Types of Reusable Cloth Nappy

The range and choice of reusable nappies can be quite overwhelming at first. From terry squares to all in ones, shaped/fitted nappies to pockets nappies with sized and birth to potty designs there are so many options.  With many different cloth nappy brands and fabrics to choose from it is not a straightforward decision to make.  But rest assured that although a washable cloth nappy system that suits one set of parents may not be appropriate for another, there is usually a solution for every family that fits their lifestyle and may end up being a mix of the types of nappy available.

There are 4 main types of reusable nappy system - two piece nappies, pocket / stuffable nappies, all in one, and all-in-two nappies. Within these categories the nappies can be sized (requiring 2 or more sets of nappy from newborn to toddler) or one size / birth to potty.

Sized nappies

For this type of reusable nappy system, 2-4 sizes of nappy are generally available for use between birth and potty training.  The weight range for the nappies and number of sets required is dependent on the brand of nappy chosen.  The advantage of sized nappies is a good fit at all stages of development enhancing containment and a snug fit.  They can be less bulky on a small baby than one size nappies. The overall cost can be greater when buying sized nappies than one size as 2-4 sets of nappies are required but for many the benefits of a good fit outweight the additional cost.  Terry squares and prefolds, shaped / fitted nappies, pocket nappies and all in two nappies can all be purchased in different sizes at Green Jelly.

One size / birth to potty (BTP) nappies

For the one size nappy system, a large reusable nappy folds down at the front to reduce the rise (height) of the nappy to fit a newborn or small baby.  As the child grows the nappy opens out  with 1 or 2 additional sizes to fit at the various stages of development.  The folded nappy is fastened using poppers or a nappi nippa snuggly around the baby.  As only one set of birth to potty nappies is required for your child, purchase of BTP nappies can result in a good cost saving over sized nappies.  They can however be a little bulky on a newborn baby and may be a tight fit if your child is late in potty training.  Shaped / fitted nappies, pocket nappies and all in ones can all be purchased as one size nappies.

Two piece nappies

The two piece nappy system consists of an absorbent nappy plus a separate outer waterproof wrap. The nappies can take the form of:

Terry Square - a traditional nappy (and the type likely to have been used by your mum and grandma) which can be folded in various ways and fastened with a nappi nippa (or pins). Terries are reasonably priced and quick drying. They do however require folding and can be bulkier on smaller babies. Terry nappies come in different sized squares in cotton and bamboo and can be air or tumble dried.  Examples include Cotton Terries, Bamboo Terries and Coloured Cotton Terries

Prefold - a rectangle of layers of cotton or bamboo material stitched together (usually in 3 sections) with a thicker centre panel available in different sizes. The nappy is folded and usually placed as a pad inside the outer wrap. The prefold can be fanned out to improve containment and secured using a nappy nippa if required. These cloth nappies are low priced and fairly quick drying and can be air or tumble dried. As the prefold does not wrap around the baby there can be a little leakage onto the wrap and the prefold can move on mobile babies. Many parents however use prefolds successfully.  Many nappy laundry companies use this type of nappy as they can be laundered at high temperatures on an industrial scale.  Examples include Cotton Prefolds, Bamboo Prefolds

Shaped / Fitted nappies - these cloth nappies are shaped more like a disposable and are easy to use. The shaped or fitted nappies are gently elasticated around the waist and leg openings and are fastened using velcro or aplix, poppers, nappi nippa or pins.  Fitteds are generally more expensive than terries and prefolds and depending on the material have varied drying times. The elastication ensures good containment and a good fit with leakage from the nappy onto the outer wrap a rare occurrence.  Shaped nappies are available in cotton terry, microfibre, hemp and bamboo fabrics and can be air or tumble dried.  Sized examples include Tots Bots Bamboozles, Nature Babies Diddy Diapers and Easy Peasy Bambeasy and BTP examples include Motherease One Size and Nature Babies Big Softies

Nappy Wraps - Cloth nappy wraps, outers or pilchers are essential for two piece nappies and are used on top of the absorbent nappy to ensure good containment and contain the wetness.  They can have hook and loop (commonly Velcro or Aplix), poppered or tie fastenings and are available in a range of sizes to give a close fit at each stage of development.  Wraps are available in PUL, a soft breathable synthetic fabric, fleece and wool (which needs lanolising).  Both wool and fleece allow more air to circulate than PUL and are good for overnight use but they may be a little damp (particularly when using fleece) in the morning as there is evaporation from the nappy surface through the wrap.  Fleece and wool can be used during the day but you may observe wicking of wetness if sitting in one place for a period of time (e.g. on car journeys).  At each stage 2-4 wraps are recommended if washing everyday and 3-6 if every other day. 3-4 sizes of wraps are likely to be required from birth until potty training.  Please note several set of wraps are required for both sized and one size nappies to ensure a reliable fit at each stage.  Air drying rather than tumble drying of wraps is recommended to prolong the usable life of the covers. Examples include Motherease Rikki, Tots Bots PUL Wraps, Bummis Polar Fleece Wraps and Imse Vimse Bumpy Wool Wraps

Pocket/stuffable nappies 

Pocket or stuffable nappies consist of a waterproof outer and absorbent nappy insert. They are effectively a one piece nappy and do not require a separate waterproof wrap.  The waterproof outer is commonly made from PUL (a breathable waterproof fabric) in a range of colours with either poppered or hook and loop fastenings and a fleece/microsuede lining with an opening which allows absorbent material to be inserted into the pocket between the outer and the fleece inner.  The components of the pocket nappy come apart for washing and easy and quick drying (a big benefit over traditional all in one nappies which dry very slowly).  Absorbent inserts are available in cotton terry, microfibre, hemp and bamboo.  The individual nappies can be a little more expensive than two piece nappies - but when factoring in 1 wrap per 4-5 nappies the costs can be comparable.  Pocket nappies offer convenience as once assembled they are as easy to put on a baby as a disposable. Air drying rather than tumble drying of the outers is recommended to prolong their life - inserts can be tumble dried.

