Does it make sense to use newborn cloth diapers instead of one-size diapers? It depends on your baby’s size and weight at birth, and how particular you are about fit and appearance. Most one-size diapers, even on the smallest setting, are bulky on a newborn. It’s hard to get them snug enough around the waist and legs, which can set you up for leaks. And when all is said and done, a trim little diaper, made especially for a newborn, is just irresistibly cute!
If you are expecting a baby, and one of these scenarios applies to you, it might make sense to rent cloth diapers.
- Curious about cloth diapering a newborn but hesitant to purchase a big stash
- Curious about different newborn brands but hesitant to buy them all “just to try them out”
- Eager to try cloth but too busy to shop around for deals and research all the different brands and styles
- Not wanting to get stuck with a bunch of used diapers to re-sell
- Expecting your last child
I want to share with you one newborn cloth rental program in particular, because I think it’s both unique and user-friendly.
The newborn rental packages at Over the Moon include some of my favorite styles for tiny babies: bumGenius, AppleCheeks size 1, the new Thirsties newborn AIO, the Imagine newborn AIO, the Sweet Pea newborn AIO, and the SoftBums Echo AI2.
The program at Over the Moon is especially fun because you get to choose from two different packages:
- Easy Peasy (AIO/All-in-One diapers)
- This & That (AIO, AI2 and pocket diapers)
You can also choose gently used or new diapers – whatever fits your budget. All packages contain 24 diapers, which will allow you to try out cloth full-time and wash every other day or so.
There’s no need to stress about caring for the diapers, either. You simply need to return them in good working condition. Steer clear of things you’d probably avoid anyway if they were your own diapers (rash creams with fish oil or petroelum, fabric softeners and strong synthetic fragrances that linger on the fabric). You can read the full rental terms here.
What are the money savings over disposables? Simply put, if opting for disposables, then you will be throwing all your money in the trash right along with the diapers. For a newborn, that’s almost 700 diapers and over $200. Over the Moon newborn rentals start at just $100. That’s 50% in savings. And you can feel good knowing that when you’re done with the diapers, they won’t be thrown away!
What are the money savings over buying them myself? If you bought 24 newborn AIO diapers, you’d pay $300 to $400 dollars. Yes, you’d get to keep them, but selling them back can be a hassle. Nor will you get the full value back; given the current re-sale market you’d likely lose $100 or more. So you’d basically lose close what it would cost to rent them instead – and save yourself a lot of time.
Renting is very simple:
1. Decide which package you want. A $99 refundable deposit will be added to your order. The rental fee varies based on the style and type of diapers you choose.
2. Your newborn diaper package will be ready 2 weeks before your due date, or up to 2 weeks after you place your order – whichever is later.
3. You and your baby can enjoy the diapers for 8 weeks. During this time, you are welcome to shower Over the Moon diapers with questions and feedback. 🙂
4. Ship the diapers back (or drop off if local) in an acceptable condition and your deposit is refunded.
If pregnancy (or just motherhood in general) has you feeling a bit scatterbrained, you’ll appreciate this extra perk. With Over the Moon you can sign up for a complimentary reminder email to rent cloth diapers 4 weeks prior to your due date.
So if you are hesitating over investing money in a newborn stash, I encourage you to rent cloth diapers instead. Or let your friends know that you’re interested in this type of gift as opposed to big items like a stroller or bouncer seat.
If you’re ready to shower your baby-on-the-way with cloth diapers from Over the Moon, Courtney is offering an additional promotion for my readers. Coupon code ZEPHYRHILL gives you $10 off the newborn diaper rental fee. It’s valid whether you choose the new or gently used package!
To help spread the word about her newborn diaper rental program, Courtney is giving away a Thirsties Newborn AIO diaper (one of the popular styles included in her rental packages). The giveaway ends on Monday, May 18th and is open to US residents only. Good luck, and please leave your questions or comments about diaper rentals or newborn cloth in the comments below!
