Reusable Cloth Nappies - CuddleBabes

CuddleBabes is an independent cloth nappy seller, we can advise on and supply a wide range of reusable cloth nappies. We stock all types of reusable nappies and most major cloth nappy brands with a special emphasis on greener fabrics such as organically grown cotton, hemp and wool. We stock Ellas House, Popolini, Disana, Motherease, Tots Bots, Nature Babies and Sugar Peas among others.

Reusable Cloth Nappy Language/Terminology

Cloth nappies are not complicated or difficult, but you will come across some new terminology, and it will help your research considerably if you have a clear understanding of what these phrases and words mean. There are a number of leaflets and websites that don't make things as clear as they could be, so we hope this will make your cloth nappy research just that little bit easier. Feel free to print this page off for reference, although as usual, please respect our copyright if you are a nappy seller. 

Nappy - This is the absorbent part of the nappy, the bit that holds the wee and poo. It may be just a flat cotton nappy, it may be shaped and fitted, with elasticated legs and waist and fasten with poppers or velcro, it may or may not incorporate a waterproof layer, but the key thing is, it will be absorbent in some way. The American term for nappy is Diaper.

Flat Nappy - This nappy will be flat, and in most cases require some folding. Most are square or rectangle in shape, although some are shaped (see below). There is no elastication or fastenings. Examples are prefolds (Bambino Mio, Cotton Bottoms, Junior Joy, Yummies), Flat terries, muslins.

Shaped Flat Nappy - This nappy will be flat, but also cut to shape that should fit around your babies legs and waist. Most have no elastication or fastenings, although the tie on nappies do have ribbon style ties. Most require further folding, although some do not. Some are shaped like a large hour glass, some are more H shaped (on the side), some are long and wider a one end that the other. Examples are tie on nappies, Imse nappies, Happy Nappies, Popolini Koala. 

Fitted Nappy - This nappy will be cut to shape to fit around your baby snuggly, and will have elastication at the legs, and in most cases, also at the waist. Some are elasticated all around the waist, some only at the back of the waist. Some will have no fastenings, and are intended to be used with pins or nappi nippas, others will fasten with Velcro, Aplix (similar to Velcro) or poppers. Examples are Tots Bots, all Mother-ease nappies, most Popolini nappies, Bumble, Ella's House, Sugar Peas. 

Birth to Potty Nappy - This nappy will fit the average baby from birth through to potty training, about 2 and 1/2 years old. Most are size adjusted by folding in a certain way, although this is usually very simple and intuitive to do. Examples are flat terries, tie on nappies, Popolini one size, Mother-ease one size, One Life, Popolini Ultra Fit, Mother-ease Multi fit, Bumble. 

Two Sized Nappy - A Nappy that needs 2 or more sizes to fit from birth to potty. The first size usually fits up to between 8 and 12 month, the second size usually fits to around 2 to 2 and 1/2 years, and the third size, if there is one, usually fits from around age 2 and up. Examples are Sandy's, Two Size, Tots Bots, Disana Fitted nappies.

All-In-One Nappy - A nappy that has the absorbent cotton part and the waterproof cover attatched, so the whole nappy is all in one, no separate cover required. Convenient, but they also have some performance and washing/drying drawbacks. 

Two Part Nappy - A cotton or hemp nappy, that needs a separate cover. The vast majority of nappies fall into this category, and unless specifically stated in the description, you should always assume a nappy needs a separate cover. 

Wrap, or cover - This is the part that goes over the absorbent nappy, to keep the wetness in and protect your baby's clothing from getting damp. Some people refer to them as covers, some people refer to them as wraps. They are the same thing. 

Pocket Cover/Wrap - also sometimes called pocket nappies or pocket nappy systems, this is not a nappy at all, but in fact a nappy cover, with a waterproof layer on one side, and a non absorbent stay dry lining on the inside, usually polyester polar fleece. There is an open hole at the back, that means you can stuff the pocket cover with any absorbent fabric nappy that you wish to use. The pocket cover is not absorbent in its own right, it needs to be stuffed with something absorbent, in order work as a pocket nappy system. The most commonly used stuffings are prefold nappies, terry nappies, or specially shaped inserts that may be made by the pocket cover manufacturer. Examples are Nature Babies Stuffables, FuzziBunz, Minkis and Stuffies. 

Pocket Nappy - This is a nappy that has an open pocket so that additional boosting can be added between the layers, allowing the bulk and absorbency of the nappy to be customised to your baby's needs. A number of pocket covers are4 described as pocket nappies, but they are not true nappies. A true pocket nappy has the absorbent layers included, and generally consists of a few outer layers of absorbent terry cotton, and a single inner stay dry lining of polyester fleece. The opening at the back or front of the nappy allows for additional boosing as necessary, but this nappy will work as it is without being stuffed. However, you will need a waterproof cover. Examples include Bumble, and Dizzy Diaper. 

Cotton - The most commonly used fibre in the fabric used for making cloth nappies. Available in organic and non organic versions. 

Hemp - A strong and very absorbent fibre sometimes used in the fabric used for making nappies. Hemp grows very fast and virulently, needing little or no herbicide and pesticide sprays, as it tends to overgrow everything in its way. Hemp is increasing in popularity, and is considered a greener fibre than cotton. You will mostly find it used in a 55%hemp/45% cotton mixture, as hemp alone is a fairly harsh fabric. Hemp can become a little compacted after repeated washing, so tumble drying or shaking hard before putting on the line to dry will help aerate the fibres and keep them soft. 

