Nappy Basics

If you are new to Modern Cloth Nappies and are confused by the huge array of nappy types and fabrics, this article will hopefully give you a better understanding of the options currently available.

 

INTRODUCTION TO MODERN NAPPIES

© Nature’s Cradle 2007.  No part of this article may be copied or used without the prior written consent of Nature’s Cradle.

 

What is a Modern Fitted Nappy?

 

Simply, a mix between a disposable nappy and a terry flat nappy.  It is made out of all washable cloth, but is fitted so that you simply put it on baby and do up the Velcro or Snaps (buttons) so that it stays on baby without having to fold or pin it together.

 

There are so many variations in styles and fabrics available these days!

 

 

How do Nappies work?

 

Nappies require two basic components –

1. An outer layer to keep wetness off clothes and contain ‘poos’ - Cover
2. An inner layer to absorb liquid ‘wees’ - Nappy

 

Many people also choose to add an inner liner which is a stay dry layer - Liner.  This is to help keep baby dry and to aid with cleaning.

 

 

What Fabrics are used these days?

 

OUTER LAYER - COVER
Fabrics for the outer layer need to be water proof or water repellent.  Most covers are made of synthetic fabrics, with the exception of Polarfleece.

 

A cover is optional, but most people in Australia use covers.  Sometimes when at home, or in instances when caregivers  want to change a nappy upon every wee, a cover isn’t used.

 

Waterproof plastic covers ‘pilchers’ made from PVC are very water proof but do not breathe so baby can become sweaty.

 

Now there are breathable but water repellent fabrics.  They have good containment, air movement, hence greater comfort and healthier skin.

 

Some of the fabrics used in the outer layer of a nappy system (Cover) are -  

• Polarfleece – a Polyester Fleecy fabric.  Unless you are using premium polar fleece, you would need to use 2 layers of fleece in a Nappy Cover. 
• Wool - is usually absorbent, but if you lanolise it you can use it as Nappy Cover.  To lanolise means to replace the natural wool grease or lanolin, to make it greasier and water repellent.
• PUL - Polyester, lycra or cotton fabrics coated with polyurethane laminate - very similar to Goretex.  Cotton PUL comes in great prints, but tends to wick (leak) moisture if the nappy underneath becomes saturated.   Polyester PUL is starting to come in more patterns, but is usually a plain coloured fabric, this can be used as a Night Nappy Cover.
• Others – Ripstop Nylon, Entrant, Procare, Taslon. These options are not as commonly used as Nappy Covers.

 

TIP: When sewing with waterproof fabric use polyester thread to avoid wetness leaking through cotton thread.

TIP: To find PUL you may need to go online as it is rarely found in Bricks and Mortar stores.

 

INNER (absorbent) LAYER - NAPPY
The fabrics used for nappy inners need to be absorbent as they are used to soak up the liquids.  Most nappies are made of natural fabrics, with the exception of Microfibre.

 

The most commonly used fabric used to be Cotton Terry Towelling.  However there were several layers needed in order for this fabric to be absorbent enough to last a decent amount of time on a baby.  Now there are thinner and more absorbent options also available.

 

Each type of fabric absorbs in a different way.

 

