Pocket Nappies: What Does This mean?

In Search of the Best Cloth Nappies: Pocket Nappies

A pocket nappy – the goal of this article is to clarify for you what the term ‘pocket’ nappy means, and to introduce you to some of the cloth nappy shops who offer these adjustable and quick drying pocket nappies.

These nappy retailers and nappy makers have been asked to describe the pocket nappy for you in their own way, depending on the time thay had available to contribute when I asked; you’ll see quick, concise definitions as well as detailed explanations that reveal more about the composition of the nappy fabrics, materials and designs. I am certain you will discover everything you need to know about them in their brief or detailed descriptions – I did! Once you know, pop over and look at their pocket nappies with your enhanced understanding of the features and benefits of the pocket nappy.

Your Nappy Doula’s explain Pocket Nappies for you in a variety of ways…

Kyra from Bubbalooba:

Pocket nappies have a removable absorbent insert, which helps the nappy dry a lot faster! They do require a tiny bit of extra work, as you need to stuff the nappies after every wash, and remove the insert before washing, but these are my preferred nappy just for the quick drying time.

Rebecca from Bean Sprout Bubba:

An outer waterproof shell sewn to an inner stay-dry liner, with an opening (pocket!) in the front or back of the nappy to slip in some absorbent fabric (insert)

Lara from Extremely Nappies:

Pocket nappies are the best: they tick all the boxes. I won’t use anything else! All I make at Extremely Nappies is pocket nappies. They go on as easy as disposables, as they are the same shape and they fasten with top quality velcro. They have a staydry inner that goes against baby’s bum, so fluids pass through into the middle. In the pocket there are removable absorbent inserts which come out for washing and therefore dry much, much faster than if they were sewn in. On the outside is a layer of breathable, waterproof material, to keep baby’s clothes dry. It’s covered with a funky cotton print so they look good!

I use 2 types of material for absorbent boosters (or inserts): microfiber and bamboo (or hemp). This is a popular combination, here’s why: microfiber soaks up fast, like a sponge, holding 7 times its weight in water, but just as if you sat on a sponge, the water would squeeze out. So it needs another material to hold that water, to lock it in, so to speak. Hemp and bamboo absorb 3 times their weight in water, and don’t release it under compression. They are much trimmer than cotton, so baby’s nappy isn’t too bulky, and they’re environmentally friendly crops, grown without chemicals. They are also anti bacterial and anti fungal. How cool is that?

The legs are elasticised to contain any mess, yet covered with soft microfleece or suedecloth to protect baby’s skin. The velcro ensures the nappies go easy on, easy off, and Extremely Nappies have laundering tabs that let you fold the velcro securely shut, so it won’t snag in the wash. They are also double sided, meaning the velcro tabs can cross over, to fit really tiny waists. The pocket is simply an opening at the back, where you insert the boosters into the shell (stuff the nappy). This is a major design advantage, because you can choose how much absorbency to use. For overnight or older toddlers with big bladders, you can add an extra booster (or any soaking material you like). The great thing about removable boosters is that the nappy dries in 3 parts, which takes several hours, instead of several days.

Extremely Nappies are also One Size Fits All, because if you invest in nappies they should fit to toilet training, without you having to buy bigger ones later. Some pocket nappies have snaps to change adjust “rise” – I found snaps an annoyance on other nappies, so always left them undone (on the biggest setting) and they worked just fine on a newborn. So I designed these without snaps, and they fit from 3.5 kg to 15 kgs- they’ll just look a bit bigger on a tiny baby than a toddler.

Nicole from Krap Katchers:

Pocket Nappies are just that, pockets! You can truly customize the nappy to suit your baby’s needs by stuffing the pocket with however many absorbent inserts desired. Pocket Nappies are also extremely quick drying as you can pull them completely apart and have them ready to go again in no time!

Now you know exactly what a pocket nappy is and the best features and benefits of this style of modern nappies.

To summarise this series of articles about the meaning of the various nappy styles, Amy of WeePantz clarifies the main components of modern nappies, to reassure you that it is actually easy to choose the nappy style that suits your lifestyle, baby and budget:

Essentially, all nappies are comprised of similar components, remembering this helps us to not get confused when looking at new brands or styles of nappies.

The main components of a nappy are:

1. Absorbency (whether it be sewn in on an AIO, Stuffed in a pocket or the entire nappy in a fitted or a flat or a prefold)

2. Waterproofing (covers, PUL layers, woollen soakers etc)

3. Stay Dry Layer (flushable or washable liners, or the microfleece/suedecloth layer in a nappy)

4. Fastening (Velcro, snappis and snaps)

When we remember that, I think its easy to figure out what a nappy needs to have in it, and how we want our nappy system to work. For example if you want it all in one you get an AIO, if you don’t mind attaching stuff, then you can look into other options like pockets, AI2’s, fitteds etc. A parent can decide what is right for them rather than being confused by all the options available.