Polyester - A synthetic fibre used in some fabrics to make nappies. It has no absorbency, but can add strength to a fabric. Polyester is also used to make fleece liners, stay dry linings and some so called "super soakers". It is the most common outer covering on nappy covers/wraps and works well in this capacity as it is non absorbent, therfore, with minimal wicking.

PUL - Polyurethane laminate,  breathable but still waterproof fabric, used to make cloth nappy covers that hold wetness away from the outer clothing. Generally PUL is laminated to polyester, but it is sometimes laminated to cotton or polyester/cotton fabrics. PUL is also used for breathable waterproof rainwear and outdoor/camping gear. It is a synthetic, but has a micro sponge type structure, that allows air exchange, without allowing larger liquid droplets to pass through. 

Polyester soaker, polyester/rayon soaker, polyester/viscose soaker - these are are synthetic or semi-synthetic so called "super soakers". Rayon and viscose are manmade fibres, made from natural substances (wood fibres), so they are naturally absorbent toa certain extent, but the polyester part is not absorbent. The soakers are mostly made as wadding, that is used between two layers of absorbent fabric, probably cotton, and some manufacturers claim they are super absorbent. We beg to differ on this. They work like a sponge, and will hold liquid between the fibres, but not in the fibres like cotton and hemp. These soakers may initially give the impression of being highly absorbent, (one manufacturer in particular is keen on the glass of water test, dip a piece of their polyester super soaker in water, and see how much comes out when you lift it up) but just like a bath sponge, when squeezed, they release the wetness easily. This is good for drying time after a good washing machine spin, but not so good when your baby sits on a wet nappy, as the wetness is just squeezed back out, onto your baby's skin, under the weight of the baby. If you need a very fast drying time and can live with the reduced absorbency, then by all means use a nappy with one of these soakers in, but we don't sell any such nappies.

Liners - There are two main types of liners, booster liners and one way liners, see below for the descriptions.

Booster liners - These are added to the inside of the nappy to give additional absorbency when required, typically overnight. They are rectangle or slightly hour glass shaped, and are usually 3 layers of fabric thick. They are available in all the same fabrics as the nappies. You don't need to use the same brand or type of booster as your nappies, they are very mix and match items. Apart from the custom made boosters available to buy, you can use any absorbent piece of cloth to boost your baby's nappy, muslins, flannelette squares, small terries, even old face flannels, the only requirement is that is is absorbent. Some boosters have integral stay dry linings, see below for the description of a stay dry liner. 

One way liners - These are thin liners that help to separate the wee and poo in the nappy, and therefore reduce the likelihood of nappy rash developing. These liners should be the top layer, next to your baby's skin. They are not absorbent, and will not add absorbency to the nappy system. See below for the different types of one way liners. 

Flushable or biodegradable liners - are either paper or cellulose based and will break down in the sewerage system. However, please be cautious with flushable liners, as they can clog the drains if you flush more than one at a time. It is best if you tear them into a few strips before flushing, and never more than one at a time. Please check the packaging of nappy liners you may buy in high street shops, as some are not biodegradable and may have a picture of a cross over a toilet. Do not flush these, they must be put in the normal rubbish bin. Do not fold one way liners in half (cut to size if need be), or use two, or they won't work as well and may increase the likelihood of leaks. Also, do not use one way liners with reusable stay dry liners such as fleece, as again they won't work as well and may increase the likelihood of leaks.

Reusable stay dry liners  - are either knitted polyester, polyester mesh, or polyester fleece. Polyester is not absorbent, so the wetness passes through the liner, and into the absorbent cotton or hemp below. Because the nappy is more absorbent than your baby's bottom, the wetness will stay there, unless the nappy gets too wet and the wetness has no where else to go. Poo tends not to stick to these polyester liners, and is very easily shaken off the liner into the toilet for flushing, before the liner is washed with the nappies to be used again. They are very durable, and can last through several babies making them very good value for money and a greener item, as each liner is used potentially thousands of times. Fleece liners in particular are extremely popular, so much so, that many nappies are now made with an integral fleece lining. Do not fold stay dry liners in half (cut to size if need be), or use two, or they won't work as well and may increase the likelihood of leaks. Also, do not use one way liners with reusable stay dry liners such as fleece, as again they won't work as well and may increase the likelihood of leaks.

Bourette Silk liners - are raw silk liners that are used as a first aid treatment for nappy rash and sore skin. I really can't tell you why they work, I just know from personal experience that they do, very well. This is not a stay dry liner nor one way liner like those above, and it will get quite wet, but they work beautifully. Use in direct contact with skin no creams or ointments, and if possible use overnight. Can also be used in contact with sore skin on any part of the body, just bandage over the affected part, as the raw silk is anti bacterial, anti-fungal and promotes skin healing. Apparently there is research under way, to try and find the active ingredient in the silk so it can be extracted and put in creams. Silk liners are absorbent, but are thin, so will not replace a booster liner. You can fold these to fit if need be. 

Velcro and Aplix - these are both hook and loop fastenings, very similar, that make nappy changing super easy and fast. 

Nappi nippas / Nappy Nippas / Nappy grips - these are little plastic T shaped items with claws on each end that grip into the fabric of the nappies to provide a snug and secure fastening. They replace pins. Used mainly on terries, and some shaped nappies without fastenings, such as Tots Bots, Bumble, Diddy diaper. 

If you come across any other terms you feel should be added to this list, please e-mail us. 

Copyright © Kim Wong, CuddleBabes 2005

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