Some of the fabrics used in the inner layer of a nappy system (Nappy) are -  

• COTTON (including organic) – cotton fleece, cotton sherpa, cotton towelling, cotton flannelette, cotton velour.
  Cotton is a good middle of the road fabric.  It grabs liquids quicker than Hemp, but doesn’t hold onto the moisture or take up as much in liquids as Hemp does.  It can also be a little thicker than Hemp when you compare how much thickness you need in order to reach the same amount of absorbency.  This is a well known, good and reliable fabric though, it will often stand the test of time, and won’t as easily give you problems such as becoming smelly or stiff such as other modern fabrics might.
• WOOL – When stripped of lanolin, wool absorbs moisture into its fibres.  It is rarely seen made into a Nappy, but it is possible to do.
• HEMP – hemp fleece, hemp cotton, hemp terry.  This fabric has been used for some time now.  Although the durability can vary from batch to batch, most batches of hemp have been found to be very durable, lasting through many more washes than other fabrics.  Hemp absorbs liquids well, it really holds on to them.  However, hemp can be a little slower to grab fast liquid flows (such as a fast wee), and it can tend to get stiffer and sometimes a little smelly.  There are tricks you can use to soften hemp and remove the smell from time to time.  When compared to fabrics such as cotton, hemp is thinner, so can make a trimmer nappy, although it is a heavier fabric simply because of its density.  Hemp also has other great qualities such as resisting mould.
• BAMBOO – bamboo fleece, bamboo velour.  Bamboo is a relatively new fabric on the market.  It is extremely popular because of its lush softness.  When washed, bamboo won’t go as stiff as fabrics such as hemp.  It is also thought that bamboo is even more absorbent than hemp.  It is very similar in qualities to hemp in that it is dense, and heavier.  Because bamboo is more absorbent then hemp it also can take longer to dry.
• SOY – a very new fabric on the market.
• MICROFIBRE – a synthetic polyester fabric.  Microfibre can absorb 6x its weight in liquids, however it doesn’t hold on to liquids so can be easily squeezed out.  This is a very quick drying and light fabric. 

 

There are some cheap fitted nappies available, usually found at larger chain stores.  They are usually not very high quality; the part intended to absorb wee is just polyester wadding like a sponge, and not absorbent.  They also have other undesirable features such as Velcro sitting close to the edge so that it is likely to scratch baby.  It is not wise to use this type of nappy as a benchmark for judging cloth nappies against disposables, as these nappies often barely hold a single wee.  If that is all you need the nappy to do, such as for those who are practicing Elimination Communication (early infant potty training), or if you want to change your nappy upon every wee, then they may be okay.  But if you want your nappy to last a decent amount of time it is better to use fabrics such as those described above. 

 

NOTE: Most modern fabrics such as hemp and bamboo are usually blended with cotton.

TIP: The more absorbent a fabric is, the longer it will take to dry when washed.

TIP: To purchase fabrics other than cotton, you may need to go online.  However, you could try purchasing Microfibre cleaning cloths to make your nappies or extra boosters.

 

LINER

Liners are usually made of synthetic fabrics, because liquids pass through synthetic fabrics as they are drawn into natural fabrics.  However sometimes a natural fabric such as silk or wool with lanolin are used.

 

Liners are usually made of fabric, however you can purchase biodegradable paper liners for times when you need or want assistance with cleaning a nappy.  Because moisture is drawn through a liner, baby stays dry against it.

 

Some of the fabrics used to line a nappy are -

• POLARFLEECE – a polyester fleecy fabric.  This is the most commonly used lining fabric as it is the most easily found in fabric stores.
• MICROFLEECE – a polyester fleecy fabric.  Microfleece is softer than polarfleece and can tend to pill (get little balls of fluff) less.  Microfleece is usually purchased online.
• SUEDECLOTH – a very thin fabric.  This liner is less common than fleece, and used when trimness is a priority.
• SILK – a natural fibre with healing properties.  Silk may not seem to keep baby as dry as fleecy materials, however when baby is getting a rash, raw and properly cared for silk can be a great healer.
• WOOL – when wool is lanolised, moisture can compress through it.  This is not a very commonly used type of liner but is a natural option.
• PAPER – made of paper and viscose.  You can simply pick up the bulky mess off nappies and flush it all down the toilet, making cleaning easier.  You can also put this type of liner in the compost or worm farm.

 

NOTE: No liners bought in supermarkets are flushable.

TIP: Polarfleece and Suedecloth can sometimes be purchased in fabric stores.  They don’t usually need hemming, simply cut them into shape.

 

NAPPY & COVER FASTENINGS (Closures)

The products used to close nappies so they don’t fall off baby.  Traditionally Pins were used, now there is an array of easier options.

 

There are some shaped nappies that don’t have fastenings. They can simply be placed into a well fitting Velcro closing cover, or fastened still with pins or Snappis (a Snappi has three prongs with teeth at the ends to catch into the loops of terry fabrics, they can be bought sometimes at chemists and supermarkets).

