“How many nappies do I actually need?”
It’s one of the first questions parents ask when they start looking into newborn cloth nappies.
And unfortunately, there isn't one magic number.
You’ll see recommendations ranging from a small handful of nappies to huge newborn stashes, but the right number for your family depends on how often your baby needs changing, how often you want to wash and whether you're planning to use cloth full-time or part-time.
The good news?
You probably don't need as many as you think.
In our previous article, Can You Really Use Cloth Nappies With a Newborn? The Honest Answer, we talked about what using cloth nappies with a newborn actually looks like and why you don't need to commit to full-time cloth from day one.
Now let's get into the numbers.
How many nappies does a newborn use per day?
Newborns go through a lot of nappies.
A reasonable starting point is around 8–12 nappy changes per day, although some babies will use more and others less.
There are a few reasons for this:
- Newborns wee frequently
- Breastfed babies can poo very frequently
- You may change your baby before or after feeds
- Some parents prefer to change more frequently
- You may change a nappy simply because it feels damp or soiled
And newborns don't exactly follow a schedule.
You might have a day where you've barely stopped changing nappies — followed by a day that feels completely different.
That's why your daily number should be treated as a guide, not a rule.
It's also important to remember that the number of nappies your baby uses isn't necessarily the number of cloth nappies you need to own.
That's where your washing routine comes in.
How many newborn cloth nappies do I need?
Here's a simple way to think about it.
Just want to try cloth: 6–8 nappies
If you're completely new to cloth and just want to see how you go, you don't need to buy a huge stash.
Around 6–8 newborn cloth nappies gives you enough to try different styles and start getting comfortable with cloth without making a huge commitment.
You can use them alongside disposables and wash them regularly.
This is a great option if you're not sure whether cloth will suit your family yet.
Part-time cloth: 10–15 nappies
Planning to use cloth for some of the day but still use disposables sometimes?
Around 10–15 nappies can be a good starting point.
For example, you might use cloth during the day and disposables overnight, or use cloth at home and disposables when you're heading out.
This gives you a reasonable rotation without needing a massive stash.
Regular daytime use: 18–24 nappies
If you're planning to use cloth regularly during the day, 18–24 nappies is a really useful range to consider.
This gives you enough nappies to keep a good rotation going while allowing for washing and drying.
You may find that you need more or fewer depending on your baby's changing habits and how often you wash.
Full-time cloth: 24–30+ nappies
If you're hoping to use cloth for most or all nappy changes, 24–30 nappies or more gives you a comfortable stash.
The bigger your stash, the more flexibility you have.
You don't have to wash nappies every single day, and you have a bit of breathing room if the washing doesn't get done when you planned.
But again, these numbers aren't rules.
There is no cloth nappy police coming to check your stash.
Your family, your baby and your washing routine are what matter.
How often do you want to wash?
This is one of the biggest factors when working out how many cloth nappies a newborn needs.
Think about your washing routine rather than simply thinking about how many nappies your baby uses in one day.
Washing every day
If you're happy to wash nappies every day, you can get away with a smaller stash.
For example, if you're using around 10 nappies a day, you could potentially manage with a smaller number because you're constantly washing and restocking.
The downside?
You're doing a load of nappy washing every day.
Washing every second day
For many families, washing every second day is a more manageable routine.
You'll need enough nappies to get you through the day and have enough available while the previous load is being washed and dried.
This is where a stash around the 24–30 nappy mark can start to make a lot of sense for regular daytime use.
Washing every third day
If you really don't want to be thinking about nappies every day, you'll need a larger stash.
You'll also need enough time and space for everything to wash and dry before you run out.
A 30+ nappy stash gives full-time cloth families more breathing room.
But remember that bigger isn't always better.
There's no point owning 40 newborn nappies if your baby grows out of them before you've had a chance to use them all.
Do I need newborn nappies or can I use one-size?
This is another really important question.
Some cloth nappies are specifically designed for newborns, while others are designed to grow with your baby.
The right option depends on your baby's size, shape and the particular nappy you're looking at.
A newborn-specific nappy can give you a much better fit on a tiny newborn, particularly in those early weeks when many one-size nappies can simply be too bulky.
But one-size nappies can offer a longer usable life, which can make them appealing if you're trying to keep your initial spend down.
We'll be looking at this in much more detail in the next part of our newborn series:
Newborn Cloth Nappies vs One-Size: Which Should You Choose?
We'll look at the pros and cons of each option and help you work out which makes the most sense for your baby.
