Shaped Nappies

These nappies are worn with a separate waterproof wrap, and are hence sometimes known as 'two- piece' nappies.. They are made from layers of absorbent material such as terry or flannelette. They are shaped like a disposable and sized to fit comfortably and snugly around your baby. Fastening with poppers, hook and loop or nappy nippas, they are easy to use. Most are elasticated at the legs and waist, so are very leak proof.

Two-piece nappies can be washed at 60 degrees and tumble dried, making them easy to care for. You will need to buy two or more sizes for your baby, therefore making them more expensive than one-size nappies. However, they won’t have as much wear and tear. Assuming you care for your nappies as directed, they will last for more than one baby making them an economical option. They also have the advantage of being less bulky on smaller babies.

Tots Bots Organic

Tots Bots goes organic! No air freighting either!

Soft organic cotton terry fabric

Very absorbent, although therefore do take longer to dry than some nappies

Fastens with either hook and loop (applix) or nappy nippas

Sewn-in booster liner

Snug fit and good containment with elasticated waist and legs

Very cute!

Colours: unbleached, aqua, yellow, green, orange or lilac

Available in 2 sizes

COST: £8.50 (nippa fastening) or £9.00 (applix fastening)

Tots Bots Original

This must be the cutest, most absorbent nappy around - my favourite!

Slightly thicker version of the above, in non-GM cotton terry fabric

Great for night-time wear

Colours: unbleached or white

Available in 3 sizes

COST: £7.00 - £9.00

Tots Bots Fluffle

Top Tip! Very quick drying!

Super soft antibacterial micro-fibre, which will stay soft even in areas with hard-water

Highly absorbent - absorbs any wetness quicker than cotton

Very fast drying!

Fleece lined - no need for separate liner

Snap-in booster layer

Extra absorbent layers can be stuffed into pocket eg for overnight wear

Fastens with Nappy Nippa or poppers

Will fit longer than an ordinary Tots nappy - adjust the size by folding the front under the inner fleece liner

Much less bulky than cotton Tots nappies

Colour: white

Available in 2 sizes

COST: £8.50 (nippa fastening) or £9.00 (applix fastening)

Tots Bots Bamboozle

Top Tip! A very eco-friendly option! Slim fitting!

Made from bamboo which is naturally antibacterial

Soft and silky - stays soft after washing

Fastens with Applix (unbleached also available in popper fastening)

Highly absorbent - 60% more absorbent than cotton towelling - so less material is needed, making it less bulky than cotton Tots nappies

Like hemp, bamboo is cultivated without any need for pesticides or herbicides, making it very environmentally friendly

Colours: natural, unbleached or aqua, green, yellow, lilac or orange

Available in 2 sizes

COST: £9.00

Nappy Nation

Top Tip! Great if you don't have a tumble drier

Soft terry fabric

Cross-over Applix fastening or can be fastened with nappy nippa

Version without Applix can be folded over and used as a 'one size' nappy

Legs and waist are gently elasticated giving it great fit and containment

Opens out flat into different layers making it quicker drying

Good option if limited drying facilities or limited budget

Made in the UK!

One-size slimmer bamboo version also available (see One-size nappies)

Colour: white with coloured trim

Available in 3 sizes

COST: £7.25 - £8.60

Ella's House Hemp Nappy and Bumhugger

Top Tip! Hemp is highly absorbent, yet much slimmer than terry

Hemp fleece outer with fold-out booster pad for maximum absorbency with minimum thickness

Trim fit without the associated bulk of cotton nappies of similar absorbtion

Bumhugger features polyester fleece stay dry inner lining to keep baby dry

Bumhugger works well as a night nappy

Excellent containment with gentle elastication at waist and legs

Choice of poppers or Aplix hook & loop fastening

Slower to dry

Cross over waist in smallest size for skinny newborns

Made in Scotland!

Stop Press! Now comes with fold-out booster to aid drying

Colour: natural. Bumhugger has plain, rainbow or other patterned fleece lining

Available in 3 sizes

COST: £7.75, Bumhugger: £8.95

Motherease Sandys

Top Tip! This can be used like a pull-up, either for potty training or for a wriggly baby

Stretchy and durable 85% cotton and 15% polyester

Fastens with poppers - flexible fit and harder for little fingers to undo

High performing and very absorbent

3 layers of terry between legs

Excellent for heavy wetters

Stretchy elasticated waist and legs

Now available in bamboo and organic cotton fabrics!

