Diaper Folding

How to Fold Diapers - Newspaper Fold

The newspaper fold is a simple diaper folding technique. You can do the newspaper fold with your baby lying on the prefold, or you can fold the prefold, lay it in the diaper cover and then place everything under your baby. Each approach to diaper folding ends up with a slightly different result, so I'd suggest trying both ways and using whichever approach works best for you.

Here are instructions for each approach (see the photos below the description for extra help):

Newspaper Fold Starting Without Baby on the Prefold

I like to fold my prefolds before I take off my son's wet diaper. He's squirmy, and trying to keep him in one place long enough to fold a diaper is a losing battle, so this approach works for us.

1. Lay the diaper out flat.

2. Fold the prefold in thirds along the two seams sewn up the prefold, so you'll fold each outside edge in toward the middle section of the prefold.

3. Set the folded prefold in the diaper cover and tuck the end of the prefold into the pocket at the top edge of the diaper cover.

4. Add a diaper liner or diaper doubler if you use them.

5. Lay your baby on top of the diaper and snugly, but comfortably secure the diaper cover on your baby ensuring none of the prefold is sticking out of the diaper cover (you especially don't want any prefold sticking out at the front if you're diapering a boy, or at the back if you're diapering a girl). Ensure there's a good fit around the legs.

Diaper Folding Photos - Newspaper Fold Starting Without Baby on the Prefold

Lay the prefold out flat.	Fold one third over.	Fold the other third over.

Fold the diaper to shorten if it is too long for your baby.	Place the folded prefold in a diaper cover.	Secure the diaper cover.

Newspaper Fold Starting With Baby Laying on the Prefold

This approach to the newspaper fold creates a slightly different fold with the back of the prefold splayed out more. This can be useful if you feel the first approach causes too much bulkiness at your baby's back, or if you want to secure your prefold with a Snappi or diaper pins.

1. Lay the diaper out flat, and lay your baby on the prefold so the small or his or her back is at the top edge of the prefold.

2. Fold the the bottom portion of the prefold (the end that sticks out below your baby's bottom) in thirds along the two seams sewn up the diaper, so you'll fold each outside edge in toward the middle section of the prefold.

3. Add a diaper liner or diaper doubler if you use them. You'll need to lift your baby's bottom slightly to get the liner and/or doubler in place.

4. Bring the front edge of the prefold up to your baby's waist.

5. Bring the back corners of the prefold around to the front.

6. If you use Snappis or diaper pins, secure everything with whichever type of fastener you like to use.

7. Secure the diaper cover on your baby ensuring none of the prefold is sticking out of the diaper cover (you especially don't want any prefold sticking out at the front if you're diapering a boy, or at the back if you're diapering a girl) and ensure there's a good fit around the legs.

Diaper Folding Photos - Newspaper Fold starting Without Baby on the Prefold

Lay the prefold out flat.	Lay baby on the prefold.	Fold one third of the prefold over.

Fold the other third over.	Fold the front of the diaper up if it is too long for your baby.	Bring the front and sides of the diaper together and, if you like, secure with a Snappi or pins.

Secure the diaper cover.

For more variations on cloth diaper folds, please see:
Bikini Twist
Trifold
Angel Wing Fold

For general tips on folding diapers, see Folding Cloth Diapers

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