Pocket Nappies
(Issy Bears – BumCheeks – Baby BeeHind Magicalls)
A pocket nappy consists of a waterproof outer (ie PUL, cotton or Minky fabrics), often called the shell, and a stay-dry inner, with a pocket between the two layers. The pocket opening can be at the front of the back of the nappy and absorbent layers, such as bamboo or microfibre, are inserted here.
Advantages of a pocket nappy
1. Ability to adjust the absorbency according to the needs of the child – you can add boosters if your child is a heavier wetter, and add night boosters for overnight use.
2. Quick drying – because you remove the insert to wash the nappy, it’s less bulky and will dry faster than for example an All-in-One.
3. No cover required
4. Very easy and Dad friendly – if the nappy is pre-stuffed (i do it in front of the TV at night!), it is put on the baby just like a disposable nappy
Disavantages
1. Time needed to ‘stuff’ the nappy. You will need to either put in the inserts as you need them or all at once.
Fitteds
(Baby BeeHinds Bamboo Fitteds)
These are usually bamboo or hemp and require a cover. They are shaped like a nappy but have no waterproofing built in. They will usually come with a snap in or lay in booster and the entire nappy is absorbent, hence the need for covers.
Advantages
1. You can use the same cover again after changing the nappy
2. The whole nappy is made of absorbent material so you have less chance of leaks
Disadvantages
1. Two steps to change a nappy
2. Takes longer to dry, but not as long as an All-in-one
All-In-One Nappies
(Itti Bitti All-in-ones – Pikapú)
These are one piece nappies, used exactly the same as a disposable. The waterproof cover and the absorbent inner are all sewn together as one. These often come with boosters that snap into the nappy and lie inside the nappy against the baby’s skin.
Advantages
1. Very easy to use, no stuffing or folding required
2. Dad friendly – goes on just the same as a disposable.
3. No cover required
Disadvantages
1. Longest drying – some All in ones can take a couple of days to dry completely because there are so many layers.
2. Can be the more expensive option.
All-in-Two Nappies
(Bonnibuns – Itti Bitti All-in-twos – Monk ‘n’ Bear – Baby BeeHinds Petites All-in-two – Issy Bear Snaps)
These are like a pocket nappy without the Pocket, instead the insert or booster is snapped into the shell of the nappy.
Advantages
1. Quick drying
2. The absorbent insert can be taken out and changed instead of changing the entire nappy.
3. Less washing
Disadvantages
1. A bit fiddly - having to snap in a new insert can be difficult if you have a wriggly baby
2. These are also usually a sized nappy system rather than a One Size Fits All, which means buying more nappies as the baby grows.
I always say as a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to have 3 days worth of nappies. That way you have two days worth and then a day for washing. Different manufacturers have different instructions as to how to wash and care for your nappies (which I have outlined in ‘How to care for your Nappies’), but I certainly wouldn’t leave mine more than two days between washes. Some people leave it three, but I get nervous about the elastic breaking down.
So, say you use 10 nappies a day; you would need 30 nappies all together. Younger babies may use more than that, and older babies will use less.
On average a Modern Cloth Nappy will cost you around $25 (again, some more, some less!), so for 30 nappies that would be $750 for a complete, full time nappying system. It sounds like a lot but consider the cost of disposables – up to $3500 depending on when your child toilet trains!