This post was sponsored by Over the Moon Diapers.
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Renting is such a great idea. I should have considered it before buying a few newborn covers. I guess I was afraid the condition they are returned in won’t be good enough. How I wash them is kind of my area where I lack confidence. It took me 3 months to figure out a wash routine the first time and now I still wonder if it’s good enough. (I think so, but nobody else smells my diapers!) 😉
If they smell clean coming out of the washer, that’s a pretty good sign you’ve got a good routine. I’m sure that with the rental program, Over the Moon accounts for some variation in wash routines. I would think that as long as they aren’t damaged or heavily stained, you’d be returning them in an acceptable condition. ~Anne
I never thought about renting! I bought a few covers and a bunch of prefolds, but then I moved and they got boxed up. My baby is 3 weeks old, and till I find them, I’m stuck using disposables, yuck.
I’m looking forward to using cloth diapers with our first child this summer, however, the laundry process is daunting. I’m afraid I’ll do something wrong and am not sure what detergent to use.
Alix, choosing a detergent is pretty simple as long as your baby doesn’t have sensitive skin. You can use any mainstream detergent, but steer clear of fabric softeners. ~Anne
Ive always wondered what usually works better for NBs, covers and flats or AIOs.
It depends on what your main goal is, I guess. Using a cover with a specially folded prefold diaper is great for keeping poo off the cover so you can rotate them less; a newborn fitted with gussets also accomplishes the same. But prefolds take longer to dry. Flats folded in a mini pad do fine laid in a cover; they may not keep poo off the cover, though. Dry time is super fast, however! AIO diapers are very convenient if you’re short on time. I like having a few for quick changes or the diaper bag. ~Anne
I like the idea of renting, so you have a chance to try out different brands before investing in a stash!
I used newborn cloth with baby #2, and have since loaned my nb stash to two other people! I would love to win this for my cousin who is expecting her first and wants to try cloth. 🙂
Will newborn diapers that don’t have snap down umbilical areas irritate a new baby’s cord stump?
I’ve diapered two newborns in cloth, and most of our diapers and covers didn’t have the snap-down rise in the front. Here’s how I look at it – if the rise snaps down, then the cord stump is going to rub on your baby’s clothes. If the rise doesn’t snap down, then the cord stump is going to rub on the inside of the diaper. Either way, it’s going to rub up against fabric. So for me, it’s not a deal-breaker either way. In fact, I actually prefer NOT having the snap down diapers because I’d rather the gooey stuff that comes from the cord stump get on a diaper liner rather than the baby’s clothing and stain it. ~Anne
We’re planning to use covers and prefolds when our little one arrives, but I’d like to have at least 6 AIO’s on hand for quick changes and to help get hubbie used to cloth diapering. I hadn’t really considered renting before because I didn’t want to have used diapers, but It’s great to know that renting new ones is an option!
Sounds like a great stash – just my style, Theresa! ~Anne
I like the idea of renting – especially for newborn size. My biggest concern (like others have also commented) would be washing them wrong and causing damage. On a lot of cloth diaper blogs they mention things not to use (bleach, fabric softener, etc.) because they would void the diaper’s warranty, but I’ve never seen a warranty on the diapers I’ve gotten. It just makes me a little paranoid about treating stink in diapers I have to return. But then, I didn’t really have stink problems with diapers when I borrowed my SIL’s newborn cloth stash. It was after my baby was in bigger diapers and started on solids that it became a problem. Anyhow, I like the idea of renting!
This is a great question to ask! In the rental terms for Over the Moon, it states you simply need to return them in acceptable condition. That means they should be clean and in good working condition. They don’t have to look perfect. Normal wear and tear is expected. What you’d need to steer clear of is basically common sense – fabric softeners, non-cloth-safe creams and diaper damage due to carelessness or misuse. You can read more details here. http://overthemoondiapers.com/pages/newborn-diaper-rental-terms ~Anne
One thing worth mentioning is if you plan to CD multiple children, buying your own stash may be better. Since they are only used a few months at most, they should have plenty of life left to be used on several children, or shared with friends/family, etc.
