Using newborn cloth diaper covers is a great choice for a low-cost and functionally trim cloth diaper system. Many brands are now adapting to a size 1 and size 2 model to encourage this versatile and long-lasting system that gives both leak-proof protection and ideal fit.

Best Newborn Covers

• Thirsties Duo Size 1
• Blueberry Capri Size 1
• Apple Cheeks Size 1
• AMP Size 1
• Buttons Newborn Cover
• Rumparooz Newborn
• Osocozy Newborn Cover

These are the covers that were wildly popular in 2017 and many of these brands have changed and evolved. In 2020, I have my eyes on recommending the Esembly system,  the Nerdy Mommas newborn cover, and the newborn Petite Crown Keeper. 

We tried on 7 different newborn cloth diaper covers: Thirsties Duo Wrap Size 1, Nuggles Size 1 Tuck & Go Cover,  Rumparooz Newborn/Premie Cover, Blueberry Size 1 Capri, AMP Size 1, Applecheeks Size 1

Cloth Diaper Resources

• Check out my book for a complete beginners handbook on cloth diapering. 
• Newborn AIO Diaper Recommendations
• Newborn AIO diapers at 12lbs
• Realties of Newborn Cloth Diapering

Some other newborn cover options your might consider but I don’t have: Blueberry Mini Coverall, Buttons Newborn, Thirsties sized covers (XS – XL options), Bummi’s Super Whisper, Imagine Baby Newborn, Nicki’s Diaper Cover, Tots Bot Peenut, Tidy Tots Newborn Cover. 

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My Previous Cloth Diapering Experience

I started my cloth diapering journey with newborn covers and prefold diapers.

Two years ago when Little Man, I choose newborn covers and prefold diapers because it was economical. It seemed like an efficient way to start cloth diapering. Little did I know, I love every moment of the cloth diaper experience.

With Little Man, I bought 24 Bummi’s size infant prefold diapers (he’s still using them today) and about 5 small covers – Bummi’s, Blueberry Size 1, Applecheeks. We started cloth diapering at one week after he lost his umbilical stump. He quickly out grew his covers and we had him comfortably in one size diapers at 2 months (14 pounds). This meant our newborn cloth diapering stage was very short lived and I quickly started purchasing One Size Cloth Diapers to revamp our stash.

So, I’ve given this route a go in the past. I’ve tried it and done it relatively exclusively with Little Man. I loved using prefold diapers because we always had to change his diaper (because he cried ALL THE TIME). We often left him in a prefold and no cover and changed him hourly with each pee to keep him happy. The crazy things we do with our first babies to stop the crying. It felt easy. And laundry was easy. I remember it being just easy. Somehow, prefold cloth diapers and covers does not feel so easy this time around – maybe it’s the 2 under 2, maybe it’s the 20 months of AIO/pocket cloth diapering, maybe it’s the lack of sleep.

And next week, we will be doing the Flats and Handwashing Challenge! Little Miss might not be a newborn anymore, but she is a tiny baby still. I’m excited to try to exclusively cloth diaper her on a budget with flats only. Stay posted for all the fun !

Newborn Covers

The first 5 covers listed – Thirsties, Nuggles, Sweet Pea, Blueberry and Rumparooz are very much cloth diaper covers, and that is their one and only function. Meanwhile, the sized AMP and Applecheeks are more of a pocket style diaper. Both these offer a fleece inner that can be stuffed with absorbency, but often many users (at the companies suggestion) use them as a cover by laying absorbency on top of the fleece, and air drying between uses. . For the purpose of ease, they’ll be lumped into this grouping.

Affiliate links to shops carrying these products are listed below. Clicking these links and making purchases provides a small revenue to this blog to continue reviewing and operating. 

Thirsties Size 1 Duo Wrap Cover

This Thirsties Size 1 Duo Wrap Cover I bought second hand from a local mama with the matching Size 2 for the sole purpose of having matching bums. Prior to buying these, I had not tried many Thirsties products.

• Material: Polyster with TPU laminate
• Sizing: This is a generously sized small cloth diaper offering a range from 6-18 pounds.
• Snaps & More: 2 single layer waist snaps, with a single rise snap (3 across).
  • also available in hook and loop. 
• Elastics: Duo Wrap has elastics in the front and the back, as well as a double gusseted leg.
• Fit: Duo Wrap fits over bulky fitted diapers with easy, and works with bulky prefold and flat style.
• My Opinion: Meh. While this cover was great over the bulkier absorbency options, I found it felt flimsy and the waist snaps gave a funny fit. I was less than impressed with the overall fit between 8-12 pounds.