What if I want to use disposables sometimes?
That's completely fine.
In fact, this is something I think new parents should hear more often.
You don't have to choose between “cloth family” and “disposable family”.
You can use both.
Maybe you use cloth during the day and a disposable overnight.
Maybe you use cloth at home but disposables when you're out.
Maybe you use cloth most of the time but reach for a disposable when you're exhausted and the washing hasn't been done.
Maybe you start with disposables for the first couple of weeks and introduce cloth once you're feeling more confident.
There is no failure in using a disposable.
The whole point of reusable nappies is to give you another option — not to create another source of guilt.
How many newborn nappies would I recommend?
If you're asking me what I would recommend to a family who is preparing for their first baby, I'd generally suggest starting around the 18-24 nappy mark if you want to use cloth regularly during the day.
That's enough to give you a useful rotation without going overboard before you've worked out what you like.
If you're committed to full-time cloth and happy washing frequently, you could increase that to around 24–30 nappies.
If you're completely new to cloth and just want to try it, I'd happily see you start with 6–8 nappies rather than spending hundreds of dollars on a stash you're not sure you'll love.
And there's another reason I like starting somewhere around this range:
You get the opportunity to work out what actually works for your baby.
You might discover that you love fitted nappies.
You might prefer preflats.
You might find that one particular style fits your baby beautifully.
Or you might discover that something you thought you'd love isn't actually your favourite.
That's all part of the process.
You can always buy more once you know what works.
What else do I need for newborn cloth nappies?
Nappies are the main event, but there are a few other things you'll need depending on the system you choose.
Inserts
Some nappies have built-in absorbency, while others require separate inserts.
The type and number you'll need will depend on the nappy system you're using.
Covers
If you're using a fitted nappy or another system that requires a separate waterproof cover, you'll need enough covers to rotate through your stash.
The good news is that covers don't necessarily need to be changed every time you change a wet nappy, provided they haven't been soiled.
Dry Pail
An airy basket (plastic or wire) is a great place to store your used cloth nappies while they are waiting to be washed. Air flow helps to prevent a build up of ammonia and bacteria in your nappies.
Wet bags
You'll need somewhere to put your used nappies when you're out and about.
A wet bag is essentially your reusable alternative to putting dirty nappies into a disposable nappy bin.
Having more than one can make life much easier — particularly if one is in the wash.
Cloth wipes
If you're already using reusable nappies, reusable wipes are an easy addition.
Instead of throwing away a disposable wipe every time you change your baby's nappy, you can simply pop your used cloth wipes into your nappy wash.
Many families find this makes sense because you're already doing the washing anyway.
Washing supplies
You don't need a cupboard full of special products.
You need a suitable detergent and a washing routine that properly cleans your nappies.
We'll cover newborn cloth nappy washing in more detail later in this series because it's important enough to deserve its own article.
What if I'm still not sure?
If you've read all of this and you're still thinking, “Okay... but what would YOU buy?”, you're not alone.
Choosing your first cloth nappies can feel surprisingly complicated.
There are different brands, different styles, different fabrics, different fits and different opinions everywhere you look.
That's where talking to someone who actually works with cloth nappies can help.
At Darlings Downunder, we don't believe you need to become a cloth nappy expert before you buy your first nappy.
Tell us what you're hoping to do.
Tell us whether you want to use cloth full-time or part-time.
Tell us about your baby's expected size, your washing routine and your budget.
We'll help you work out where to start. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
You can also take a look at our newborn nappies and starter options if you'd prefer to begin with a ready-made selection rather than putting together a stash from scratch.
The bottom line
So, how many cloth nappies do you need for a newborn?
Here's the simple version:
| Your plan | Starting point |
|---|---|
| Just want to try cloth | 6–8 nappies |
| Part-time cloth | 10–15 nappies |
| Regular daytime use | 18–24 nappies |
| Full-time cloth | 24–30+ nappies |
These numbers are starting points, not rules.
The best stash for you will depend on how often your newborn needs changing, how frequently you want to wash, how quickly your baby grows and whether you're using disposables sometimes.
You don't need to buy everything at once.
Start with what feels manageable.
Learn what works.
Then build your stash from there.
That's usually a much better approach than spending a fortune before your baby has even arrived.
What's next?
You've worked out how many nappies you might need — but now comes another big question:
Do you actually need newborn-sized cloth nappies, or can you start with one-size nappies from birth?
We'll tackle that next.