Why Cloth?
Cloth is a personal choice. Not all parents choose cloth but if you are thinking of using cloth nappies then here are a few basic pointers for beginners.
You can view many sites that will give you opinions on the “Cloth vs Disposable” debate and usually they are biased towards one side or the other. Here, we love cloth nappies (of course we do!) and if you want some help getting started then this is where you need to be.
Firstly – There are two types of cloth nappies
Traditional Cloth
Traditional cloth refers to flat nappies or prefold nappies. A flat nappy is basically a terry, flannelette or muslin nappy square. A prefold nappy is similar but is sewn into three equal sections and has more than one layer of absorbent material in the middle third of the nappy. These nappies can be folded in many different ways to fit your baby and need to be used with a waterproof cover over the top, as the whole nappy is absorbent. They may require the use of a fastener such as a snappi, snib or nappy pin but can also be folded and placed under certain types of covers without any fastening.
Modern Cloth Nappy
Also referred to as MCN, modern cloth refers to cloth nappies that have been sewn into the shape of a disposable nappy for ease and convenience. Modern cloth nappies usually have built-in absorbent layers and may also feature a built-in water resistant layer, so that no extra cover is needed over the top of the nappy. MCNs can also be made with fasteners attached to the nappy, i.e. Aplix (type of Velcro) or snaps.
Covers, Boosters and Microfleece liners...What the?
There are a few added extras available when dealing with cloth nappies that can all add to the fun. Don’t be afraid...its all part of accessorising!
What is a cover?
A cover is a protective outer layer that is used to make the nappy water resistant. This prevents the nappy from leaking. Covers can be made from a variety of materials including wool, PVC, PUL, minky and fleece. Covers can also be sewn into MCNs as an ‘optional extra’.
What is a booster?
A booster is an insert made from several layers of material and is used to increase the absorbency of a nappy. Boosters are useful for both traditional and MCN.
What is a microfleece liner?
A liners is a rectangle (usually, but may be cut into any shape that suits you) of microfleece that is placed inside the nappy so that it sits against baby's skin. They are useful because they make it easy to dispose of solid waste, as a lot of poo will simply roll off the liner into the toilet. They also help to keep baby dry once they have a wet nappy, because microfleece material draws the moisture away to the absorbent core of the nappy, without drawing away the essential oils from babies' delicate skin. Its a win/win situation.
Different Types of MCN
There are basically three different types of MCN available on the market to use on your baby: fitted nappies, pocket nappies, and all in one nappies (AIO’s). For a quick and basic run-down this is what they are.
Fitted nappies: A fitted nappy is a nappy that needs a separate cover placed over the top of it. It is not water resistant.
Pocket nappies: A pocket nappy is a nappy with an opening at the back or front which into which you place an insert or booster that makes the nappy absorbent. You can alter the absorbency of your pocket nappy by choosing what you stuff it with. Pocket nappies usually contain an inbuilt waterproof cover like an AIO but some variants require a separate cover.
All in one’s (AIOs): An all in one nappy is the most convenient nappy of all. It is what you call “the hamburger with the lot”. An AIO contains all the necessary layers in one convenient nappy. AIOs have a sewn in water resistant layer so that you don’t need to add a cover to the outside of the nappy. Some AIOs are available with sewn in boosters as well.
For a more in-depth look go here!
Sizing
There are two options when it comes to MCNs and sizing - one size fits all (OSFA), which can be adjusted to fit most babies from birth to toilet training, or sized nappies that come in newborn, small, medium and large sizes, each fitting a particular size range with some overlap. Sizing is not absolutely standard across the range of MCNs available but will vary from brand to brand. To ensure a good fit on your baby it it best to measure your baby and compare this to the manufacturer's specifications.
OSFA - Great for those on a budget. OSFA nappies are sometimes more economical for those that are choosing cloth to save money.
Sized nappies - As they are customised to suit your baby’s size and weight range, these nappies offer a snug fit.
Basic Needs from Birth to Toilet Training
How many nappies you need and what type depends on your personal circumstances and preferences. Some things to consider include:
do I want to use cloth full or part-time?;
what is my motivation? (ie. environmental consciouness, saving money);
what is the weather like where I live?;
how often do I want to wash?;
is my child going to be in daycare and can I use cloth at me daycare centre?.
All of these factors play a major role in determining your cloth needs. What you choose is up to you. There are no set rules.
Some common guidelines are listed below.
Newborn babies – Use about 10 nappies a day. (Give or take a few)
Older babies – Use 5-6 nappies in the day plus one at night (Give or take a few as well)
Then it depends on when you wash your nappies.
Will you wash your nappies on a daily basis?
Or will you wash every second day?
If your choice is to use cloth full-time, then, at a minimum, you will need to have enough nappies to last you for two days. This allows for one day of wear, while the others are being laundered.
To arrive at this figure factor in the amount of nappies you will need (newborn or older child) and multiply that by two. Also be aware that some nappies take longer to dry than others, with flat and prefold nappies taking less time to dry than fitteds and AIO’s. If a nappy has boosters these can be removed for washing purposes which will also reduce drying times. The weather where you live and the season may also play a role your choice of nappies.
Checklist Point
What type of nappy would you like to use? Traditional or MCN?
If traditional what type? Flat or prefold? Terry, flannelette or muslin?
If MCN, what size? OSFA or a sized nappy?
MCN – What type of MCN would you like to use? Fitted, pocket or AIO’s?
Fitted – What cover would you like to use?
AIO’s – Will you require built in boosters?
Quantity:
Do you have a newborn or older baby?
Do you want to use cloth full-time or part-time?
How often will you wash your nappies?
Washing and Caring for your Cloth Nappies
Traditional nappies can be soaked in a nappy bucket as a type of ‘pre-wash’ before being washed in the washing machine. In the case of MCNs it is best if they are only ‘dry pailed’. We have a section dedicated to washing your MCN here!