change them immediately to avoid nappy rash.

Do I need to change a newborns cloth nappy through the night?

During the night you do not need to wake a newborn for nappy changes but I recommend changing them before or after every other feed. As they get older and sleep for longer periods of time, feeding slightly less you can use a more absorbent night nappy system so you do not need to change them at all in the night.

Which cloth nappies can I use at night with a newborn?

As you are likely to change them during the night when they are a newborn you do not need to use a special extra absorbent cloth nappy for night time. I would however recommend putting a few extra boosters in their nappy incase they decide to sleep for a longer period to avoid leaks.

When my daughter was a newborn my favorite night time combination was a Little Lamb size one with a Petite Lulu Pull Up. The Little Lamb nappies are a very absorbent 2 part system so did not need boosters or worrying about leaks and the Petite Lulu has fleece cuffs so its extra comfy, the same goes for wool covers.

Should I boost newborn cloth nappies?

There is no need to boost your newborn nappies unless your baby is wetting through the nappy within 2 hours. After two hours I would just change them before they leak. Before boosting make sure the nappy is wet through to eliminate it being a fit issue.

You can boost your nappies with any other inserts you already have. If you need to buy some I recommend Little Lambs sized one boosters as they are very slim, highly absorbent and cheap.

Can I use cloth wipes on my newborn?

Most commonly you are advised to use warm water and cotton wool rather than chemical disposable wipes on newborns, however, given the consistency and frequency of a newborns bowl movements cloth wipes are a much more effective, natural option.

Avoid using essential oils if you want to use a solution on your cloth wipes in the first few months as these can irritate babies skin. Head over to “The complete guide to cloth baby wipes and how to use them” for more in depth chat on the subject.

What nappy creams can I use on a newborn and cloth nappies?

For newborns a natural barrier cream like Weleda Calendula Cream or plain coconut oil both of which can be found in most supermarkets and are gentle on babies skin. Both safe to use with cloth nappies. Some stronger, oil based creams can be hard to wash out of the materials and effect the absorbency of cloth diapers.

I really hope this article helped you decide on weather on not to use cloth nappies from the early days. If nothing else using cloth on a newborn will give you a crash course in everything you need to know.

Hannah xx

Wanting to use cloth nappies? follow my “getting started series.”