 

 

Nuggles Tuck-Wrap-Go Cover, Size 1

Nuggles seriously deserves some more attention from cloth diapering fans. This Canadian brand makes an exceptional product and it just doesn’t get the love and appreciation it needs (at least in my personal opinion). I also bought these second hand, and I have both a hook and loop and a snap version, as well as matching size 2 (because I can).

• Sizing: 6-20 pounds.
• Snaps & More: Available in snaps and hook and loop. The snap system offers double waist snaps. This diaper has 3 rise settings.
• Inside: Inner flaps available, and wipeable insides.
• Elastics: The elastics on this diaper are present front, back and with a generous double gusset.
• Fit: This wrap fits over fitted diapers and bulky prefold diapers with ease. I’m a little disappointed we are maxing out the overall fit of these diapers at 12 pounds.  The fit also gets a little weird along the rise snap and leg; it seems to bow out awkwardly.
• My Opinion: the hook and loop style is a much easier fitting diaper than the snaps. I find the snap settings cumbersome and awkward giving a poor fit. But the hook and loop gives a great fit over any bulky diaper. Overall, I think this is an awesome/best choice for newborn diapering with fitted (including the Nuggles fitted!).

 

Sweet Pea Newborn Cover

The Sweet Pea Newborn Cover has been all the talk. It is praised for its generous sizing and a great over fit, so naturally we picked one up too. How cute is the Fluff Mail print? Seriously. 

• Materials: waterproof PUL and hook and loop closure.
• Sizing: 5-12 pounds.
• Snaps and More: Newborn is only available in hook and loop with two rise settings.
• Inside: This is a wipeable inside with a little loop at the back to hang to dry. No other gimmicks.
• Elastics: Double gusseted legs and a back elastic.
• Fit: This diaper is a relatively trim fitting bum with wide long wings. I feel it is ideally suited for trifold prefold diapers and folded on flat diapers.
• My Opinion: I loved this diaper from the get go, but fell out of love soon thereafter. Its not suited to fitted diapers, as fitted cloth diapers, like the AMP Hemp Fitted, tend to be larger than the wings and bum of the Sweet Pea. Pad folded prefold or flat cloth diapers fit give the best fit, especially as baby grows.The wings are too narrow and on the large settings there isn’t enough coverage for the wings of fitted cloth diapers. I did enjoy the generous sizing of this diaper as it still fits Little Miss when she hit 12 pounds with a pad folded prefold (like Nuggles). I also had a few problems with this diaper leaking thru the PUL with the pressure of diaper shirts, but I asked around and that’s just a me problem. But for $11.95 CDN this is an AWESOME choice.

 

Rumparooz Newborn Sized Cover

The Rumparooz Newborn sized cover is easily toted as the best cloth diaper cover for tiny chicken legged babies and premies. Having had a chunky chub, I can’t speak to that, but my friend over at Faith’s Attic said it was best choice for her tiny premie.  Its identical to the larger one-size cloth diaper cover option just in miniature.

• Material: Water resistant TPU.
• Sizing: 4 -15 pounds.
• Snaps & More: The Rumparooz is available in snaps and hook and loop. It features a double waist snap with 3 rise settings with a triple snap down.
• Insides: This wipeable inner is just an inner, no additional flaps, with a double leg gusset.
• Elastics: front and back elastics with the front elastic giving a low rise feature on this diaper.
• Fit: This diaper is not as generous as some wraps, nor is it as trim as the Sweet Pea. It works over fitted and prefold diapers of the like.
• My Opinion: This diaper is not very aesthetically pleasing. I found the finish very sloppy and could never quite get a clean crisp appearance , but it did cover most fitted diapers without a problem. I’m impressed with the sizing versatility of this diaper, but do wish it offered a narrower crotch and feel like its needs one less snap for the rise snaps (double instead of triple across).

Blueberry Size 1 Capri

The Size 1 Blueberry Capri cover is a great all purpose cover bridging the gap into the one size Blueberry line up. Its near identical to its larger One Size variation.

