Reusable Cloth Nappies and their Alternatives

Transitioning from conventional disposable nappies to more eco-friendly nappies might seem overwhelming with all the jargon and vast expanses of information available online… But don’t fret! Little and Brave is here to walk you through it all.

In your journey to finding the best environmentally friendly nappy fit for your little one, a phrase you might have come across often is ‘ nappy inserts’. In the following paragraphs, we’ll provide an in-depth guide to what cloth nappy inserts are and the best practices for using them. 

What is a Cloth Nappy Insert?

For the uninitiated, a cloth nappy insert is essentially a material that is laid in a cover or inserted into the pocket opening of a pocket-style cloth nappy. Conventional nappy inserts are made of materials like microfibre, bamboo, hemp, and cotton.

As you may recall from our Eco-Friendly Diapers & Nappy Types post, there are numerous kinds of nappies that require an extra absorbent component to ensure that there are no unfortunate leaks; this is where nappy inserts come in. Absorption levels of these inserts depend on the material used to make them and the outer covering of the nappy being used. The two primary kinds of nappy inserts are made out of cloth, or natural wood pulp. 

Cloth Inserts

Cloth inserts resemble rectangular runners that are sometimes filled with an ultra-absorbent microfibre. Although nappy inserts are growing in popularity, some parents struggle to maintain and wash them as frequently as they should owing to the material these have been made from. This is in contrast to disposable inserts that are single-use.

Disposable Inserts

Disposable inserts are convenient to use when on the go and are most similar to the conventional nappie in the material used.  

Here at Little and Brave, our eco-nappies double up as cloth nappy inserts and are designed to be used with our snap pants and snap wraps; Fortunately, they can also comfortably be used in most modern cloth nappy covers or any close-fitting garments which will fit the eco-nappy snugly to the body.

Benefits of Cloth Nappies with Disposable Nappy Inserts

Cloth nappies are lightweight.

Cloth nappies have the advantage of being accessible, cost-effective and an agreeable material for a baby’s skin. Coupled with the convenient nature of nappy inserts, this duo is extremely versatile and effective in collecting your baby’s waste

The materials used to make eco nappies inserts are breathable, compared to airtight disposables.

Our snap wraps and snap pants are the ideal choice for parents looking for the feeling of natural fibres against their baby’s skin. Remember that although there might be an initial learning curve for nappies before you master their application, the results of a pollutant-free, plastic-free, and less wasteful nappy are something the planet will thank you for every day. Once baby and you acclimate to the use of eco nappies, you’ll be glad you made the switch to Little and Brave Eco Nappies!

How many Nappy Inserts does my baby really need?

Depending on the level of waste your baby releases, building up a stash of extra inserts would be strongly recommended to make cloth nappy usage easier. Adding extra inserts can help you tackle some of the most common cloth nappy challenges, like leaks! Simply put – you’ll need lots of cloth nappy inserts.

Things to Keep in Mind When You're Buying Cloth Nappies...

A common mistake new cloth nappy parents make is forgetting to check if their new cloth nappies or fasteners come with nappy inserts. With this in mind, don't forget to keep an extra keen eye out for the insert when you compare different brands and styles of nappies. Some nappies come with cloth nappy inserts included in the price, while for others you have to buy them separately. 

That aside, also have a look at the materials or ingredients used while manufacturing your inserts. The environment has suffered greatly with the making and disposal of the non-biodegradable nature of early nappies; the plastics used to manufacture these nappies meant that they would sit in landfills for hundreds of years, and when disposed of in large water bodies, they would break down into microplastics, leach chemicals, damage marine life and potentially contaminate the water. 

When considering the shift to cloth nappy inserts and cloth nappies or fasteners, experts believe that sticking to nappies made from natural, moisture-wicking materials would be most viable while keeping the baby comfortable. 

Little and Brave’s eco-friendly variant is made from renewable plant-based materials and is commercially compostable. Well-made compostable disposable nappies are safe for a baby’s sensitive skin and are made with wood pulp, a plant-based breathable biofilm, no oil-based plastics, and no chemicals – making them gentle on the earth.

By combining the ease of cloth with the convenience of disposables, nappy inserts and snap wraps are the best set of nappy solutions that you could use for your baby. Little and Brave, strives every day to achieve its environmental goals and is proudly doing its part for the planet:  our own commercial composting plant in Auckland diverted over a thousand tonnes of organic waste from landfill, and produced over a 100-tonnes of nutrient-dense compost with our Eco Nappies! 

The Bottom Line

We have no doubt that you have questions about our plastic-free, pollutant-free co nappies, and the durability of the snap wraps and snap pants. Head on over to our frequently asked questions about our eco nappies and you’ll find all the necessary information to put your mind at ease. Trust us – a quick switch to Little and Brave Eco Nappies will leave you wondering why you hadn’t done it sooner! 

Shop with us today to bring your little one closer to a brighter and cleaner future.