Frequently Asked Questions - about Popit Modern Cloth Nappies

How many Popit nappies will I need?

Newborns tend to need changing about 8 or more times a day so approximately 15 nappies washing every second day would see you by. Older babies (6 months +) will reduce down to 5 or 6 changes a day meaning you could get away with 12 nappies washing every second day.
Can I use barrier creams?
It is advisable to use a nappy liner (either a fleece liner or a flushable liner) when using any barrier creams. Barrier creams can block the microfleece which stops the urine from passing through to the absorbent insert.
Will a Popit nappy leak?
Popit nappies have a waterproof outer which should prevent leaks. However if the absorbent inserts are full then leakage may occur. The Popit nappies come with two inserts which should last 3-4 hours during the day (add one or two more inserts for a 12 hour period at night). You will need to determine your own child's bladder capacity - some babies only need one insert during the daytime and two at night.

If you have sufficient inserts in the nappy and the nappy is leaking look at whether the inserts are fully saturated. If not then your nappy may have a build up of residue from washing powder or barrier creams which is either preventing moisture from passing through the microfleece layer or is clogging up the inserts and therefore not allowing sufficient absorption. If this is the case then you will need to strip your nappies (see below for details)
My Popit nappies are smelling - what should I do?
A build up of washing powder in your nappies can create a smell once the urine hits the nappy. It is important that you strip the nappies regularly to reduce the amount of residue in your nappies.
How do I strip the nappies?
The simplest way to strip nappies is soak your nappies overnight in Napisan or similar product (a sodium bicarbonate based product) – this can be done in the machine or in a bucket (preferably one with a lid). Then wash out in the machine as per your normal nappy wash with a capful of Canesten Laundry rinse or Dettol Fresh in the rinse cycle (both of these products are designed to kill bacteria). I would recommend stripping your nappies on a regular basis to keep them smelling fresh and absorbing sufficiently (say once a month), especially if you are using them on your baby overnight. Nappies may smell more when your child is teething so more stripping maybe needed over this time.
Can I put other inserts into my Popit nappies?
Yes you can. Popit nappies are wide enough through the crotch to fit a standard cloth nappy or prefold nappy. You can also use them as a wrap over fitted nappies or over prefold or standard cloth nappies.
Will I need every size?
In most cases you will only need two sizes. If you have a smaller baby chances are you will be able to go from Small to Medium with Medium fitting up to toilet training. A larger baby may start out in a Medium and then go to a Large or go straight from Small to Large.
Are the Popit nappies bulky?
Popit nappies are very trim. The microfibre insert keeps the nappy highly absorbent without adding bulk.
My child is a heavy wetter - how many inserts should I use?
You may need up to four inserts overnight if your child is a heavy wetter. This will mean that the nappy is bulkier than usual so if you're using a small or medium nappy it may be wise to go up a size so that the nappy still fits your baby well with the extra inserts. During the day time you would normally use 1-2 inserts for a 3 hour period.