 

Some of the fasteners available are -

• SNAPS – a snap is a two pieced type of button.  You simply press the two pieces together and they snap closed.  Snaps are made of either Plastic (polyacetal resin) or Metal.  Most nappy makers use the plastic version.  You can usually only purchase Snaps and Snap Presses (a machine used to attach Snaps to fabrics) online.  Snaps take a little longer to do up than Velcro, but also are handy when you don’t want toddlers to undo their nappy. Snaps usually also have a longer life than Velcro.
• HOOK & LOOP (VELCRO) – Hook & Loop is similar to Velcro but better quality.  It consists of two stiff pieces of stiff rectangle, one has miniature hooks, the other side has miniature loops.  When pressed together, the hook catches into the loop, and attaches together.  Hook & Loop is the fastest form of fastening, however it is also easy for toddlers to undo, can get caught onto clothing and is noisy to use on a sleeping baby.  Names of good quality Hook & Loop incluce Aplix, Touchtape and Premium Velcro.  These are usually only available online.

 

TIP: You can purchase fastenings online.  Usually only a lower quality Velcro is available in stores.

 

 

What types of nappies are available?

 

FLAT NAPPY

A flat piece of absorbent fabric.

 

You need to fold flat nappies, but with a good cover you may not always need to use a pin or Snappi on it.

 

Flat nappies are usually made of cotton such as terry towelling, flannelette, or fine muslin squares.  However other fabrics such as bamboo and hemp are also available.  

 

You can simply fold flat nappies into rectangles, or for better containment there are an array of good nappy folds that you can use.

 

Pros: They are cheap.  Flat Nappies wash well and because you can spread them flat with minimal layers they dry quickly.  Sometimes they are a one size fits all.  This is the easiest type of nappy to find in a retail store. This type of nappy can have lots of other uses around the house, and they typically get handed around to families as 2nd hand, so they get lots of use.

Cons: You will need to fold this type of nappy, even if just into a rectangle.  Often the use a good nappy fold is needed, otherwise they can leak or not contain messy poo.  Flat Terry can be bulky on a smaller baby.  You may need to fasten a flat nappy in order to keep it on baby, this can be a bit fiddly.  If you have a wriggly baby, they can be hard to get on successfully. Basically they require more work than a fitted nappy.

 

PREFOLD NAPPY

Very much like a Flat Nappy but they have extra layers sewn together with extra layers in the centre panel.

 

Prefolds are usually made of cotton or hemp.  They are a little quicker to put on than a square flat, and a bit trimmer than a terry.

 

FOLDUP

A double layer square piece of fabric.

 

A foldup is either used as a newborn nappy, or as an extra booster in a fitted nappy.  You simply fold it into halves, thirds or in quarters.

 

Foldups are often made of Bamboo, Hemp or Cotton.

 

FITTED NAPPY

A shaped nappy requiring a cover.

 

Fitted Nappies are made of fabric which absorbs liquid.  Some fitted nappies are "pocket fitteds", which means it has a pocket or opening between two layers so you can slide in extra absorbency.  Most fitted nappies have a built in fastening (closure) but some fasten with a snappi or simply are placed into a good fitting cover aiming for the cover to hold it all together.  They can be multi-sized or one-size-fits-all.

 

Pros: They are quicker and easier to put on baby.  Some feature elastic in the right places to help contain leaks.  They can be trim, even though they often more layers of absorbency than flat nappies.  If they are sized they can have a better fit, or if they are one size fits all they can last from birth to toilet training.  If you use a  cover over a fitted nappy, it offers a 2nd line of defence for poo leaks.

Cons: Fitted nappies can take longer to dry than flat versions.  Fastenings and elastic can fail before the fabric does, so they might not be used as long as a flat nappy.  If they are sized you may need to buy various sizes which makes them even more expensive initially.  They need a cover, which means the combination takes longer to put on baby.

 

ALL IN ONE’S (AIOs)

A Fitted Nappy, Cover and sometimes Liner all sewn into one.

 

All In One’s are nappies that do not need a separate cover.  They are placed onto baby in one step with everything attached together.  They come in either a sized or a one size fits all version.

