Which type of nappy is more suitable for my child?

The most important features to look for when choosing a nappy are:

- type;
- size;
- fastening; and
- fabric


- type:there are several types of nappies and sometimes can be confusing and daunting which one to choose. My advice is to never buy a full set of the same nappy without trying them first - otherwise you might be stuck with nappies that you do not like. I would suggest you to buy three or four very different types of nappies, try them and then buy more of the one that suited you best. The main different types of shaped modern nappies are: two-part nappy system, is a nappy which requires a separate waterproof wrap over the top of it; all-in-one nappy, where the waterproof bit and absorbent bit are all part of the nappy; pocket nappy, where the nappy has a slot opening to where an absorbent insert can be placed. Usually pocket nappies have a waterproof layer so does not need a wrap.
Other older type of nappies are: square terries, square muslins and prefolds. Nappy laundry services usually uses prefolds, because they dry quicker when unfolded. The most inconvenient aspect of using these older types of nappies is that they don't fit well around the legs and so leaks can happen.

- size: different types of nappies can be designed to fit a baby all the way from birth to potty or in several sizes. Birth-to-potty nappies usually are designed to fold on themselves when they are being used for a newborn baby. Because of this folding some parents find these type of nappies a bit bulky for their newborn baby and would prefer the best fit from the start. Sized nappies have the advantage of fitting better but you will have to buy a new set of nappies each time the size changes. With sized nappies, there are normally only two sizes to consider. Extra sizes might be available for premature babies and for toddlers.

- fastening: Velcro fastening or poppers? For the nappy to continue to fit as baby growns, almost all nappies have several poppers or velcro fastening across the tummy, and some have poppers by the legs. Velcro gives you more flexibility for the fastening so there's a perfect snuggle. With the nappies that fasten with poppers you might find that the nappy is a bit tight and the next popper the nappy is loose. Some parents don't like velcro because sometimes nappies stick together when they go through the wash. Some nappies are fasten-free, such as Contour nappy from Imse Vimse.


- fabric: Cotton terry is a good absorbent fabric to use for nappies. It also drys quickly. Cotton flannelette on the other hand is not as aborbent as terry but is more economical. Using a flannelette nappy with a terry booster is the most economical and yet effective nappy system. Both terry and flannelette can be unbleached or organic. Unbleached cotton do not use bleaching chemicals to make it white and organic cotton is produced in accordance with environmental guidelines. There are new fabrics entering the market such as hemp and bamboo - we will post more information regarding these fabrics.

How to adjust the Mother-ease One-Size nappy

Order Mother-ease one size nappy
Order Snap-in-pad booster pads

Nappy rash - treatment

- The most effective treatment, although not always the most practical one, is to temporarily discontinue use of nappies, allowing air to get to the affected skin.
- Commonly recommended remedies include oil-based protectants, which often contain petroleum jelly and cod liver oil or zinc oxide based ointments.
-If the rash is not settling after a few days, or is very raw, discuss with your health visitor, nurse, or doctor. There are also other types of rash such as Seborrheic (similar to cradle cap) and Atopic (allergic reaction characterised by itchiness), which require special treatment.

Other possible actions you can take:
- Discontinue the use of wipers. Wash baby with warm water using a gentle soap and cotton wool.
- Change detergent, or use less
- Try to make an extra rinse cycle.
- Consult your doctor if there are skin problems, eg eczema, in the family.

Nappy rash - prevention

- Change the nappy as soon as it is wet or soiled. It may be as often as hourly in newborn babies. - When possible, allow the baby to lie in a warm environment without a nappy for a while, before putting on another one.
- Use a barrier cream at nappy changes. Some barrier creams have antiseptic properties, which can help to deal with any germs.
- Wash your nappies with non bio-detergents and use less detergent than the quantity recommended by the detergent manufacturer.

Nappy rash - causes

The simplest cause of nappy rash is prolonged exposure to wetness from urine or stools. Both are responsible for increasing the skin PH and for promoting the activity of faecal enzimes. The result is the breakdown of the outermost layer of the skin, which in a baby is still very thin, and so the area becomes red or sore.
Once damage occurs, the skin can become susseptable to germs resulting in a rash with secondary infection.
Diet is another possible cause of nappy rash. Breastfed babies, for example, have a lower incidence of nappy rash, because their stools have lower pH and lower enzymatic activity. An increased likelihood of nappy rash occurs when a baby's diet undergoes a significant change (i.e. from breast milk to formula or from milk to solids). Treatmemt with antibiotics, or detergents remaining in the nappies are other frequent causes. Babies with sensitive skin may even react to minute particules of these chemicals, especially if they contain a "biological" additive.