Sized pocket nappies - commonly 2-4 sizes are required between birth and potty training. The advantage of sized pocket nappies is a good fit at all stages of development enhancing containment and a snug fit and less bulky on a small baby. The overall cost is greater with sized nappies as multiple sets of nappies (16-24 nappies for a newborn and 10-15 nappies for an older toddler per set) are required before potty training. Examples include Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Fit.

One size/birth to potty pocket nappies - a larger pocket nappy which has either poppered fastenings at the front which allow the nappy to be folded down at the front to reduce the rise or a system of adjustable leg elastic legs (like the elastic of toddler trousers) to alter the size of the nappy.  Pocket nappies have either poppers or hook and loop fastenings to fasten snuggly around the baby’s waist. Buying one set of birth to potty nappies results in a good cost saving over sized pocket nappies but the nappies can be a little bulky on a small baby and may be a tight fit if your child is late in potty training. Different inserts can be chosen to reduce the bulkiness and increase absorbency of the nappy at the different stages of your baby’s development. Examples include BumGenius One Size, Wonderoos, Blueberry Diapers, Fuzzi Bunz One Size

All in One Nappies

All in one nappies consist of a waterproof outer (commonly breathable PUL) stitched to the absorbent part of the nappy and can be sized or birth to potty. The nappies offer convenience as the whole nappy is a one piece option and are easy to put on (in a similar way to a disposable).  Some all in ones have an additional pocket to allow extra boosting for heavy wetters of older toddlers. They downside of an AIO nappy is however the fact that they are slower to air dry than other nappies and if tumble dried their life can be reduced. Some AIO nappies have a flap out booster which when separated from the waterproof outer allows air quicker drying.  The nappies tend to be more expensive than 2 piece nappies - but when factoring in 1 wrap per 4-5 nappies the costs can be comparable. Examples include: Tots Bots Easy Fit.

All in Two / Snap in One Nappies

All in two or snap in one nappies consist of a waterproof outer (commonly breathable PUL) often with a patterned or colourful plain fabric covering. Booster pads similar to prefolds are poppered into the outer shell (some versions have colour coded snaps to help position the inserts). Several pads can be added to the nappy depending on the absorbency required. As the outer can be reused if not soiled or excessively wet, buying additional sets of inserts means the nappy outer can be used more than once before changing. When constructed the nappies offer convenience as they are effectively a one piece nappy and as easy to put on as a disposable. The AI2 nappies come apart for washing and drying and air dry more rapidly than AIO nappies. We would recommend air drying outers to maintain their waterproof properties but inserts can be tumble dried if required. The nappies are more expensive than 2 piece nappies however as outer shells can be reused (with additional booster sets), fewer nappies are required and cost savings can be made. Examples include: Itti Bitti D’Lish Snap in One

Fabrics

Reusable nappies and out wraps are available in various fabrics. The most common are listed below:

Cotton - this traditional cloth nappy fabric is available in standard or organic cotton. It can be short pile or looped and is commonly used for terry, prefold and shaped/fitted nappies or nappy boosters

Bamboo - is a particularly eco friendly fabric produced with virtually no pesticides or herbicides from a rapidly growing sustainable crop. It is woven into a looped terry fabric and commonly used for terry, prefold and shaped/fitted nappies, nappy boosters and in some pocket and all in one/all in two nappies. It is more absorbent than cotton for its weight resulting in slim nappies and boosters but air dries at a slower rate

Microfibre - is a synthetic material which holds water in between the fibres. It is commonly used for shaped/fitted cloth nappies, pocket nappy inserts and boosters and some all in one nappies. Microfibre is quick drying with an absorbency similar to cotton.

Hemp - is an eco friendly crop grown with no herbicides and few or no pesticides. It is usually combined with cotton to give a slim absorbent fabric used for shaped/fitted cloth nappies and boosters. It is quite slow to dry and can harden when washed in hard water areas.

PUL - or polyurethane laminate is a polyester fabric which has been laminated to a thin film of polyurethane. PUL is a thin and breathable waterproof material allowing evaporation through the fabric and is used for waterproof outer nappy wraps and pocket, all in one, all in two outers.

Wool - wool is used for outer nappy wraps sometimes termed soakers, shorties or longies. It is lanolised before use which gives it waterproof properties. Wool wraps are particularly breathable and good for use at night. Wool should be hand washed and dried.

Fleece - synthetic thick polyester fleece is used for fleece nappy wraps. It is a breathable fabric and good for night-time use (it can be little damp to the touch in the morning but this is normal). Microfleece/microsuede can be used to line pocket/all in one nappies or as separate reusable liners as an alternative to the disposable paper option.

To help you decide which cloth nappies are the best type for you and your family, Green Jelly offers a free tailored nappy advice service.  Complete the reusable nappy questionnaire on the site and our advisor will recommend a range of nappies for you to try.  Alternatively browse our cloth nappy trial packs and purchase a kit with several different nappies to try on your baby before buying a full set of the ones you like best.