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Welcome to the arcane world of cloth nappies! No doubt you've read all about the cost savings and environmental benefits of real nappies as compared to conventional disposables, and hopefully these have convinced you that cloth nappies are the right way to go for you and your baby.
The next (and more daunting) question that you face is to decide on which type of nappy you should choose. There are so many on the market these days that the choice can be overwhelming, particularly if this is your first time and you've been enjoying a grown-up life without having to worry about sleeping and feeding patterns, routines, nappies, buggies or car seats!
Well DON'T PANIC! Grab a glass of wine, take a deep breath and read on. Its not as complicated as you first think (I should know I'm just a bloke with two boys and I manage!)
Essentially cloth/reusable/real (the terms are interchangeable) nappies fall into three broad types:
Prefold- Cloth nappies that are prefolded and sewn with layers of fabric. They are usually 3 panels of varying thickness and can be used inside a nappy cover or as a stuffer for a pocket or fitted nappy.
Fitted nappies – shaped like a disposable so they don’t need folding. They generally require a separate cover or wrap. They can be made from terry, flannelette, fleece, PUL (Poly Urethane Laminate), hemp and bamboo among other fabrics. Usually they have a fitted closure, such as touch tape (velcro) or poppers/press studs. Some fitted nappies come with a ‘pocket’ inside which you can stuff with absorbent material and remove to wash, which means they dry faster and can be suited to light and heavy wetters.
All in one nappies - All in ones nappies can be very convenient nappies. As the name suggests, the waterproof cover, absorbent material and nappy inner are all in one unit. Some of these come with an additional ‘booster’ to increase absorbency and reduce drying time (as you can remove half the absorbent material when you wash and dry).
These nappies are as easy to use as a disposable.
Within these types you then have a choice of buying a one size nappy that should fit your baby from birth until potty training or a sized nappy that will give a better fit and be less bulky on a new born but will mean further expense when baby out-grows that size.
If your budget is limited you may be best choosing prefolds, terry nappies or a one-size shaped nappy. With terries you will need to learn how to fold a nappy, but boy will you save £££'s.
If you want to go for ultimate ease of use then choose an all in one system, these are basically as easy to use as a disposable nappy but are comparatively expensive compared to two part shaped nappy systems, may not be tumble dryable but do look good and are eay to use.
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