Diaper Rite Newborn Cover: This cover has double leg gussets and flaps inside to hold prefolds, flats or inserts in place. The waterproof PUL used in Diaper Rite styles is always very soft and pliable. The wings have a lot of stretch in them, a feature I love in a cloth diaper. The entire cover is finished with a nice foldover, stitched trim around the wings and leg openings. IThere is only a single set of snaps on the wings, making it quicker to fasten on a newborn.

In this picture, Mary Kate is just under 9 pounds and 20.5 inches long. If your newborn ends up being smaller/skinner than Mary Kate, it’s very easy to get a tighter fit at the waist, thanks to the crossover snap. This, in turn, will also tighten up the leg openings for you. We’ve had zero leaks with this little cover, and there’s one more snap on the rise to let out as Mary Kate grows. At $8.95, it is a fantastic deal at Diaper Junction.

The Diaper Rite newborn cover fit Mary Kate for about a month; if you have a bigger baby, check out the Diaper Rite newborn AIO – it fits a lot longer. You can read my full review of both with more pictures here.

Nicki’s Newborn Pull-On Cover: If you are using bulkier prefolds or fitteds on your newborn, or are looking for a really breathable cover, the Nicki’s pull-on diaper is a real bargain. And it comes in TONS of color and print choices. The design is very simple; one lightweight layer of PUL with elasticized waist and legs.

If it looks really puffy to you, well, that’s kind of how pull-on covers fit. They are made to be roomy enough to work over any type of diaper and also allow for a lot of airflow. All you need to worry about in terms of fit are the leg openings and waistband. I’ve had mothers ask me “Is it hard to get on and off of a newborn?” Surprisingly, not really. You’ll likely spend more time pinning on the prefold or snapping on the fitted. This type of cover is super easy to clean and dries in a snap.

It’s only $6.95 and exclusively at Nicki’s.

Nicki’s Newborn Cover: I tried both the snap and aplix versions and found that the snaps give a more snug fit at the waist, so keep that in mind if you are anticipating an average or smaller newborn. Either way, both styles have a lot of room to grow past the newborn phase – easily a couple of months or more.

There are inner flaps inside if you prefer to lay your flats or prefolds inside instead of pinning. Double gussets at the legs are another nice feature. Oh, and you have scads of color and print options – at least 20 or more!

This newborn cover is only $10.00 for solids and $10.50 for prints, and found exclusively at Nicki’s.

Blueberry Mini Coverall: I’ve always been a huge fan of Swaddlebees and Blueberry…when the budget permits. Finding a Mini Coverall on sale for newborn Ingrid was a real treat, and I was as happy with the way this cover fits and performs as I have been with our Swaddlebees Capri covers (reviewed below). I love the cute prints, the double snaps at the waist, the durable PUL (nothing gets past it!) and the soft double leg gussets. Thanks to the adjustable rise it fits from about 6 to 18 pounds. This cover works well with prefolds, flats and newborn fitteds. You can find Mini Coveralls at Nicki’s and Diaper Junction. I hope to add another to my stash very soon!

Econobum Newborn Cover: This budget cover from Cotton Babies comes in plain white PUL (the same type used in Flip and bumGenius), but you can choose from a lot of different trim colors. It comes in snap or velcro closure (UPDATE: it only comes in snaps now). The waistband dips down slightly to accommodate the cord stump, but with Ingrid it didn’t really make a difference since the cover’s rise was pretty high. To keep the cost low, this cover does not have double gussets, which I really do like to see in a newborn cover because of their tendency to produce a lot of loose, runny stool. Other than the high rise, it fits well, especially around the legs. You can find it for just $8.95 at Cotton Babies and Amazon.

Assunta Tiny Cover: Several mothers recommended the budget covers from the Assunta Store to me. They are Americans living in China who are ministering to orphans and abandoned children; through the Little Flower project they financially support their mission. The “Tiny Tuckable” PUL covers start at just $6.69; however, I do want to note that shipping is via Air Lift and can be upwards of $7.00, depending on how many covers you order. I found my “yellow stars” PUL cover on a diaper swap site. I was really pleased with the quality for the price. The PUL is soft but sturdy. The cover has a flap in the front for tucking inserts, it has double gussets and the wings are reinforced with an extra layer of PUL. Plus, there are extra rise snaps so it will adjust and provide more room as your newborn grows. I had one problem with the way it fit; when the waist is fastened snugly and just where I want it, then the leg openings are too tight and will leave marks. The only way to remedy this is to loosen up the waist a bit. With a boy, this might cause leaking out of the front, but Ingrid wets more in the back of her diapers so it hasn’t caused a problem yet.