review :: Imse All in One Nappy

I had almost given up stocking all-in-one (AIO) nappies because all that we had tried were either very bulky or had leaked. However, at the beginning of 2007 Imse Vimse announced they were designing an all-in-one nappy for parents who wanted an one-piece easy-to-use nappy. They have got it absolutely right. The Imse All in One nappy comes with gusetted legs which prevents leaks - this is the first AIO with gusseted legs which actually makes all the difference to prevent leaks. Not only that, this nappy has two booster pads permanently attached so there are many layers of fabric at all times for great absorbency. Customers that bought this nappy have said "I'm very impressed", "The nappy I was looking for because it is very easy to use", "Finally a nappy that does not need all other pieces and bits"

washing nappies

Is as simple as:
1. putting the nappies in the washing machine
2. wash with a 60 degrees program with or without pre-wash
3. using your normal detergent but without softner
4. optionally using tea tree oil or a desinfectant such as Napisan (which you can buy in Sainsbury's)
... as this lady kindly show us on the video

Mei Tai - back carry

Mei tai - back and front carry

Green Me accepts Real Nappies for London vouchers

We are now a registered supplier for Real Nappies for London and accept vouchers. This means that if the London borough in which you live has joined Real Nappies for London and you have a child under the age of 18 months, you could be entitled to claim an information pack and voucher. You can then use the voucher to purchase cloth nappies (and accessories) with us on-line or directly at Greenwich Market.

Participating boroughs and voucher amounts are
Bexley £40
Camden £54.15
Hackney £54.15
Hammersmith & Fulham £45
Haringey £54.15
Hounslow £50
Islington £54.15
Kensington & Chelsea £45
Lewisham £30
Newham £30
Redbridge £30
Tower Hamlets £50

You can request your voucher by applying online at the Real Nappies for London website, where you can also get more information about the scheme.

how many booster pads?

Booster pads are an excellent way to increase the absorbency of your nappy. You only need to use them during the night or when baby is out and about, approximatey 4 to 6 booster pads. Or, you may want the same number of booster pads as you have for nappies. More recently, nappies have been coming with their own attached booster pads, but there are still some nappies for which you may have to buy them separately.

how many wraps per child?

You will need far less wraps than nappies as wraps dry quicker and don't get soiled so often. Wraps come in different sizes, so you will need four or five wraps in each size. For the time you are using cloth nappies, you might use maybe 16 to 20 wraps.

machine loads

An average washing machine can take up to fifteen nappies, which can be almost your entire nappy stock, so one way of ensuring you do not end up without clean and dry nappies is to use a half-load wash program which nearly all modern washing machines will have. This program will use half the water and half the soap powder, thereby avoiding unnecessary and environmental wastage. You may want to wash your nappies, with the rest of your household laundry.

how many nappies per child?

I would suggest starting with 20 nappies and then adding more if you feel there are not enough. A newborn baby uses 10 to 12 nappies a day and as baby grows it will use less, averaging at eight a day.

As one of the main reasons for using cloth nappies is to lessen the impact on the environment, we would recommend that you dry your nappies on a washing line. However, cloth nappies don't take long to dry. A manufacturer may use a deep pile terry fabric which dries as fast as a bath towel, or will incorporate a design that allows the nappy to be opened up when drying.

Having too few nappies may result in your not having a dry nappy for the next/immediate change.

nappy types

Modern fitted nappies are usually categorised in three types.

The two-part nappy system, the most popular type of nappy, consists of a shaped nappy that is very absorbent but does not have waterproof qualities. You will have to purchase a separate waterproof wrap (also called nappy cover) to use over the nappy.

The pocket nappy is made from a waterproof material that has a slot opening where an absorbent pad is inserted.

The all-in-one nappy (AIO) is, as its name suggests, in one piece, rather like the disposable, whereby the nappy consists of layers of absorbent material and the outer layer is waterproof .

Other more traditional nappies are square terries and prefold nappies

NAPPIES CAN ALSO BE CATEGORISED by size-type:

Birth-to-potty nappies come in one size only. These nappies can be made smaller or larger by means of poppers or by folding them so that they will fit baby from birth till when she is out of nappies completely.

Multi-sized napppies normally come in two or three different sizes. When baby reaches a certain weight, she will need to wear the next size up. Some multi-sized nappies have extra special sizes that you might not need such as xsmall for premature/tiny newborn and xlarge for big toddlers

AND NAPPIES CAN ALSO BE CATEGORISED by the main fabric they are made from

Bamboo nappies made from bamboo fibers

Cotton nappies, hopefully unbleached or somewhat environmental, by having for example environmental dyes

Hemp nappies

Organic cotton nappies

Organic velour nappies

There can be a mix match of categories such as a birth to potty two part bamboo nappy, or a multi-sized AIO organic cotton nappy, ect. It is this various mixtures of categories that can lead to people being confused about cloth nappies, but I hope now you will no longer be confused and start to be a master in the cloth nappy jargon

baby carrier reviews

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coming soon...