You may have noticed the re-emergence of cloth nappies in your baby shopping travels. Was your interest piqued? Did you see how COOL they are these days? 

What you may not realise, however, is the sheer choice now available to you, and just how easy they are to use and care for!

Where to start
Wade your way into the online world of modern cloth nappy shopping and you may find yourself bamboozled with choice. There are literally hundreds of brandlines out there and it is easy to put the whole decision in to the 'too hard' basket and forget about them. I would suggest you consider the decision carefully, because if you don't go cloth, you're missing out in multiple ways.
 
Modern cloth nappies will save your family money, will be better for your environment, and will comfort your bubby's tush in soft natural fabrics.

The best place to start is a resource website. Something un-biased, such as www.nappynetwork.org.au is a good place to start. 

Get informed
Once you find a brandline that interests you, take the time to fully navigate that particular brand’s website to glean as much information about their products as possible. 

Look for image galleries to see how they fit on other babies, and look for feedback! From there you might just purchase a small sample pack or individual item to trial.
 
Which style to choose?
There are many different styles of nappies - some are all-in-ones (so simple to use, has everything sewn in, but typically slower drying), there are all-in-twos (no cover required, and the insert detaches for quicker drying), there are fitted nappies + covers (simply the best for leak free performance), there are pocket nappies (quick drying and easy to boost) etc.  There are traditional terry squares, and prefolds, the list goes on.  The choice is large!

What else to consider?
The first thing to consider when making your purchase is your family's budget, and your region's climate. 

If you're in a sunny hot area, then the drying time of your nappies will not be an issue at all, regardless of season, and you can feel free to choose any nappy! But place yourself in the Blue Mountains (for example) and in winter time you may get frustrated if your cloth nappies take a week to dry. That would not be smart investment of your family's money, as you would need more nappies to account for the drying time. In that instance, you'd be after a quick-drying option, and there are plenty around! 

Nappies are all designed to do one thing, and that is catch poo and pee. It's the features of the nappy that influence whether you'll like the product or not.
After considering your budget and climate, consider yourself. Don't choose a nappy simply because it is cheap if it has features that wont appeal to you.  It's no good buying nappies if you wont be happy to use them. 

You might find yourself giving up cloth altogether if you choose a nappying system that you simply don't like! So, if you can't cope with the idea of leaks (which may happen from time to time with cloth OR disposables) then you'll want the best option for leak protection ... that would be a fitted nappy with a cover, as the cover provides a second barrier of protection against leaks. 

Still confused?
If you have no idea WHAT features you would like, then look out for a TRIAL PACK. They generally have a range of options (each with different features), and by purchasing a trial pack, you can try out a range of different types and figure out which type you like best, and then go from there.

Consider also the reputation of the brandline. You want to ensure that the brand you choose will be happy to assist you with some awesome customer service if you run into any dramas. After all, purchasing your modern cloth nappies is an upfront investment, and you'll want your place of purchase to recognise this! The quality of the product is also paramount. In many instances, you do 'get what you pay for'.

At the end of the day, it is a personal choice of course - which is why it is important to make your choice an INFORMED choice.   

Our family chose cloth because it was best for us, and we felt it was best for our babies. The fashionable colours and funky prints helped to make it more interesting - they do look adorable! 

We have saved a lot of money (approx $2000 per child), and washing nappies 3 times a week wasn't that hard at all. It is nice to know that in these modern times, modern cloth nappies are available.  

Over three children, we have always found our cloth nappies to be wonderfully reliable - and that’s what counts most really (in our house anyway!).