All AIO Nappies have some sort of waterproof layer as the outside (or sometimes second to outside if a decorative fabric is placed over the waterproof) layer.  This waterproof layer is usually PUL or premium quality Fleece.  

 

All In One nappies fasten with snaps or hook-and-loop (Velcro).  They may have a booster flap (the booster opens away from the nappy body) or extra detachable booster for easier washing and faster drying.  

 

There are also Almost In One nappies.  These have an absorbent booster that the user snaps or otherwise attaches to an outer shell.  This can be faster drying than sewn together AIOs.

 

Some All In Ones also have a pocket opening for you to more easily add extra boosters.

 

Pros: These are the easiest nappy for babysitters, alternative carers, or childcare centres to use.  They are the fastest nappy to put on because they do not require a cover.  All In Ones can be trimmer than fitted nappies with covers.  They are most popular with people who have used disposables.

Cons: Initially they may seem more expensive than other options, however sometimes when you add up all of the components they may not be.  Because everything is sewn together, they are often slower drying than fitted nappies.  All In Ones are less easily customised.

 

POCKET NAPPIES

A cover and liner sewn together on three sides with a pocket opening to insert absorbent fabrics.

 

The cover of Pocket Nappies might be PUL, high quality Fleece, a combination of Fleece with a thin extra water-resistant layer such as taslon or rip-stop nylon.

 

Pocket nappies need inserts or stuffers.  They can be stuffed with anything absorbent.  Stuffers or Inserts might be specially made stuff-ins (inserts), cotton or hemp flats, foldups, prefolds, washcloths, microfibre cloths, or a combination of these things.

 

Pros: They are quicker to dry because you can spread all of the components out on the line.  You are able to customise them more easily with as much or as little absorbent material inside as you need.  The inbuilt liner is often stay-dry over the entire nappy area.  They can be very trim, while staying very effective.

Cons: They can be a bit trickier to get the hang of using successfully because they depend on they user putting in enough stuffing into the appropriate area of the pocket.  If this isn’t done properly they can leak.  Sometimes they can be less successful for children who sleep on their tummy.  The fleece inner can occasionally repel if too much washing powder is used.  They can work out to be more expensive to purchase.

 

 

Could you tell me more about Covers?

 

Nappy covers need to be made of a water-resistant or waterproof material.  Modern nappy covers are usually made of Fleece, PUL, or Wool.  

 

FLEECE – is breathable and so is often used when nappy is on for a long time such as overnight.  If a baby sits on, or lies on a very wet nappy, moisture can compress through a fleece cover in that spot making clothing or surfaces wet.  However if only a little moisture is compressed through, often moisture can evaporate from the surface of fleece before they it gets onto clothing or other surfaces.

PUL – is an easy cover type to use for a person new to cloth nappies as it is simply a waterproof cover.  Pul covers are easy to wash and very trim, however they breathe less than other fabrics.  The waterproofing can break down after several months of full time use.

WOOL – either comes in hand knitted form, or in woven (felted) form.  You need to lanolise wool covers, but this really is an easy process.  Because wool is so effective at evaporating moisture, you don’t need to wash them as often as other covers, sometimes leaving several weeks between washes.  A simple way to explain the effectiveness of wool is that it has the ability to both absorb and evaporate moisture.  So basically as moisture starts to compress through a wool cover, it is held inside the fibres, and then slowly evaporates outside into the air.  Wool is a popular overnight option, but is great for daytime use also as it can be more temperature regulating for baby.

 

Nappy covers may fasten with snaps or hook-and-loop (Velcro).  When fastening with hook-and-loop they can be called Wraps.  Sometimes covers can be pull on.  In cooler weather, many people like to use fleece pants or long knitted wool pants (called Longies) directly over the nappy, rather than a nappy cover plus pants.

 

© Nature’s Cradle 2007.  Parts of this article were contributed by Jennifer Mok and Fiona Young, drawing on collected wisdom of the Ozclothnappies online community and Australian Online Nappy network.  No part of this article may be copied or used without the prior written consent of Nature’s Cradle.