Using Flat Diapers with a Newborn

When I started cloth diapering our newborn the day after he was born, I had a stash of preemie sized prefolds (for babies up to 10 pounds) and infant size prefolds (for babies up to 15 pounds).

Unfortunately, the preemie prefolds were too small to fasten with a Snappi around my 7 pounds son, and leaked if I just placed them in the cover; and the infant prefolds just didn’t fit well in the extra small newborn covers.

Fortunately, I’d also bought a dozen birdseye flats, thinking that they were cheap and I might experiment with them someday. I tried simply folding a flat diaper in half, then folding it in half again. Perfect! They were so easy to use, and kept the runny poo totally contained (unlike the hospital disposables).

They were also a breeze to wash and dry. I ordered two dozen more right away, and I’m still using them almost 6 months later. I never would have guessed that my favorite cloth diapers would be flats!

Contributed by
Christy

Why Wool?

Why is wool so popular as a diaper cover? and how does it work?

Wool is a naturally waterproof fiber and can hold up to 30% of it's weight in liquid before feeling damp to the touch. It is a tough, durable, stretchy, and naturally anti-microbial and anti-bacterial it is the natures perfect solution for a diaper cover.

So pocket diapers can be used as covers?

So pocket diapers can be used as covers?

Some people do this. Once you have a "stash" you'd be amazed at all the different ways to stuff, fold, double, etc. Some people use a pocket diaper without an insert as a swim diaper. I just did this the other day when I took my babies swimming. The main thing is that with an AIO or Pocket diaper, the moisture is to be held inside the diaper. If you just use a cover or a pocket as a cover, the pre-fold or doubler would be holding the moisture against the baby. Some people don't like the wetness against the baby. This is also why pre-folds need to be changed more often. I still like them though and don't mind changing out the pre-folds frequently.