How Cloth Nappies Work

The Real Nappies Cloth Nappy System

Real Nappies prefold cloth nappies are a real practical alternative to disposable nappies. They are easy to use like disposable nappies, kind to the environment and save you money.

Real Nappies prefold cloth nappies make using cloth nappies easy without costing you more and without compromising the planet. Easy to put on, highly absorbent and leak-proof like disposable nappies, Real Nappies cloth nappies are convenient for parents and comfortable for babies. And of course Real Nappies prefold cloth nappies are reusable so you save hundreds of dollars compared to the cost of disposable nappies and save the planet from tons of toxic landfill waste.

Practical for Busy Parents

Real Nappies cloth nappies are perfect for busy parents who want to do what's right for the planet by using cloth nappies without mess and fuss. Real Nappies cloth nappies are easy to put on like disposable nappies, quick to wash, and keep your baby dry and comfortable day and night.

Real Nappies cloth nappies consist of a natural cotton prefold cloth nappy insert against your baby's skin inside a waterproof Snug Wrap nappy cover. The Snug Wrap nappy cover need only be washed when soiled, typically every two to three nappy changes.

Gone are the days of unpleasant and laborious scrubbing of cloth nappies. With Real Nappies cloth nappies it takes a few minutes to soak them before adding them to your regular machine wash load. They dry quickly on the line or can be tumble-dried.

Kind to the Environment

Real Nappies reusable cloth nappies halve the ecological footprint of disposable nappies. Every child adds a minimum of 6,500 disposable nappies to our landfills which take upwards of 500 years to decompose. Included in the soiled nappies are many pounds of raw fecal matter. Viruses found in the feces can pose a threat to our water supplies and wildlife by seeping through cracks that sometimes develop in landfills.

Further, the 30 billion disposable diapers that get thrown out in the World annually consume approximately 150,000 tons of plastic and 1,200,000 tons of tree pulp every year. Now compare that to the natural resources used to make and clean three to five dozen cloth nappies.

Then there’s the question of what’s hidden in some disposable nappies, such as dioxin (a by-product of bleaching the pulp) which has been linked to cancer, as well as other chemicals and fragrances that can irritate sensitive baby skin.

Cheaper Than Disposable Nappies

On average, parents spend $4,000 on disposable nappies per child. Compare that to an average of $900 (that includes laundering expenses) for your first child's nappy years using Real Nappies cloth nappies. A second and third child will cost much less since Real Nappies cloth nappies can be re-used for more than one child. In fact, we guarantee that Real Nappies cloth nappies will last you for at least two children or we will replace the item.

Soft Absorbent Natural Cotton Prefold Cloth Nappy

Real Nappies use premium quality 100% natural cotton fiber in their cloth nappies for superior softness, absorbency and durability wash after wash. The natural soft cotton cloth nappies are comfortable to wear, breathe naturally, and are certified to the highest Öko-Tex ecological standards which involves rigorous testing for over 100 harmful substances. You can rest assured that Real Nappies cloth nappies are free of chlorine bleach, plastics and chemicals, and won't irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.

Real Nappies cotton cloth nappies are prefolded which means the prefold cloth nappies' 3 panels are folded and sewn together each having up to eight layers for superior absorbency. The Real Nappies prefold cloth nappy is thicker in the middle to offer more absorbency exactly where it's needed without it being bulky.

The prefold cloth nappy inserts fold easily and are sized to fit perfectly inside the Snug Wrap nappy cover. They can be folded in a variety of ways to accommodate boys, girls and smaller babies as required, and 'boosted' with optional booster pads for heavy wetters or night time use.

Real Nappies cloth nappies endure rigorous machine-washing and tumble-drying without tearing, shredding, pilling or losing absorbency. In fact, Real Nappies cloth nappies actually 'quilt up' and get fluffier with each wash.

Real Nappies prefold cloth nappy inserts are included in all Real Nappies cloth nappy packs including the Birth To Potty Pack, Essentials Packs and Top-Up Packs.

Durable Waterproof Snug Wrap Nappy Cover

The Real Nappies Snug Wrap nappy cover is as quick and easy to use as a disposable nappy. The quality tab closures won't lose their grip with repeated use and the elastic at the waist and legs ensures a snug comfortable fit without ever sagging.

The Real Nappies Snug Wrap nappy cover and cloth nappy system offers clear advantages over other types of cloth nappies which often have the cloth nappies inserted into pockets in the cover or have the cloth nappy and the cover sewn together. In both those cases the nappy cover must be washed with every nappy change which increases the amount of washing, and those types of cloth nappies and covers take a lot longer to dry than the Real Nappies separate cloth nappies and nappy covers.

Because the Snug Wrap nappy cover only needs to be washed if it gets soiled, and the individual cloth nappy inserts and Snug Wrap components dry quickly, with Real Nappies you need only half as many nappy covers, which is a significant cost saving considering that a baby will average about six changes a day and a newborn baby needs changing eight to ten times a day.

