Fitting modern cloth nappies to prevent leaks is easier than you think, especially once you've done it a few times. They're designed to fit like a pair of underwear. Follow the steps below to ensure a good fit.
How to Fit a Sassy by Nestling Snap Nappy
1. Size your nappy
If you’re using a snap nappy adjust the rise snaps to the correct fit for the size of your baby. A good fit will prevent leaks.
This may take a couple of adjustments the first time you fit the nappy, but once you know the setting, you only need to adjust the snaps as your baby grows.
2. Position baby on the nappy
Take your open cloth nappy and place it so that the back of the nappy is low, but covers the bum crack.
Pull the front over, so that it looks quite high around baby’s waist and sits just below the tummy button.
3. Squeeze the front centre
Bring the nappy between your baby’s legs, squeezing the nappy slightly in the centre so that it fits into their leg creases to fit like undies. You may know this as the “Taco” method.
4. Close the snaps
Close the waist snaps to fit snug but not too tight - they don't need to be centred.
The nappy should be flat across the tummy with no material sticking out the top.
5. Tidy the excess fabric
Ensure the inserts are completely inside the nappy at the front & back.
Push any extra fabric from the rise snaps up towards the tummy button (when on the smaller rise snaps setting).
6. Check the tummy fit
Check you can place two stacked fingers between the front of the top of the nappy and the baby's tummy.
7. Check the leg fit
Double check that the leg elastics sit in the underwear line, just like undies, to ensure there’s no leg gaps (this means no leaking and no poo explosions). They should also not be too tight.
8. All done!
Additional Snap Nappy Fit Tips
How do I know where to adjust the nappy snaps?
To get an idea of where the rise snaps need to be, place the nappy next to your baby and snap them together. Try the nappy on baby and then adjust the rise snaps as necessary. If the nappy is too loose, it will leak and also be bulky. Once you know where the rise snaps need to be based on the size of your baby you can pre-set these in advance once your nappies are washed and dried. You’ll be all ready to go at change time! As your baby grows you will need to adjust the rise snaps so that you still get the fit right - not too tight, but tight enough to prevent leaks.
Do red marks on baby's legs mean the nappy is too tight?
The nappy should be snug, but not too tight. If your baby has red marks on their legs that don't disappear after a little while try adjusting the snaps to loosen it slightly. If the marks disappear quickly or are slightly pink, this is fine.
Should I fit the nappy differently for a girl vs a boy?
The only difference when fitting a nappy for a boy vs a girl is to ensure the penis is pointing down for boys as this is where most of the absorbency will be.