Nappies by STYLE

So many STYLES! We'll talk you through each style, their uses & their pro's & cons. 

	- All in Ones (AIO) Nappies
	- All in Twos (Ai2) Nappies
	- Pocket Nappies
	- Sized Nappies
	- Pull Up Nappies
	- Newborn Nappies
	- Dedicated Night Nappies
	- Nappy Covers
	- Fitted Nappies
	- Preflats
	- Prefolds
	- Flats

 

All in One Nappies (AIO) : There are a 2 main types of All in One nappies, with the more traditional All in One being a nappy where the cover (shell) & the inserts are combined into one single piece. AIO covers can come with an internal pocket to hold additional inserts and in a majority of cases they come with separate additional booster inserts. 

You will also find a few night nappy All in One covers, where the inserts are separate but the cover has built in absorbency in the lining. These covers are brilliant for heavy wetters as they provide extra absorbency with less bulk. 

Pros: Why an All in One nappy? The closest it gets to disposables, this nappy is all one unit. A great start for those who are not familiar with cloth i.e. childcare, grandparents & even dads (sorry dads, no offence intended!). 

Cons: Why not an All in One nappy? Downside is that they can take longer to dry than other styles but the ease of use definitely makes them worth a try! Some have a sewn in flip out insert that allows for a quicker dry time

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All in Twos Nappies (AI2): In an All in Two Nappy the cover is one component, the inserts are a separate component/s. Inserts can often be snapped onto the cover to hold them in place.

Most All in Two Nappies are also Pocket Nappies; where the cover has an internal pocket to hold additional inserts as required to increase absorbency. Examples of All in Two Nappies without a pocket are the Bubblebubs Candie & the Monarch Ultimate Nappy. 

Pros: Why an All in Two nappy? The separate components allow for quicker drying times & allows for a more customised placement of absorbent components to suit bub's needs

Cons: Why not an All in Two nappy? Maybe a little harder for grandparents and minders, especially those who are not familiar with cloth, to fit these nappies properly on your little one. Inserts can move around within the cover if bub is super wriggly, although snap in inserts at both ends or a front pocket flap to tuck the inserts under helps to mitigate this. 

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Pocket Nappies: In a Pocket Nappy the cover (shell) is one component, the inserts are a separate component/s. The cover has an internal pocket to hold inserts as required to achieve the desired absorbency.

Pros: Why a Pocket Nappy? A pocket nappy is very similar to an AI2 in regards to the quicker dry time & the more customised placement of absorbent components (inserts). The added benefit of being able to stuff the inserts into the pocket, is that it can make clean up easier as poo goes directly on to the cover 's internal lining rather than squishing between multiple layers of inserts (although doesn't help so much when bub poos on the pocket opening!). Another bonus is that the pocket secures inserts and boosters flat and in place so that they don't move around within the cover/ shell if bub is a wriggly one!

Cons: Why not a Pocket Nappy? Maybe a little harder for grandparents and minders, especially those who are not familiar with cloth, to fit these nappies properly on your little one (although if they are pre-stuffed then they can go on just like a disposable!). Can be time consuming trying to stuff inserts into narrow pockets...especially for those large man hands! Look out for nappies with double entry pockets that make stuffing a little easier. 

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Sized Nappies: Sized Nappies are not your typical One Size Fits Most (OSFM) nappy that grows with bub as they grow. These nappies come in various sizes and you will need to upsize as bub grows. They can be either All in Ones (AIO), All in Twos (AI2) or Pocket Nappies. They typically come without rise settings. 

Pros: Why a Sized Nappy? Choosing a size that fits bub's body shape in the now has it's benefits especially when bub is just out of newborn nappies. The inserts are sized to suit the shell, so unlike with a OSFM nappy, there is no need to figure out how to adjust or fold inserts to suit your shell on it's smallest setting.....less bulk on your smaller bub! As there are no rise settings, the fit is more similar to a disposable so it can be easier for grandparents or carers!

Cons: Why not a Sized Nappy? Cost! You will need to upsize as bub grows. Sized nappies usually come in small, medium & large to cater until toilet training....that's 3 complete sets to purchase instead of one (even more if you buy newborn nappies too). 

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Pull Up Nappies: If your bub has reached the age where they want to be independent or refuse to wear a "little kid's" nappy, then side snapping Pull Up Nappies might be the way to go. With stretchy sides, they can be pre-snapped at the right setting and then pulled up to fit. Most Pull Up nappy shells come with built in absorbency so they can be used as training pants if only light absorption is required. Add in inserts and they are good to go as a day or even a night nappy depending on the amount of absorbency added. 

Pros: Pull Up Nappies seem to be a hit with parents of wriggly bubs...the side snaps allow a fast fit while bub crocodile rolls all over the place. These wonderful nappies can also be pre-snapped and pulled up on bub while they are standing....no need to fight your stubborn toddler at nappy change time!

Cons: It can be hard to find a reusable pull up nappy that truly allows toddlers to pull them up by themselves. It is worth trying before you buy just in case! We think it's worth looking for Pull Up that have pockets so that the inserts are locked in place while fitting...especially if all your child wants is independence! The built in absorbency in the shell can also increase dry time.

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Newborn Nappies: Newborn Nappies are designed specifically to fit bub during the newborn stage; typically from 2-6kgs. They can be either All in Ones (AIO), All in Twos (AI2) or Pocket Nappies.

