This is the most basic type of cloth nappy and have been around for generations, but don't worry those horrid plastic pants your mothers used are looooooooooong gone. Flat nappies are also know as terry squares, and need to be manually folded around the baby and tied with pins or nippas. Modern flat nappies are more commonly referred to as prefolds, as they have been sewn, prefolded, so to speak. The disadvantages of prefolds or terry nappies is that they are the most difficult to use. You will also need an outer wrap with this type of nappy. However, if budget is your only concern, prefolds tend to be the cheapest nappy system to use, especially onesize prefolds, combined with onesize outer wraps. Econobum start from £8.95 for a wrap and prefold and a complete set of 6 wraps and 24 prefolds {onesize and all you will need}, will only cost you £90. On average with two piece cloth nappy systems, expect 1 wrap for every 3 prefolds.

A step up from this is Shaped two piece nappies. This means they are not rectangle, but are cut to shape, but are still a two piece cloth nappy system.

If you used flat nappies or shaped nappies, you will also need a wrap to make them waterproof. At each change, you should only need to change the inner nappy, with the outer wrap being changed when soiled or every third change. The econobum mini kit is a perfect trial nappy, giving you 1 wrap and 3 prefolds.

Pocket Nappies

Pocket nappies are shaped, with the outer waterproof layer being sewn to an inner stay dry layer, with a pocket or gap left in between where you stuff absorbent inserts. When you change this type of nappy, you need to change the entire nappy. This is very close to an all in one nappy, but the inserts come out and therefore they tend to dry quicker. These are very simple, easy to use nappies, once dry you just need to re stuff the inserts into the pocket. BumGenius V4 is a pocket nappy, and the no.1 selling nappy worldwide. It has won many awards as the best cloth nappy, with its stretchy butterfly tabs making it very very adjustable and the perfect fit on most children from 7-40lbs+

Generally we recommend 20-25 pocket nappies or all in one nappies for full time use.

All in One Nappies

All in one nappies, referred to as AIO, say exactly what they do on the tin! They are all in one, with no inners or outers, no folding or stuffing or pinning. Just simply put them on the baby and go. All in one cloth nappies are the easiest to use and most like a disposable, so no excuse for anyone not to change one!

All in one nappies tend to be slower drying however the brand new bumGenius Freetime have patented sewn in flaps which means drying time is dramatically reduced, solving this issue.

For those people who prefer natural fibres, the bumGenius Elemental or organic is an all in one made from organic cotton. It is a super slim nappy and super absorbent and one of the most popular reuseable nappies we sell!

Hybrid Nappies

This is a new type of nappy, developed by bumGenius, and is basically a mix between cloth and disposable. The Flip Nappy System by bumGenius is a two piece cloth nappy system where you have flip outers and flip inserts. The huge benefit of flip is that, when real life demands it, you have flip between cloth or disposable with their fantastic disposable inserts. This makes the perfect choice for days out, travelling, holidays or just when you have had enough of washing! For flip you can choose stay dry or organic inserts when using the cloth nappy route, or their flip disposables, when choosing not to wash.