Nappy Glossary


A | B | C | D | F | I | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | W |


A

Airflow wrap

Very popular, popper fastening PUL wrap made by Motherease.

All-in-ones (AIO’s)

These nappies have the cotton part and wrap attached together, so there is only one part to the nappy

Aplix

A type of “velcro” fastening


B

Bamboozles

Sized two-part shaped nappy made by Tots Bots. Made from bamboo!

Birth to potty (one-sized)

Nappies designed to fit baby from birth to potty training.

Booster

Extra padding added to increase absorbency, often hourglass shaped

BOV

Bamboo organic velour material.


C

Cloth nappies

Reusable nappies, washable nappies, cotton nappies and real nappies are all the same thing!

Clothie

A person who loves using cotton nappies on their child. This person may be suffering from a cloth nappy addiction!

Cotton nappies

Reusable nappies, washable nappies, cloth nappies and real nappies are all the same thing!

Cover (wrap)

The waterproof outer part of a nappy. Sometimes they are attached (all-in-ones and pocket nappies) sometimes they are separate (two part nappy). Separate wraps can be made from PUL, fleece or wool.


D

Diaper

American name for Nappy

Dry pailing or Dry Storing

Storing dirty nappies in a bucket without soaking. Lavender oil is often added to keep out smells- plus a lid!


F

Flannel

Cotton material which is densely woven then brushed, making it very soft

Flat nappies

Nappies that open out flat, like a terry square or prefold. These need folding.

Fleece

Fabric (normally acrylic or polyester) used to make liners and wraps. Some nappies are fleece lined to give a stay-dry layer

Fluffles

A two-part sized shaped nappy made by Tots Bots. Popular due to very quick drying time. Made from polyester.

Fluffy Post

A parcel arriving through the post that contains cotton nappies or accessories!

Fuzzi Bunz

Popular American made nappies, best know for their stuffables


I

Imse Vimse

Swedish nappy manufacturer of Imse Diapers and Bumpy wraps

Insert

The absorbent part added to a pocket nappy. They can be made from cotton, bamboo, hemp or micro-fibre.


K

Kissaluv

American made nappy, very stretchy fleece fabric, slim fitting and popper fastening

Kooshies

Canadian manufacturer of nappies, including Ultra and Classic


L

Lanolin

A product used to treat wool wraps to keep them waterproof

Liners

The layer next to the baby’s skin, helping to keep them dry. Sometimes these are flushable paper liners; sometimes they are washable and made from fleece or even silk

Longies

long woolly trousers to cover a two-part nappy. These are especially good over night.


M

MEOS

Motherease Onesize nappy

Merino

A popular wool for making longies and other wool covers. Very soft to touch.

Microfibre

A man-made fabric use in real nappies or inserts. It holds the liquid between the fibres rather than absorbing it into the fibres. Not suitable to use with wool covers.

Motherease (Mother-ease, ME)

Very popular Canadian make of nappy. Makes One Size, Multifit, as well as Rikki and Airflow wraps


N

Nappi nippas (nappy nippa, snappi)

A plastic T shaped gripper to hold fasten free nappies together (instead on using a pin)

Nappy bag

A waterproof bag for storing dirty nappies in when out and about

Nappy mesh

A draw string mesh bag to line the bucket containing dirty nappies. They make transferring nappies into the washing machine a more pleasant experience!


O

OS

One-size. Nappies designed to last from birth to potty training.

OV

Organic velour- material used to make real nappies. Lovely and soft.


P

Pocket nappies or “stuffables”

These are basically a waterproof wrap with a lining, often made from fleece. Absorbency is added by \"stuffing\" with inserts.

Prefolds

Absorbent squares, but have a padded section in the centre. Usually just held in place by a close fitting gusseted wrap.

PUL (Polyurethane Laminate)

Waterproof material used in many wraps, pockets and all-in-ones

Pull-on pants

Wrap without side openings - pulls on like ordinary pants


R

Real Nappies

Real nappies, cotton nappies, cloth nappies, washable nappies and reusable nappies are all the same thing!

Reusable nappies

Cotton nappies, washable nappies, cloth nappies and real nappies are all the same thing!

Rikki wrap

Very popular gussetted PUL velcro wrap made by Motherease


S

Shaped / fitted nappies

These are shaped to fit the baby without folding. Usually have elasticated waist and legs. These require a waterproof wrap.

Shorties

Woolly shorts to cover a two-part nappy. These are especially good over night. Can only be used over natural fibred nappies.

Sized nappy

A nappy that comes in various sizes which need to be purchased as the child grows

Skirtie

A wool cover that looks like a skirt.

Snappi (nappi nippas, nappy nippa)

A plastic T shaped gripper to hold fasten free nappies together (instead on using a pin)

Soaker

Another name for a wrap. Only heard this used to describe wool or fleece nappy covers.

Soaking

Putting dirty nappies into a bucket of water before washing to prevent staining. Sometimes a product is added to keep smells to minimum. Water is changed daily

ss

Side snap. Where a real nappy or cover has poppers at the side, rather than at the front.

Stuffable (pocket nappy)

These are basically a waterproof wrap with a lining, often made from fleece. Absorbency is added by \"stuffing\" with inserts.


T

Terry squares

Are simply squares of towelling material folded, usually fastened with a nappi nippa and then covered by a wrap.

Tots Bots

Very popular make of nappy, made in Scotland. Makes Fluffles, rainbow bots and Bamboozles

Two part nappy system

This is where the cotton, absorbent part and the wrap are separate


W

WAHM

stands for "work at home mum". A selection of WAHM goodies can be found in the new nappysite WAHM shops section!

Washable nappies

Reusable nappies, cotton nappies, cloth nappies and real nappies are all the same thing!

Washable Wipes

Small pieces of material that can be used to wash baby's bottom at nappy changes- instead of disposable wipes. Plain water or a mild solution can be used. Often made from cotton with a fleece backing.

Wick/Wicking

The term used to describe wetness or moisture as it seeps though fabric. Sometimes this is due to wetness being squeezed through a nappy wrap(compression wicking) due to a vest top being done up too tighly. More common with fleece or wool wraps.

Wool

a great material for wraps, especailly for use over night. They are breathable and water repellent, but need treating with lanolin. They can only be used over natural fibres (not polyester nappies).

Wrap (cover)

The waterproof outer part of a nappy. Sometimes they are attached (all-in-ones and pocket nappies) sometimes they are separate (two part nappy). Separate wraps can be made from PUL waterproof material, wool or fleece.


Can you think of any other nappy related terms? Why not email them to us.