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about pocket nappies:

Which brands of pocket nappies do you have in your stash?

What do you prefer about pocket nappies?

Nighttime Nappies: What Does This Mean?

In search of the best “Nitey Nite” Nappy!

Nighttime Nappies – the goal of this article is to clarify for you what you need to know about night time nappies, without any doubt, and to introduce you to some of the cloth nappy shops who offer reusable cloth night nappies.

Your Nappy Doula’s explain Reusable Night Nappies for you in a variety of ways…

Rebecca from Bean Sprout Bubba:

A specialised super-absorbent nappy designed for night time use, mainly for babies who sleep through the night, or for big wetters where regular nappies would not have enough absorbency to last the night. These are usually in the fitted nappy style which requires a separate cover (usually wool or fleece) over it, but there are a few nappy makers who make them as all in ones or as pocket nappies.

Lara from Extremely Nappies:

Night Nappies are nappies that can hold 13 hours of wetness. Extremely Nappies are pocket nappies with a waterproof outer shell, so you can customise the absorbency for day or night. They don’t require a cover. As nighttime nappies, they are sold in plain colours with 3 inserts. I use 3 types of material for absorbent boosters (or inserts): microfiber and bamboo (or hemp). This is a popular combination because microfiber soaks up fast, like a sponge, holding 7 times its weight in water, but just as if you sat on a sponge, the water would squeeze out. So it needs another material to hold that water, to lock it in, so to speak. Hemp and bamboo absorb 3 times their weight in water, and don’t release it under compression. Put them together with microfiber, and you have a very absorbent nappy that holds in the fluid despite the pressure of a sleeping child. Hemp and bamboo are also much trimmer than cotton, so baby’s nappy isn’t too bulky, and they’re environmentally friendly crops, grown without chemicals. They are also anti bacterial and anti fungal.

Extremely Nappies have enough room inside the pocket to stuff A LOT of absorbent material, so you can always add more if the need arises. You could buy extra boosters (at $4 each), or stuff the nappies with anything else you like (old hand towels, for instance). The boosters in Extremely Nappies are made for optimal absorbency and faster drying: the thirsty microfiber folds to a pad of 4 layers (and unfolds for fast drying). The bamboo boosters are thick 420gsm fleece in 2 layers, sized to fit the wet zone. The hemp boosters are longer than bamboo, folding to 4 layers, unfolding for fast drying. Using all 3, your cloth night nappy would have a total of 10 layers of absorbent material, working together to suck up wetness and lock it in behind the waterproof PUL. The versatility of a pocket nappy means you can use these night nappies in the day with just 2 boosters, and they’ll be trim fitting.

The legs are elasticised to contain any mess, yet covered with soft microfleece or suedecloth to protect baby’s skin. The velcro ensures the nappies go easy on, easy off, and Extremely Nappies have laundering tabs that let you fold the velcro securely shut, so it won’t snag in the wash. They are also double sided, meaning the velcro tabs can cross over, to fit really tiny waists. Extremely Nappies are also One Size Fits All, because if you invest in nappies they should fit to toilet training, without you having to buy bigger ones later. They fit from 3.5 kg to 15 kgs- they’ll just look a bit bigger on a tiny baby than a toddler.

Nicole of Krap Katchers:

Nighttime nappies designed especially to cater for the longer wear time and to avoid compression leaks that sleep time brings. They also prevent you from having to wash your babies sheets everyday as night nappies last the whole night, not just a couple of hours!

Now you know exactly what a cloth nighttime nappy is and the best features and benefits of this style of modern nappies.

To summarise this series of articles about the meaning of the various nappy styles, Amy of WeePantz clarifies the main components of modern nappies, to reassure you that it is actually easy to choose the nappy style that suits your lifestyle, baby and budget:

Essentially, all nappies are comprised of similar components, remembering this helps us to not get confused when looking at new brands or styles of nappies.

The main components of a nappy are:

1. Absorbency (whether it be sewn in on an AIO, Stuffed in a pocket or the entire nappy in a fitted or a flat or a prefold)

2. Waterproofing (covers, PUL layers, woollen soakers etc)

3. Stay Dry Layer (flushable or washable liners, or the microfleece/suedecloth layer in a nappy)

4. Fastening (Velcro, snappis and snaps)

When we remember that, I think its easy to figure out what a nappy needs to have in it, and how we want our nappy system to work. For example if you want it all in one you get an AIO, if you don’t mind attaching stuff, then you can look into other options like pockets, AI2’s, fitteds etc. A parent can decide what is right for them rather than being confused by all the options available.