Pros: Why a Newborn Nappy? Trying to fit an one size fits most nappy on your tiny newborn bub can be tricky & the nappy can be bulky! Newborn nappies make fitting a nappy on your newborn so much easier & because you can get a good leg seal less leakage....and no one wants newborn poo-plosions bursting out the leg seals!

Cons: Why not a Newborn Nappy? Cost! You will need to upsize as bub grows and depending on how big bub is when born, you might find yourself upsizing sooner rather than later. Much more economical to hire a newborn stash than to buy one of your own.....but we're biased!!!

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Dedicated Night Nappies: Night Nappies are designed to last the night leak free, these night nappies are bulkier than day nappies but they need to be! They come with additional inserts/ boosters to provide added absorbency to contain night time liquids...so you can all have a peaceful sleep.

Pros: Why a Dedicated Night Nappy? Because in some cases you just can't do without a dedicated night nappy 

Cons: Why not a Dedicated Night Nappy? If you can get away with using a day nappy or a day nappy with an extra insert then do it! Night nappies can be on the expensive side because of all the extra absorbent components they entail. 

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Nappy Cover (shell): Waterproof Nappy Covers are often sold as an individual item to allow inserts to be purchased separately or so that the cover can be used in conjunction with prefolds, preflats, flats & fitteds. Covers are generally unlined and able to be wiped down between uses.

You will also find a few night nappy All in One covers, where the inserts are separate but the cover has built in absorbency in the lining. These covers are brilliant for heavy wetters as they provide extra absorbency with less bulk, although the built in absorbency makes them slower to dry. 

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Fitted Nappies: Fitted nappies are shaped like a cover, yet these nappies are the absorbent component of a nappy and usually come with an insert set of their own. Because they are an absorbent component of a nappy, they must be paired with a waterproof cover. They usually have inbuilt fastening mechanisms such as snaps (front /side) or velcro and therefore do not require a separate fastener such as a Snappi or Nappy Pin.

 

Pros: Why a Fitted Nappy? Great for newborn nappies or night nappies as the entire nappy is absorbent so it contains newborn liquids and caters for those tummy or side sleepers! Easy to fit on bub while still providing the same wrap around absorption of a traditional cloth nappy. 

Cons: Why not a Fitted Nappy? They can be on the bulkier side especially if you are wanting to use them as a day nappy.

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Preflats: A Preflat Nappy is a modern take on the traditional flat nappy. A flat nappy with wings, this nappy some say, is much easier to fold and fit than a flat and often less bulky. 

Pros: Why a Preflat Nappy? A Preflat Nappy provides a more customisable fit, wrap around absorption & is not as bulky as a prefold or flat nappy. If you team them with a wipe down cover then you can get away with purchasing less covers to complete your full time stash, therefore they are potentially more cost effective than a stash of modern cloth nappies.

Cons: Why not a Preflat Nappy? A Preflat Nappy requires folding around bub so fitting the preflat can be hard and time consuming, especially on a wriggly bub. Depending on the fold and the thickness of the preflat, they can be on the bulkier side.

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Prefold: A Prefold Nappy is a flat, multi-layered rectangular nappy, similar to traditional cloth nappy flats but different. The rectangle is generally divided into thirds and sometimes has extra layers of fabric located in the central panel to increase absorbency while allowing the prefold to be less bulky along the side panels. 

Prefolds can be folded in multiple ways to suit your bub's shape, size and absorbency requirements and is held in place with a nappy fastener of your choice i.e. Snappi fasteners or nappy pins. Want some ideas on how to fold? Bubblebubs have some helpful videos: Padded or trifold fold, angel wing fold, newspaper fold, jelly roll fold or the bikini twist fold.

Because prefold nappies are the absorbent component of a nappy, they must be paired with a waterproof Cover.

Pros: Why a Prefold Nappy? Completely customisable to your bub so its easy to find the perfect fit. If you team them with a wipe down cover then you can get away with purchasing less covers to complete your full time stash, therefore they are potentially more cost effective than a stash of modern cloth nappies. You can lay a folded prefold into your nappy as an extra insert which makes them incredibly versatile! Plus they dry relatively quickly as they can be unfolded when hanging.

Cons: Why not a Prefold Nappy? A prefold requires folding around bub so fitting the prefold can be hard and time consuming on a wriggly bub. Depending on the fold they can be on the bulkier side.

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Flats: A Flat Nappy is a larger square or slightly rectangular single layer of fabric that can be folded in multiple ways to suit your bub's shape, size & absorbency requirements. Flats can be folded in multiple ways to suit your bub's shape, size and absorbency requirements and is held in place with a nappy fastener of your choice i.e. Snappi fasteners or nappy pins. Want some ideas on how to fold? Bubblebubs have some helpful videos: Padded or trifold fold, angel wing fold, newspaper fold, jelly roll fold or the bikini twist fold.

Because Flat Nappies are the absorbent component of a nappy, they must be paired with a waterproof Cover.

Pros: Why a Flat Nappy? Completely customisable to your bub so it's easy to find the perfect fit. If you team them with a wipe down cover then you can get away with purchasing less covers to complete your full time stash, therefore they are potentially more cost effective than a stash of modern cloth nappies. Flats can be used as an extra insert too, rather than folding around bub, which makes them incredibly versatile! Plus they are fast drying. An economical night nappy solution where bulk isn't an issue.

Cons: Why not a Flat Nappy? Can be hard and time consuming to fit onto a wriggly bub. Depending on the fabric and fold, they can be on the bulkier side. 

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You can learn more about the differences between Prefold Nappies + Flat Nappies here.