Inserts/Liners

Inserts for extra nappy absorption. This is where it starts to get interesting! Hemp, Bamboo, Cotton, Microfibre are some of the fabric names you will see as you look at the different types of nappies. Then you will see descriptions of how they are put together and how many layers there are, and lots of talk about absorbency and drying time! Below is a brief description of the common fabric types, there are variations on each of these (ie, bamboo velour, bamboo terry, hemp fleece, hemp terry, cotton sherpa) all of these are variations of the basic fabric type. Once you have worked out the fabrics you can then look at how many layers of fabric a nappy is made up of to work out how absorbent the nappy may be. Bamboo fabric is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and eco-friendly to grow. Bamboo in its plant form is a sustainable resource. Bamboo fabric is great for cloth nappies as it is more absorbent than cotton which means less fabric is required which in turn means trimmer nappies. It is also easy to wash and can be put in the clothes dryer. We suggest looking for a small polyester content in bamboo fabrics used in cloth nappies for stability of the fabric. Because of its high absorbency bamboo fabric will take longer to dry so look for quick-dry construction of nappies. Hemp remains our number one choice for cloth nappy fabrics as it is one of the most naturally eco-friendly fabrics as well as its fantastic ability to absorb and hold moisture. It is also one of the strongest and most durable natural fibres making it perfect for heavy duty nappy use. Hemp has many of the same qualities as bamboo, including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, does not require the use of chemicals and pesticides to grow, and traditional methods of processing hemp fabric are healthy to workers and the environment. Hemp is usually blended with cotton - for the best eco-friendly option look for hemp and organic cotton blends. Cotton is versatile, soft, breathable as well as being absorbent and durable. Cloth nappies made entirely from cotton will require more layers than bamboo or hemp. Unfortunately the growth and production of cotton fabric takes its toll on our environment using vast amounts of water and chemicals and pesticides to grow and manufacture. However there are benefits to cotton including the fact it does not hold onto odours like some fabrics and of course it comes in lots of cute prints and patterns! If you want cute prints and patterns we suggest looking for a cotton outer fabric combined with absorbent layers of bamboo, hemp or ORGANIC cotton. Organic cotton production prevents the use of chemicals and pesticides. Microfibre is made of a blend of polyester and polyamide and is a synthetic material. It makes a great cloth nappy fabric for internal layers or pocket inserts. Microfibre is able to absorb up to 8 times its weight in liquid and is a light, thin fabric which dries quickly. Microfibre absorbs differently to bamboo, hemp and cotton. It acts like a sponge and liquid may leak if pressure is applied. This can be prevented by frequent nappy changes or if microfibre is combined with other moisture holding fabric such as hemp, bamboo or cotton. Microfibre should not be placed against babys skin as it can dry out the skin. The combination of fabrics and how they are put together is seemingly endless! The common terminology for the different nappy types follows, some include waterproof outer layers that are already sewn onto the nappy.