How To Get Started With Newborn Cloth Nappies (Diapers)

*This post contains affiliate links. All companies I work with are ethically-screened..*

The hardest part of using newborn cloth nappies is starting.

Ok, I lied… it’s the extra laundry (that’s just part of the new baby experience though *sigh*).

The first few months with a newborn baby are magical but tough, so it’s ok if you’re unsure about the extra work that comes with reusables. But if you feel up to it, modern nappies are totally possible - you may even enjoy using them.

And if (like me) you hate washing, don’t worry - there are low maintenance diapers too.

I will admit… stuffing pocket nappies is pretty therapeutic. And it’s totally worth it once you realise how cute a tiny, squishy bum is.

You might also like 4 Benefits of Cloth Nappies, Organic & Sustainable Kid’s Clothing Brands I love and Tips For A Sustainable Postpartum

In this blog post:

Both my babies have been in cloth nappies since they were 5lb (ish) so I often get asked by new mums which cloth nappies are best. There are a lot of choices and it can feel overwhelming (everyone feels that way at first).

I’m going to do my best to keep it as simple as possible, but feel free to leave a comment at the end if you have any questions.

I am UK-based, but my community is global and a big portion of my readers are from the United States. Therefore, I try to include recommendations for products and brands in different continents. It is also the reason I swap between the terms diapers and nappies.

Newborn or birth to potty nappies?
Eco-disposables
What you’ll need to get started with reusables
Washing your nappies
- Dry pale or soak?
- Detergent
- Wash routine basics
- Example wash routines
- Extra laundry tips
Drying your nappies
- Drying speed
- Winter drying options
On the go
Choosing cloth nappies for your newborn
- My recommendation
- Different styles

1. Newborn vs birth to potty nappies

Before you begin, it is helpful to know the difference between newborn and birth to potty (BTP) diapers.

This is because birth to potty nappies do not fit a baby from birth - makes absolutely no sense, does it?

Although each brand has its own unique sizing, usually, newborn nappies last up to 3 months. Ish. It really depends on the size and shape of your baby.

Newborn nappies

Newborn / Size 1 / XS

Newborn diapers are designed to start from birth (usually between 5lb to 7lb) and go up to around 10-15lb. You should always check the brand’s sizing before you buy.

Most newborn diapers are slim and not very absorbent due to the frequency of bum changes at that age, however, there are some bombproof options. If you have a premature baby, you will find it takes them longer to fit into newborn nappies. I have a separate blog post on premature babies and cloth nappies.

Which newborn nappy brands are best?

Close Parent Pop-ins
Baba + Boo (bundle options available here)
Seedling Baby (bundle)
Little LoveBum

My least favourite newborn nappies are Totsbots Teenyfits, Motherease Rikki Wraps.

My affiliate discount SUSTAINABLYLAZY code will get you 10% off full-price products (not bundles) at The Nappy Gurus.

In the US, you can buy organic newborn diapers here.

Birth to potty nappies

BTP / size 2 / One Size

A birth-to-potty nappy has two sets of poppers on the front so you can change the size of the nappy as your baby grows. Sometimes chunky babies will be in the biggest setting before they are 1, but once they become mobile they tend to slim down and are usually in the same diaper until between ages 2-3. Size 3 options are available for toddlers who are bigger or need to be in nappies for longer.

Some people prefer to use eco-disposables until their baby is big enough for birth to potty nappies, however, there are economical newborn options if you’d like to give it a go. It’s not all or nothing, you can try it reusables part-time or just take it one day at a time and see what happens.

My favourite Birth To Potty/one-size nappies:

Totsbots Easyfit Star from around 6 months or chunky babies (simple to use, can be boosted with Totsbots bamboo boosters).
Little Lamb pockets (my favourite pockets - they are SO slim. It needs boosting with an extra insert usually. Still slim with bamboo or hemp boosters).

If you’d like to try a selection of cloth nappies, The Nappy Gurus have an option where you can try cloth for £10. You pay a deposit and if you don’t like them after 30 days you get a refund. Read more about this here.

2. Eco disposables

Once home from a stay in the hospital (with both my babies), I switched to eco-disposables to bridge the gap while I worked out which cloth nappies I liked.

