Terry flats

These are probably the most widely recognised cloth nappy. They are generally 60cm (24 inches) square and fold up into different shapes.

Pros: Low cost, great for burp rags and spills, customisable for any baby, quick drying.
Cons: Nappy origami can take some getting used to. Covers are required to prevent wicking.

Prefolds

Prefolds are rectangles with extra layers down the middle. Fold in thirds, then bring the corners out on one end and wrap around baby’s legs.

Pros: Easy to use, can fold them up as a booster in other nappies, quick drying..
Cons: Covers required to prevent wicking.

Fitteds

Fitteds are a shaped nappy made of absorbent fabric, with elastic and either snaps or velcro.

Pros: Less bulky than terry flats & prefolds.
Cons: Needs a cover, takes a while to dry.

Pockets

Pockets have an opening, usually in the back, where you insert the absorbent material. This is then removed before washing.

Pros: Pockets dry quickly because they have two parts, no cover required because the ‘shell’ is waterproof.
Cons: Needs to be assembled before use.

All-in-ones

An all-in-one is just what it sounds: absorbency and waterproofing all in one package.

Pros: No assembly required, no covers needed.
Cons: Because everything is together, these take longer to dry than other types of nappies.

Boosters

Boosters are extra pieces of fabric which are put into nappies to increase their absorbency.

Covers

Covers come in several different fabrics. At Little Para Pants we sell PUL covers. This is a manmade material but it does very well at holding in moisture.ckly