How to Fold a Nappy

Cloth diapers or "nappies" are an environmentally conscious option to disposable diapers because cloth can be cleaned and washed. Diaper services and soft cotton squares are available commercially along with fashionable clips and diaper wraps to secure the diaper and reduce leakage. Using diaper squares and folding the diaper provides flexibility in adjusting the size to meet your baby's continued growth.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Diaper clips or diaper wrap

Newborn Nappy

1. Lay the diaper cloth or nappy flat on a surface. Fold the cloth in half, horizontally so that the bottom corners meet the top corners. Fold the cloth in half again, joining the right side with the left.

2. Make a triangle of the top 2 layers, folding the top left corner down. Turn the cloth over to a diamond orientation. Fold the top 2 layers of the square to the left to reach 3/4 of the diamond. Fold the right side of the cloth over again, to create a center pad over the triangle.

3. Fold the remaining top triangle down to meet the point of the back triangle of cloth. Place your baby on top of the triangle (on it, with the central point between the legs and the side points on the left and right). Pull the center point up between the legs and pull the 2 side points over to meet. Secure the 3 points of the nappy with a clip or diaper wrap.

Neat Fold

4. Place your nappy or diaper cloth on a flat surface oriented to a diamond shape (i.e., top and bottom corners). Fold the bottom corner up to the center of the cloth. Fold the top corner down to overlap the center (it will be slightly lower than the center of the cloth).

5. Pull the right corner of the cloth to the top center of the cloth. Repeat with the left corner to form an angled rectangle.

6. Place your baby atop the rectangle with the narrower side toward the legs and the wide side by the waist. Pull the bottom side up between the legs and pull the 2 side points over to meet. Secure the 3 points of the nappy with a clip or diaper wrap.

Envelope Fold

7. Place your nappy or diaper cloth on a flat surface oriented to a diamond shape (i.e., top and bottom corners). Fold each corner to meet in the center of the cloth to make a square.

8. Fold the square into thirds by folding the top 2 corners down and the bottom 2 corners up to meet the top side (to form a horizontal rectangle).

9. Turn the cloth rectangle 90 degrees for a vertical orientation. Holding the bottom side in place, pull the top right corner to the left (i.e., pull it to the side) and pull the exposed top left corner to the right, to form an open V.

10. Place your baby on top of the cloth with the narrower side between the legs and the corners on the side (do not insert your baby into the V pocket). Pull the bottom side up between the legs and pull the 2 side corners over to meet. Secure the 3 sections of the nappy with a clip or diaper wrap.

Tips & Warnings

• Adjust the leg openings of your folded nappy by positioning your baby off center, to pull up the center and side corners for a snug fit. Prepare a stack of folded diapers to save time during diaper changes.
• Always hold your wriggling baby when changing his diaper, to prevent accidental rolling and falling.

References

• Nappy Express: Nappy Folding

Resources

• Norfolk County Public Service: Nappy Folding Guide