Jargon busting
When I first started reading about terry nappies, I got a bit lost with all the jargon and wondered if I would ever make sense of it all - if you're feeling a bit bewildered by all the unfamiliar names and terms, here's my simple guide to terry nappy jargon!
CLOTH NAPPY The absorbent part of your washable nappy system. May be described as a washable nappy, cloth nappy, reusable nappy, real nappy, terry nappy - all these are general terms describing the same thing.
TERRY SQUARE A square piece of terry fabric, which can be folded and used as a nappy. This is the kind of nappy we specialise in here. Also referred to as terries, or terry nappies.
NAPPY WRAP / NAPPY COVER The waterproof part of your washable nappy system and the modern version of plastic pants, but much nicer! This goes on the outside, over the nappy, to protect clothing from getting wet. The main types are polyester, fleece, cotton or wool. Cotton wraps contain some lamination to make them waterproof. Modern nappy covers or wraps perform so much better than the old plastic pants, being more breathable and gentler on baby's skin as well.
LINER Goes inside the nappy, next to baby's skin. Flushable or disposable liners offer easy poo disposal, while fleece liners keep baby feeling dry.
NAPPY NIPPA Plastic nappy fastening device, developed as a safe alternative to pins. No more pricked fingers! Only needed if the nappy doesn't have any fastenings of it's own (ie velcro/poppers).
APLIX Stronger form of Velcro, commonly used on nappies and wraps. It can cope with repeated opening/closing and washing better than Velcro.
DRY PAILING This means storing used nappies in a bucket (pail) without soaking them (dry, in other words). Add a couple of drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil to the bottom of the bucket to combat any undesirable smells!
BOOSTER Additional pad of fabric, usually terry, which can be added to the nappy to increase absorbency for nights or longer periods of wear. Useful for heavy wetting babies. Some boosters have a layer of fleece on one side, so you don't need to use a separate nappy liner.
DIAPER American name for nappy, not commonly used in the UK but does crop up from time to time.
If you can't find the term you're looking for, please e-mail me (christine@terrynappies.co.uk) and ask, and I'll add it to this page.
Check out our Nappy Guide page for a general low-down on terry nappies, what sorts you can get, and what you need to get started.
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