Main Nappy Types

If you are new to cloth nappies you need to know that there is much more to the modern cloth nappy world than terry squares!

There are four main designs of cloth nappies . . .
POCKET NAPPIES
TWO-PART NAPPIES
ALL-IN-ONE NAPPIES
FLAT NAPPIES

. . . and two types of sizing . . .
MULTI-SIZED NAPPIES (e.g. small, medium, large or size 1, size 2)
BIRTH TO POTTY ADJUSTABLE NAPPIES

Pocket Nappies

Two layers form a pocket (see picture below), a waterproof outer layer and a stay-dry inner layer (usually fleece or suedecloth). Into this pocket you put the absorbent material. This may be an insert made to especially fit the pocket nappy or it may be a prefold or folded terry square.

The advantages of pocket nappies:

They are incredibly versatile as you can alter the level of absorbency by using more or less absorbent material inside the pocket.

Once they are stuffed and ready to put on they then go on just like a disposable, with only one part to worry about, making them really quick and easy to use and great for nurseries, childminders, occasional baby-sitters. It also makes changing a wriggly toddler much easier as there is only one thing to put on.

As you can take the absorbent inserts out for washing, the nappies and inserts dry very quickly.

The inner fleece layer covers the whole of the baby's bottom and keeps wetness away from the skin meaning that you do not have to use an extra fleece liner (although you can use a liner to make disposing of nappy contents easier if you wish).

Tend to be trim-fitting.

The disadvantages of pocket nappies:

There is a limit to how much stuffing you can get in the pocket. They are great for even heavy wetters during the day with a couple of inserts, but if you try to stuff them with the amount of boosters that you would need for a heavy wetter for a whole night or long car journey, they will start to gap at the legs and leak. This is a small disadvantage as it is easy to use pocket nappies during the day and have two or three alternative nappies for night times. The exception to this rule is the Minki Standard pocket nappy, there is room for lots of stuffing in these and they make excellent night time nappies.

Shaped Two-Part Nappies

This system consists of an absorbent nappy and a separate outer wrap. The nappies are shaped to fit without any folding and come in a variety of thicknesses, some very absorbent, some thinner and less absorbent. Generally speaking, the more absorbent the nappy, the bulkier it will be and the longer it will take to dry. You can boost the thinner nappies when needed with boosters. Some shaped, two-part nappies have a stay-dry inner layer, but with those that do not, you can use a fleece liner if you wish.

Advantages of shaped, two-part nappies:

Easier to use that flat nappies as no complicated folding.

The main advantage of two-part nappies over pocket nappies is that they generally give better containment. The nappy and the wrap give two lines of defence against leaks. If you find a nappy and wrap that fit your baby well, the combination will be pretty much bomb-proof and will leave your disposable-using friends very envious!

You can ensure that only organic materials are next to your baby's skin with two part nappies as you can buy many brands that have no inner stay-dry or stay-soft layer if you do not want these.

Disadvantages of shaped, two-part nappies:

Having two parts to put on is more fiddly than one. Some shaped nappies will still need boosting, especially for night times, meaning you can have the nappy, a booster, a liner and a wrap to put on. If this seems like a silly point to you, try changing a toddler who is determined to get up and run off when you are running late!

All-in-One Nappies

Absorbent nappy and wrap in one. Goes on like a disposable so very easy to use and ideal for when other people are changing your baby's nappy. The disadvantages are that they generally take longer to dry because everything is sewn together. They are generally the most expensive type of nappy. You may find that you have to use a booster inside the nappy if the amount of absorbent material the manufacturer has used doesn't suit your baby. If you do have to boost them, it takes away the main advantage of being one piece in the first place!

Flat Nappies

Terry Squares: The original cloth nappy! They dry quickly and they are a very economical option. Modern nappy gripper fasteners mean that you no longer have to use nappy pins. The disadvantages are that they have to be folded which can take practice so they are not ideal for nurseries, childminders or occasional baby-sitters (and some less-enthusiastic partners). You need to use a wrap with terry squares.

Prefolds: A rectangle of fabric prefolded and stitched into three panels, with the centre panel (which goes between the legs) being thicker and more absorbent. You fold into a pad and place inside a waterproof wrap. Less bulky than terry squares, but more expensive and take longer to dry. Many people get on fine with prefolds but some people find that they get constant leaks. If you are thinking about these - try before you buy loads!

Sizing

Onesize, adjustable birth to potty: These nappies adjust by some clever folding down and fastening to fit newborn babies and toddlers. They work out to be a far cheaper option as you only have to buy one set of nappies rather than two or three sets of different sizes. However, some designs are better than others, some being truly birth to potty and others fitting from about 3 months to a small toddler. The onesize nappies that we have chosen to be in our range all managed to fit our newborn babies and our toddlers, however no onesize nappy is perfect whatever the manufacturers say! Some fit newborns better, some fit toddlers (and contain all the extra boosting that some toddlers need!) much better than others. Our own experience, for example, is that bumGenius nappies are perfect for newborns and fine for toddlers and that Mommy's Touch are fine for newborns and perfect for toddlers.
Another thing to consider with onesize nappies is the wear and tear factor. One set of nappies used for 2.5 years will obviously have had a lot more punishment than two sets. Also, (and this is the last point, I promise!) if there is a chance that you will have two babies in nappies at the same time, you may have to increase the number of onesize nappies that you have, whereas with a multisized set, the new baby would be in the small set while the older baby would be in the large set.

Multi-sized: These nappies come in two, three, four, or even five different sizes. They give a better fit throughout your baby's nappy years, but as you have to buy more than one set they can be more expensive in the long run.