NOTE: This post has been updated as of August 2014 with several new fitted diaper reviews!
Using a fitted diaper is ideal for newborns because of the great absorbing capabilities, and because the contour shape helps to hold in blowouts. A fitted diaper does not have a waterproof layer on the outside so it must be worn with a cover.
Imagine 2.0 Bamboo Fitted: Newly released in 2016, this bamboo fitted retails for a very attractive price of $11.95 at Nicki’s (with free shipping). You can choose from 5 pretty pastels in either snap or hook and loop closure. The improved 2.0 line features a baby-soft bamboo terry fabric with a very fine weave. It has some natural stretch to it, which I like a lot. The included bamboo soaker pad snaps in the front and is permanently sewn down in the back, making this a faster-drying diaper than other newborn fitteds. We get 3+ hours of absorbency with this diaper and it’s trim enough to fit under most newborn covers. There is a snap-down rise to keep the umbilical cord stump exposed. The only issue I’ve had with fit is around the waist; There are no crossover snaps so it only gets so small. If you have a small or very thin newborn that may be a concern. However, since it’s a fitted and will go under a cover, even a less than snug fit at the waist may still work. Mary Kate was 9 pounds at birth so we had no problems with the larger waistband.
Imagine Baby Snapless Fitted (Cotton or Bamboo): I was really glad to see Imagine come out with their line of “prefold” fitteds; they are somewhat similar in design and price to the much-loved “Workhorse Fitteds” from Green Mountain and to Tinkle Traps (both are reviewed below). Imagine snappless fitteds start at just $5.95 each at Nicki’s; you can choose from cotton (bleached, unbleached or organic) or bamboo/cotton. I tested the unbleached cotton and the bamboo cotton on Ingrid; they look the same but the bamboo blend is slightly more soft and absorbent. Unlike a Workhorse or Tinkle Trap, there is no extra doubler included. Like other Imagine diapers we’ve tried, the fitteds run large in the rise, and wide in the crotch. You can fold the rise down in the front if you want it under the belly button (see photo at right). They also take longer to dry than a regular newborn prefold diaper. You can find Imagine fitted diapers at Nicki’s.
Thirsties Natural Newborn Fitted: I was surprised at how much smaller and narrower this diaper is compared to our other Thirsties newborn styles (natural and stay-dry AIO). However, it does have a lot of absorbency inside: 7 layers of bamboo/cotton. Three layers are in the core and 4 are in the snap-in soaker pad. It has a snap down center to accommodate the cord stump. The fabric is natural-colored cotton but you can choose from 3 different snap colors.
Of all the diapers we tested on Mary Kate, this one took the longest to dry. It needs at least a cycle and a half. And because it’s so small, she grew out of it very quickly (Mary Kate dropped to just under 9 pounds after birth).
It retails for $17.50 at Kelly’s Closet, Nicki’s and Diaper Junction.
Nicki’s Bamboo Overnight Fitted: There are two versions of this diaper – one size and newborn (which fits 5 to 13 pounds and costs just $10). You can snap down the front to keep the umbilical stump uncovered. The silky soft 100% is perfect for sensitive newborn skin. There is a tiny little 5-layer snap-in soaker included. The outer is 3 layers giving you 8 altogether. Because the insert is only partially attached, it helps the diaper to dry in an average amount of time. You’ll see some fraying and loose threads at the edges of this diaper, but I guess that’s just a part of the manufacturing process; it does not affect function at all. Mary Kate was 9 pounds at birth and she was actually able to wear this all night the first week or so, which is hard to find when it comes to newborn styles. I like it paired with the roomy pull-on Nicki’s cover, for more airflow. You can find both with free shipping at Nicki’s Diapers. And yes, you read that price right – this fitted diaper is only ten bucks!
The waistband is very similar to the Imagine 2.0 newborn fitted (reviewed above) in that there are a limited number of snaps. You can see the large space between waist snaps in the photos below. If you have a small or very thin newborn, this may be a concern. However, since it’s a fitted and will go under a cover, even a less than snug fit at the waist may still work. Mary Kate was 9 pounds at birth so we had no problems with the waistband issue.
Ecoposh OBV Newborn Fitted: From the folks at Kangacare/Rumparooz comes a very unique newborn fitted made from recycled water bottles, bamboo and cotton. It’s 7-layers thick and includes a snap-in soaker pad. I really like the plush velour inner fabric, and the fact that the size range is fairly generous at 5 to 14 pounds. There’s a snap-down feature at the front for babies who still have a cord stump that’s healing. This is a really thirsty diaper that held Camille all night, even with all the nursing.
Drawbacks are: it’s an expensive diaper (at $23.99), the dry time is pretty long, and the bamboo blend fabric can get a little stiff over time (as compared to 100% cotton). You can find the Ecoposh newborn diaper with free shipping at Nicki’s and at Kelly’s Closet.
Sustainablebabyish Snapless Mini: This is another snapless fitted, but really ups the ante in terms of fit, softness and absorption. You might only be able to afford one “Sloomb” diaper, but it will be well worth it! This is the snuglist, squishiest fitted we have and I’m pretty sure Ingrid loves wearing it. Made of a bamboo and organic cotton terry blend, the leg openings are turned and topstitched for comfort. It includes 1 diaper pin and a cute little “mini” doubler made of organic bamboo fleece. It takes several washes to prep both diaper and insert; after washing and drying the insert edges curl up, which is kind of unfortunate in terms of aesthetics. I prefer a Boingo over a pin to fasten the diaper, but use a very light touch with the Boingo since the fibers are more delicate than plain cotton. Of ALL the fitteds I’ve tried, it’s definitely the most absorbent. You can fold down the rise for a custom fit if your newborn is smaller or shorter than average. You can find this diaper at Kelly’s Closet, and Nicki’s Diapers.