Bummis Super Whisper Wrap: This is a very popular newborn wrap because it’s durable and affordable. It’s made of three layers: waterproof laminate “sandwiched” between two layers of poly knit. The drawback is that it feels thicker and stiffer than other waterproof covers. The poly knit can also get damp more easily meaning you might not get as many uses out of it before washing (as opposed to other wipeable covers).  At around $14 it’s not exactly a “budget cover,” but it is reasonably priced and you get to choose from a lot of cute prints. I wish the rise were just a bit shorter on Ingrid, but it still fits well overall. It gives great coverage over prefolds, flats and fitteds. You can find them lots of places, including Nicki’s, Kelly’s Closet and Diaper Junction.

Bumkins Newborn: I like the smooth, soft PUL used on this cover; double snaps on the wing are also a nice feature. Bumkins offers a lot of cute prints as well. But this cover was a bit roomier than I expected for a newborn; there was quite a bit of extra material and some saggy areas. The crotch is also pretty wide. Although there are a LOT of snaps on the waistband, you don’t have to use them all to get the diaper to stay put. The flap inside is a nice feature as are the extra snaps on the rise so your baby can wear it more than just a few weeks. Because of the roomy fit, it easily accommodates prefolds, flats and even bulky fitteds. You can find Bumkins newborn covers at Thanks Mama and Nicki’s with free shipping.

Motherease Airflow XS: Although this is the smallest size you can buy, it swallowed up Ingrid so I ended up selling it. I’ve heard the Rikki Wrap might run smaller, so that’s an option to try if you are a fan of Motherease. This is a lightweight and very simple cover with double snaps at the side and a wipeable interior. You can find Motherease diapers at Nicki’s (covers ship free).

Swaddlebees Capri, Size One (pictured first from left): You all know how much I love Swaddlebees diapers. Wish the prices were a little lower, but I have to admit they are well worth the extra dollars. Our newborn cover is no exception. I LOVE this cover for the same reasons I love the size two Capri’s we use for Susanna and Samuel – the PUL is soft but extremely durable, the double row of snaps on the waist delivers a snug fit with no sagging, and these covers easily wipe clean to re-use. The leg and waist casings are very soft. And this trim-fitting cover does well over bulkier fitted diapers, too. Plus, Swaddlebees has a HUGE collection of colors and prints! UPDATE: Swaddlebees are no longer made; check out the Blueberry newborn covers instead.

Sweet Pea Newborn Cover (pictured in the middle): I admit…I’ve been using this cover more than any other I bought. Completely fell in love. I ordered TWO more within a week! It’s simply the best-fitting cover in our entire stash – tiny, trim and so so cute! I’m SO glad that Sweet Pea introduced newborn covers last year; I have always been a huge fan of the one-size Sweet Pea covers. And the newborns retail for under $10.00. Aplix is the only option offered and it’s fine by me. That means it’s quick to get on and off and ensures a perfectly snug fit. I’m not worried about the fact that aplix wears out faster than snaps; this is a newborn cover and will only be used for a short time; it will still be in great shape for the next baby! This is a trim cover and works best with newborn prefolds and flats, not fitteds. You can find Sweet Pea newborn covers at Diaper Junction and Kelly’s Closet. They are just $9.95!

Rumparooz Newborn Cover (pictured third from left): Although the fit around Erik’s waist and legs is snug, there is just way too much bulk with this cover for me to love it. In the photo you can see how much extra fabric there is, especially compared to the trimmer Swaddlebees and Sweet Pea covers to the left. I would bet this cover performs better on bigger/chunkier newborns, and the adjustable rise means it will fit past the newborn phase, but it just wasn’t one of my favorites. The Rumparooz newborn covers retail for $10.00 over at Diaper Junction.

Buttons Diaper Cover: Buttons now has three sizes of covers – newborn, one-size and super. We were actually able to use the one-size cover for our average size newborns (see photo of tangerine orange diaper below). For Mary Kate, we tried the newborn version for the first time (pink diaper below). Buttons covers are made of soft, smooth and very durable waterproof PUL, and each has a cute embroidered button on the back.  Features include double gussets, a wipeable interior and a VERY affordable price tag of $11.50 and up. Unlike the other sizes, the newborn cover has two sets of snaps at the waistband. This is a trim cover and works best with small Buttons inserts, newborn prefolds and flats (not fitted diapers). You can buy directly from the Buttons website (they also sell wipes, wet bags and coordinating inserts) and get free shipping if your order is over $75.

In the picture below, Mary Kate is just under 10 pounds and is wearing the diaper snapped up to its shortest rise setting. She still has some room to grow at the waist.