Eco-disposables have a bad rep in cloth nappy circles (you will find this out if you mention them in green living Facebook groups). They don’t technically biodegrade, but many people’s waste is incinerated so it doesn’t really matter whether it is biodegradable. What also matters is, how they are made.

I like them because they have better production practices and fewer chemicals than conventional disposables, which have previously been reported to have weedkiller in them, yikes! I think they are a great option while transitioning to cloth, or for parents who don’t want to use washable nappies.

The brands I liked best were Kit and Kin and Beaming Baby, but I don’t think there is much difference between them all.

All my graphics are free to share on social media but I’d love it if you tagged me. Tap to pin to your cloth nappy Pinterest board:

3. What you’ll need to get started with reusable nappies

A baby!
25-30 allows most people to cloth full time
A nappy bucket or cloth diaper pail to store dirty nappies.
Alternatively, if you’re low on space, you can hang dirty diapers in a large wet bag
Access to a washing machine
A plan to dry them (see below)
On the go - a double compartment wet bag for clean wet wipes and used nappies is helpful (wet bag- US)
(Optional) Fleece liners to keep baby’s bum dry
(Optional) Reusable wipes (UK, US) alternatively, you could make your own.
(Optional) A basket or plastic box to store reusable wipes - can be stored damp or dry. My kids like them warm so I tend to wet them as I go, but it can be helpful to have them ready during the newborn phase.

If you’re in the USA, you can find a range of laundry products here.

4. Washing your cloth nappies

how to wash cloth nappies. reusable diaper wash routine

To soak or dry pale?

Do: dry pale in a nappy bucket with a mesh bag so you don’t have to touch soiled nappies. If you leave the lid off the bucket it will reduce the smell. Lots of people prefer to use a large wet bag to store dirty nappies, especially if they are low on space. It’s easy enough to just wiggle the nappies into the machine without touching them. Once your baby is mobile they will go for the bucket!

Don’t: soak your nappies in a bucket. This can damage the elastic and PUL.

Milk poo is water-soluble so if your baby has soiled themselves you can throw it straight in the bucket. If you’re not doing a wash that day it is more sanitary to give the nappies a rinse in the machine at the end of the day though.

Once you’ve introduced solid foods you will have to remove all the poo in advance (if you’re lucky it’ll roll off) usually you can get most of it off by holding it in the toilet while flushing. This is the point where people start using fleece liners (if they weren’t already) which I’ve always found more convenient than paper liners.

Some people have a designated poo spatula or knife but that’s not for me because I don’t want to store or clean one. Instead, we bought a long shower hose so we can properly remove any poo.

Detergent

It is important to follow the guidelines on the box when deciding on how much powder to use. You should use the correct amount for your water type and choose “heavily soiled.” If you’re in the US, obviously you have different detergents that I haven’t tried.

Do use: whatever detergent you are currently using. There is no need to buy a special nappy detergent. I’d be conscious of any harsh fragrances if you have a baby with sensitive skin though.

Do not use: fabric softener, Ecoeggs, soap nuts, anything soap-based without a surfactant.

There are different opinions on detergents. Some people prefer to use bio (with enzymes) because it cleans more effectively. Whatever you decide, it’s a good idea to check the manufacturer’s guidelines if you care about your warranty.

Wash routine basics

Laundry routines can take a bit of trial and error at first. It can take a bit of experimenting to work out how much powder to use. If you do encounter problems, don’t hesitate to reach out. Brands and stockists (and Facebook mum groups) are always happy to help too.

Newborns: You’ll need to wash nappies at 60 degrees for the first 3 months when you have a newborn. After that, you can either keep washing at 60 or go down to 40.

My washing routine is as follows. This isn’t a recommendation, just what works for me.

My Wash routine:

Daily wash setting which takes 58 minutes (not a pre-wash) at 60 degrees with a half dose of detergent for hard water.
Cotton wash (2h 30m) at 60 with a full dose of detergent (amount labelled heavily soiled on the box). Choose the longest wash on your machine and try to avoid the eco setting.

I have a Beko 7kg machine and hard water.

A note on the temperature

I used to do a cold rinse first (which is advised by many) but I later learnt that powder doesn’t dissolve properly in cold water.

I have used detergent in both washes for a long time because only putting it in the main wash didn't get my nappies clean enough. My son then got a fungal infection (cue mum guilt) and so I started washing at 60 in the first wash.

