How To Prevent Cloth Nappy Leaks

So you have chosen to use cloth nappies for your new baby. Here are a few tips to ensuring your little one stays dry and snug. While leaks happen from time to time, there are simple techniques to help reduce discomfort. Here are some issues and how to resolve them:  

1.  Nappy was not prepped properly or prepped at all.  To resolve, follow our instructions on how to prep your new nappies/inserts on the right of this article.  This includes drying on high heat for approximately 20 minutes when you first receive your nappy to seal it around all of the snaps & stitching.  After prepping, DO NOT wash or dry on hot or high heat.

2.  The interior of the nappy is repelling liquid.  You can test this by taking the clean nappies and dropping a few drops of water on the interior. If the water sits there for more than a few seconds and you can 'roll' a bead of water around, your diaper is repelling. This is often caused by using non-nappy safe detergents or nappy creams that cause a build up.  The easiest way to correct this is to wash your nappy like normal, then wash once more using Nappy Laundry Treatment.  

3.  Your child is a heavy wetter.  Each baby is different and some urinate more than others.  When using a pocket nappy, you can add additional microfibre, bamboo, bamboo blend or charcoal bamboo inserts which will usually resolve most leak issues.  

4.  The seal around the legs is not tight.  When putting the nappy on your baby, make sure that there are no gaps in between the elastic and their leg.  To tighten, simply adjust the size of the nappy using the three riser snaps that run up the middle of the nappy.  While they should be snug, the elastics around baby's thigh should not be so tight they are causing red marks. If you over stuff your nappy with too many inserts, you may cause gaps that can't be closed even if they are tight on most of baby's leg.

Return to Homepage

How Do I Prep My Bamboo Inserts?


Our Bamboo inserts (five layers - three microfibre and two bamboo) also known as Blend Inserts, are inserts that have two types of fabric. 
Typically - and in our case, this is bamboo on the outside and microfibre on the inside.

 We sell FIVE-layer Bamboo Blend inserts & Five-layer Charcoal Bamboo Blend inserts. 

For the best results, pre-prep all of our Charcoal Bamboo Blends. 

The Five layer Bamboo Blends will need to be prepped by following EITHER set of these directions.
TRY THIS:

1. Depending on how many inserts you are prepping, fill your washing machine with the hottest water setting you have, add all of your blend inserts (if you have 3-layer bamboo or any hemp inserts you've purchased elsewhere and need to prep, you can add them too!) and run it through a wash cycle. If your washing machine has an extra rinse/spin cycle, set it for that. You need to rinse/spin on HOT for at least four to five rinse/spin cycles. Dry in the dryer and they are ready to use. 
   
   OR TRY THIS:
   
2. Fill your washing machine to it's highest setting full of HOT water. Add a packet of Nappy RLR Laundry Detergent - you can buy it on Ebay from the US. (or 1/2 packet for front loaders) and all inserts you'd like to prep. Soak for 30 minutes, run a full cycle on your washer and then add 2 rinse/spin cycles. Dry in the dryer and they are ready to use.
   
   
3. Both Bamboo and Hemp will become more absorbent with each use until about the 10th wash, where it reaches it's maximum absorbency.
   

Related Stories

How to Prep your Bamboo Nappy Liners
How to Strip Modern Cloth Nappies
What is "Minky"
How to Choose a Cloth Nappy (Video)