Cloth Nappy Buying Advice

No one cloth nappy will suit all babies and all parents. Even our very best selling nappies are not loved by everyone. So, unfortunately, we cannot tell you what to buy! When you are spending a few hundred pounds you will obviously be worried about making the wrong choice. You will be using your cloth nappy collection several times a day for several years so it is important that you end up with a collection that suits you and your baby.

So, how do you get it right? Most people find that a combination of pocket nappies (quick and easy to use, slim-fitting and quick to dry) and two-part nappies (extremely absorbent) works really well. You then have the convenience of pocket nappies for day times when you want something quick to change and slim under clothes and the extra absorbency of two-part nappies for night times, long journeys etc. You should then always have something dry even in the worst drying conditions as pocket nappies and their inserts dry so quickly. We would find it difficult to part with either our pocket nappies or our two-part nappies as each type fulfils their roles so well. Having a few of each makes a cloth nappy collection that is ready for anything!

When you are buying wraps you will need to make decisions about poppers or Velcro and brands. Wraps come in different sizes so when buying your Small set think about getting a variety of poppers and Velcro. Having said that, lots of people find that they prefer Velcro on smaller babies as it adjusts so well and poppers on older babies as it is more secure.

Think about who will be changing nappies - If your baby will be looked after by grandparents or childminders think about how they will cope with nappy changes. If you think they will cope better using just one particular type then you will need to narrow down your own preferences to just a couple of brands. Lots of parents end up with a core nappy kit for other carers to use (one or two brands) and a basket of nappies that are a jumble of all different types that they love and can't part with!

It is great to experiment with different brands to find what suits you and your baby before making a purchase. You might be able to do this through borrowing trial kit nappies (we have a trial kit service for local customers and you may be able to find another nappy company with a trial kit service near you). Or you could buy nappies to try and sell them on if they don't become your top favourites. Cloth Nappy Tree forum (see link on the links page) even has a Swapsies page where you can trade nappies with no money changing hands!

Accessories - Nappy mesh laundry bags make life so much easier (we wouldn't be without ours). Consider having one for the bucket and one for the wash. A nice Wet Nappy Bag will jazz up your changing bag more than a plastic carrier (and they work better too!). Washable wipes will save you lots of money and are well worth considering when you are washing the nappies anyway. Liners (flushable paper or washable fleece) will help to protect your gorgeous cloth nappies from staining and make nappy changes easier. Have a browse though our Accessories section for more ideas.

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