Best Bottoms Diaper Cover: This is the other “one-size” diaper I’m using on Ingrid. The rise is higher than the Buttons cover, but I love the sturdy double layer of PUL, the double gussets and the adorable prints! I’m glad we won’t have to pack away this adorable Pink Giraffe print when Ingrid grows bigger. Granted, because of the higher price tag ($16.95), I only have a few Best Bottoms in my stash, but they are especially great for nighttime. Nothing gets past this cover and it’s roomy enough that I can pack it full to keep her leak-free all night long (even with a few nursing sessions in the mix). The rise is noticeably higher than a typical newborn cover (which is another reason I mainly use it overnight). I also like that Best Bottom covers are made in the USA from USA-sourced materials. You can find them with FREE shipping at Nicki’s Diapers (sometimes they have seconds sales with discounted covers).

Thirsties Duo Wrap, Size One: This is an extremely popular cover for newborns and smaller babies because it is lightweight, economical and adjustable. There is an extra set of snaps on the rise so your baby can wear it past the newborn phase. Erik started out kind of skinny, so there was some extra bulk in the rear and hips, however it fit snugly around his waist and legs, which is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to mess containment. When he was wearing something really bulky like a squishy fitted, this cover fit better so it’s definitely very accommodating. That comes in handy when you’re adding a doubler to your newborn prefold or flat, too. And I do like that Thirsties offers both snap and aplix options. Being one of most popular brands on the market, you can find Thirsties covers at most online cloth diaper shops. You can buy them with free shipping at  Nickis and Sweetbottoms Baby.

Thirsties Diaper Cover, Size XS: I liked this Thirsties cover a lot, too. It’s a sized cover, so we got XS for Erik and it fits very nicely around his skinny waist and legs. It also retails for less; brand new it’s $11.50 versus $12.75 for the Duo Wrap at Nicki’s and Kelly’s Closet. The sized Thirsties covers also have gentle double gussets – these are great for keeping leaks at bay, even around my newborn’s little bird legs. I like the aplix version because it takes mere seconds to wrap around my son, and it holds in prefolds just fine without pinning. It also works great over fitteds.

ProWrap Newborn Cover (pictured first from left): This is a lightweight cover with no bells and whistles. A true economy cover and a good choice for families that are on a budget and aren’t choosy about prints or colors.  I didn’t really like the huge aplix tabs on the waist, but I guess that’s a cosmetic complaint; it didn’t affect the performance. The value for the money can’t be beat; in fact, they are on sale right now at Nicki’s Diapers for the bargain price of $6.65.

LiteWrap Preemie Cover (pictured second from left): I was told these run a little big so we purchased the preemie size. However, I found that the waist actually runs small, even with the back elastics; I could barely fasten it around Erik’s waist and he’s not chunky. But the rise runs big; it was much higher than our other covers. For these reasons, I found this cover didn’t do well with most of our fitteds; I couldn’t get everything covered. My gripes aside, though, I do know that these are a very popular budget cover and fit many babies well. You can also find these at Nicki’s Diapers, but they are only available in white. LiteWraps retail for about $8.50.

Baby Monkeys Newborn Cover (pictured third from left): This is a really cute little WAHM cover made of PUL with foldover elastic trim. The fabric is lightweight and trim-fitting with double snaps at the waistband. They start at just $5 each. Overall I’m pleased with this cover and use it quite a bit, especially since the inside can be wiped clean to re-use. It’s big enough to hold in prefolds and fitteds. Note: Baby Monkeys is defunct. UPDATE: Owner Tibeca Yao now operates under the name “Organics by Ti,” and has discontinued making covers.

Little Bear Bums Newborn Cover (pictured first from left): Another favorite! I want to order some more in the small size for Erik when he outgrows newborn. This is the only fleece cover that we tried and I love it. Little Bear Bums uses microfleece which is soft and smooth, and finer than other fleece covers/soakers. And the natural color is so lovely. We haven’t had any issues with wicking or leaking. I’m totally sold on these cozy little covers. What could be more perfect for keeping a newborn warm and dry? These beautiful WAHM covers start at just $8.50 in the Little Bear Bums online shop. 

Tiny Tush Perfect Fit Cover XS (pictured second from left): NOTE: This is different from the  Tiny Tush One Size “Mini” Diaper Cover which I will post a review of the next time around! Two of the things I like best about the Tiny Tush cover are the soft elastics and soft waterproof material. Thanks to Erik’s bird legs in the very beginning, I noticed some gaping around the leg openings. Adding more “stuffings” inside the cover helped with fit. With snap closure (vs. aplix) you might also notice the wings curl back as in the photo, but that’s an aesthetic issue. As Erik fattened up this cover fit better and better, but it certainly sufficed in the early days. For my next baby, I’m going to try aplix closure next time around. Tiny Tush sells their Perfect Fit cover for $11.95; another newborn cover called the Mini is also available and more rise settings and retails for $16.95.

