4th Sep 2023
Cloth Nappy Glossary
When it comes to the terminology around Cloth Nappies it can be a bit overwhelming. If you're not sure of your "wicking" vs "moisture wicking" or your "snappi" vs your "rise snaps" then look no further, our glossary of Modern Cloth Nappy terms will help de-bunk the jargon.
Visual Glossary of Cloth Nappy Terminology
| Absorbency | The amount of liquid an insert holds; or the layers of material used to soak up liquid; also see “Insert” |
| Agitation | When items rub against each other in the wash section of your washing cycle |
| Ai2 Nappy | All-in-2; a nappy with two separate pieces - the cover and the insert |
| AiO Nappy | All-in-One; a nappy that has the cover and the insert all sewn together |
| Ammonia | The chemical that occurs when urine is exposed to bacteria after leaving the body |
| AWJ | Athletic Wicking Jersey; moisture wicking fabric used to line the cover of some cloth nappies |
| Bamboo | Fabric derived from bamboo plants; this is a man-made fibre, |
| Bulk out/ Bulking | Adding small items in to the washing machine to increase the agitation during the main wash |
| Cover | The waterproof outer of the nappy |
| Double Gusset | Two elasticated seals around each leg, or in the internal lining of the nappy; also see ‘Gusset’ |
| Fit | How the nappy fits and seals on the body |
| Flat Nappy | A singular layer of material that can be folded in various ways to create different levels of absorbency |
| Gusset | An elasticated section that creates a seal around the legs |
| Hemp | Fabric derived from the hemp plant |
| Hip Snaps | The row of snaps at the very top of the nappy; these adjust the fit around the hips |
| Insert | The absorbent part of the nappy |
| Leg Snaps | The second row of snaps around the top of the nappy; these adjust the fit around the legs |
| Liner | A thin, non-absorbent, moisture-wicking, layer of material used between babies skin and the inserts |
| Main-Wash | The longest cycle used in your wash routine; this cycle thoroughly washes the nappies |
| MCN | Modern Cloth Nappy |
| Moisture Wicking | A property of certain fabrics, where liquid is drawn away from the skin; provides a dry layer between inserts & skin |
| OSFM | One Size Fits Most; a nappy that will adjust to fit a wide range of different weights and heights |
| Pocket Nappy | An insert option that has layers of absorbency sewn in to certain sections; requires some folding to size |
| Pre-fold | A nappy that can have inserts stuffed between the waterproof outer cover & the moisture wicking internal lining |
| Pre-Wash | The first cycle of your wash routine; removes the majority of ammonia from urine & solids from the nappies |
| PUL | Polyurethane Laminate; fabric that has a layer of polyurethane chemically bonded to it for waterproofing |
| Rise Snaps | The snaps through the crotch part of the nappy; these adjust the overall length of the nappy from front to back |
| RPM | Rotations Per Minute; the frequency that your washing machine drum does a full rotation each minute; |
| Shell | See ‘Cover |
| Snappi | A ‘T’ shaped, stretchy tool for securing folded inserts such as flats; used in place of a pin |
| Snaps | Clips that allow the nappy & inserts to be adjusted |
| Spin | The part of a wash cycle that extracts water out of the fabrics; calculated as Rotations Per Minute; also see ‘RPM’ |
| Stash | A collection of nappies; owner will proudly photograph on the rare occasion that all are clean, dry & stuffed at once |
| TPU | Thermoplastic Polyurethane; fabric that has a layer of polyurethane bonded to it, using heat, for waterproofing |
| Wash Routine | The steps followed to get nappies clean & dry |
| Wicking | See ‘Moisture Wicking’ |
| Winged prefold/flat | A flat or pre-folded insert that has wings cut & sewn in at the top for ease of fitting & folding |