Reviews by Jo Hallworth
BTP Bumble with Popolini Vento Cover
Bumble nappies are handmade by Alison, in Oxfordshire, from soft cotton towelling. They are made in the traditional stitched and turned style making them look like a classic washable nappy for those who like terry towelling nappies but don’t want to fold them! The Bumble nappy has a versatile inner booster which can be removed to reduce bulk for use on newborns. When the inner booster is removed, the nappy can be folded inside itself using inner poppers to reduce the rise. Washing the nappy and booster separately has the advantage of reducing drying times, but it’s also easy to add extra boosters. It’s available with poppers or with no fastenings, to be used with a Nappi Nippa, and it is also available in bamboo. The Popolini wrap is simple with no frills but it is easy to use. This nappy fits from approximately 7lbs to 35lbs.
£18.00for the nappy and cover
TotsBots EasyFit
As the name suggests, this is a really easy nappy to use. It is a practical design. I like that there is an extra piece of Velcro to prevent the fabric from being snagged during washing, and there is a pocket under the tongue so more boosters can be added. The waterproof outer material, which comes in a wonderful range of designs, is made from recycled plastic waste – on average, two bottles are diverted from landfill with every EasyFit nappy made. The nappies are made in the UK and come with really helpful instructions for use. They fit from 8lbs to 35lbs.
From £15.99
Close Pop-In
This birth-to-potty nappy fits from 7lbs to 35lbs and has poppers on the front to adjust the size. It has really good absorbency which is easily adjusted to suit your needs. We had no significant leaks and I really like the double gusset at the legs. The Velcro straps make it easy to fit and, because the soaker and booster are removable, all the elements dry quickly. The inner sections are made from bamboo which is soft, antibacterial, breathable and incredibly absorbent. The outer wrap is made from RPET, with each nappy using two and a half recycled plastic water bottles. The nappies come in fantastic colours – they are available in pastel and bright ranges – and you can buy a cost-effective starter set.
From £9.99
Organic Rainbow Premium Cotton Terry Cloth Washable Baby Wipes
These wipes are excellent for everything! I found them to be much better at cleaning poo than most wipes and you can wash them with the nappies so there is no increase in wash frequency. The fabric is really soft but the thickness means they are sturdy too. They are a really practical size – 15cm by 15cm – and are made from GOTS certified material and dyes. You can buy them in packs of 10, 25 or 40.
From £8.80 for 10
Bamboo Cotton Terry Squares
These are versatile nappies and very cost-effective and eco as you can use them for other things once you no longer need nappies. They do take some practise. I watched YouTube videos to learn how to fold them and, once I’d got the hang of it, I found them easy to fit with a Nappi Nippa. Made from 50% cotton and 50% bamboo rayon, these 50cm by 50cm squares are very soft and comfortable. They are available unbleached or in white and are quick drying. Extra boosters can be added to improve absorption as required, and you can use with a range of wraps and covers.
£3 each or £32 for a pack of 12
Disana Boiled Woollen Overpants
I used this cover with the terry squares. It’s very soft and comfortable and is easy to put on over the top of the nappy. It seems odd that you don’t need to wash it, but does not leak or smell at all as the wool is naturally waterproofing and self-cleaning. This is a really eco option because the wool is 100% organic (certified by Ecocert Greenlife) and it can be composted at its end of life – or upcycled in some way! It’s a beautiful item of clothing in itself but it might make your child bulkier in terms of fitting clothes over it.
£15.50
Peachi Baby Reusable Nappy Set
This is a really gorgeous nappy! The debut collection features 10 designs by female artists, with hand-drawn and painted prints in fresh colours, inspired by a love of nature. The Peachi Baby nappy is designed to be a slim fit. When I first saw it I thought it was really small, but it does fit! There are poppers to adjust the size and two inserts that fit inside the wrap – an anchor insert and a second insert. The wrap only needs to be washed when it’s soiled, making it really practical. The nappy is described as “one-size-fits-most” and is designed to be birth-to-potty. The ethos of the company is to be plastic-free and to avoid waste.
£20.00
Bare & Boho Two-Part Nappy
I like the design of this nappy. It’s a two-parter with a stylish wrap and snap-in inserts. Each nappy comes with a complete bamboo soaker and booster set, which can also be purchased separately. The boosters offer great absorbency but take longer to dry as they are thicker than most. The poppers are easy to adjust and the fit is good – I like that there is a double gusset around the legs. This is an Australian brand and the wraps feature hand-painted art by Australian designers. The fit is one-size-fits-most from approximately 9lbs to 35lbs, so it should be birth-to-potty.
From £22.00
Easy Peasy Hemp Boosters
This booster is been an excellent addition to my nappy kit. I find it more absorbent than microfibre, although slower drying, so it is great to use in combination with all the nappies I’ve been reviewing. This booster fits well without being super bulky and it extends nappy wear time. It’s plastic-free as there are no poppers and it washes well. The boosters are made from six layers of hemp jersey (55% hemp, 45% organic cotton) and can be used flat or folded, to provide more concentrated absorbency in a particular area. The approximate measurements are 35cm by 11cm before washing.
£15 for a pack of 5
This feature was originally published in JUNO Spring 2020.
JUNO Best Buy Awards -Reusable Nappies