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your search for the best Nighty Nite Nappy:

Which brands of nighttime nappies are the BEST cloth night nappies?

What features or materials do you prefer in cloth night nappies?

Greenwashing Alert! Deceptively Disposable Nappies?

“Disposable Nappies” – as we know, they aren’t – they sit around in landfill for decades, and more.

What is greenwashing, and does it get applied to disposable nappies?

In a society that’s increasingly aware of its own negative impact on the natural world, it’s no surprise corporations compete for consumer approval by promoting themselves as environmentally friendly or green. Such promotions might be as simple as sprinkling product packaging with leafy logos or as involved as publicizing investments in emerging technologies. Organizations spend billions of dollars each year in an attempt to convince consumers that their operations have a minimal impact on the environment. But can you believe the claims? How much environmental marketing is simply greenwashing?

For today’s topic we’ve asked our Nappy WAHM’s about the perceptions of the general public when it comes to disposable nappies and the green movement. “Green washing” is alive and well, and the myths quickly permeate general knowledge, but are often just a case of creative advertising and clever marketing, not environmental care at all…

I’m pleased to have contributions from many friends of My Green Nappy included in this article. We have Emma from Brindabella Baby, Melinda from Avanappy, Mel from Little Para Pants, Louise from Scamps Boutique, Eva from Oz Baby Trends, Inge from Earth Kidz, Cassandra from New Age Nappies, Annette from Iish Fly, Michelle from Issy Bear Nappies, Alisha from Baby Safari, Cindy from Ticklefish Tots, Ashley from Cheeky Creations, Carli from MiniLaLa, Tracey from Flattery, Bec from Baby Chilli,  Julie from Cloth For Comfort, Chris from Baby Bullfrogs, Kate from Nappy Days, Michelle from Sustainable Hemp Products, and Karen from Baby Blossom.

Greenwashing as a term was originally related to a hotel chain that made claims about being eco-friendly in the way their towels were washed, yet it was found to be nothing more than a promotional ploy!  According to Wikipaedia:

The term is generally used when significantly more money or time has been spent advertising being green (that is, operating with consideration for the environment), rather than spending resources on environmentally sound practices.

Let’s see what they have to say:

“What’s 1 aspect of using disposable nappies that you find is often ‘green washed’ in the minds of the general public?”

Emma of Brindabella Baby:

“It’s OK because they make biodegradable disposables now.” Green wash – most people don’t use biodegradables. Of those who do, most use the ones readily available in supermarkets that are only 70% biodegradable – so there’s still a large quantity of nappy not breaking down in landfill. And even if you use a 100% biodegradable nappy, it won’t break down in landfill if it’s in a non-biodegradable plastic bag.

Melinda of Avanappy:

The chemical makeup of the absorbency layers.

I keep hearing about the study that found cloth nappies use more water than disposables.  I think the study was assuming that you’re always washing your full stash at the same time.  I don’t know about anyone else, but the only time that’s ever happened here was before my son was born and he wasn’t wearing any yet!

Eva of Oz Baby Trends:

Eco Disposable brands. They still take a long time break down and only then under the right conditions. No matter how eco-friendly they might be (compared to normal disposables), they are still contributing to our disposable culture.

Inge of Earth Kidz:

That they are breathable. Duh, try putting plastic underwear on yourself!

Cassandra of New Age Nappies:

No worse than cloth re water use etc.

Annette of Iish Fly:

That using disposable saves on water in Australia’s arid environment. I find a baby in nappies tends to add an extra 2 loads a week, which in a front loader is around an extra 40-60 L a week, which is less than 1% of the average households water consumption. Another aspect  it promotes is that “It is ok to send hazardous body waste to landfill!”

Michelle of Issy Bear Nappies:

The words ‘eco-friendly‘.’

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

Well, no mention of the hundreds of years a disposable nappy takes to break down is certainly one thing …. Do you think companies who thrive from the sale of disposable nappies would stay in business if they publicised the fact that their product was not as eco-friendly as they would have us believe?

Carli from MiniLaLa:

Lots of people argue that cloth nappies use so much water, without realising how much water (amongst other things) goes into the production of disposables.

