Nappy INSERTS: Materials and ABSORBENCY!

So you have started doing research and discovered that cloth nappy inserts come in all different types of materials. So what is the difference between each fabric and which fabric will suit my little one best??? 

 

MICROFIBER

Is a man-made material that is fast at absorbing those liquids! 

Pros:

Fast absorbing so great to use if your bub is a flooder (big, fast outputs) as it absorbs the liquids faster than cotton | bamboo | hemp. Suitable for cloth on a budget (often found in the inserts of the cheaper reusable nappies found on the market). Fast drying.

Cons:

Not suitable to use directly on bub's skin so make sure you use a stay dry liner on top. Can be prone to compression leaks once full so team with a bamboo or hemp insert which can hold the liquid (microfiber closer to bub's skin with hemp | bamboo closest to the cover).

 

COTTON

Is a natural, fast absorbing fabric with a decent capacity to hold liquids.

Pros:

Faster at absorbing than bamboo | hemp so great to use if your bub is a flooder (big, fast outputs) as it absorbs the liquids faster than bamboo | hemp but has more capacity to hold than microfiber. Soft against bub's skin. Can be more affordable than bamboo | hemp.

Cons:

Might not be absorbent enough to use on it's own if bub is a medium to heavy wetter.

 

BAMBOO

Is a natural & sustainable grown material that has a great capacity to absorb.

Pros:

Very absorbent. Soft against bub's skin. Bamboo breathes so is more comfortable for bub even when wet

Cons:

Might not be absorbent enough to use on it's own if bub is a heavy wetter. Typically used in conjunction with cotton, so look for inserts with a higher % of bamboo to cotton to ensure you are getting the absorbency you expected & your money's worth!

 

HEMP

Is a natural fabric, the most absorbent of all!

Pros:

Holds the most liquid so it is the ultimate fabric for those medium-heavy wetters. A durable fabric that will last you bub after bub.

Cons:

Hemp is slower to absorb than microfiber | cotton | bamboo so you might need to team it with one of these fabrics to prevent leaks. Hemp inserts should be the furthest away from bub's skin (or used with a stay dry liner) so that bub's skin doesn't remain damp. Can be a bit stiff after washing so you might need to use the drier or other techniques to soften them up before use. Can be more expensive than other fabrics. Is typically used in conjunction with cotton, so look for inserts with a higher % of hemp to cotton to ensure you are getting the absorbency you expected & your money's worth!

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What to consider when choosing materials

Inserts are the absorbent component of the nappy so it is important to choose the right combination to prevent leaks.

Pair a fast absorbing fabric with a fabric that has a high capacity to absorb. The fast absorbing fabric should be the closest to bub's skin to wick away moisture