The first weeks with a newborn are intense, and choosing diapers is one of the first decisions you face. The good news: cloth diapers for a newborn don't have to be an all-or-nothing project. You can start small, find your feet and let it grow at your own pace. Here we go through when it suits to start, which style fits the very smallest, how many you need — and how to make it as easy as possible.
When is a good time to start?
There's no rush. Technically you can start right away at the maternity ward, but most parents wait the first few days — and there are two good reasons.
The first is meconium, your baby's very first stool. It's black, sticky and tarry, and usually comes within the first day. Meconium is tricky to get out of fabric, so many simply wait until it's over — usually day 3–5, when the stool turns into a looser, yellowish breastfeeding poo that's much easier to handle. It's a natural starting point.
The second is the umbilical stump. Some parents wait until it has fallen off, which usually happens within 1–2 weeks. If you'd like to start before then that's perfectly fine — just fold down the front of the diaper so it doesn't rub against the stump, and keep the area dry and airy.
If you do want to use cloth from day one, a disposable insert on top of the diaper can catch the meconium and make the first days easier. But don't feel any pressure — waiting a week is neither wrong nor "cheating".
Which cloth diaper suits a newborn?
The very smallest thighs fit best in a smaller style. Our Newborn diaper (2–6 kg) is made for exactly that — a trimmer cut that sits nicely on a little body in the first months.
Here's an honest tip: buy a few newborn diapers to get going — not a whole set. The newborn size is used for a fairly short period before your baby grows out of it, so it's rarely worth investing in twenty of them. A few to get to know everyday cloth diapering, then you switch over.
When it's time to move up from the newborn size there are two common paths, and both work well — it's more a matter of taste than right or wrong.
Slim (3–15 kg) is a favorite with many. It has a slim cut around the legs that sits well on a little thigh, lasts a long time — for a trimmer baby often the whole diapering period — and it's a cover diaper: you simply change the insert at the change and reuse the shell if it's clean, which cuts down on washing.
Others instead go from the newborn diaper straight to Comfort (5–17 kg) and skip the Slim step — especially if the baby is a little bigger. If your baby is born at a clearly higher weight (5+ kg) you can even start on Comfort right away. There's no right answer; choose what feels right for you.
Good to know: the Newborn diaper fits from around 2 kg, so even a small baby can get going fairly early. If your baby is born even smaller, or very prematurely, it may be worth waiting a week until the weight has caught up.
How many cloth diapers does a newborn need?
Newborns change often. The first few days bring only the odd diaper, but it ramps up quickly — count on 8–12 diaper changes a day during the first months. That affects how many diapers you need at home, and ties in with how often you want to wash.
| Wash rhythm | Number of diapers to aim for |
|---|---|
| Wash every day | 10–12 diapers |
| Wash every other day | 18–22 diapers |
| Wash every third day | 25–30 diapers |
Most people land on washing every other to every third day, and 20–25 diapers is a solid number to build from. If you'd rather not work out exactly how many of each you need, a starter kit is an easy way to get a sensible base from the start.
Breastfed poo and cloth diapers — relax, it sorts itself out
The most common question we get is: "What do you do with the poo?" And the newborn period is actually the easiest of all, washing-wise.
As long as your baby is only breastfed (or formula-fed) the poo is water-soluble. It literally dissolves in the pre-wash — you don't need to rinse, soak or do anything special. Pop the diaper in the wet bag, run the wash. Done. It's when your baby starts solids that the consistency changes; then you tip the solids into the toilet before putting the diaper away, and a disposable insert on top of the diaper makes it even easier — it's thrown away with the poo, nothing more to do.
Fit on a newborn — the most important thing
Newborns are round in a different way from older babies, so give the fit a little extra care in the first weeks. It's almost always the fit — not the amount of wee — that decides whether a diaper leaks.
Rise snaps: Snap the diaper on its smallest setting for a little baby and let it out step by step as you go. It shouldn't press against the navel or hang down towards the knees.
The leg openings should sit flush with the groin — neither digging in nor gaping out. Loose leg openings are the most common cause of leaks. You should just be able to slip one finger into the leg opening without it pulling tight.
The waist: two fingers between the diaper edge and the tummy is about right. The skin shouldn't be red and marked after you take the diaper off.
The first few changes take a little longer — that's completely normal, and after a week the handgrips are second nature.
Gentle on a newborn's skin
A newborn's skin is thinner and more sensitive than an adult's, and more prone to irritation. Since the diaper is on around the clock, the material closest to the skin matters. Our inserts are a soft mix of bamboo and polyester, and the shells are recycled polyester with a waterproof laminate — all certified to OEKO-Tex Standard 100, which means the materials are tested for harmful substances.
The single most important thing for preventing diaper rash is still simple: change often, so the skin doesn't sit against moisture for long. If your baby does get a sore bottom, you can read more in our guide on diaper rash.
Practical tips for the newborn period
Start gently. You don't have to change everything at once. Many use cloth in the daytime and something else at night for the first weeks, until the routine settles.
The washing. Store used diapers in a wet bag — no soaking needed. Wash at 60°C with a gentle, fragrance-free detergent, ideally with an extra rinse. With the newborn volume of diapers you may need to wash a little more often at first; it settles down.
Further reading. If you're new to fit and washing we have separate guides on how a cloth diaper should fit and getting started with cloth diapers.
Common questions about cloth diapers for newborns
Can I start right away at the maternity ward?
Technically yes, but most wait until the first dark meconium is over (usually day 3–5), since it's sticky and hard to wash out. Some also wait until the umbilical stump has fallen off. No rush.
How many cloth diapers do I need?
For full-time use 20–25 is a solid number, depending on how often you wash. But do start with a few and build up — you don't have to buy everything at once.
What if the diaper leaks?
It's almost always about the fit — loose leg openings or the diaper sitting too low. Adjust the snap settings and read our guide How should a cloth diaper fit?
Do cloth diapers work if I'm breastfeeding and my baby is loose?
Yes — breastfed poo is the loosest and most water-soluble poo there is, and it disappears in the pre-wash. Cloth diapers and full breastfeeding are one of the easiest combinations, washing-wise.
Do cloth diapers suit premature babies?
The Newborn diaper fits from around 2 kg, so even a small baby can often get going. If your baby is even smaller or very premature, it can be nice to wait until the weight has caught up.
Ready to start?
Making a good choice should be easy — and cloth diapers for a newborn are simpler to get going with than most people think. Start with a few diapers, find your feet, and let the routine settle.
Want to read on? Here's the complete guide to cloth diapers and our whole range of cloth diapers and accessories.
By Emelie, founder of Time Ahead Sweden — mum of three, curious about how we as parents can make thoughtful everyday choices.