I do both washes on 60 because I use a plant-based detergent. Most detergents in the shops contain surfactants made from fossil fuels and most of the eco options are made of soap which isn’t very effective in hard water. If you want to use a more eco-friendly detergent then make sure there are still surfactants in it.

If you’d like to know more about my wash routine and the products I use, let me know in the comments and I’ll write a separate post on it.

Extra tips for washing cloth nappies

All washing machines are different. Modern “eco” appliances use less water and it may mean you have to wash at 60.
Fill the drum 3/4 full; they need to have space to move around and bash together. Add a towel into your main wash if it isn’t full enough.
You will need to know your water type when choosing a detergent. You can learn more about water hardness here.
All new nappies should be prewashed but bamboo and hemp will need a few prewashes to increase their absorbency.
Always read the manufacturer’s guidelines for washing if you are concerned about the warranty but be aware that some brands sell their own detergent that they may want you to buy. Some nappy detergents are quite gentle and may not be as effective in hard water.
If your nappies start to smell, it means you need to adjust your wash routine. If they come out smelling a bit funky then they aren’t clean enough.
Don’t assume all cloth diaper info on the Internet is factual because most of it is just shared experiences. I followed a popular website wash routine and it didn't end well.

5. Drying your cloth nappies

Drying speed

Some of the more absorbent nappies take a long time to dry so it’s a good idea to think about this in advance. When I was pregnant, I bought a stash of fitted nappies (Little Lambs) and they were an absolute nightmare to get dry and I had no option but to tumble dry them with my first as I lived upstairs in a flat with no garden.

The more absorbent the material, the longer it takes to dry.

When using multiple materials, it is good practice to put the fastest absorbing materials closest to your baby. Microfibre should never touch a baby’s skin so you will need a fleece liner. Personally, I try to stick to bamboo and cotton nappies because microfibre leaches microplastic into the ocean.

Winter drying options:

A dehumidifier
An airing cupboard
A heated airer
A tumble drier (on low)
Radiator racks
Peg hangers

I use a 10L dehumidifier because it is more cost-effective and energy-saving than a tumble drier and speeds up the drying of nappies during winter. I am really impressed with it but wish I had a slightly bigger one. The peg hangers, usually used for socks, are ideal for hanging boosters, wipes, wraps and liners.

6. On the go

Leaving the house seems daunting to new parents with a baby, but using cloth nappies can actually be simpler as you don’t have to go looking for a bin.

What you need:

A changing bag (any rucksack will do)
Enough nappies for where you’re going.
Portable changing mat. I use the Totsbot’s happy mat which folds up small, is soft Minky on one side and waterproof on the other (PVC free and made from recycled plastic bottles)
Double compartment wet bag (one pocket for clean wipes and one for dirty stuff)

7. Which cloth diapers are best for newborn babies?

This is the hardest part because babies come in all different shapes and sizes. What suits one baby (and parent) will not suit another.

As they won’t be used for very long, the most cost-effective solution is to use flats, which is a general term for a square-shaped nappy that you fold and a waterproof cover.

There are a few different kinds of flats, the most common being prefolds and terries.

Flats

What is a flat? A square piece of material that is folded in various ways and fastened with a nappy nippa. It is the absorbent part of the nappy so needs a waterproof wrap. They usually come in cotton or bamboo.

Pros: Flats are the cheapest and most popular option. This is what I would recommend you use as the main part of your stash. They are cost-effective and use a nappy nippa to hold them in place. They dry faster than modern cloth nappies and can easily be boosted with a bamboo booster if your baby needs more absorption. Once your baby is bigger, you can use them to boost other nappies or stuff them inside pockets.

Cons: The downside is that you need to learn to fold them which can be fiddly at first, but it easy once you’ve practised (the folds are simple). It helps to fold them all in advance, which I found a bit inconvenient as my mischievous toddler kept wrecking them. They are a little bit bulky with a wrap on, so you’ll need to size up in clothes and purchase some vest extenders.

View flats and terries in the Nappy Gurus store

Muslins & terries: Muslins and terries are approx 60cmx60cm squares, usually made of cotton but they also come in bamboo. Terries are thicker and more absorbent than muslins. They both dry quickly, but cotton dries the fastest. I used muslins with my daughter simply because I already owned plenty.

