What Are Modern Cloth Nappies? A Guide for Australian Parents
If you picture a cloth nappy as a square of terry towelling, a safety pin and a bucket of soaking water (I know I did!), you're picturing something from your parents' era. Modern cloth nappies look and behave a lot more like the disposables you already know!
This guide covers what a modern cloth nappy actually is, what it's made of, the different types, and what daily life with them looks like.
So, what is a modern cloth nappy?
Essentially, it's a reusable nappy with two jobs split between two layers. A waterproof outer holds everything in, and an absorbent inner soaks up the urine. You wash the whole thing and use it again.
Unlike the old-style cloth nappies, modern ones are shaped to fit a baby's body, with elastic around the legs and waist and snaps at the front. There's no folding, no pins and no plastic pants over the top.
How modern cloth nappies differ from traditional ones
| Traditional cloth | Modern cloth | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Large terry squares, folded by hand | Contoured, shaped like underpants |
| Fastening | Safety pins or clips | Snaps |
| Waterproofing | Separate plastic or wool pants | Built into the outer shell |
| Washing | Soaking in a bucket, then washing | Straight into the machine, no soaking |
| Under clothes | Bulky | Sits under normal baby clothes |
Soaking is the biggest myth - modern Napisan is a different formula and not cut out for cleaning in this method. In fact, the soaking actually wears out natural fibres faster. If that bucket is what's putting you off, you can put that picture out of your mind for good!
What's in a modern cloth nappy
The outer shell
The shell is the waterproof layer. Most are made from PUL, which stands for polyurethane laminate, a thin waterproof coating bonded onto soft fabric. So no, a modern cloth nappy isn't plastic free. What it is, is reusable. One shell is worn again and again, instead of thousands of single-use nappies going to landfill.
Note that it is common for labels to use PUL and TPU interchangeably - TPU just means a thermal (heat) lamination method was used, rather than chemical. Designer Bums nappies use TPU.
The inserts
Inserts are the absorbent part, and the fabric they're made from changes how a nappy performs.
- Bamboo: very absorbent and soft against skin. It's a natural fibre, so it takes a little longer to dry than synthetics.
- Cotton: gentle on skin and easy to wash, but less absorbent for its thickness, so it needs more layers.
- Hemp: very absorbent and slim, but slower to reach its full absorbency, so it's often blended with other fibres.
- Microfibre: absorbs quickly and dries quickly. It's best used with a soft layer between it and skin.
Natural fibres are kinder against your baby's skin. Designer Bums nappies use a mix of bamboo and cotton, with layers of bamboo for absorption, and a super soft cotton stay-dry layer for happier skin.
Closures and elastics
Snaps adjust the nappy to your baby's size, and elastic at the legs and back keeps everything contained. A good fit does most of the work here, which is why we wrote a fitting guide.
The main types of modern cloth nappies
You'll see a lot of abbreviations when you start looking. Here's what each one means.
| Type | How it works | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-in-one (AIO) | Absorbent layers are sewn into the waterproof outer | The simplest to use, easy for other carers | Slow to dry, and you can't easily add absorbency |
| All-in-two (AI2) | A shell plus separate inserts that snap or lay in | Adjusting absorbency, faster drying, replacing parts | Two pieces to put together |
| Inserts are stuffed into a pocket in the shell | A trim fit, and a familiar feel for carers | Inserts need to be taken out before washing | |
| Fitted plus cover | An absorbent fitted nappy with a waterproof cover over the top | Overnight and heavy wetters | Bulkier, and two layers to wash |
| Flats or prefolds plus cover | Folded fabric with a waterproof cover | The lowest upfront cost, and very fast drying | A learning curve with folding |
Designer Bums nappies are an all-in-two hybrid style with an optional pocket, so you can lay the inserts inside or stuff them, whichever gets you the best fit. Our beginners guide goes through the jargon in a bit more detail.
One size or sized?
Most modern cloth nappies are one size fits most (OSFM). Rise settings let you fold the nappy down small for a newborn and open it back out as your baby grows, so the same nappy can last from birth to toilet training. Our one-size-fits-most have three rise settings.
Sized nappies are made for a specific weight range. They can suit premature babies and bigger toddlers. At Designer Bums, our Little range fits babies from 1.5 to 5kg, and our Large range suits children from around 10 to 23kg.
If you're starting from the very beginning, this guide to cloth nappies from birth covers what to expect.
What daily life with modern cloth looks like
This is the part most people want to know.
- Changing: it works like a disposable. The nappy comes off, and the dirty one goes into a basket or wet bag.
- Poo: newborn poo is water soluble and can go straight into the wash. Once solids start, you shake or scrub the solids into the toilet first.
- Washing: a machine load every second day or so, with no soaking. Our care instructions have the full routine.
- Drying: inserts can go in the dryer on low heat, and shells are hung to dry. Never use a heat source on shells, because it can damage the waterproof layer.
If something isn't going quite right, there's help for smells and for fit and containment.
Once a month, a cleaning cycle with washing machine cleaner is run. By introducing this into your regular laundry routine, you will find all your loads of laundry benefit from your new habit.
Do you have to go full time?
No. Plenty of families use cloth for a few days a week, or only at home. A small stash covers a day or two in cloth, and disposables fill in while the washing catches up. You can work out the right amount in how many cloth nappies you actually need.
Wondering whether cloth could work at daycare? It can.
Questions we hear a lot
Are modern cloth nappies hard to use?
The first few changes are mostly about getting a good fit. After that it becomes routine. Snap on, snap off.
Are they bulky?
Modern cloth is trimmer than people expect. Designer Bums nappies are shaped like underpants and sit under normal baby clothes.
Do I need to soak them?
No. Soaking isn't needed and can shorten the life of your nappies.
What do they cost compared with disposables?
Cloth costs more upfront, then far less over time. We've broken down the numbers in cloth nappies vs disposables.
Where to start
If you're not sure which nappy or how many, our nappy quiz works it out based on your own situation. If you'd rather try before committing, the trial packs are a good way to get a feel for cloth life. Or browse all our modern cloth nappies.