Baby Coon Organic Bamboo Fitted: This adorable little fitted features a cotton knitted outside, a hidden layer of organic bamboo fleece and a cotton velour inner that is a deep turquoise to coordinate with the owl print. The rise snaps down to keep the fabric from rubbing the cord stump. This diaper fits Erik like a second skin – I can’t wait to get it washed and dried so I can put it on him again and I’ll be SO sad when he outgrows it! It’s extremely absorbent, too. The snap-in soaker features 2 separate petals so you can customize your absorbency level, plus it helps the diaper to dry more quickly. This diaper is soft and cushy but not too bulky, although it won’t work under every newborn cover, especially the really trim ones like the Bummis Super Lite. The gentle leg gussets have held in all of Erik’s explosions. An absolutely gorgeous WAHM fitted – no complaints here at all. And if you can believe it, these started at just $12.00. You can check Maria’s Hyena Cart store for in stock diapers and inquire about customs.
GMD Workhorse Fitted: Green Mountain Diapers is known for its famous cotton prefold diapers. In fact, they won the Padded Tush Stats 2012 award for Prefold of the Year. They also make these great “Workhorse Fitteds” which are made from that same lovely and absorbent prefold material. They come in all sizes; I had to snag a newborn! It also included a tiny little doubler, also made of prefold material. This may not be a very fancy fitted, but it gets the job done, and for $5.50 you can’t beat the price. The absorbency level is not as high as a hybrid or bamboo/hemp fitted, but it’s still pretty darn good, especially if you purchase some of the matching Cloth-Eez doublers that Green Mountain sells. Another thing I really like about the Workhorse? It’s trim enough to fit under any newborn cover, unlike some of the other plusher, bulkier fitteds. You can buy these with or without snaps, in bleached and unbleached fabric. The unbleached is my choice because it’s softer and hides stains a bit better.
Organic Caboose Newborn Fitted: This is an organic cotton diaper which fits from about 5 to 12 pounds, so it runs a little on the smaller side of the scale. For Erik, that meant a great fit. The organic cotton is very soft and cozy and I love that Organic Caboose products are made in the USA. The newborn fitted features a snap-down rise for the cord stump. It’s not the most absorbent diaper in our stash, but it does a good job. Our Cloth-Eez doublers fit perfectly inside to boost the absorbency. If you want 100% gentle and natural for your new little one, this fitted is perfect. UPDATE: Organic Caboose only makes this diaper in two sizes now – small and large. 
Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted, Size 1: This is a hugely popular fitted diaper and for good reason. It’s made of super soft and plush cotton/poly velour fabric and is especially contoured to fit little bodies. I really like the stretchy wings – they make it so easy to get a snug fit around Erik’s waist. This very thirsty little diaper can absorb up to 18 ounces of fluid. When your baby gets older, Thirsties also has a Size 2 version of their Fab Fitted. They dry in a normal amount of time and have a little “tunnel-like” pocket that you can use to stuff an extra insert into. It’s one of my favorites although we couldn’t buy more than a few because at $16.50 they are on the higher end of the price scale. NOTE: This diaper has been discontinued by the manufacturer.
Kissaluvs Fitted, Size 0: The Kissaluvs fitted is an economical option among the major brands. At $14.95 Kissaluvs delivers a very basic and well-fitting diaper made from squishy cotton terry. It’s pretty cute, too (I love the stitching around the edges). There’s also a tiny microfiber soaker sandwiched inside for added leak protection. This is one I reach for a lot, and I’d love to get more colors (they come in some really cute pastels). NOTE: This diaper has been discontinued by the manufacturer.
Tinkle Trap Prefitted: This is another great little prefold fitted, similar in concept to the GMD Workhorse. Made of soft unbleached prefold fabric, the Tinkle Traps are edged in cute rainbow stitching and feature a tiny little soaker which is partially sewn inside. These need to be fastened closed with pins, a Snappi or a Boingo (my choice). The wings on this diaper are very long so I’m hoping that will mean Erik can wear it much longer, even when he chunks up a bit. You can find these at the Tinkle Traps website for $9.75 each. I actually prefer the fit of these over the GMD Workhorse fitteds; availability is limited, though, so you have to wait sometimes to get them.
Little Bear Bums Dyed Prefitted: Yesterday I told you how much I love the Little Bear Bums microfleece cover. They also sell these beautiful little prefitteds, which are like the Workhorse and Tinkle Trap diapers mentioned above. The soaker is sewn inside this one, so it’s not removable, but it still dries in a moderate amount of time. What makes these extra special is that they are sewn of soft Indian cotton and then hand-dyed in lovely colors. I love the deep blue and green! They are $9.50 at Little Bear Bums.
Sandy’s Fitted by Motherease, Size XS: Another soft little terry diaper…the Sandy’s Fitted has quite a following among cloth diapering mothers, and comes to us from Canada. The stretchy cotton terry feels like a very soft and squishy bath towel and is colored with low-impact, eco-friendly dyes. There are lots of fun, bright colors to choose from. The fit is roomier than the other fitteds we tried – it’s similar to the look you would get with a pair of old-school pull-on Gerber pants. Sandy’s are known for running on the bigger size; I know moms who have size small on their year old babies. So the XS or “newborn” diaper starts out pretty big. You’ll need to make sure your cover is roomy enough to accommodate the Sandy’s fitteds (the entire Motherease line is designed to work perfectly with them). Nicki’s also makes a budget pull-on cover that will work well. We found our Sandy’s for $12.50 each at Nicki’s Diapers. 