Fitting modern cloth nappies to prevent leaks is easier than you think, especially once you've done it a few times.  They're designed to fit like a pair of underwear Follow the steps below to ensure a good fit.

1. Size Your Nappy

a. If you're using a snap nappy, adjust the rise snaps to the correct fit for the size of your baby to help get a good fit and prevent leaks.  This may take a couple of adjustments the first time you fit them, but once you know the setting, you only need to adjust the snaps as your baby grows. 

b. Take your open cloth nappy and place it so that the back of the nappy is low (but covers the bum crack).  Pull the front over, so that it looks quite high (around baby’s waist, just below the tummy button).

2. Secure the Nappy

a. Bring the nappy between your baby’s legs squeezing the nappy slightly in the centre so that it fits into their leg creases to fit like undies. Close waist snaps to fit snug but not too tight. The snaps don't need to be centred. The nappy should be flat across the tummy with no material sticking out the top.

3. Tidy the Extra Material

a. Ensure the inserts are completely inside the nappy at the front & back.

b. Push any extra material from the rise snaps up towards the tummy button (when on the smaller rise snap settings)

4. Check the Fit

a. Check you can place two stacked fingers between the front of the top of the nappy and baby's tummy.

b. Double check that the leg elastics sit in the underwear line, just like undies, to ensure there's no leg gaps (this means no leaking and no poo explosions). They should also not be too tight.

And that's how easy it is to fit a modern cloth nappy! 

Additional Fit Tips

Adjusting the snaps.

To get an idea of where the rise snaps need to be, place the nappy next to your baby and snap them together.  Try the nappy on baby and then adjust the rise snaps as necessary. If the nappy is too loose, it will leak and also be bulky. Once you know where the rise snaps need to be based on the size of your baby you can pre-set these in advance once your nappies are washed and dried. You’ll be all ready to go at change time! As your baby grows you will need to adjust the rise snaps so that you still get the fit right - not too tight, but tight enough to prevent leaks.

Red marks

The nappy should be snug, but not too tight.  If you baby has red marks on their legs, that don't disappear after a little while try adjusting the snaps to loosen it slightly. If the marks disappear quickly or a slightly pink, this is fine.

Girls vs Boys

For boys, ensure the penis is pointing down which is where most of the absorbency will be.