Buyer's Guide to Cloth Nappies

A. Nappy Basics
B. Nappy types

1. Prefolds
   
2. Shaped nappies
   
3. All-in-ones
   
4. Pocket nappies
   

1. Cotton
   
2. Polyester
   
3. Bamboo

E. Where to buy

Nappy basics
Whatever nappy you chose, you'll need three base layers to keep your baby comfortable and reasonably dry between changes. An inner liner, an absorbent layer and a waterproof cover. Then, of course, your nappy needs to fasten.

Inner liner - The inner liner is designed to send the wet through to the absorbent core of the nappy and not allow it back through to your baby's skin, so he stays dry. The liner also acts as a barrier to save the absorbent part of the nappy from pooh. Liners can be either disposable (there are several biodegradable options available that can be flushed down the loo) or washable. Washable liners can be made from polyester fleece, suedette or a natural fibre such as muslin.
The absorbent core - Self-explanatory really, the absorbent part of the nappy soaks up the pee and comes in all kinds of materials with different capabilities in terms of absorbency, bulk and drying time.
The waterproof cover - You need a waterproof, or highly water-resistant, cover on your nappy to keep your baby's clothes cry. Most are now made from PUL, laminated polyester, and some are softer than than others, so do compare before you buy.
Boosters - Boosters are separate layers of cloth to give extra absorbency. Some nappies include a booster that you can put into the nappy when and if you need it, for example at night, so giving you the option of a less bulky nappy for times when you don't need the extra absorbency. Some include a sewn-in booster which makes for easier washing and drying than nappies with no separate absorbent layers.
Fastenings - Pins are still used by a few mums but the modern-day version of the pin is the 'Nappy Nippa', this is a plastic fastener which grips the outside of the material so is safer than a pin. Many modern nappies use plastic poppers which are very baby-proof. The quickest nappy fastening is Aplix (like velcro) which is as adjustable as the fastenings on disposable nappies, but it also shares the weakness of being relatively simple for babies to undo.

Nappy types
Here's a run-down of the several different types of nappy on offer, along with their generic advantages and drawbacks.

1. Prefolds - Prefold nappies are ones that you need to fold before use, ranging from the traditional terry squares to fasten-fee nappies that fit and fasten with an accompanying cover.

Advantages

• Usually a very economical option
• Separate layers mean that they usually wash and dry well

• More fiddly to use than other styles of nappy

Examples: Bambino Mio nappies, Ecobaby Basics prefold

Tots Bots Rainbow Tots

2. Shaped nappies - As the name suggests, shaped nappies don't need folding before fitting on your baby. Some, like the Tots Bots Rainbow Tots, come with a choice of fastenings (eg: poppers, Aplix or plain) and some may include features such as a booster or sewn-in liner.

Advantages

• Are usually faster to use than prefolds and definitely much faster than terry squares
• Often less bulky than pre-folds as they are cut to give absorbency where it is most needed (although bulk depends very much on the material used).
• Now available in a wide range of fabrics and styles
• A few are adaptable to fit from birth to potty for economy's sake (known as one-size nappies)

Drawbacks

• You'll need a separate, waterproof outer layer

Examples: Tots Bots Rainbow Tots, One Life Cotton, Motherease One-size

3. All-in-ones - All-in-one nappies (AIOs) are shaped nappies which include both the absorbent core and the waterproof outer, so you don't need to fasten separate layers on your baby. Many AIOs are also fully lined with a stay-dry layer next to baby's skin, usually made of polyester fleece.

Advantages

• AIOs are very convenient to use as you don't need to put on and secure separate layers, anyone should be able to manage it

Drawbacks

• They may not wash as well as other nappies as you can't separate the layers, so you may need to use a pre-wash
• For the same reason drying times are often relatively long

Examples: Wonderoo Magic-alls, Swaddlebees AIO, Kushies Ultra

Fuzzi Bunz pockets

4. Pocket nappies - Pocket nappies are designed to give you much of the usage convenience of AIOs, but with the washing and drying advantages of separate layers. A layer of waterproof outer is sewn together with either a layer of absorbent material or a layer of stay-dry liner - such as fleece or suedette - to create a pocket which you stuff with an absorbent layer. Most pocket nappies are sold alongside specially-made absorbent layers to stuff inside but these may be relatively expensive and you can stuff the pockets with any absorbent material you like - many pre-fold nappies make good fillers for pockets. Most pocket nappies close with poppers.

