basically, the factors to bear in mind when choosing nappies, include:
- ease of use and preparation
- bulkiness/trimness
- drying time
- amount of absorbency
- resistance to poo-leaks
- customisability of absorbency (where and how much)
- cost, durability
the simplest option is to lay a folded flat nappy or a shaped booster pad inside a good cover (eg bummis).. i like this a lot cos it makes less laundry (and less bulk in the nappy bag), dries quickly, is cheap, no elastic to wear out, works, and is simple.
the other options are:
Pockets (eg haute pockets, and the bumgenius one-size)
*Pros
- can stuff with anything you want (eg flat towels), so you can customise how much absorbency you want (and add more in the front for boys).
- as everything comes out, it dries very very quickly, the cover in under a day on the line, and the flat towels in about 24hours.
- if you use preshaped pads, it's quick and easy to stuff.
*Cons
- the extra step of needing to stuff the pockets (adds to laundry time)
- the whole nappy needs to be washed each time, no reusable parts.
All-in-ones (eg bumgenius)
*Pros - quick and easy and foolproof, as easy to put on as disposables.
*Cons
- the whole nappy needs to be washed each time, no reusable parts.
- can't customise absorbability eg more in front for boys
- the elastic tends to only live for 2 to 3 years (because of heaviness when drying)
All-in-twos, also called snap-in all-in-ones (eg itti bittis, iish fly)
*Pros
- can reuse the cover without washing, saving on laundry (and less bulk in the nappy bag)
- the snap-out bits means short drying time (about 24 hours)
- if you leave the snap-in parts on to wash, it's almost as quick and easy to put on as an all-in-one
- with some brands, you can customise which snap-on boosters you use and where, to customise absorbability eg more at front for boys
Fitteds - this is used with an optional stay-dry liner (which i like cos if the poo is awful, you can throw it away, it's just polar fleece), and a cover (eg bummis PUL cover, or a thick fleece or wool cover/shorts/pants)
*Pros
- the most absorbent of any nappy. the only one that can properly go for longer than about 4 hours (the others will be fine to this point).
- the best for preventing poo leaks, because of the double line of elastic (one of nappy, one of cover)
- you can reuse the cover without washing, saving on laundry.
*Cons
- may be more fiddly cos more pieces are involved; the nappy, the stay-dry liner, the cover (unless you use wool/fleece pants)
- may be bulkier than the others.
- very long drying time, sometimes 3 days in the line indoors, 1.5 days in the sun, or a few hours in the dryer.
- the elastic tends to only live for 2 to 3 years (because of heaviness when drying) (but is easy to sew new elastic over)
and some additional options when choosing your nappies, which may or may not matter to you at all:
One-size-fits-all (eg bumgenius pockets, haute pockets, some fitteds):
*Pros
- you only need to buy one set for your baby so is cheaper (which matters less if you have another child later that can use them again).
*Cons
- while your baby is small, the nappy will be a bit bulkier with the excess fabric. but the fit will still be decent, depending on the nappy and your baby's shape.
Velcro (vs snaps)
*Pros
- easy to use, foolproof. can do one handed (important w wriggly babies!)
- can get an exact fit for your baby.
*Cons
- need to make sure tabs are folded back before washing, or they'll catch on other things.
- fabric around the tab tends to look ratty quickly due to catching on the velcro.
- sound of opening velcro may startle young babies, or wake sleeping member of family
Topstitching at leg openings (stitching makes a "channel" which can be seen from the outside, at the legs).
gives a tighter fit; (vs non-topstitched openings which "roll" with baby's movements):
*Pros
- better poo leak protection
*Cons
- not as comfortable, may leave red marks on baby's skin.
- for mobile babies, may chafe and cause rash.
- ease of use and preparation
- bulkiness/trimness
- drying time
- amount of absorbency
- resistance to poo-leaks
- customisability of absorbency (where and how much)
- cost, durability
the simplest option is to lay a folded flat nappy or a shaped booster pad inside a good cover (eg bummis).. i like this a lot cos it makes less laundry (and less bulk in the nappy bag), dries quickly, is cheap, no elastic to wear out, works, and is simple.
the other options are:
Pockets (eg haute pockets, and the bumgenius one-size)
*Pros
- can stuff with anything you want (eg flat towels), so you can customise how much absorbency you want (and add more in the front for boys).
- as everything comes out, it dries very very quickly, the cover in under a day on the line, and the flat towels in about 24hours.
- if you use preshaped pads, it's quick and easy to stuff.
*Cons
- the extra step of needing to stuff the pockets (adds to laundry time)
- the whole nappy needs to be washed each time, no reusable parts.
All-in-ones (eg bumgenius)
*Pros - quick and easy and foolproof, as easy to put on as disposables.
*Cons
- the whole nappy needs to be washed each time, no reusable parts.
- can't customise absorbability eg more in front for boys
- the elastic tends to only live for 2 to 3 years (because of heaviness when drying)
All-in-twos, also called snap-in all-in-ones (eg itti bittis, iish fly)
*Pros
- can reuse the cover without washing, saving on laundry (and less bulk in the nappy bag)
- the snap-out bits means short drying time (about 24 hours)
- if you leave the snap-in parts on to wash, it's almost as quick and easy to put on as an all-in-one
- with some brands, you can customise which snap-on boosters you use and where, to customise absorbability eg more at front for boys
Fitteds - this is used with an optional stay-dry liner (which i like cos if the poo is awful, you can throw it away, it's just polar fleece), and a cover (eg bummis PUL cover, or a thick fleece or wool cover/shorts/pants)
*Pros
- the most absorbent of any nappy. the only one that can properly go for longer than about 4 hours (the others will be fine to this point).
- the best for preventing poo leaks, because of the double line of elastic (one of nappy, one of cover)
- you can reuse the cover without washing, saving on laundry.
*Cons
- may be more fiddly cos more pieces are involved; the nappy, the stay-dry liner, the cover (unless you use wool/fleece pants)
- may be bulkier than the others.
- very long drying time, sometimes 3 days in the line indoors, 1.5 days in the sun, or a few hours in the dryer.
- the elastic tends to only live for 2 to 3 years (because of heaviness when drying) (but is easy to sew new elastic over)
and some additional options when choosing your nappies, which may or may not matter to you at all:
One-size-fits-all (eg bumgenius pockets, haute pockets, some fitteds):
*Pros
- you only need to buy one set for your baby so is cheaper (which matters less if you have another child later that can use them again).
*Cons
- while your baby is small, the nappy will be a bit bulkier with the excess fabric. but the fit will still be decent, depending on the nappy and your baby's shape.
Velcro (vs snaps)
*Pros
- easy to use, foolproof. can do one handed (important w wriggly babies!)
- can get an exact fit for your baby.
*Cons
- need to make sure tabs are folded back before washing, or they'll catch on other things.
- fabric around the tab tends to look ratty quickly due to catching on the velcro.
- sound of opening velcro may startle young babies, or wake sleeping member of family
Topstitching at leg openings (stitching makes a "channel" which can be seen from the outside, at the legs).
gives a tighter fit; (vs non-topstitched openings which "roll" with baby's movements):
*Pros
- better poo leak protection
*Cons
- not as comfortable, may leave red marks on baby's skin.
- for mobile babies, may chafe and cause rash.
Posts
