Please note: Real Nappies for London and your local council cannot endorse any particular brand or product.
Real nappies come in many different shapes, sizes, fabrics and colours. It can be confusing, especially for a new parent, but we hope that the information on this page will help simplify things a little, and lets you have a little fun choosing yours!
No folding needed. These are shaped and fitted, with soft,
elasticated legs and waist.
Easy to put on, most have Velcro fastenings or poppers. The main types are ‘one size’ (birth-to-potty) or ‘sized’ (small, medium, large and even XL). They wash and dry easily, although some fabrics take longer to dry than others. All shaped nappies need a waterproof covering wrap.
Also called stuffables, these are wraps with a pouch into which you can insert any pads eg folded terries, shaped inserts, prefolds or pads you have made yourself from absorbent fabrics; like creating an all-in-one. They do not require a separate covering wrap as this is integral to the design. Very versatile as you can add pads for night times and use fewer during the day. The inserted pads can dry quickly after washing.
Real nappies come in many different shapes, sizes, fabrics and colours. It can be confusing, especially for a new parent, but we hope that the information on this page will help simplify things a little, and lets you have a little fun choosing yours!
Shaped nappies
No folding needed. These are shaped and fitted, with soft,
elasticated legs and waist.
Easy to put on, most have Velcro fastenings or poppers. The main types are ‘one size’ (birth-to-potty) or ‘sized’ (small, medium, large and even XL). They wash and dry easily, although some fabrics take longer to dry than others. All shaped nappies need a waterproof covering wrap.Cost:
from around £9 each.Advantages:
- easy to put on, wash and dry
- poppers and Velcro mean you can adjust to your baby’s size, increasing reliability
- widely available
- can be used on more than one baby.
Disadvantages:
- birth-to-potty nappies and some brands may be bulky on a new born
- unless you buy one size, you will need larger sizes as the baby grows.
Pocket nappies
Also called stuffables, these are wraps with a pouch into which you can insert any pads eg folded terries, shaped inserts, prefolds or pads you have made yourself from absorbent fabrics; like creating an all-in-one. They do not require a separate covering wrap as this is integral to the design. Very versatile as you can add pads for night times and use fewer during the day. The inserted pads can dry quickly after washing.
Cost:
from around £14 each; special inserts around £3.Advantages:
- easy to put on, wash and dry
- useful when out and about or for nursery as they can be prepared in advance
- very versatile.
Disadvantages:
- more expensive than two part nappies
- unless you buy one size, you will need larger sizes as the baby grows.
Flat nappies
Pre-folds are popular and slim fitting; the nappy has a stitched, prefolded centre and is then folded into a pad and fits inside a wrap designed for them. Most nappy laundry services supply pre-folds. If you use a laundry service you may have to buy the wraps yourself.
Cost:
from around £3 a nappy, £8 a wrap.Advantages:
- very durable & can be used on more than one baby
- very absorbent
- quickest to dry
- available in fair-trade organic cotton
- versatile - fold in different ways to suit baby’s needs, e.g. for increased absorbency at night.
Disadvantages:
- 2 sizes needed for birth to potty (but if you start using them when your baby is 6 months you may only need the bigger size)
Wraps
A waterproof wrap is worn over flat or shaped nappies.
Soft, durable and breathable, most are machine washable.