How do I choose the best cloth nappies for my baby?

There are many variables to consider when searching for the right reusable nappy: the size and shape of your baby, whether they’re prone to leaks (although poonami's are much less common in modern cloth nappies), and – crucially – your home washing and drying facilities.

 

Using cloth nappies full-time, the size of your stash (how many cloth nappies you have) will dictate how often you wash your cloth nappies. Generally, people try to wash their cloth nappies every two or three days, you can find our cloth nappy washing advice here. If you live in a cold, small or damp space, you’ll need quick-drying reusable nappies or cloth nappies that you can put in your tumble drier if you have one, using a dehumidifier can also speed up drying time.

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Whilst the choices and types of cloth nappies can seem overwhelming, there are two main options to choose from:

• One-part cloth nappies involve fastening a nappy around your child in "one piece" much like a disposable nappy. They are convenient and quickest to put on but offer less absorbency and containment than a two-part reusable nappy system because they tend to have one set of elastic and less absorbent material. Some one-part cloth nappy systems take a little more preparation work as you need to assemble them (such as putting the absorbent "insert" inside a pocket opening in the water resistant shell "pocket" nappy) and some are all ready prepared (such as all in one cloth nappies, where everything is sewn together).

• Two-part reusable nappies involve using a cloth nappy with a separate wrap or cover. They’re unbeatable for absorbency and containment. The whole cloth nappy of the inner layer is made from absorbent material, so they are often used as night-time nappies or for nap times and long journeys. They also form two separate sealed nappies around babies legs, making them likely to contain even the most explosive expulsions, as the wrap or cover which is water resistant goes on in a separate second piece. Historically fitted nappies tend to be slower drying, because they absorb more, but this was worth it when you’ve got a heavy wetter and space to dry the nappies, as they’re a reliable regular option.  However, with Bells Bumz our fitted nappies are designed to be quick drying as you can separate the layers. Two-parters, such as our innovative z swap system using our Z Wraps and Z soakers can work out cheaper because you only need to buy a few wraps to cover a stash of nappies.

 

Use the questionnaire below to find out which of our cloth nappies will suit you and your baby, from newborn to toddler to beyond we have a cloth nappy to suit your needs. You may also find our cloth nappy calculator useful to see how many cloth nappies you will need.