Nappy jargon is confusing. I remembered the first time I sat down at the computer to research cloth nappies, I was 30 something weeks pregnant, and walked (or waddled) away feeling thoroughly confused and searching for the nearest Kit-Kat for comfort. I had no idea what nappies to buy, what a prefold, all in one, or pocket nappy was, or what would best suit my little unborn babies bum. I was determined to give cloth nappying a go, but I wanted to be sure that the couple of hundred dollars I was going to shell out was going to be worth it.
Choosing the right nappies will depend on your individual circumstances and is paramount to your cloth nappy happiness. The main factors you need to consider are where you live (how long does your washing take to dry?), your budget, and if you are planning on having subsequent children (purchasing good quality nappies will last a couple of children). Loving how cute they look on your babies bottom and how lovely they look all hanging together on the line is an added bonus 
At Nappiness we only stock the brands we know and love. The various brands and styles we stock ensure that everybody is going to find the cloth nappying solution that they are happy with. We do realise that too much information is more a hinderance than a help, so here are some (as brief as possible) descriptions of the different nappy types, their positive points and their limitations.
Sized nappies are created in different sizes (i.e small, medium, large etc.). One of the good features of sized nappies is that the snug, trim fit minimises leakage and are not as bulky as many one sized options. As sized nappies get to ‘share the load’ as far as usage (i.e the smalls may be only used for 6 months or so), they are easily handed down to subsequent children (or passed on to lucky friends or resold as second hand). However, as you have to purchase many more nappies than if you were using a one sized option, it is generally the more expensive system.
One size nappies are designed to fit from birth to potty. This is an extremely cost effective way to cloth nappy your baby, as you only have one cost outlay – you never have to purchase the next size up. Good quality nappies may still last to use on another baby even though they get many years of use. Some one sized nappies are quite bulky, especially on newborns, so many find that using a sized option for the newborn stage and then moving on to the one sized nappies very beneficial.
An all in one nappy really is the ultimate convenience. Each part of the nappy – the absorbency and the waterproof layer, are sewn together, meaning no bits and pieces to fold, snap or stuff. This ‘grab and go’ convenience is only overshadowed by drying time and the cost. As some of the AIO systems have absorbency sewn in, they may take longer to dry (this is not the case with all AIO’s though) and they are generally a more expensive option in the long run.
An all in two is very similar to the all in one but they have ‘bits that come apart’ to allow you to simply exchange the wet part of the nappy for a clean, dry one – reusing the ‘shell’ or ‘cover’. This is also a cost effective way to cloth nappy your baby as you are able to purchase more ‘inners’ or ‘boosters’ which are less expensive than purchasing an entire nappy. The all in two system also generally enables a quicker drying time which makes them the perfect nappying system if you live in cold or wet areas of the world where laundry takes longer to dry.
A pocket nappy has an ‘opening’ or ‘pocket’ on the inside of the nappy in which to insert absorbency in the way of ‘boosters’ or ‘inserts’. The beauty of pocket nappies is that you can stuff them with whatever absorbent material you like – some like microfibre for its quick-drying ability, others like hemp, cotton, or bamboo. They also allow you to customise the absorbency level required for your individual child.
A prefold nappy is a square or rectangular piece of absorbent fabric (not dissimilar to your traditional terry squares) which are easily folded (along pre sewn in lines to minimise origami confusion!) and fastened with a ‘snappi’ or pins. Prefolds have no waterproof layer so they require a separate cover. Some types of covers also allow for a prefold nappy to be simply slotted in to the cover to eradicate the need for separate fastening. Prefolds are a fantastic option for newborns, as they are not pricey, and as you need quite a large number of nappies for that early period, they make an inexpensive and effective cloth nappying solution.
A fitted nappy is a nappy that is shaped to fit and made entirely out of absorbent material. Fitted nappies are great overnight as the whole nappy provides absorbency. Fitted nappies require a cover.
Covers come in a variety of materials, shapes, and styles. PUL (polyurethane laminate) is a polyester knit fabric that has been coated with a thin, waterproof layer. Although this fabric is completely synthetic, PUL is very breathable and durable. For those who prefer a natural alternative, wool covers provide maximum breathability and when lanolised, are a completely waterproof fabric. Either can be fastened using ‘snaps’ (like a press stud made from resin) or velcro (also referred to as ‘hook and loop’).
I know, I know, it is still a lot to take in. Sometimes the best way to really find a great cloth nappying solution is by chatting to others and seeing what works for them. I hope to facilitate these kind of discussions on this blog, to enable you all to chat and get different perspectives, so we really welcome your comments! I’ll be offering blogging ‘guest spots’ to other mums from time to time, so you can get a sense of what others use and what might work for you.
In the meantime, come like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with all things Nappiness and stay tuned for the next entry which is all about fabric…
