Detailed "how to" instructions for a variety of different nappies and nappy products
Articles in this category:
1. Cloth Nappy Quick Reference Guide With Photos
An easy to follow user guide for our most popular cloth nappies.
2. Terry Folds - Index to Terry Folds
All of the following nappies, once assembled will need a liner for daytime use, or a pad and liner for night use. They can be fitted either with pins or with Nappi Nippas. Personally, I recommend Nappi Nippas, as they cannot prick your baby, are easy to use, and also do not weaken the terry fabric as pins eventually do.
Please note that better quality terry fabric (such as that which we sell) will hold its shape better than lower quality terries, so any further shrinkage is negligible. So do
3. Pinned Prefolds
Pinning prefolds is really an American idea, and I am grateful to the Dy-Dee Diaper Service for the following fold information, based on the traditional American multi-layered prefold.
4. Pad Folded Nappies
You can fold a flat nappy any way that gets it to the pad shape you like. However, given that a prefold has a thicker panel in the centre, there are different ways to place this thickness depending on whether the nappy is for a boy or a girl. Regardless of the sex of your child, go with the method that suits you best - girls actually wee towards the front as well, so the boy version might be just as suitable for them.
5. Onelife Nappy, The Nappy Lady
6. Motherease Onesize Nappy
Summary of our various Motherease information sheets, including information on how to fold them
7. Tots Bots nappies
Summary of the various Tots Bots nappies and fibre considerations, including instructions on how to use them
7. Using Tie On Nappies - Step by step instructions
I am grateful to Kim at Cuddlebabes for allowing me to use her instructions and diagrams in explaining the use of this nappy.
9. Using Nappi Nippas - Step by Step
9.1 Care of Wool Wraps
I am grateful to Kim at www.cuddlebabes.co.uk, the Wool Wrap Queen in my book, for providing the following text. If you’re using wool wraps and have a problem, let me suggest she is a far more knowledgeable person than I am on this topic! Her number is 01430 425257.
P. Basic Angel Wing For Prefolds
This fold can be used with either newborn or toddler-size prefolds. It gives excellent absorbency and a trim fit.
P. Bikini Twist For Prefolds
If your baby has heavy thighs, this fold works like magic to give a high cut leg opening. You will have extra absorbency, too. Not really for a pre-weaning baby, but excellent for a toddler.
P. Daytime Double For Prefolds
Rather than double prefolds, use booster pads for extra absorbency during the day. They`re not as bulky as double prefolds for night time wear and they allow your baby to move freely and comfortably. Tots Bots booster pads or similar are great for this purpose.
P. Double Angel Wing For Prefolds
For the heavy wetter, two nappies at a time may be needed.
P. Navel Defence For Prefolds
Use this variation if you want to avoid the nappy covering baby`s healing navel. Because newborn-size nappies are so flexible, they can be folded lower at the front to achieve this.
P. Night Time Double For Prefolds
For maximum absorbency, this nappy fold gives 12 layers of cloth in the centre, but it is still easy to pin and it fits snug and trim. As the baby sleeping through the night is assumed to be at least 3 months old, the larger size prefolds are appropriate. However, smaller ones can also be used for a younger baby.
Q. Boy Fold For Prefolds (Without Nappi Nippas)
Because of the first step, it retains its its fanned and folded shape well
As it provides the bulk at the front, it is especially good on boys
Best used with a wrap designed specifically for prefolds, as these are shallower cut than other wraps which might also work, so they hold the prefold in place better.
Q. Girl Fold For Prefolds (Without Nappi Nippas)
The standard way of folding a prefold into a wrap designed for this type of nappy (eg Prorap, Diaperap).
This gives a thicker section in between the legs, and so is especially suitable for girls. Folding a prefold this way means that there is no fanning of the prefold under the bottom area (because nothing to fold the front in place as you spread the back), so is probably better kept for heavier wetting girls, and use the boy fold for better bottom comfort with average wetters.
R. Alternative Motherease Fastening
These instructions are also applicable to the Popolino onesize nappy.