Tracey from Flattery:

There was a study done into the environmental impact of disposables/cloth (they came out on par with each other) the thing that frustrates me is that this study was carried out when cloth nappies were terry cloth squares – that required soaking in napisan (which is not used for nappies now) and water usage was based on pre-soaking and water guzzling top loaders and electricity usage included drying in a dryer not on the line!

Bec from Baby Chilli:

The amount of water it takes to make disposable nappies, plus of course the crude oil, trees and plastic consumption that goes into each and every disposable nappy.

Julie from Cloth For Comfort:

I have found speaking with hundreds of people in my experience at the markets, one aspect which is ‘green washed’ is the amount of water used in the making of disposable nappies compared to cloth. I can understand this from the point of view of those who have not had any education regarding modern cloth nappies as the clever disposable nappy marketing campaigns can insinuate that less water is used in the making of disposable nappies.

Although this is true for only one nappy, it is much more when you add up the thousands of disposable nappies used for each child compared to the environmentally sustainable crops such as bamboo which is commonly used in modern cloth nappies and also the water it takes to wash and clean the nappies too!

Chris from Baby Bullfrogs:

Just how toxic the chemicals are that are used in them – blerghh!

Kate from Nappy Days:

That disposables are actually really good for the environment and that parents need to be more worried about spending time with their baby instead of doing mountains of washing.

Alisha of Baby Safari:

They think they are saving water by using them, the don’t think of the water that has been used to manufacture the nappies.

Michelle from Sustainable Hemp Products:

Marketing not focusing on the negatives like landfill and pollution problems and chemical usage in manufacture.

Karen from Baby Blossom:

Disposable are biodegradable. Although many parts of a disposable may be, wrap it in plastic and put it in landfill.

It still takes hundreds of years to break down.

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners:

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If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

3 Recommended Resources about Greenwashing and reducing the impact of using disposables :

1. Greenwatch: All you need to know about Greenwashing.
2. “The Six Sins of Greenwashing.”
3. Make your eco disposables more environmentally friendly by emptying them.

- Your Nappy Doulas -

This is part of a regular series of articles that offer you an insight into the beliefs, concerns, knowledge and wisdom of mums making and selling modern cloth nappies in Australia and New Zealand.

Discover More from Your Nappy Doulas…

A question to you about the not so modern phenomenon called Greenwashing:

What is an example of  ’greenwashing’ that gets you going in any area of advertising?

You might even check out The Greenwashing Index and share it around, or simply get a feel for how we are being misled in our concern for the environment…

Custom Made Modern Nappies: What Does This Mean?

In Search of the Best Cloth Nappies: Custom Made Nappies

Custom Made Modern Nappies – the goal of this article is to clarify for you what commissioning a custom made nappy means – and to introduce you to some of the cloth nappy shops who offer custom or semi-custom slots.

Your Nappy Doula’s explain Custom Made Nappies for you in simple ways…

Kyra from Bubbalooba:

Custom made nappies are made to your specifications, and that could mean custom sizing, fabrics, snaps, whatever you like! If you see something in our store that isn’t exactly what you want, you can always contact us for a custom order.

Rebecca from Bean Sprout Bubba:

This could mean anything from being able to choose the fabric and/or snap colours for your nappy, right up to customising the type of embroidery and even the measurements/fit of a nappy.

Amy from Wee Pantz:

Custom Made Nappies are great because you can get your nappies personalised.

I have done a bunch of these for people. Names, different prints appliquéd on the back. It is even possible to get matching nappies for siblings or mothers groups. Modern Cloth is so cute! And I think having custom made nappies are great I have heaps of them!

Nicole from Krap Katchers:

Don’t like our colour choices? Want to make your nappies stand out from the crowd? Here is your chance as with custom listings you can select all your own colour choices.

Now you know exactly what a custom made nappy is and the best features and benefits of this style of modern nappies.

To summarise this series of articles about the meaning of the various nappy styles, Amy of WeePantz clarifies the main components of modern nappies, to reassure you that it is actually easy to choose the nappy style that suits your lifestyle, baby and budget:

Essentially, all nappies are comprised of similar components, remembering this helps us to not get confused when looking at new brands or styles of nappies.

The main components of a nappy are:

1. Absorbency (whether it be sewn in on an AIO, Stuffed in a pocket or the entire nappy in a fitted or a flat or a prefold)

2. Waterproofing (covers, PUL layers, woollen soakers etc)

3. Stay Dry Layer (flushable or washable liners, or the microfleece/suedecloth layer in a nappy)

4. Fastening (Velcro, snappis and snaps)

When we remember that, I think its easy to figure out what a nappy needs to have in it, and how we want our nappy system to work. For example if you want it all in one you get an AIO, if you don’t mind attaching stuff, then you can look into other options like pockets, AI2’s, fitteds etc. A parent can decide what is right for them rather than being confused by all the options available.

