Why Choose Cloth Nappies?

Environmental Reasons
An added benefit of using cloth nappies is you are helping our environment.  Did you know that one baby in disposable diapers will contribute at least 1 ton of waste to your local landfill?  And that it can take up to 500 years to decompose?  Even the new “biodegradable” nappies are not really able to biodegrade because to do so they need oxygen and sunlight - both lacking when buried in a mountain of waste at your local landfill. 

According to the Sustainability Institute, the Stellenbosch landfill was declared full as of 2009 and nearby landfills have an estimated 3-5 years of capacity remaining.

Economic Reasons
A family will go through about 6,000 to 9,000 disposable nappies per child. Using cloth diapers can save you around R10,000 or more after your initial investment in cloth nappies. You can save even more when you cloth diaper subsequent children.

Health Considerations
According to the Real Diaper Association, disposable diapers contain chemicals such as Sodium Polyacrylate, Dioxin and Tributyltin (TBT).  Sodium Polyacrylate, which is found in the fluff layer of the disposable diaper, turns your baby’s urine into gel; it can absorb 100 times its weight in liquid. Sodium Polyacrylate has also been linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome in tampon use and has been associated with severe diaper rash. Dioxin, a byproduct of the bleaching process, is one of the most poisonous and carcinogenic substances produced on earth and has been associated with birth defects, miscarriage, cancer and genetic damage.  Tributyltin (TBT) is a controversial chemical compound and a study by Greenpeace confirmed TBT in major name-brand disposable diapers.  Greenpeace found that TBT causes hormonal problems in animals and humans and they are demanding a world-wide ban.  Get even more facts at the Real Diaper Association!

Cloth Nappy Terminology

Too many choices and no idea where to start?  Below you’ll find the most common terminology used to explain the different types of nappies available to help you get started.  Of course no one nappy system will be perfect for every baby but hopefully this will help you navigate the different options available to you.

All-In-One (AIO)

The All-In-One is generally considered to be the cloth nappy most similar to a disposable because it contains a waterproof outer and an absorbent soaker and therefore needs nothing else added to it.  The soaker is either sewn into the lining or is sewn on top of the lining; the difference between the two largely being that the nappy with a soaker sewn into the lining will take longer to dry because air can not circulate around it.  The bumGenius Elemental is an All-In-One nappy system.

The bumGenius Elemental Organic nappy is an All-In-One nappy made with organic fibers and has a quick-dry soaker sewn on top of the lining to speed up drying time. 

All-In-Two (AI2)

An All-In-Two nappy consists of a cover with a snap in or lay in soaker.  The name arose from the ability to often get two uses out of the nappy - when the baby wees, you can simply remove the wet soaker, wipe the cover (if it is waterproof) and insert another dry soaker.  All-In-Twos have a quicker drying time than the AIO because the soaker is external and therefore dried separately. 

The Flip System is an AI2 nappy with a waterproof cover and your choice of Stay-Dry 3-ply microfiber or 100% certified organic cotton lay in inserts.

Pocket Nappy

Pocket nappies have a waterproof outer layer sewn together with either a microfleece or microsuede inner layer to create a pocket to "stuff". You then stuff the pocket with an insert (most pocket nappies are sold with the insert).  An advantage of the pocket diaper is that the fleece layer is next to your baby and wicks the moisture away from your baby into the absorbent insert. This further reduces the chance of nappy rash. Another great aspect of pocket diapers is that you can stuff them with varying amounts of inserts to accommodate any type of wetter.

The bumGenius 4 is our best-selling pocket nappy and comes with a lightweight insert for newborns and an adjustable-size insert for your older baby.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do people really still use cloth diapers?
Yes! As a matter of fact, cloth diapering has become quite the vogue thing to do, especially among environmentally conscious parents. All of the new choices in cloth diapers have made it as easy to use cloth diapers as it is to use disposable diapers.

How many do I need?

We recommend purchasing 18 - 24 cloth nappies depending on the style you’ve chosen.  This may vary based on your child's wetting habits. Remember, wash at least every other day and rotate your stash evenly. 

Once you've picked out your nappies, don't forget to get two or three dozen cloth wipes, a waterproof nappy bag for your nappy tote and a nappy pail with a liner.  Biodegradable, flushable nappy liners will also make your life much easier!

Are diaper rash creams okay to use with my nappies?
Nappy rashes should be treated according to your physician's recommendations. If you need to use a rash cream, you should use a disposable nappy liner or a fleece liner between your baby's bottom and the nappy to prevent the cream from transferring onto the diapers.  The ingredients in the rash cream could cause your nappies to leak.