White Snug Wraps are included in all Real Nappies packs including the Birth To Potty Pack, Essentials Packs and Top-Up Packs. In addition, Snug Wraps are available individually in white and bright fun colors.

Comfortable Fit For All Ages and Stages

Real Nappies prefold cloth nappies and Snug Wrap covers are available in four sizes to ensure a slim, leak-proof and comfortable fit for all ages and stages, from newborn baby to infant to crawler to toddler.

Beware of one-size-fits-all cloth nappies which supposedly adjust to fit babies from birth through to potty training. No single nappy can adequately address the needs of a tiny delicate newborn and a growing, boisterous toddler. The newborn in a one-size-fits-all design is generally saddled with a very bulky, often leaky, awkward and uncomfortable nappy, while on the other hand the toddler is left with one that is less than adequate. The Real Nappies cloth nappy with its four sizes provides a comfortable fit for your baby at each stage.

Simple To Buy

Real Nappies cloth nappies are sold in convenient affordable packs making it simple to purchase exactly what you need.

The Real Nappies Birth to Potty Pack™ contains all the supplies you’ll need from the birth of your baby up the time they’re ready to ditch the nappy, and Real Nappies Essentials Packs give you all the cloth nappies you need for your baby at each stage.

View our Cloth Nappy Buyer's Guide to find out which cloth nappy pack is right for your baby.

Chosen By Maternity Hospitals

Waitemata DHB is the largest of New Zealand's healthcare operators. It serves a population of half a million people and its hospitals care for 6,000 newborn babies each year. Its Waitakere Hospital has adopted Real Nappies reusable cloth nappies, a move it expects will prevent 80,000 disposable nappies going to landfill each year.

National newspaper the New Zealand Herald reported that research showed disposable nappies used 3.5 times more energy than reusable cloth nappies, and eight times more non-renewable raw materials and 90 times more renewable materials than reusable cloth nappies. The research also showed that it took as much energy to produce one disposable nappy as it did to wash a cloth nappy 200 times, further emphasising the benefits to the environment of choosing reusable cloth diapers over disposable nappies.

Bioliner Nappy Liner

The Bioliner nappy liners are laid upon the prefold cloth nappy when baby is being changed. They are flushable and biodegradable and can be thrown away when wet and flushed with solids.

The Bioliner nappy liner allows moisture to pass through onto the prefold cloth nappy but retains the solids. This keeps your cloth nappies clean and easy to wash, makes the prefold cloth nappy system a breeze and helps keep baby‘s bottom drier than with a cloth nappy alone.

Splash Wrap Swim Nappy

The Real Nappies Splash Wrap is a reusable swimming nappy that can be worn under swimming togs and is cute enough to wear on its own. There's no need to put a cloth nappy insert inside the Splash Wrap. With its super snug and comfortable fit, it gives you confidence to take your baby in the water. A Splash Wrap is included in the Real Nappies Birth To Potty Pack.

Potty Training Pants

Real Nappies Potty Training Pants help your toddler get used to using the potty or toilet. They are comfortable and built to last. They have built-in padding, which means no other protection is required. There's no need for extra over-pants and no need for nappies.

Although these pants are not suitable for night time use if your child is still a heavy wetter, they are very thirsty and will take and hold in a few accidents! Real Nappies Potty Training Pants are easy for little ones to put on and take off all by themselves. They give all the protection you need, without a lot of bulk.

Potty Training Pants are available individually and one pair is included in the Real Nappies Birth To Potty Pack.

Real Nappies Booster Pad

The Real Nappies Booster Pad is fantastic for when your baby is sleeping through the night and needs extra absorbency in their diaper. The booster pad is constructed with layers of terry cotton and microfleece in an oval shape. To use the booster pad simply place it on top of the prefold cloth diaper, with the microfleece side next to babies' skin, and enjoy a dry night.

Nappy Fresh Sanitizer

Nappy Fresh is an environmentally-friendly, biodegradable nappy cleanser. Not all detergents safely disinfect nappies, whereas Nappy Fresh is antibacterial and deodorizes the nappies during the wash cycle, eliminating the need for a hot water wash or soaking. Simply add a scoop to your machine load along with a cloth nappy-safe detergent (such as Persil Sensitive) and get a deep, disinfected and deodorized clean with only cold water. Think about the energy and water this saves over your children’s nappy years.

Each pack of Nappy Fresh is good for 50 washes. It's a great product to use regularly or periodically to disinfect cloth nappies.

Two Packs of Nappy Fresh sanitizer are included in the Real Nappies Birth To Potty Pack.

For More Information:

• Guide To Using Real Nappies Cloth Nappies
• Real Nappies Cloth Nappy Buyer's Guide