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about custom made nappies:

Customs: Are they the BEST cloth nappies? Tell us the story behind a custom made nappy in your stash.

How do I wash my cloth nappies?

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #10

“How do I wash my cloth nappies?”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

Wash cloth nappies in warm water about 40 degrees. Don’t put too many nappies in one cycle and make sure the water level is set to high. Use 1/3 to 1/2 the usual amount of detergent and give them a rinse cycle at the end to make sure there isn’t any residue. For best results hang in the sun until they are completely dry.

Janine from Ninky Bear:

If they haven’t been rinsed before putting in the bucket, give them a rinse, wash them with a quarter of the amount of detergent than you would normally use, on cold or warm, whtaever you prefer. Try to use an eco friendly detergent, or something that is good for sensitive skin. (because other detergents may damage your nappies) Then hang them up to dry!

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

When changing nappies, I tip any solid waste in the toilet.
I do a pre-wash rinse to get rid of any solid waste left behind. Then wash with your normal laundry detergent (in cold water if the detergent is suitable), no fabric softener as it leaves a water- resistant coating on fabrics, and line dry.
I pull the inserts out of pocket nappies after the nappies are washed, when I’m hanging them out.
On a wet winter day, I hang nappies on a drying rack inside. If there’s not enough room or time, I tumble dry just the inserts and fitted nappies, and dry pocket outers and covers on a rack.
Line drying is worth the extra five minutes, as it fades light stains and helps give nappies a fresh scent. It also gives the kids an excuse for a little more fresh air, and they’re often happy to help.

Cassandra from New Age Nappies:

I dry pail then straight into the machine (I have a front loader) with 1/4 the amount of detergent required – try to get one without oil based products.

Kyra from E-Weez:

We recommend dry-pailing. Simply remove any solids into the toilet and put the dirty nappy into a bucket until you do a wash, make sure you don’t leave dirty nappies for more than two days.

You can wash your nappies on a normal cold, warm or hot wash, use a third of the recommended amount of detergent and don’t use any fabric softener, bleach, enzyme-based or ’soap’ products. An extra rinse at the end of the wash will help ensure all the detergent is removed. Stains can be removed by hanging your nappies in the sun – sunshine is a natural bleacher and sanitiser!

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

Washing Modern Nappies is easy. Simply dispose of any solid waste, give the nappy and booster a quick rinse, then dry pail your nappies (place them in a dry bucket) until you have enough to make up a load of washing. Put them into the washing machine, using about a quarter of the washing powder or detergent that you would use for a regular load and wash! Be sure not to use any fabric softeners of bleaches (including stain removers) as these can build up residue on your nappies, making them less absorbent and therefore less effective.

Kyra from Bubbalooba:

Washing is so easy – just throw in the washing machine with some half-strength washing detergent (you can buy many environmentally friendly washing “ingredients” such as soapnuts, soon to be available in our store) and hang on the line to dry.

The sun will get rid of any stains or odours! Try not to use fabric softener, vinegar, or Napisan, as these products can damage the nappy fabrics.

Nicole from Krap Katchers:

Gone are the days of using harsh chemicals and soaking for days with cloth nappies. If anyone tries to tell you different Pfft to them, times change! The process is really simple:

1. After use, remove any chunky bits and flush down the toilet.

2. Take stuffing out of the pockets and stick them both in a dry nappy bucket. Soaking of MCN is not advised nor necessary.

3. Cold/Warm wash the nappies with 1/4 to 1/2 the detergent you would normally use.

4. Dry out in the sun, with the lining facing towards the sun. The sun is great at removing any stains!

A few extra tips

• Do not use bleach, vinegar or other soakers as with continued use it can cause the nappy materials to weaken, as can dryer use.
• To keep your nappies in beautiful show off condition, before you wash, do up the side straps and then turn the lining to face outwards.

Jacquie from Cheeky Cherubs:

Washing your nappies shouldn’t be hard at all. If you have rinsed them, placed them into a dry bucket, then all you need to do at wash time is tip the bucket into the washing machine, add a little washing powder or soapnuts and press start!

I highly recommend using Flushable Bioliners to make cleaning poo nappies so much easier. All you need to do is place the whole flushable liner along with the poo into the toilet. It is a good idea to give your nappies a ‘double rinse’ occasionally too.

A simple explanation is on my blog here: How should I wash the nappies? Is it hard?