Colour: white or unbleached

Available in 3 sizes (largest size only needed for large toddlers)

COST: £6.75 - £10.75

Popolini Two Size

This nappy has travelled less distnace than the Sandys!

Very similar in design to Motherease Sandys nappies

100% cotton (so may shrink a little, unlike the Sandys)

Also available in organic cotton

Seems slightly smaller than the Sandys

Made in Europe

Colour: white or unbleached

Available in 3 sizes (largest size only needed for large toddlers)

COST: £6.95 - £9.25

Nature Babies Diddy Diaper

Top Tip! Excellent, slim fitting newborn nappy - designed to fit under most newborn baby clothes

4 layers of unbleached stretch short pile terry between the legs

Inner layer of soft 100% cotton jersey next to the skin

Very slim fitting, ideal from birth

Now available in Size 2, to fit from 13lb or folds to fit birth to potty

No fastenings, secure with Nappi Nippa

Elastic at waist and legs for good containment

Medium/fast drying

Fits from birth including premature, low birth weight/twins, to 13-18lb max

Made in UK

Colour: natural

Available in 2 sizes

COST: £4.99 - £5.99

Nature Babies Bamboo Loveable

Top Tip! Quicker to dry than other bamboo nappies

Very similar to the Diddy Diaper, but made from bamboo fabric

2 layers thick, with overlocked seams and an opening at the back into which the detached two layer bamboo booster (plus additional boosting if required) can be stuffed

Very slim fitting, ideal from birth

Quicker to dry than other bamboo nappies

Made in UK

Colour: natural

Available in 2 sizes

COST: £7.50 - £8.50

Nature Babies Microdiddy

Top Tip! Quicker to dry than other bamboo nappies

Very similar to the Diddy Diaper, but made from microfibre terry

Lined with two layers of soft cotton jersey for comfort

Fabric stays soft even in areas with hard water

Very slim fitting, ideal from birth

Quick drying, especially after a fast spin in the washing machine

Made in UK

Colour: white

Available in 2 sizes

COST: £6.25 - £7.25

Easy Peasy Bimble

Cost-saving Tip! This nappy is fleece- lined so you you don't need a separate liner

4 layers of terry between the legs

Inner stay-dry layer of polyester fleece

Very slim fitting, designed to fit under most newborn baby clothes

Fasten with Nappi Nippa

Elastic at waist and legs for good containment

Fits from birth

Can be made smaller for small newborn babies

Can fit into bigger Bumble as an extra absorbent layer

Made in UK

Colour: white

Available in 1 size (bigger version is the Bumble)

COST: £5.95

Easy Peasy Bumble

Cost-saving Tip! This nappy is fleece- lined so you you don't need a separate liner

Up to 5 layers of terry between the legs

Comes with removable pop-in booster liner that fits into pouch

Additional absorbent layers can also be fitted into pouch

Inner stay-dry layer of polyester fleece

Fasten with Nappi Nippa

Elastic at waist and legs for good containment

Fast drying

Can be used as a one-size nappy (although will be bulky on newborn)

Made in UK

Colour: white

Available in 1 size (smaller version is the Bimble)

COST: £6.95

Kissaluv

Top Tip! Front of newborn nappy can be folded down away from healing cord stump, and poppered securely into place

Choice of stretchy 100% cotton fleece pile in unbleached or colours, or with 100% terry pile fabric on outside

Fastens with poppers - long row on waistband gives a flexible fit

Good fit for chubbier legged babies

Low slung giving neat, non-bulky appearance

Stretchy elastic round the legs and waist giving very good containment

Good absorbency due to thick padding between legs

Colours: unbleached, berry purple, sky blue, lemon yellow, melon orange, and lime green

Available in 3 sizes

COST: £7.75 - £8.50

Minki Huggle

Top Tip! Bulky, but ideal as a night-time nappy

Made from 100% long pile Egyptian cotton terry fabric

Fastens with poppers

Inner stay-dry layer of polyester fleece

Additional absorbent layers can also be fitted into pouch

Fold out flap attached at inside back, unfolds to assist drying speed a little

Can be bulky when fully absorbent

Made in Scotland

Variety of colours

Available in 4 sizes

COST: £7.25 - £8.50

Kushies Classic

Top Tip! Flannelette not as hard wearing as terry nappies

8 layers of 100% cotton flannelette

Hidden waterproof layer

Velcro fastening

Doll’s nappy available for imaginative play

Must not be dried over radiator

Can feel rather stiff

NB no elastic around waist

Colour: print or white

Available in 2 sizes

COST: £7.50 - £9.00