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Guide To Using Real Nappies Cloth Diapers

Before Use

Wash and dry your cloth diapers before their first use. Use a perfume-free detergent without fabric softener at a water temperature of around 100°F (40°C). It is not necessary to pre-wash the Snug Wrap diaper covers.

After their first wash your cloth diapers will become smaller, thicker, softer and more absorbent. This has been allowed for in the sizing so that they will fit the diaper covers perfectly.

Cloth Diaper Sizes

Real Nappies cloth diapers are in four sizes to fit your baby from birth to potty training. Using the correct size diaper will ensure a comfortable and leak-proof fit. The following sizing chart provides a guide to which Real Nappies cloth diaper size will best fit your baby. Please take into account that babies vary in shape and size and this is a guide only. You should use the diaper size that fits best.

Assemble the Diaper

The diaper is assembled in three steps using a Snug Wrap diaper cover, a prefold cloth diaper and optionally a diaper liner.

  1. Fold the prefold cloth diaper according to the diagram. Use a boy fold, girl fold or 'liquid poo' fold as appropriate.
  2. Place the folded cloth diaper on the Snug Wrap diaper cover. Do not tuck it in to the flap at the front of the diaper cover.
  3. Place the optional diaper liner on top of the cloth diaper. Do not fold the diaper liner. For newborn babies the diaper liner may be cut in half.

Helpful Hints

  • After washing and drying, fold all the cloth diapers so they are ready to use immediately when you need them.
  • Before removing the soiled difraper from the baby, assemble the fresh cloth diaper and diaper liner. This makes for a quick and easy diaper change.
  • Don't tuck the cloth diaper in the flap at the front of the Snug Wrap diaper cover, as this could cause leakage.

Put the Diaper on the Baby

Place the assembled cloth diaper and diaper cover flat on the changing surface with the velcro-like tabs facing downwards and away from the baby's skin. Lay the baby down, placing their bottom on the middle of the cloth diaper.

Pull the front up between the baby's legs until it's against their belly. Use the velcro-like tabs to secure the diaper and diaper cover around the baby's waist, making sure that the tabs are not touching the baby's skin. The tabs can be adjusted as needed to a snug and comfortable fit. Make sure that the cloth diaper and diaper liner are tucked inside the Snug Wrap diaper cover at the waist and the legs.

Washing and Drying

If you use a diaper liner, the cloth diapers are unlikely to be soiled and won't require soaking before washing. Simply flush the diaper liner and store the used cloth diaper in a covered pail or bin.

If you choose to soak the cloth diapers, the use of Nappy Fresh diaper sanitizer is recommended. Dissolve one tablespoon of Nappy Fresh in one gallon of lukewarm water. Soak cloth diapers for at least two hours.

Rinse the cloth diapers thoroughly in cold water. Before washing, close the velcro-like tabs on the Snug Wrap diaper covers. Machine-wash cloth diapers and diaper covers at 140°F using chemical-free washing powder and one dessertspoon of Nappy Fresh diaper sanitizer. Do not use fabric softener or drier sheets. Do not use chlorine bleach. Do not iron. Hang to dry, or tumble-dry.

Helpful Hints

  • Do not use fabric softener as it can reduce the absorbency of the prefold cloth diapers and reduce the waterproof characteristics of the Snug Wrap diaper covers.
  • It's recommended to store used cloth diapers in a pail or bin with a lid. There's no need to soak, and wash the cloth diapers every other day and the diaper covers only as you need to.