R. Motherease Larger Setting
These instructions are also applicable to the Popolino onesize nappy.
R. Motherease Smaller Setting
These instructions are also applicable to the Popolino onesize nappy.
R. Parts of Motherease Nappy
These instructions are also applicable to the Popolino onesize nappy.
S. How to Use Tots Bots Nappies
S. Tots Bots as a Birth to Toddler Nappy
T. Gaynor`s Fold (for girls) For Terry Squares
As this gives a very trim fit around the legs and upper thighs, it is probably better for a girl than a boy.
T. Lindsey`s Newborn Fold For Terry Squares
Ideal for use on newborns, especially boys, as the padding is at the front. Works best with a muslin containing a booster pad rather than a terry, which is a bit bulky. Actually, a decent muslin provides reasonable absorbency on its own for a newborn anyway, if being changed frequently.
Provides a dip at the front around the healing navel area.
T. Maria`s Fold (for boys) For Terry Squares
Because this fold starts with a flat edge at the back, it doesn’t waste fabric where it’s not needed. It has 6 or 8 layers of terry at the front but only 1 or 2 at the back. So maybe not recommended if your boy does runny poos, but otherwise it’s a winner.
Despite its thickness at the front, this fold gives a really neat nappy with a fantastic fit if your boy has a fat tummy, you can keep the nappy short in the rise and fasten it under his tum. With the legs rolled in well I think it’s slimme
T. Pad Folding a Terry Square
This produces no extra thickeness in the middle, unlike a prefold
T. The Bat/Butterfly/Chinese Fold For Terry Squares
Good for newborns - small yet all encompassing - helps to contain runny poo
Very absorbent
T. The Corners Fold For Terry Squares
This is effectively a variation of Lindsey`s newborn fold, and also works well with either muslins or terries. It is a snug fit which offers good containment.
T. The Jo Fold (Ideal for Terries & Muslins)
Named after one of our advisors, Joanna, who has always used this fold and was astonished we did not know it until she showed it to us. This one enables you to put even the thickest 60cm terry on a newborn child, without adding too much bulk (because it spreads it so evenly). So it`s an ideal fold when you only want to buy one size of flat terry. It also works fantastically with muslins instead of terries.
T. The Kite Fold For Terry Squares
Quite a large fold, more bulky round the legs. Limited absorbency, but good to use to support a pad for overnight use. When on, tuck terry in underneath the legs to provide better containment and a neater fit.
T. The Neat Fold For Terry Squares
Essentially the same as the kite, just folded in a different order
T. The Pad Fold For Terry Squares
Good for older babies (4-5 months plus) used inside any velcro-fastening gusseted nappies. Very absorbent, yet neat - no excess fabric over baby`s hips. Excellent inside another shape folded terry as a mighty booster for an overnight nappy. May suit a boy best, as thicker fold is at one end.
T. The Poo Catcher For Terry Squares
Does what it says! Good for pre-weaning babies
T. The Ro Fold for boys For Terry Squares
Very neat and high-cut round the legs and as such fits under a tots bots wrap. There are a lot of layers at the front so it is good for a boy
T. The Super-Kite For Terry Squares
Val from Nappy Days thinks this is best for newborns.
T. The Triangle Fold For Terry Squares
The largest and least absorbent of terry folds. Could be used to support a pad for night time use
T. The Twist Fold For Terry Squares
This is a very quick and easy fold, especially suitable if your child has a sore bottom which needs to be aired, wearing it without a wrap on top. Suitable for an older toddler, if they are quite reliable about pooing on the toilet or potty, as this fold won`t offer much in the way of containment. If it`s too long in the crotch, simply fold down the end towards you, before folding across in half.
T. The V Fold For Terry Squares
Very simple, and you end up with what looks like a V - hence the name!
u. Alternative Onelife Fastening, The Nappy Lady
u. Onelife Larger Setting, The Nappy Lady
u. Onelife Small Setting, The Nappy Lady
U. Part of a Onelife Nappy