Confused by which nappy to buy?

Don't worry we were once in this position! We are now here to help!

It can be difficult to choose the right nappy for you and your baby - here's some advice to get you started.

There are a few factors to consider when choosing the right nappy for your baby:

- Your preferences (cotton, bamboo, micro-fibre, organic etc.) 
- Ease of use (for nurserys / child-minders / grandparents)
- Cost
- Drying time
- Comfort for baby
- Bulkiness, absorbency & containment
- Cute factor

There are basically four groups of 'Real' nappies available. Click on one of the nappy systems below to find out more:

Types of washable nappies:

* Flat nappies
* Shaped nappies
* Pocket nappies
* All-in-One nappies

Flat Nappies

A 'flat nappy' is the term used to describe a pre-fold or terry toweling nappy. This system comprises of a folded terry or pre-fold nappy with a liner (bio-degradable, fleece or cotton) placed on top, which is then inserted into a waterproof wrap.

Advantages: A budget priced system making it very reasonably priced. It can cost as little as £180, for a good quality set. These nappies also take less time to dry compared with shaped nappies, so a good choice if drying time is an issue.

Disadvantages: This system is fiddly and time-consuming as you have to fold the nappies prior to use and with a wriggly toddler they can be difficult to put on. Having said that they are an economical choice and if you use a good quality wrap (such as Popolini or Motherease) they work well.

Suggested wraps: We have found that the Motherease Rikki wrap is the best wrap for use with pre-fold nappies as they have gussets around the thigh which helps the pre-fold nappy stay in place.

Terry Towel Nappies work well with the following wraps: Motherease Rikki wrap (Velcro) or the Motherease Airflow wrap (Popper).

Click to buy Flat Nappies.

Shaped Nappies

Shaped nappies are shaped to fit and fasten neatly around baby, prior to putting on a separate wrap. There are two types of shaped nappies - 'sized' or 'one size'.

'Sized' Shaped Nappies

Sized nappies: These generally come in two sizes - small and medium or size 1 and size 2 (some brands have XS and XL also).  With sized nappies you will need to buy 2 or 3 sizes to get baby from birth to toddler. Because they are sized according to different weights, they are generally neater and slimmer fitting, than one-size nappies. They work out more costly initially, however they get less wear than one-size nappies and will therefore last well for a second or even third baby.

It is worth remembering that there is a second-hand market for cloth nappies so when your baby has grown out of them you could sell them and use the money to purchase the next size. You can generally get half the price you paid for them.

Examples of sized shaped nappies: Tots Bots Bamboozles, Tots Bots Flexi-tot, Popolini Two-size,.

'One Size' Shaped Nappies

One Size nappies: One Size nappies also known as birth to potty nappies and generally do what they say. For most babies, they should last from birth to potty. This works by folding down the front of the nappy and adjusting it to a desired width using the row of poppers or a nappi nippa. As it fits from birth to potty you only need to purchase the one size of nappy, making it a very economical option. As baby grows you will need to purchase sized wraps as these don't come in one size. Examples of one-size shaped nappies:  Tots Bots Bamboozle Popper (size 2), Popolini One Size, Tots Bots Original nippa (size 2)

Click to buy Shaped Nappies.

Pocket Nappies (also known as 'stuffable' nappies).

This is basically a wrap with a built-in fleece liner. These two layers form a pocket into which you add an absorbent pad (micro-insert). The nappy is adjusted by poppers or velcro to obtain a neat fit.   The soft fleece lining inside acts as a stay-dry liner keeping baby's skin dry, and the fleece tends to be quite stain resistant. Once stuffed these nappies are like all-in-one, making them very convenient and easy to use.

Advantages: They are versatile, as the absorbency can be adjusted to meet your baby's wetting needs. A great advantage with this nappy over others is the fact that they take very little time to dry as the cover and insert are taken apart for laundering.

This type of nappy is very popular as it is convenient and easy to use. Pocket nappies tend to also be quite slimline in comparison to other types of nappies.

Disadvantages: If you have a heavy-wetter, you will need to purchase a booster to place in the nappy with the absorbent insert. Pocket nappies will need to be changed approx 3-4hrly depending on your baby's absorbancy needs.

There are two types of pocket nappies - 'sized' or 'one size'

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'Sized' Pocket Nappies

Sized Pocket Nappies generally come in small, medium and large (some brands have XS and XL also). With sized nappies you will need to buy 2 or 3 sizes to get baby from birth to toddler. Because they are sized according to different weights, they are generally neater and slimmer fitting, than one-size nappies. Sized nappies work out more costly initially, however they get less wear than one-size nappies and will therefore last well for a second or even third baby. It is also worth remembering that there is a second-hand market for cloth nappies so when your baby has grown out of them you could sell them and use the money to purchase the next size. You can generally get half the price you paid for them.  Examples of sized pocket nappies: Fuzzi Bunz

'One-size' Pocket Nappies

One size pocket nappies are also known as birth to potty nappies.  They generally do what they say for most babies and should last from birth to potty. This works by folding down the front of the nappy using poppers (to adjust the size) and fastening the nappy using velcro. As it fits from birth to potty you only need to purchase the one size of nappy, making it a very popular and economical option. Examples one-size pocket nappies: Bumgenius, The Pop-in, Blueberry .

Click to buy Pocket Nappies.

All-In-One Nappies

A nappy and wrap fastened together to provide you with the ultimate of convenience.

Advantages: These nappies are great for those babies attending nursery or being cared for by grandparents as they are as simple to use as a disposable.

Disadvantage: All-in-ones tend to be more costly as you need a larger quantity of them as they take longer to dry.

Examples of all-in-ones: Bumgenius All-in-one, Motherease All-in-one and Popolini Easyfix.

Bumgenius All-in-one

Motherease All-in-one

Click to buy All-In-One Nappies.

Still need HELP?
If you are unsure or confused by which nappy to choose contact us and we will ask you a few questions regarding your preferences and your situation (ie.. will you be returning to work?..... Do you have limited drying facilities etc....). With your answers we will be able to advise you on a type and brand of nappy to choose and discuss this with you. Contact Us