Which Cloth Nappy Works Best?
The question of which kind of cloth nappy works best is a personal one. It depends on the size and shape of your child, and it depends on what ‘works best’ means for you. For some people, a highly absorbent nappy is best – one made from Bamboo or Hemp perhaps – for others, having nappies that dry quickly will be more important. And, these are also more sustainable than cotton nappies. That’s right, some cloth nappies are greener than others.
For the price-driven consumer, pre-folds and terry squares are the best option. Pre-folds are more expensive than terry squares, but are often made of more absorbent fabrics, such as hemp and bamboo. Pre-folds are also easier to use. In both cases, just make sure you have a good cover. The cheap covers are far more likely to leak.
If you are convenience-driven, you might want to consider an all-in-one fitted cloth nappy. These tend to be the most expensive option, incorporating as they do the cover into the nappy, but they are also incredibly easy to use. On the other hand, they have the longest drying time of all the options, and most manufacturers recommend against using a dryer or hot water cycle, as both are bad for the PUL fabric of the cover.
The middle of the road belongs to fitted cloth nappies, with pocket nappies sitting there too. Fitted cloth nappies have a separate cover, while pocket nappies effectively are a cover, with a pocket for placing the absorbent material.
Fitted cloth nappies and especially pocket nappies are both faster drying than AIOs, as they cover is separate to the ‘nappy’. And in the case of pockets, the ‘stuffers’ are often fairly cheap – in fact if you run out you could always substitute half a folded terry square – so it’s possible to have extras for when your dryer is broken and it’s raining out.
Lastly, maybe your focus is on finding the most environmentally sustainable nappy. In that case, you need to look at the fabric options. Hemp or bamboo nappies are both considered to be more sustainable than cotton, because of growing practices, although the sustainability of bamboo nappies is open to some questions.
In essence, there really is no ‘best cloth nappy’, it’s about identifying what your priorities are, and then trying out a few to see how they work on your baby – because babies are shaped differently, and the nappy your best friend swears by may leak as soon as you put it on your kid. If you can, try a few different cloth nappies before you buy a bulk pack.