Starting with cloth nappies is a thoughtful choice. But once you start looking, most people realise there are more models and variations than they'd counted on. This guide makes it simple: really, all you need to do is make two choices — and then you're done.
From Emelie: When I was choosing a cloth nappy myself, I read for hours and was almost put off by all the models and terms. In reality it was so much simpler — it comes down to two choices, not a hundred. Read what you need, skip the rest. With us, it should be easy to make a good choice.
Just want to get started? If you're unsure, you'll usually do best with Comfort (5–17 kg) or a starter kit — and you're up and running. The rest of the guide is for those who want to understand the two choices.
Is there a "best" cloth nappy?
Short answer: no — and that's actually good news. There's no single nappy that's best for everyone, because it depends on what your everyday life looks like. The "best" one for you is simply the one that suits your child's body and your way of handling washing and changes. The nice thing is that you only need to make two choices to find it — fit and system. The rest falls into place.
How a cloth nappy is built
Before we get into the choices, it helps to know how a cloth nappy actually works.
A cloth nappy consists of two parts. The outer part is a fabric cover with a TPU coating — waterproof on the outside, but still lets air circulate. Inside sits the insert, the inner part that absorbs the liquid. Time Ahead uses prefold inserts in bamboo — a three-layer insert that's folded when used. When needed, you can add an extra insert for longer stretches — this is called boosting (i.e. adding an extra insert for more absorbency).
It's this construction that makes it possible to choose a system — but more on that shortly.
Choice 1 — Fit: Slim or Comfort?
We offer two fits: Slim and Comfort. Both are one size with snap adjustment — you adjust the fit as your child grows, you don't change size. The idea is that the same nappies follow you through the whole nappy period and then pass on to siblings.
Slim (3–15 kg)
Slim is a smaller fit that suits babies with a slimmer build, and many can start using it right from birth. Slim has an elastic at the front edge that lets the waist be fastened extra gently around the tummy of the very smallest.
What sets Slim apart from Comfort isn't the thickness of the insert — that's the same — but the size of the nappy and how it sits. For long, slim children, Slim can fit the whole nappy period. For children with a little more to them, or who have grown during their second year, it's common for Comfort to start fitting better.
Slim can be boosted for longer stretches, but doesn't fit our overnight nappy. If you need a nappy for the night, choose Comfort.
Comfort (5–17 kg)
Comfort is the most used fit and suits most children from a few months old all the way to the end of the nappy period. It's roomier than Slim and gives more space — both for the insert and for children who have grown.
Comfort is the only fit that can be combined with our overnight nappy. Most people need Comfort together with the overnight nappy to get through the whole night — some manage with a prefold and booster, but Comfort gives you the option to adapt to what your particular child needs.
Want to know more about the night-time combination — fit, extra inserts and routine? Read our overnight nappy guide.
Unsure which fit? Go by your child's build and the kg figures on the nappy, not their age. Still unsure — choose Comfort. It's the fit that suits the most children for the longest time.
Choice 2 — System: Cover or Pocket?
Comfort comes in two systems: cover and pocket. Slim comes only as a cover. This choice is about how you want things in everyday life.
Cover (Cover/All-in-one) — fewer loose parts, less washing
Our cover system is called Cover/All-in-one. With the cover nappy you only change the insert at each nappy change — the cover is reused until it actually gets dirty. That means you need fewer nappies in rotation and get less washing. For many, this is the strongest reason to choose the cover: it's economical and practical. Our cover nappy can also be run as an all-in-one (a ready-made nappy to put on) — read more in our guide to all-in-one nappies.
Pocket — prepared in advance, easy to put on
With the pocket nappy you stuff the insert into a pocket system in advance. That makes it quick to put on — grab one from the pile and put it on, much like a disposable nappy. Pocket is the model we recommend for nursery and babysitters, precisely because the insert sits securely in the pocket and it's so easy to handle without any prior knowledge.
Closure is with snaps on our main range, Comfort and Slim.
Newborn — do you need a special newborn nappy?
An ordinary one size nappy sits too big in the very first weeks. The Newborn model (2–6 kg) is made for a baby's very first days and gives a better fit right from the start.
If you'd rather not buy newborn nappies, Slim is a good alternative — for most babies it works right from birth.
Newborn is used until the child reaches 6 kg — for most around 2–3 months of age, but slim and slower-growing babies can wear it considerably longer. You don't need a big stash, but don't count on it being just a few weeks either.
If you want a complete run-through of nappy choice, fit and the first weeks, we have our guide to cloth nappies for newborns.
How many do you need?
The easiest way is to think in terms of number of changes. The first weeks it can be up to 10 changes a day — then it gradually drops to 6–8 and a little fewer as the child grows.
Multiply changes per day by how many days you want between washes — and you'll know roughly how many inserts you need. The number of covers depends on the system: if you choose the cover, you need fewer, since the same cover can be used for several changes in a row.
If you want to test before investing in a full stash, a starter kit is a good way to get started — it contains three nappies and gives you a feel for the system before you build up.
Want to add on?
Basic is our more affordable range — for those who want to get started with cloth nappies at a lower cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which cloth nappy is best?
There's no single "best" — it depends on your everyday life, and many choose to combine different models (for example a cover at home and a pocket for nursery). Make the two choices (fit + system) and you'll find what suits you best. If you're unsure, Comfort as a cover is the most common starting point.
Which cloth nappy is most popular?
Our best-seller is the Cover/All-in-one — and Comfort (5–17 kg) is the fit most people choose, so it's a safe starting point for the vast majority. To be sure it suits you, go by the two choices: fit according to your child's body and system according to your everyday life.
Slim or Comfort — how do I know which fits?
Go by your child's build and the kg figures on the nappy, not their age. Slim suits slim and light children, Comfort takes over when the child needs more room. If you're unsure — start with Comfort.
Can I mix cover and pocket?
Absolutely. Many have a mix — a cover in everyday life for less washing, and a pocket when someone else is doing the change.
Which fit suits a newborn?
The Newborn model suits the very first weeks (2–6 kg). Slim can often start being used alongside from birth, depending on the child's build.
Are cloth nappies harder for nursery to handle?
It's fine to use cloth nappies at nursery if the nursery allows it. We recommend a pocket (in Comfort) — the insert sits securely in the pocket and it goes on just like a disposable nappy. Send along enough of them so staff always have a ready one to reach for.
How long do the cloth nappies last?
With the right care (washing at 60° on a long programme, without fabric softener) they often last for 2–3 children. How long depends on whether they're used full-time or part-time and how often you wash — more wash cycles wear them more than if you have many nappies on the shelf and wash less often.
In closing
Two choices: fit and system. The rest falls into place around your everyday life — and there's no "best" cloth nappy, just the one that's best for you.
Unsure what suits you? Write to us — we'll help you choose without any fuss.
- See all cloth nappies and starter kits.
- Read more in our guide to cloth nappies.
By Emelie, founder of Time Ahead Sweden — mum of three and curious about how we as parents can make thoughtful choices in everyday life.