Absolutely! In my case, with multiple children, it pays to buy a stash and keep it for future children. Renting is a perfect scenario if you have just 1, or if you’ll be diapering your last child. ~Anne
Renting is a great idea. I’m trying to show a relative that there isn’t that much work involved in cloth diapering. They are already set on using disposables. Renting is a great way to learn and an option for someone not totally sold on cloth diapering yet.
I would be curious how the rental program handles normal wear-and-tear on rented diapers. I like the idea of renting, but I worry about being charged extra or something if I couldn’t return them in perfect condition!
Melissa, normal wear and tear is to be expected and that’s included in the rental agreement, so you’d only need to worry about damage or heavy staining or repelling due to using a non-cloth-safe diaper cream. Here are the rental terms with more details: http://overthemoondiapers.com/pages/newborn-diaper-rental-terms ~Anne
Thanks!
How do you know when a newborn diaper is close to being overused? Or can they be used always?
I’ve used our newborn diapers for 2 babies so far, and they still have lots of life left! ~Anne
I hadn’t considered renting newborn diapers, but it seems like a great solution! I was wondering if newborn diapers have a good resale value compared to one-size diapers. That would make a difference in my decision whether to rent or buy/sell later.
Sarah, they have a great re-sale value if you do end up buying instead. (Over the Moon sells and rents). ~Anne
Ive never heard of renting before! Its a really good idea though!
Not sure how I feel about renting diapers – is it safe?
You can choose to rent used diapers or brand new diapers, whichever you prefer. But yes, it’s perfectly safe to put diapers on your baby that have been used by another. A good wash routine will ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. ~Anne
Rentals are a good idea, esp. if you may only have one baby or you’ve not used cloth before. Does it go back on credit or is it completely refundable?
The rental fee is non-refundable, but the $99 deposit comes back to you when the diapers are returned in good condition. I think you can choose cash or store credit for the $99. ~Anne
This will be the first time using newborn cloth diapers. I prefer prefolds and covers, but that would seem daunting and time consuming at night. I CD’d my youngest when he was 2-3 weeks because I didn’t have NB cloth.. What would you recommend?
Jean Marie, I had good luck adding a small doubler to my cover and prefold at night for a newborn. Ones that work well are Softbums Mini Pods, Thirsties Fab Doublers – small size, and the Diaper Rite cotton doublers. ~Anne
Although renting is a great idea I think I’m more of a just buy them type of person lol
It’s definitely not for everyone! I bought ours because I knew there would be more children. So far, I’ve used our newborn stash twice and it’s tucked away should we have another “surprise.” ~Anne
I loved using NB Simplex for my baby though renting would have been easier than stalking the B/S/Ts for used and then reselling. Have you considered including simplex in the rental program?
That’s a great suggestion, Melissa, and it’s definitely a diaper that gets consistently high reviews. I’ll pass that long to Over the Moon Diapers, although I’m not sure how that would affect the cost of the rental program, since the Simplex are $20 each. ~Anne
i wish i had known about rental programs when my first was born… he was giant though and thirsties size 1 fit him perfectly wiht prefolds from the get go! i recommend this for new moms all the time now though!
The idea of newborn size rental is great because they usually don’t last in that size very long. Most don’t want to make the investment in newborn cloth diapers.
Wishing for a list of newborn diapers taht fit small babies well. My first two were under 7lbs, anticipating this one will be, too, and I got rid of the newborn fitteds a friend gave me because I discovered I HATE fitteds. GroVia fits nice. I read a review that Fuzzibunz XS and BG newborn both have too large legholes for newborns.