To wash, simply:

Drypail – clean/wash off solid matter first into the toilet before storing in a dry pail

Cold pre-rinse – dilutes urine

Machine wash between 40º-60ºC

Line dry (recommended) or use dryer on low setting

Pre-stuff pockets, match boosters to nappies and they’re ready to use again

Thank you to all our nappy doula’s for their contributions,

I am sure you have gained new insights from their experience.

- Your Nappy Doulas -

This is part of a regular series of articles that offer you an insight into the beliefs, concerns, knowledge and wisdom of Mums making and selling modern cloth nappies in Australia and New Zealand.

Discover More from Your Nappy Doulas…

P.S There is a question at the bottom of each of these features. Join in the conversation and share your own experiences and stories with us…

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your cloth nappy washing routine:

What do you do? Do you have any extra tips or ideas to share?

Custom Made Nappies: 3 Reasons to get a Unique, one-of-a-kind Nappy for your baby.

Custom Made Modern Cloth Nappies: Why you should aim for a one-of-a-kind (1OAK) creation for your baby’s cloth nappy stash…

This article is about custom made nappies. Many nappy makers welcome custom orders. Custom made nappies are hand made especially made for your baby.

The Green Nappy - a custom made nappy.

These often unique nappies provide you with a level of individuality not available from the larger volume, commercial retailers. Each WAHM brings their own design and creativity to their handmade custom orders. They will work with you to help you choose the best options. They will cost more than an ‘in stock’ nappy.

Let’s look at 3 reasons to consider investing in a custom made modern cloth nappy:

1. A personalised choice in every way – specify colour, print, size, style, materials and more…

With a special order, you can customise fabrics, absorbency, style, size, fastenings, even method of creation. You get to work directly with the maker of the nappy when you commission a hand-made reusable nappy. You might commission a single nappy, a set of the same or similar nappies or a matching set of nappies and clothing to suit your colour and fabric preferences, the size you need and even the ethical quality of the materials and methods used.

2. One of a Kind and Unique – just like your baby.

A custom made nappy can be a 1OAK – a one-of-a-kind nappy. With their name embroidered on the nappy or by supplying your own print, you’ll know there will not be another nappy like it.

3. Supporting an artisan, encouraging creativity and innovation in nappy design.

It will likely be a ‘Work at home mum’ making your nappy, so you’ll know they have made and used nappies on their own children. Some retailers only offer custom slots, so amazingly gorgeous and brilliantly constructed their nappies are. These nappies are a work of art, and you’ll be supporting these artisans. Imagine the great potential for promoting modern cloth nappies with a unique nappy on your baby when you are out and about!By commissioning a nappy you could inspire a new line of nappy, and by specifying particular features you may spark a new innovationin nappy design.

With these three ideas you’ll find an excellent excuse – ah, justification, um, reason for looking into commissioning a nappy for your baby!

A custom made modern cloth nappy is a great gift idea. Personalised embroidery is a simple yet noticeable way to make a nappy especially for an important baby in your life.You’ll know you are giving your baby a more sustainable future by using washable, reusable modern cloth nappies. Every baby should have at least one ‘green’ nappy in their wardrobe – and you can find it by exploring the resources here at My Green Nappy.org

Some relevant resources here at My Green Nappy:

My Nappy Style Window for Custom Made Nappies

The Modern Cloth Mini- Trend of Custom Made Nappies – to give you some idea of the wonderful creations you can commission…

About THE Green Nappy – the green nappy you see around My Green Nappy was especially created by Marnie of Noonee Wilga.

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners:

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If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question for you about custom made modern cloth nappies:

Have you commissioned a nappy? Tell us about it, and why you wanted a special nappy made. Even better – send a photo and I’ll add it to a gallery to display on this page.

What wool ’soakers’ can I use over my baby’s cloth nappy?

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #9

“I would like a simple explanation of the wool soakers to use over a baby’s cloth nappy. What do I buy?”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

To be quite honest the only wool covers I have tried are the Baby Beehinds and I love them, unfortunately they seem to be discontinued. There are some great WAHM wool soakers if you go to OzeBaby or WAHMnaps.

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

I look for soakers that are machine washable, and fit well – Cushie Tushies are my favourite.

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

A woollen soaker is a knitted pair of pants, and can be long or short. An effective woollen soaker will be closely knitted with 100% pure wool. Wool is another material which wicks moisture away from bub without leaking. Wool soakers can be made more effective by lanolising (dissolving a blob of lanolin in hot water, letting the water cool then soaking the soaker in the mixture), which simply reinforces the natural water resistant nature of the wool. There are many WAHM’s who knit and sell wool soakers, including Ticklefish Tots from time to time.