• Material: water proof Polyster.
• Sizing: 6 – 16 pounds.
• Snaps & More: features a double waist snap, with 3 rise settings.
• Inners: features a front and back PUL based flat for tucking diapers under neath with a double gusset. Wipeable.
• Elastics: located at the back and along legs.
• Fit: this is a more generous shaped bum and front giving way to be a great option for fitted diapers and folded on prefold diapers.
• My Opinion: I can remember not liking this diaper on my newborn and quickly trying to sell it. However, this time around, perhaps my experience has led me to understand that this is truly a great fitting cover for the majority of your  absorbency needs. It is a little on the pricey side, but I wish I had more because it still fits Little Miss great.

AMP Sized Duo Size 1

I found the AMP Sized Duo Size 1 digging around in a clearance bin, and it was a fun addition to the stash. The AMP size 1 is more a pocket style diaper with an fleece inner that can be stuffed, or you could use in a cover like fashion. It is very similar to the OS AMP OS AMP option, without the rise settings.

• Material: laminated PUL with fleece inner pocket.
• Sizing: 6 -18 pounds.
• Snaps and More: This features a double waist snap without any rise settings.
• Inners & Elastics: The inner features a fleece pocket with a serge finish along the ruffle elastics along the legs, back and front. The pocket opens in the front.
• Fit: This fits well within its weight range and is easily stuffed with small prefold diapers of pad folded flats. My favourite prefold in this diaper was  a size small Smart Fold from Smart Bottoms. This is a smaller diaper than the following Apple Cheeks Size 1.
• My Opinion: This is a great ‘transition’ diaper for when you’ve lost your stump, your putting on some thigh chunk, but your not ready for the OS options. It s nice clean fit compared to the OS AMP duo (which also fits) but I don’t love it, but thats just me.

Find them in stock at LagoonBaby.

Apple Cheeks Size 1

My chunky toddler is 30+ pounds, and I’m finally beginning to warm up to the sized AppleCheeks cloth diaper system. The AppleCheeks Size 1 can be used as a newborn cloth diaper cover/pocket and will grow with your baby well past 20 pounds.

• Material: PUL outer with micro fleece inners.
• Sizing: 7 – 20 pounds.
• Snaps and More: Double waist snaps without a rise setting.
• Inners and Elastics: Inner features a fleece pocket with serging along the edges and ruffled elastics in the back, and along the legs. The pocket opens in the middle.
• Fit: This fits larger than the AMP Sized Duo. It is a nice overall fit, but I find it bulky, and I’m not entirely sure what to stuff inside it. I did use my Smart Folds, and various other prefold diapers but didn’t have love. Maybe I need to try an Apple Cheeks prefold/trifold. The waist and leg fit is okay, but skinny legs will need wing lifts to make things smaller.
• My Opinion: I don’t like wing lifting diapers for smaller babies with diapers with fleece inners. A gentle wing lift with a PUL/TPU wing is no big, for me, but a fleece wing lift bothers me. I don’t like the added risk of wetness and bulk under clothing. Therefore, AppleCheeks is not my favourite choice for smaller newborns and babies. I would much rather a sized or small fitting One Size Diaper. However, I am really loving the Size 2 on Little Man. 

Newborn Covers

That is it for my stash of newborn covers that we experimented with Little Miss. Newborn covers are a great economical way to bridge into the cloth diaper market offering an easy cloth diapering system that can be cost efficient. Paired with your choice of absorbency many of these diapers will reduce bulk, increase fit, and be just right for your baby. (My favourite prefold is the size small Smart Bottoms Smart Fold for Little Miss)

My Personal Experience with Little Miss:  I’m not a fan of newborn covers. I found them tiresome and tedious compared to using the stash of newborn AIO cloth diapers. I didn’t like fastening a fitted diaper and then adding a cover, or fastening on a prefold diaper and then a cover.  Additionally, many of my prefold diapers, fitted diapers were rather bulky under their newborn cover which felt overall cumbersome.

My fitted diapers, prefold diapers, and covers all lasted the longest. Many of our newborn covers are still in rotation as they have much more room for growth (and absorbency) to meet my growing baby.

My personal favourite newborn cover is the Blueberry Newborn Capri. It is the best sized for my chunky babies. It wasn’t the greatest fit as a fresh newborn, but, as soon she chunked up within the first couple of weeks its been the best lasting.

Leave me a comment about your newborn cloth diapering experience. Did you opt to use newborn covers and prefold diapers to keep things on budget?