The Cloth Nappy Blog

Pocket nappies have an outer water-resistant layer attached to an inner wicking layer to make a hollow pocket in between. You then stuff the pocket with absorbent materials that are taken out and washed separately. Most people who sell pocket nappies also sell inserts but just about anything will do, including prefolds and flats, microfibre cleaning cloths, flannels, towels, whatever you have.  This means they can be a cheaper option than fitted nappies or all-in-ones.

Pocket nappies are my favourites.  I love the fact that I can fill them while putting them away then they are set to go.  There is only one piece to worry about like a disposable, not flaps to line up and covers to put on.  This is very important if you have carers or other people changing your child’s nappies, or if you have a wriggler.  And the adjustability has been very important for me – one of my girls was a fairly light wetter, then other could wee in the Olympics.  But they could use the same nappies, I just had to put more stuffing in for the little one.

Pocket Nappy

On the other hand, a pocket nappy can never really be as trim as a super trim AIO through the crotch.  It has to be wide enough for you to get the stuffing in, even then husbands often have (legitimate!) trouble putting them together because their hands are too big.

Pros:

• Good fitting once you’ve found ones that suit.
• Goes on like a disposable.
• Good containment.
• Can be re-used or onsold.
• Usually pretty.
• Water-resistant.
• Extremely adjustable – you decide how much absorbent material you use.
• Usually very reliable if you have a nappy that suits your baby’s shape.
• Relatively cheap without inserts.
• Very quick drying, only two layers that are non-absorbent.
• Once the inserts are in there is just one piece to put on the baby.

Cons:

• Can be expensive with inserts.
• Can look very baggy, depending on the style.
• You have to put the inserts in (although my daughter thinks doing the nappies is the best game ever).
• Can be difficult for people with large hands if it has a trim crotch.

Fitted Nappies are highly recommended for newborn babies, as night nappies and for rashy babies because they are not water-resistant at all.  This means they can be used with a cover to give you two sets of elastic to contain newborn poo, or boosted up as much as you need for night, or in hot weather they can be used without a cover to give more breathability.  Because the whole nappy is made of absorbent materials they will usually hold more than a water-resistant nappy of the same size.

Mandy-Mac OSFM fitted nappy from Brindabella Baby

Unlike flats and prefolds they are shaped, with elastic around the legs and usually somewhere on the waist as well.  They come in a wide range of materials and shapes to suit different babies. They usually have 3 or 4 layers in the wet zone plus boosters that are either attached or just lain in the nappy before you do it up to adjust the absorbency. They often have a fashion outer fabric and some type of wicking fabric on the inside to draw moisture through to the absorbent layers and keep baby dryer.

Layers are good for absorbency but bad for drying time.  This is why most nappies have separate boosters, so you can wash and dry them separately and more quickly.  It is a tradeoff between time and fiddliness.

Some are sized, some are one-sized. The sized ones are usually trimmer, but you have to buy more. One-size are more economical and useful if you have more than one in nappies, but can be bulky on a small baby.  The nappy above is a one-size fits most on a newborn.  It has a snappi closure, but fitted nappies can also have velcro or snap closures.

Pros:

• Good fitting.
• Elastic legs gives good containment.
• Very absorbent because the whole nappy will absorb, not just partial layers.
• Can be re-used or onsold. There is a good market for second-hand nappies.
• Usually very pretty.
• Not as bulky as flats or prefolds, especially hemp or bamboo versions.
• Make good night nappies because they can be boosted as much as needed.

Cons:

• Can be expensive (can also be fairly cheap, depending on brand).
• Not water resistant.
• Can be slow to dry depending on the number of layers.
• Can be complicated if there are several layers to put on plus a cover.

These are the simplest nappies and probably don’t deserve to be called “modern.”  However there is still a new take with different materials both for the nappies themselves and the covers for them, and they are now available in a huge range of bright colours.

Flats –
The traditional squares that are folded and then pinned or snappi-ed. Normal old cotton ones are available from supermarkets and big chain stores like K-Mart, although you might have to look around. Many people like flannelette on a newborn because it isn’t as bulky, but this has to be pinned. Terry towelling can be snappi-ed, a rubber T-shape with hooks on the end that grips onto the loops.

Terry towelling flat nappy with a snappi closure

This is definitely the most economical way to buy nappies, you can get a dozen white terry towelling flats for less than $30.  Personally I use a heap of flats, when they are toddlers I tend to use flats and change every wee.  And they have so many more uses than just nappies!

There are also some flats made from bamboo terry, but these are far more expensive (around $10 ea) although still cheaper than other MCN. They are extremely soft and absorbent, much more so than cotton.

Flats can be folded in many ways, most people have their own favourite fold that puts the layers and absorbency where it is needed. I use a variation of the batwing fold from birth to toilet training.  It puts most of the layers right in the front, and can easily be extended (I’ll link to instructions when I get that post up!).

Batwing/Chinese/Origami fold

Pros:

• Cheap, especially if you are starting out.
• Very versatile, and can be used for all sorts of other things – toy, spew cloth, …
• Will fit newborns to toddlers, especially handy if you have two in nappies.
• Quick drying.
• Easily re-used on other babies, many of mine have lasted 4 years and are still going.

Cons:

• Have to be folded.
• Are not water resistant.
• Cotton ones are not very absorbent compared to other materials.
• Bulky.
• Legs can be open, leading to accidents.

 Prefolds –

Like flats, but with several layers down the middle. They usually come in infant or toddler sizes. They are often made of hemp or bamboo, so are more absorbent that flats.  Some can be used like flat nappies with a snappi, or they can be folded into a pad and used inside a well fitting cover. 

Prefold Nappies

 Pros:

• Cheap.
• Versatile, make good inserts in pocket nappies as well.
• Quick drying.