| Cloth Nappy Glossary |
| Written by Sally Akins | |
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Starting out in cloth nappies can be confusing, here I intend to shed some light on the terms and acronyms that are commonly used. All-in-One - A one piece nappy with an integral waterproof outer layer and layers of absorbent fabric. They are very easy to put on, however take longer to dry and are more expensive. Useful to have for babysitters or people who are not used to cloth nappies. Aplix - Brand name of a hook and loop fastening system similar to Velcro. Birth-to-Potty Nappy - See 'One-size Nappy' Diaper - American term for nappy. Dry Pailing or Dry Storing - This describes using a dry nappy bucket to store used nappies rather than soaking. Fleece - Fabric (normally acrylic or polyester) used to make liners, boosters and wraps. Some nappies are fleece lined to give a dry layer. Lanolin - Product used to treat wool wraps to maintain their waterproof properties. Nappy Nippa – Brand name of a useful plastic fastener which replaces pins as a means of fastening traditionally folded terry nappies or non-fastening shaped nappies. Nappy Mesh - A mesh bag with drawstring used to line a bucket if soaking nappies. Soaking nappies can be easily be removed by simply lifting out and putting complete bag straight into washing machine. One-Size Nappy - Some nappies are designed to fit a baby from birth to potty with rows of multi-positioned poppers. They can be more expensive than the sized nappies but work out more economical in the long run. Especially useful if you have more than one baby in nappies at once. One-way Liner - This is a layer that goes between the baby and the nappy, which allows moisture to pass through to the nappy but retains poo so that it can be flushed down the loo. Liners can either be of a biodegradable material that can be flushed away or made of polyester fleece, which keeps a baby’s bum wonderfully dry. Popper - Plastic or nickel-free snap fastening used on nappies and wraps. Pouch/Pocket Nappy - Waterproof outer with fleece lining and an opening at back edge to insert absorbent pad, prefold or pad folded terry square. Prefold - A rectangle of cotton sewn in 3 panels with the middle panel being thicker than the outer two panels. Prefolds only require a simple fold of 3 or 4 to form a pad shape and can also be very cleverly folded to make a shaped nappy. PUL (Polyurethane Laminate) – Waterproof, breathable material used on many wraps and AIO's. Reusable Nappy - Another term to describe a washable nappy. Shaped & Fitted Nappy - These are shaped with elasticated waist and legs to give a snug and secure fit and fasten with either Aplix, poppers or use of a Nappi Nippa. They are easy to use, and good for containment, but they do take longer to dry than Terry Squares or Prefolds. Terry/Terries - Terry squares are one of the quickest drying nappies and most versatile as they can be simply pad folded or traditionally folded into a shaped nappy. No more need for pins with the use of a Nappi Nippa. Two-part Nappy - This is an absorbent nappy (flat or shaped) and a separate wrap (waterproof outer). Velcro - Brand name for hook and loop fastening used on some nappies and wraps. Wicking - When wee is transferred to clothing around the edges of nappies or wraps. Wool - A natural fabric waterproof outer that is recommended for overnight use. Allows air to circulate and moisture to evaporate leaving baby cool. Wrap - This is the outer, waterproof cover or layer which replaces plastic pants. They are generally made of PVC or PUL (polyurethane laminate) but can also be made of wool or polyester fleece. They fasten with Aplix, poppers, or be pulled on without any fastenings. |