OK, so you’ve read all the arguments for and against, and you’ve decided to make the change – you’re going to go cloth. But what do you do now? How do you make the decision as to which nappies you should use? There’s a bewildering range of nappies available, not to mention different wraps, liners, different fastenings….If you're still confused after reading this article, please feel free to email sales@treehuggermums.co.uk and we'll do our best to help.

The Questions
The first thing to do, is to try and prioritise what it is you want out of using cloth nappies. Take a look at the following list, and give each of them a mark out of 10, where 1 is not important at all, and 10 is vital.

• Financial cost
• Cost to the environment
• Ability to avoid leaks
• Ease of use
• Speed/ease of drying
• Speed/ease of changing
• The Cuteness Factor

Consider also:

• How often do you intend to wash?
• What drying facilities do you have?
• Is your baby breastfed or bottle fed?
• Is your baby likely to be taller than average?
• Are you planning to have any further children, and if so, are you likely to have two in nappies at the same time?
• Is your baby going to spend any time in childcare?
• Would you prefer a shaped nappy, or are you willing to do some folding of nappies?

Considering all of the above will allow you to narrow down which nappies will suit you best.

The Answers
Below I have listed some common concerns of mothers when choosing which nappies to use, along with some suggestions for brands to try and links to the THM Shop

I have a limited budget for cloth nappies
If financial cost is most important to you, you may consider using a birth-to-potty nappy, such as the Motherease One Size, Motherease Multifit or the Under-the-Nile nappy. You can also adjust a size 2 non-Aplix Bamboo Lovable to fit a smaller baby (although this may be a bit bulky on a newborn). This will avoid the need to have different sized nappies for each child. Bear in mind that you may have to compromise on the neatness of fit if you use a birth-to-potty nappy. The ultimate budget nappy system would be to use terry squares, if you are prepared to master some basic folding.

I want to minimise the environmental cost of my nappies
You will probably want to use an organic nappy, such as the Motherease One-Size Organic, Motherease Sandy's Organic, or alternatively you could try Under-the-Nile and Disana nappies. The Ella's House Day Hemp Nappy and the Bamboo Lovable are made from fabrics which are both absorbent and eco-friendly. You may also want to try using a wool wrap (totally natural, the ultimate ‘green’ wrap), or perhaps a fleece wrap such as the Stacinator Deluxe Fleece, as these are more durable.

I’d like to avoid leaks (especially if your baby is breastfed)
A shaped nappy, with elastic around the legs, will offer better containment. Consider Tots Bots, Kissaluvs, Motherease Sandy's. Avoid an All-in-One system, as there is only one place where the leaks will be stopped. A two part system (nappy and wrap) will offer more protection against leaks. Prefolds will contain wetness well, but may allow some leakage of poo. Cotton covered wraps may wick, causing wet leaks – try to avoid these if you want to avoid any dampness.

I’m used to using disposables, I’d like a cloth nappy that is as easy to use
For ultimate ease of use, you would probably look to buy an All-in-One. They are just as easy to put on as disposables. However, they are more expensive than the two part systems, and can not usually be tumble dried, so if speed of drying is also important to you, this may not be the ideal solution for you. The Motherease All-in-One is very popular – this can be tumble dried on low, however repeated exposure to heat in this way will reduce the life of the waterproof layer.
Once you are used to them, there is only marginally more work involved in using a two part nappy system, plus the nappies are cheaper, longer lasting, and you have the advantage of being able to tumble dry the nappies.
You may want to consider using a pocket type nappy, such as Fuzzi Bunz or Stuffables, which are a sort of mix between one and two part systems. These are a combination of wrap and fleece, into which you stuff either a terry, prefold or special insert. Once this has been done, they are put on like an All-in-One. This makes them a popular choice for use at a childminders, or to leave for a babysitter to use.

I haven’t got a tumble-drier, what nappies are the quickest to dry?
The quickest nappy system is probably terry squares, followed by pre-folds. Pocket Nappies are also very quick to dry. You will want to avoid All-in-Ones, as they can not be dried on radiators. Shaped nappies take longer to dry, especially around the elasticated areas. If you do have a tumble drier, but want to limit the amount of time you use it, you can tumble the nappies for the first 10 or 20 minutes, and then line dry. This will keep them softer than line drying alone.

My baby is a wriggler, I’d like a nappy that I can change quickly
Aplix nappies are quickest to fasten, however you may find that they are also easier for your baby to undo as he gets older. Some popper fastening nappies (Kissaluvs, Motherease Sandy's) can be partly done up, and then pulled on before fastening the final poppers. You could also try pull on wraps,. Again, Pocket Nappies may suit your needs, as you only have one layer to put on, but without the downsides associated with All-in-Ones.

I want a cute nappy
Favourite nappies often include Tots Bots (for the Fairy Snow look), Kissaluvs (very slim fitting) and Fuzzi Bunz (slim fitting and in very nice colours). If your baby is long and slim, Aplix fastened nappies can often look too bulky. Ellas House print nappies come in some lovely designs.
You may be keen to have a look at some of the WAHM (Work At Home Mothers) sites, but be aware that if you buy from the States, you may have to add taxes to the cost, and shipping will be more expensive as well. Have a look at the THM Directory to find a list of UK sellers

My baby will be looked after by someone else from time to time
If your baby will be looked after by a babysitter occasionally, or will spend a few hours a week at a creche, then you may wish to buy a couple of All-in-Ones for these times. If your baby is going to either a childminder or nursery, while you return to either full or part-time work, then you may not wish to use All-in-Ones. If you choose Aplix fastening nappies and wraps, it won’t add much to the time that nappy-changing. Alternatively, you could supply Pocket Nappies, all ready stuffed, which would be very convenient for the childminder/nursery staff.

I will have two children in nappies
Consider using a birth-to-potty nappy, such as a Motherease Multifit, or Motherease One-Size. You may find that these are a little too low in the rise for some taller toddlers, although you can buy nappy extenders to overcome this problem. If you prefer to go for sized nappies, consider buying different colours for the different sizes..

I want to use cloth at night but am worried it might leak
As long as you choose an absorbent nappy cloth is less likely to leak during the night and should easily last 12 hours. Ella's House Bumhugger are popular choices for night nappies. You may need to boost the nappy to increase absorbency especially if you have a heavy wetter. You can buy readymade fleece-topped boosters or you can use a small terry, a flannel or even a teashirt or teatowel. Using a fleecetopped booster will help keep your baby's bottom dry. Wool or fleece wraps, such as the Stacinator Deluxe Fleece wrap work well at night because they are breathable. As they allow moisture to evaporate, you may find the nappy is less soaked the following morning than it would usually be. My favourite night-time combination is an Ella's House Bumhugger with a Stacinator wrap

Fleece liners, or paper? Which is better?
As long as you don’t mind sluicing the odd nappy, then you could well prefer to use fleece liners. Most poo will just fall off the liner into the toilet, and you can hold onto one corner of the nappy/liner as you hold it in the flush, to get rid of any which remains. A fleece liner allows urine to pass through it, and keeps your baby skin very dry. You may also want to consider buying a couple of silk liners – these are made of raw silk, which has healing properties and will be useful to have on hand to deal with the occasional red bum.

Still unsure? Email sales@treehuggermums.co.uk or telephone 01952 811413 for help or more information.