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Cloth Nappy Absorbency Tests

April 18, 2018  |  By Michele In Guide, Review

Never have I been more concerned about bodily I/O since a child came into my life. You need to monitor how much milk the baby is drinking, and later, how much and what solids they’re eating and when. You have to count wet nappies, and track frequency (not to mention consistency and colour) of poop. There are quite literally dozens of apps that help you do this. And when it comes to output, using cloth nappies makes you want to collect data on all sorts of details relating to this endeavour.

I’ve mentioned previously about some heavy wetting issues we’re having overnight, and while logically, baby can only put out what has gone in, it hasn’t prevented us from needing a more than acceptable number of outfit and linen changes. A PUL cover has helped reduce this somewhat, although that only solves the outfit and linen changing issue but still leaves baby unpleasantly warm and damp.

Right now, when she wakes in the night and doesn’t resettle, we feed and change her to eliminate those issues. But often her nappy is quite saturated, so we know that we need more absorbency if we want to ensure that isn’t the cause of the waking. So, how do we determine how much (more) absorbency is needed? Well, first we need to know what the capacity of the nappies and boosters are.

Sweet, glorious data.

Brand
Insert
Absorbency (gm)
Source
Alvabamboo 330g (3 layer)115CCNDU
Alvacharcoal bamboo/microfibre (5 layer)125CCNDU
Baby BeehindsFold-Ups151Self
Baby BeehindsMagic All Insert (M)78Self
Baby BeehindsNight (M)476Self
Baby BeehindsNight (L)600CCNDU
BambootyOval Booster (bamboo)40Self
BambootyOptions/BASICS Snake (bamboo)145Self
BambootyEOS Booster (bamboo)46Self
BambootyEOS112Self
BambootyEasy Nights (L)204Self
BambootyEasy Nights (XL)320CCNDU
BonnibunsAI2 Workhorse base100Self
BonnibunsSnap-In Insert84Self
BubblebubsGood Night Sleep Tight base (retired)216Self
BubblebubsGNST outer booster55Self
BubblebubsGNST inner booster30Self
Bum Cheekstrifold (bamboo)120Self
Colescook&dine cotton teatowel102CCNDU
Cushie Tushiestrifold180CCNDU
Cushie Tushiesmini booster72CCNDU
Cushie Tushiesshaped136CCNDU
Funky FluffLUX (bamboo) (L) (6 layer)229Monarch Mommy
Funky FluffLUX (bamboo) (S) (5 layer)148Monarch Mommy
Funky FluffdeLUX hemp/bamboo (L) (2 + 2 layer)181Monarch Mommy
Funky FluffdeLUX hemp/bamboo (S) (2 + 2 layer)151Monarch Mommy
Funky Fluffhemp booster (3 layer)125Monarch Mommy
GroviaOrganic Cotton Soaker143Self
GroviaOrganic Cotton Booster82Self
Happy FlutePocket AIO200CCNDU
IKEAELLY (teatowel, herringbone weave cotton)150CCNDU
IKEATEKLA (teatowel)120CCNDU
IKEAHAREN (handcloth)300CCNDU
IKEAmuslin (various names)200CCNDU
IttiBitti D'Lish Bamboo/Cotton SIO Soaker (Hourglass) (Medium)50Self
IttiBitti D'Lish Bamboo/Cotton SIO Soaker (Trifold) (Medium)87Self
IttiOSFM Long Soaker (bamboo)90Self
IttiOSFM Short Soaker (bamboo)57Self
IttiMini Soaker (bamboo)31Self
IttiOSFM Long Soaker (mf)91Self
IttiOSFM Short Soaker (mf)54Self
IttiMini Soaker (mf)32Self
Kindy Ecobabycotton + hemp (4 layer)160CCNDU
n/amuslin flat (80cm)165Self
n/aterry flat300CCNDU
n/acotton? 11"x4" (3 layer)66Self
Peapodsbamboo flat249CCNDU
Peapodsmicrofibre booster94CCNDU
Peapodstrifold183CCNDU
Pixie Poppitsshort insert (mf)76Self
Real Nappiesprefold 19"x12" (infant)173Self
TotsbotsEasyFit V2192Self
unknowntowelling trifold 12"x11" (2 layer)183Self
Zorb3D 12"x15" trifold (1 layer)155Self

The line items with the source of “Self” are items from our stash of nappies. All the others are data points I have collected from other sources, some for interest, and some because I have these items, but haven’t had a chance to test them myself using the CCNDU method.

CCNDU’s method involves weighing the item dry, saturating the item and wringing it out by hand to a level which you feel won’t result in leakage, and weighing again. This isn’t the most accurate method of determining absorbency, but what we’re after here is relative data for comparison, not precision. Using this info, if there is a saturated nappy, I can tell the minimum amount that bub is wetting, and how much more absorbency I can add to counter it. Or whether we need to use a different nappy entirely.

Want some extra data points using other methods? Take a look at these sources:

  • CCNDU
  • Monarch Mommy
  • Padded Tush Stats
  • All About Cloth Diapers 1
  • All About Cloth Diapers 2
  • What to Expect Forums

 


[1] I know, right?

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Michele Ong. Web developer, software architect, parent, tinkerer. Wearer of many hats.

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