Prefolds: a rectangle piece of material made from multiple layers of (most commonly) cotton. Prefolds are stitched to create 3 sections that are simply folded over. Two popular brands of prefolds are Grovia (US) and Bambino Mio (UK).

Flats: square-shaped birdseye cotton, slimmer than a terry square.

Snappi / Nappy Nippa - A modern alternative to a safety pin. Buy in US

Which cover to use?

Most nappy covers are made of PUL, which is a type of plastic. Totsbots, rated most ethical nappy by Ethical Consumer, make their wraps out of recycled plastic bottles which I LOVE.

Totsbots are the main wraps I use because I also use their Bamboozle night nappies so they work well together.

Other wraps you can try are:

Bambino Mio
Thirsties size 1 (I haven’t tried this brand)
Motherease Airflow
Motherease Rikki (I dislike)
Little Lambs

Wool Wraps

If you don’t like plastic, you can always explore wool diaper covers. They are wonderfully natural and ever so soft against your baby’s delicate skin. I discovered these with my second baby and I love them. My daughter was premature so the smallest Disana cover was quite big on her.

Wool covers stay waterproof by a method known as lanolising that involves melting lanolin (from a sheep’s woolly coat and what nipple cream is made out of) in hot water and soaking the wrap for a few hours. Once lanolised, the wool cover is antibacterial and will repel water. They only need washing every few weeks (unless there is poo on them) which is an added bonus for lazy people, like me. Wool is a great option for nighttime, especially heavy wetters.

Let me know in the comments if you’d like to know more about wool.

View wool covers (US)

All-in-twos (AI2)

AI2s consist of a waterproof cover with nappy inserts that pop into the shell (see photos above). These are a cost-effective option because you can reuse the cover for the next nappy change (provided baby hasn’t pooed) - you simply have to remove the insert and replace it with a fresh one. It makes them faster drying than an AIO.

It is also worth remembering that newborns tend to do lots of small poos so you may be changing the whole nappy most times.

All-in-one nappies (AIO)

An all in one nappy is the simplest option (in my opinion); often referred to as the cloth version of a disposable. The nappy is all ready to go with the absorbent nappy fixed to the shell; it requires minimal prep. AIO are usually slower to try and more expensive.

Pocket nappies

In a pocket nappy, the absorbent core is stuffed into a pocket created between the PUL shell and the fleece lining. They need “stuffing” so they are ready to go for nappy changing and you need to remove the insert before they go in the bucket. Pockets come in newborn and birth to potty sizes and are available in all the different materials. They are one of the most popular types because you can adjust the absorption easily and they dry quite quickly.

My favourite pocket nappies are Little Lambs because they are slim and stretchy (compared to Baba and Boo which are very bulky with both inserts). I have a heavy wetter so I need 2 inserts on Baba and Boo and 3 in Little Lambs.

fitted nappies

These are ideal for nighttime or for those with a really heavy wetter because they have the best containment. They will need a waterproof wrap, which you can reuse a few times unless it gets soiled.

Fitted nappies come in bamboo, hemp or cotton and can last all night when boosted correctly. They can also be used as day nappies, however, as they are bulky, you will need to size up in clothes and get vest extenders. The downside is they take a long time to dry so it helps to have a couple of extra nappies if you don’t have a tumble drier.

My favourite fitted nappies are Motherease Sandy’s. My least favourite is Little Lambs because they have no stretch and come up short. The velcro wasn’t durable either.

Night nappies

Newborns feed regularly at night, so most people prefer something that won’t leak and are quick to put on. The most popular choices at night are fitted nappies or terries.

What I use: Bamboo fitted nappies are my preference at night because they have never leaked on me. I dislike Little Lambs, which come up short and take longer to dry. My go-to night nappy (with a baby and a toddler) is a Totsbots Bamboozle with the Peenut Wrap. I am also happy with an Ella’s Bumhugger or Bambinex nappy with a Motherease Airflow or a wool wrap.

Hopefully, you feel a bit more confident about your cloth nappy journey now.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below and I’ll get back to you asap. Don’t forget to check out the eco-friendly parenting section on my blog for my tips on living a conscious, non-toxic lifestyle.

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Congratulations mama!

Sophie xx

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