Amy, you can check out my list here. My babies average 7 pounds or so at birth and are usually short and have skinny little legs. The Sweet Pea newborn AIO fits really well on small babies, as do the Blueberry Simplex and GroVia AIO. The Lil Joey’s by Rumparooz also run pretty small. ~Anne
Rentals are such a great idea, especially for someone who may not be 100% sold on cloth. We are about to cloth diaper our third baby due early November! I have enough covers/prefolds, but am really drawn to AIO’s this time around for some reason! Trying to slowly add a few to our stash before baby comes 🙂
I think newborn rental programs are a great idea and I love that you get to try different brands! I wish I could do the same with OS diapers!
I’ve heard that the biggest “problem” for EBF newborns is containing that runny poop. So I’ve purchased a few good fitteds (recommended by your reviews) and a variety of different newborn covers (also recommended by your reviews)… Was planning on saving those fitteds for nights and using prefolds during the days. My question is, is using an extra absorbent fiber, like hemp, important at the newborn stage? I haven’t yet purchased my prefolds, and am wondering if I should save the cost of hemp for larger sizes?
In my experience, regular prefolds or flats are fine for the first few weeks. It’s when they start nursing/feeding more that you’ll notice a boost in absorbency is needed. ~Anne
Baby number 3 is due in October and this will be my first time cloth diapering a newborn. I’m wondering what is the average age/size for an infant to outgrow most newborn diapers? I never trust the weight recommendations of different diaper brands….every baby has a different shape. Just looking for an estimate.
Meagan, most average size newborns can wear that size for the first month, at least. If you get newborn diapers with a snap down rise, your baby can wear them even longer. ~Anne
Over the Moon’s Newborn Rental program sounds great, especially for someone not entirely sure they want to cloth or new to cloth so that they can try different kinds and have diapers that will really fit newborns rather than be discouraged on the idea of cloth when the OS diapers they picked out don’t fit right away. We were hoping for more than one child so it made sense to us to buy our own newborn stash of diapers. We have 2 Thirsties size 1 AIOs among our stash would love to win their new newborn AIO diaper to add to our stash for the next baby!
I would have never thought of renting, but what a great solution! I will have to recommend it to my sister who is due in the fall.
What a great idea to rent to try out the different styles! We’re expecting our first here in a couple of weeks, and have just a handful of diapers, but different types for us to try out. I hadn’t considered renting to find out exactly what works best, but maybe we will!
I don’t have a question, I just wish I would have had some newborn diapers when my daughters were little! My oldest was born early and it took a little while for her to fit into her OS diapers… it would have been nice to have had some smaller ones. I’d love to win these for a friend of mine who is expecting baby #2 and plans to switch to cloth for this babe! 🙂
That would be so nice, Keara! Thanks for entering! ~Anne
How long would the newborns typically last? Would it be better to just get OS or does the fit matter?
Lee, if you have an average or smaller newborn then the diapers should last at least a few weeks, maybe even a month or more. Fit does matter because you have to get the leg openings snug enough to contain messes and leaks. I can’t use one-size diapers at the beginning for our babies, with the exception of two brands that get really small – Buttons and Funky Fluff. ~Anne
I’ve heard other people mention using snaps on a newborn instead of hook & loop, because they said the hook & loop bothered the baby’s cord stump. Is this really an issue that I should consider in your experience?
It depends on the brand of cover. One of my favorites, the Sweet Pea newborn cover, fastens with hook and loop and it never rubbed against my baby’s skin at all. But the Bummis Super Lite did (it has worked for others, though). ~Anne
I tend to have larger babies. Is it worth it to get newborn cloth diapers if the baby is about 9 lbs at birth?
It could work, if your baby is not too long. Just go with the newborn diapers that have a snap-down rise for growing room, or run bigger overall. Examples would be the Kawaii Green Baby, Rumparooz, Thirsties Size One, Capris Size One, Bumkins and Motherease. ~Anne
Which diapers for newborns work around the umbilical cord stump? Do you fold a flat a certain way for the umbilical cord stump?
Since newborn covers usually fit just below or at the navel, you don’t have to worry about folding the flat diaper a certain way to account for the cord stump. ~Anne