Rebecca From Bean Sprout Bubba:

Wool covers can be either sewn from a wool fabric or handknit from wool yarn.

They can be either triangluar wraps or pullup covers.

Wool pullup covers are either soakers (covers the nappy snugly), shorties (like a pair of shorts) or longies (like a pair of long pants).

There are also capri-length wool pullup covers, and skirties that have little skirts attached to the pullups.

To use, you will need a cover or two (or more), some lanolin (lansinoh nipple cream or anhydrous wool fat from the chemist), and optionally some woolwash or baby shampoo. Also need a good set of wool care instructions and instructions on how to relanolise your woollies.

Thank you to all our nappy doula’s for their contributions,

- Your Nappy Doulas -

This is part of a regular series of articles that offer you an insight into the beliefs, concerns, knowledge and wisdom of Mums making and selling modern cloth nappies in Australia and New Zealand.

Discover More from Your Nappy Doulas…

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Partners:

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If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something useful in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your search for the best baby shower gifts:

What would you like to receive as a baby shower gift?

Australian made cloth nappies? – I don’t want ‘Made in China’!

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #8

“On principle I try to buy products that are not made in China. I would love you to direct me to an Australian made cloth nappy that is not full of plastic.”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

We stock Sweet Tooshies nappies that do have an inner layer of PUL for waterproofing, but there isn’t plastic anywhere near kiddies skin. Cloth nappies need an inner waterproof layer or a cover to keep clothes dry.
Genesa Forge stocks nappies with a polar fleece inner but they are a little bulkier. The bigger companies like Baby Beehinds, Itti Bitti, etc that get their products made in China do so ethically and are Australian owned companies all started by WAHMs too.

Janine from Ninky Bear:

There are some fantastic work at home mum brands out there – Bonnibuns, Genesa Forge, B Cheeks, Flattery, Green Bums, the list goes on!

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

There really aren’t many Australian made cloth nappies available to retailers anymore. The market price means that most cloth nappies are now made in China, India, and Pakistan.
But most of the modern cloth nappy brands in Australia are still owned and run by Australian work-at-home mums. Some are one-woman businesses, where manufacturing is the only thing that has been outsourced. Others have employed other work-at-home mums to handle order processing and marketing.
If your reason for avoiding made-in-China products is manufacturing ethics, you can be assured that every brand stocked at Brindabella Baby has been checked out to ensure their manufacturers provide workers with a fair living wage, and safe, clean working conditions.
Before we stock a product, we ask detailed questions about pay and working hours, and often have copies of inspection certificates or photographic evidence to back up their claims.

Cassandra from New Age Nappies:

Have a look for a wahm nappy but remember that the majority of the raw materials are probably made in china anyway. As long as the product is ethically made I think we as Australians need to get past the made in china issue. I always say if people are so concerned about products being made in China then how come so many people have iphones, TV’s etc.

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

Ticklefish Tots nappies are proudly handmade in Australia by a WAHM of 4 (almost 5!) The waterproof layer that I use in my day time (AI2) nappies is polyurethene laminate (PUL) which is a breathable yet waterproof fabric. Most of my nappies have this layer hidden between the microfleece inner layer and the decorative outer layer of the nappy shell. In my night nappies, I use a durable water repellant 300 weight fleece (usually also hidden, with an extra layer throughout the wet zone), which wicks moisture away from baby’s bottom, where it then evaporates, rather than leaking outside of the nappy.

Marnie from Noonee Wilga:

All Noonee Wilga products are custom made in Australia. If you have particular requirements, such as special sizing or fabrics, contact me to make up something just for you.

Fiona and Catherine from Darlings Downunder:

It’s getting harder to source cloth nappies that are made in Australia.

- Bubblebubs and Green Kids are two that spring to mind, but there are others. There are still plenty of WAHMs who make nappies to sell as well. But don’t reject the Chinese made nappies out of hand. Many of the Australian nappy business that have their nappies made overseas actively source organic and fairtrade raw materials and have their nappies manufactured in ethical conditions – thereby actively contributing to the development of third world countries. It’s an important consideration.

Nicole from Krap Katchers:

I’ve also tried to live by this principle and I love supporting fellow work from home parents in various fields with our hard earned dollars.

Krap Katchers is Australian Made with me as the little workhorse and I hope to expand my workforce to include other work from home parents in the near future as well.