Bummis Super Brite Newborn Cover (pictured left and top): And yet another winner! I also ordered two more of these because we love them to pieces. Besides our wool cover (below) this is the only other one I dared to use at night. The PUL is thick but not too stiff. You might be wondering why we didn’t try the Bummis Super Whisper Wraps; this cover appealed to me more because it’s lightweight and has inner gussets AND the exposed PUL on the inside means you can wipe it clean. The Whisper Wraps have a knitted PUL that gets damp. But some moms like this against their baby’s skin better; it just comes down to preference. The Super Brite has nice stretchy wings for getting a perfect fit and really soft and snug leg casings. Nothing escaped this cover! The only flaw, and something I just cannot seem to troubleshoot, is that if Erik wore it for a while, the waistband would curl inward, leaving the white velcro strip to scratch his tummy. Very annoying, so if anyone has a way around this let me know! You can find these for $13.50 over at Kellys Closet.

Bummis Super Lite Newborn Cover (pictured bottom right): For $11.00, this is Bummis’ most economical cover. And it’s gotten great reviews. They are trim and cute and very lightweight. There were two small problems I encountered: the aplix strip is so wide and long on the waistband that it sometimes directly touches the skin on Erik’s thigh, causing red marks and irritation. I tried angling the waistband and wings upwards to avoid this, as Bummis suggested, but the problem persisted. But I know most moms haven’t had this issue. It just goes to show that even the most popular covers don’t always work for every baby. I should also mention that because it’s such a trim cover, it doesn’t completely cover some of our fitted diapers. But I love everything else about this cover, and I think as Erik fattens up the scratchy velcro issue will go away.

 

Organic Caboose Newborn Wool Cover: This is a beauty and completely reliable day and night. I love that we rarely have to wash it because every mother of a newborn baby could use more time, right? Wool is breathable and naturally antimicrobial and not hard to care for at all. In fact, we did not even have to lanolize it first before using and haven’t had any issues. I love that this wool wrap has easy aplix closure. It works great paired with our Organic Caboose fitted, as well as with prefolds. It features fold back laundry tabs and is made in the USA. Another thing I love about wool? Like fleece, it can also keep your baby warm and not just dry. Amazingly, when summer comes, wool also keeps them cool because it’s a breathable, natural fiber. Pretty sweet! Organic Caboose is very reasonably priced for a high quality wool cover and is just $30.99 at Little Spruce Organics.  (You can get 15% off with my exclusive blog code ZH15.) This is an investment you will pat yourself on the back for time and time again. It’s generously sized, too, and baby can wear it past the newborn stage. If you’d like to read more about cloth diapering a newborn with wool, check out this great blog post at Little Spruce!

AppleCheeks Envelope Cover, Size 1: AppleCheeks are such cute diapers and they have a unique look all their own. Plus, the inside is constructed like a pocket diaper with a wide “envelope-style” opening, which means you can choose to stuff inserts inside or just lay them in the cover. Our AppleCheeks fit great on Erik and came with two insert options – a trifold bamboo insert and a microterry insert with red edges. I absolutely love the bamboo insert – it’s soft and supple and thirstier than a standard prefold. The microterry insert is on the longer side so you have to fold it down to fit a newborn. To get a good fit on bird legs you can pull the wings up at an angle on either side of the hips (which tightens up the leg openings). AppleCheeks are higher on the price scale at $19 each. The diapers are adorable, well-fitting and very soft and comfy. You can find AppleCheeks diapers at Kelly’s Closet and Diaper Junction, and with free shipping at Sweetbottoms Baby.

Weehuggers Cover, Size 1: The look and fit of a Weehuggers is very similar to the Swaddlebees Capri, and like the Capri you can purchase either a size one (6-18 pounds) or a size two (15 to 35 pounds). The Weehuggers have handy inner gussets and flaps at the back and front to better hold inserts in. Weehuggers are made in Knoxville, Tennessee and come in 12 adorable colors and prints. I love the contrasting trim on this cover, and it’s very soft on Erik’s waist and legs. The double snaps on the waistband work great to get a nice and snug fit. I like that pretty much any fitted diaper will fit inside this cover, but it’s not bulky at all. The one thing I don’t like: the flaps inside are a knitted fabric (instead of PUL) which gets saturated when the diaper inside is soaked. UPDATE: Weehuggers are no longer made.