I was asked to review Real Nappies, a system that is fairly new to me and to the US, and was happy to do so. After all, that is what I do! The diapers came and although simple looking, they are effective and easy to use. The diapers were developed in New Zealand and can be found in mainstream grocery stores there. How exciting! In the US they are pretty new to the market.
You can also view Real Nappies’ videos and different folds on their Youtube.
Ease of Use ✰✰✰✰ I found the system very easy to use, but I also have experience with trifolding prefolds to put in covers. It makes it easier that the cover uses velcro tabs so once the prefold is in the cover you can just put it on like a disposable. To change, remove the old dirty prefold and place a new one in the cover.
Bang for the Buck ✰✰✰✰ I am pretty happy with their prices. If you want to simplify your life and order just one type of diaper, you can choose their Birth to Potty Package which is on sale for 500.00. You can also get smaller packages for each stage since these are sized covers. These run 69.00. The covers alone are 12.00. They are very well made and prefolds are notoriously durable so I do think they would last through multiple children. Real Nappies also has a 2 Child Guarantee.
Performance ✰✰✰✰ While as simple as they come this is an effective cloth diapering system. I personally always use a trifold, which is in the video. Real Nappies has girl and boy specific folds which aren’t needed for me. The prefolds are very absorbent and can hold quite a bit. His poops are pretty solid so I couldn’t test the legs to see if they held in wet poops or not.
Fit ✰✰✰ The only issue I really had with the diaper at all was the way the tabs work. The diaper feels stiff and I have to really work to get them where I want them, which is against the nature of the way they are sewn. Does that make any sense at all? Otherwise the diaper in the medium fit him well.
Overall- I quite liked the diaper. I see the appeal of having a simple and easy to wash system. Unline pockets which have a synthetic liner, prefolds are easier to care for and are less likely to get soap buildup. They are easier to bleach if necessary also. The cover is a thick durable PUL but doesn’t look as comfortable as others. Plus, it doesn’t have leg gussets, a feature I like for younger babies with loose stools. The covers come in a few other colors, and I just saw a very adorable swim diaper if you are in the market for one of those as well!