Jacquie from Cheeky Cherubs:

For the New Zealanders (and Australians who don’t mind buying NZ made – still not China made!) we stock Ecobubs Wool Pocket nappies which have an excellent reputation for being a great nappy. They are a Wool Mix product, lined with microfleece, which will help keep baby warm in Winter and cool in Summer.

Rebecca From Bean Sprout Bubba:

There are a few around, and if resin snaps, velcro, PUL, polar fleece or microfibre is not considered ‘plastic’ then there would be many more options open to you.

Otherwise, there are quite a number of Australian makers who make fitted nappies out of bamboo or hemp, and covers that are either sewn out of wool fabric, or knit with wool yarn.

Bean Sprout Bubba has Bubba J bamboo or hemp fitteds, and wool covers, these are made to order once current stocks run out.

Michelle from Sustainable Hemp Products:

Thank you to all our nappy doula’s for their contributions,

P.S There is a question at the bottom of each of these features. Join in the conversation and share your own experiences and stories with us…

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your search for the best baby shower gift:

What would you like to receive as a baby shower gift?

Why do wet nappies smell so bad some times? (What can I do about it?)

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #7

“The Smellies! My husband is worried about the smells associated with piddly nappies. What are my options, and why do wet nappies smell so bad some times?”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

If you quickly rinse your nappies before pailing them or wash them within 48 hours of wearing then they shouldn’t smell. Every month or two give them a wash in warm water without detergent and hang in the sun to dry. We have Rockin Green Nappy Detergent coming soon which is also great fo stinky nappies.

Janine from Ninky Bear:

Nappies can smell bad for a few reasons.
If babies are teething, their urine tends to be very ammonia smelling.
If cloth nappies are not quite dry when they are worn and the wee hits them, they can smell.
It’s a good idea to rinse nappies before throwing them in the bucket, so they aren’t sitting around in wee all day.
There is a fantastic new product on the market called rockin’ green, which will eliminate this problem for good! It’s an eco friendly washing powder, made especially for cloth nappies.

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

They don’t smell as bad as a rubbish bin full of disposable nappies with solid waste rolled up in them!
Washing every couple of days will help. When washing, use a detergent that won’t leave a residue to build up on the fabric, rinse well, and line dry. This washing method will help get all the smells out.

Cassandra from New Age Nappies:

Get a great nappy bucket and you won’t even notice – a wetbag is essential while travelling try an oilcloth one rather then PUL and you won’t notice the smells.

Kyra from E-Weez:

Smelly nappies are usually caused by concentrated urine, this is happens particularly with night nappies or when your baby is teething. Make sure you rinse these smelly nappies before dry-pailing them as the strong urine can cause the fibres to break down and will reduce the lifespan of your nappies.

To contain the smells, use a nappy bucket with a lid and sprinkle baking soda of a few drops of essential oil in the bottom of the bucket to keep it fresh. Your nappies shouldn’t be smelly after they’ve been washed and dried. If they do smell when they’re clean, try washing your nappies in hot water without detergent and use 1/2 cup white vinegar in the final rinse (no hotter than 60 degrees celsius and only use vinegar once every few months). If smelly nappies are a regular problem, try using Dettol Fresh or Canestan in the wash once a week to keep them smelling fresh.

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

To be honest, I have never had a problem with smelly cloth nappies. Back in the day when our parents may have used cloth terry squares and pilchers on us (or our siblings), alot of the smell then were associated with the fact that the plastic pilchers do not breathe, so everything was contained within them. These days, modern cloth nappies usually have a breathable waterproof layer, or a breathable cover which wicks moisture away from baby’s bottom. These factors, combined with the majority of natural fabrics most nappy makers use, help to eliminate the smells whilst your child is wearing Modern Nappies.

Whilst your nappies are dry-pailing, waiting for a full load, there are various ways to eliminate odours (which again, I haven’t found to be that common) …

• a quick rinse prior to putting the soiled nappy in the bucket usually gets rid of most of the urine contained in the boosters
• using a bucket with a lid will help contain any potential odours
• there are products on the market especially designed for using whilst dry pailing MCN (but again, in almost 2 years, I have never found any reason to use them!)

Sometimes, you may find that leaving a wet nappy on for too long will cause it to smell (and it’s not good for your baby either!) but this can happen with disposables too!

Marnie from Noonee Wilga:

Change nappies frequently and wash every day or two. If you rinse dirty nappies first, then you can add other items like towels and clothing to make up a full load, if you wish. If you find that night nappies are particularly pungent, then it may be wise to rinse them well by hand right after taking them off if you can’t immediately put them in the wash.

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Partners:

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If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your quest for the best smelling nappies around:

What tip would you like to share about keeping baby’s bottom fresh smelling?