My baby was in no way a micro preemie, but being born at just under 5 pounds did pose some challenges, but many benefits to cloth diapering!
At almost 12 months, she is JUST NOW unable to fit into her last newborn diaper. I am sadly having to put away her Tots Bots Tiny Fits, and she weighs around 14 pounds. They still fit in the waist, but the rise is getting a little short, so they’re starting to leave red marks around the top of her legs.
So, what has this meant to our stash for the first year?
She stayed in the hospital for the first 7 weeks of her life. I was a first time parent and had never even seen anyone use a cloth diaper, and I was nervous enough about putting on a disposable diaper on such a tiny baby. So, we used disposables in the hospital, then when she came home I learned how to use her cute and tiny little preemie prefolds, but we were still using disposables at night, with one change (so 2 per night). I eventually got brave and started using double stuffed ALVA bamboo pocket diapers (one bamboo and one hemp insert) when they finally started to fit her little chicken legs.
Grovia covers fit from the start, even over those giant KL0’s, then I found bamboo alternatives (Imagine newborn fitteds). Those were awesome but she outgrew the rise before the waist. The Grovia covers started making her reflux problems worse at around 6 months, so we stopped using them. They fit weird with our larger prefolds anyway.
Ahh….prefolds. Those cute little flat clouds that we call Bummis preemie prefolds. I loved them so much, but had to start using the next size up because she would out pee them, even with a small cotton doubler, and I couldn’t snappi them around her waist anymore. I think that was around 6 months too. Not bad at all, I got 4 months use out of those little prefolds (remember she was in the hospital for almost 2 months).
At 6 months, she was probably around 10 lbs, and the ALVAs and the next size up of prefolds (green edge, but bleached and “Chinese”) were working well. Oh, I forgot about the Flip covers!!!! I couldn’t believe it, but they started fitting at around 7.5 lbs!!! I’ve been using them ever since!!! She’s still on the tightest setting, at 14 lbs, but I’ve let out one of the rise snaps, and she’s almost ready for letting out the waist one snap.
The Itti Bitti Boos were a different story, and the only ones we got less use than expected. I had to size up to a medium due to fit issues, probably at around 11 or 12 pounds. I will be keeping the smalls for any future newborn, but I really wish they had fit longer. At least they’ll be in good condition and have good resale value, right?
So, so sum up our awesome experience with cloth diapers thusfar, they CAN work for small babies, and I wholeheartedly recommend using them for newborns!!! I’m even happier I got to use most of my newborn diapers for a longer period of time, they’re just so darn cute!!! Get some of those tiny preemie prefolds and you’ll be good to go. Before you know it, they’ll be fitting in their one size Flip covers!!! I can’t recommend these two items enough!!!
If you’re just starting a stash for a new little one, here is my advise:
1) start with preemie or newborn prefolds
2) find a cover you like (everyone’s different, there’s aplix or snaps, one size or sized, PUL or TPU, even wool to consider)… try getting a few of several different brands/types because you don’t know what will fit your baby best anyway, then buy more of what you like!!!
3) buy bigger prefolds
4) buy some Flip covers
5) experiment with wool, fitteds, AIO, pockets, whatever you think you may like…now you’ll have an economical and reliable base stash of prefolds and covers AND you’ll have some cloth diapering experience under your belt!