Advantages

• Very easy to use so great for nursery or when someone else is looking after your baby
• Fast drying times
• Separate layers make for thorough washing
• You can stuff the pockets with your own choice of absorbent inner

Drawbacks

• Usually need to follow laundering instructions closely to avoid potential problems such as leakage
• Cost - pockets don't usually come cheap
• Most are made with synthetic materials which work well, but you may want to use only natural fibres

Examples: Fuzzi Bunz, Nature Babies Stuffables, Pop-Ins (from Modern Baby)

Nappy materials
Nappies these days are made from all kinds of materials, but here are the most common ones and what the advantages and disadvantages are.

1. Cotton - The traditional nappy fabric, in the form of terry squares, cotton is still much used as the absorbent layer in nappies. Terry comes in both short and long-loop versions, while there are also flat cotton nappies (pre-folds)

Advantages

• Good absorbency
• Washes well at high temperatures if you prefer to wash hot
• A natural fibre
• Good drying time for flat nappies

Drawbacks

• Cotton terry nappies aren't the fastest driers
• Cotton terry nappies can become a bit smelly over time
• Line-dried nappies can go a bit hard and crunchy and need fluffing up

2. Polyester - Polyester is used in most waterproof nappy wraps (though you can also get wool wraps) and is also used in various guises as the absorbent layer and the stay-dry liner, and you can now get complete nappies that are 100% polyester.

Advantages

• Highly versatile
• Works very well as a stay-dry liner both as fleece and suedette
• Makes a very light and trim absorbent layer as microfibre
• Very fast drying, in all its forms
• Washes well at low temperatures and resists staining
• Very soft and doesn't go hard when line-dried

Drawbacks

• Non-natural fibre (though some is recycled)
• Some babies are sensitive to polyester when it's used next to the skin as a liner
• Isn't the most absorbent material for the soaker core

3. Bamboo - A recent find for nappy fabrics, bamboo is something of a wonder fabric and has been a big hit in recent years - more nappies are springing up with the material all the time.

Advantages

• Highly absorbent - makes a great night nappy
• Lightweight and trim (due to high absorbency)
• Natural fibre that is low-intensity farmed due to its very rapid growth rate
• Naturally antibacterial
• Silky soft and doesn't go hard in the same way as cotton when line-dried
• Makes a great booster layer for nighttime with all nappies

Drawbacks

• Long drying time - means you need more nappies if you use this as your main nappy fabric of choice

Examples: Tots Bots Bamboozle, Babaloo Bamboo, Wambamboo

What cloth nappy for me? -
When you're considering what cloth nappies to buy for your baby bear in mind that the right style, fit and fabric are very individual matters - what works well for someone else may not be at all right for you and your baby. Think about what will work best for your lifestyle and your baby, for example, if your baby goes to nursery or is often looked after by someone else, you might want to invest in plenty of the easiest to use nappies, like the all-in-ones or pockets. If absorbency is most important to you, or your baby has sensitive skin, then you'll want to consider cotton and bamboo nappies, but if drying time is crucial then you might want to try pockets or polyester nappies.

You may want to use several different kinds of nappies and different fabrics for different situations, but if you do then it's a good idea to make sure that the nappies all have similar laundering requirements, so you don't need to separate out different kinds of nappies on wash day. Once you've narrowed down your choice of nappy then bear in mind that fit can vary greatly between similar kinds of nappy and do try nappies out before you invest a whole lot of money in a complete set of one brand. Several nappy retail sites have special trial offers.

Some of the more expensive nappies, like all-in-ones and pocket nappies, as well as the more popular brands, may have a relatively high re-sale value, so that's something worth considering when you buy. You can, of course, get most nappies second-hand yourself, which is a great way of trying out different brands at relatively low cost.

Where to buy -
Some larger Boots stores stock terry squares and brands like Kushies but by far the best place to buy for range and tester pack options is online. There are numerous UK sites devoted to cloth nappydom and several offer great service and advice to help you spend money wisely.