If you would like advice at any time on whether the wraps you like would work with the washable nappies you think you're going to choose, then do mail me and simply ask! I am happy to advise on wraps you already have, as well as those you might be thinking of buying!

All the nappy wraps I sell are breathable; all are waterproof; and all have soft bindings with gentle elastication which means they fit well enough to prevent leaks but not so tightly that they'll leave red marks on baby's skin. If you find that wraps are marking baby's skin at leg or waist then this is often an indication that you need a bigger size.

So, how do you choose between the wraps? In simple terms of performance all the wraps I offer are much of a muchness - they're all very good at containing the wet, and keeping baby's clothes dry and clean. They will all keep baby's bottom cool which will help promote healthy skin. Most of the wraps can be washed in with the cloth nappies; all can be rinsed in the sink or simply wiped clean. Most will have to be air dried as tumble drying, or drying on a radiator, will compromise their waterproofing. With the exception of the wool wraps, which require an occasional application of lanolin, no specialist care is required for any of the wraps. However, some things that you might like to bear in mind:

• polyester wraps will dry more quickly than cotton wraps (should take no longer than a couple of hours)
• cotton wraps need less manufacturing, being a natural fibre (although the laminate is manufactured in all cases)
• cotton wraps often have more stretch and so hold the nappy closer to baby, giving a snugger outline
• cotton 'wicks', which means that wetness travels across it in much the same way as ink travels across blotting paper. This means that, when the baby is big enough to produce really wet nappies, wherever the leg binding touches the cloth nappy, the wetness will travel across the outside of the wrap (and onto clothes). This is not a problem on the Newborn and Small size wraps as the nappy usually won't get wet enough at this stage of the baby's life. Some babies never wet very heavily, but it's worth being aware of. It is also not a problem which can be solved simply by using a bigger, more absorbent nappy, as some manufacturers claim.
• wicking can be solved by washing larger cotton wraps in a product called nikwax solution - available from outdoor and camping shops and usually used to treat waterproof coats and walking boots - this will keep your cotton wrap dry, but does compromise breathability a bit
• velcro gives a smoother, slimmer fit than poppers
• velcro can be undone by older babies (although this can be solved with a whole-body vest) whereas poppers are harder to undo (sometimes for adults as well as babies!)
• popper wraps can be used better as pull-on pants if you're potty training (though see para. below about pull-on pants!)
• Generally, I wouldn't advise buying a whole set of wraps (ie all the sizes) at once: your preferences and your baby's weeing habits may change over time, meaning what works and looks best on a newborn may not work or look so well on the same child 9 months later.
• Generally, I also wouldn't advise buying a full complement of newborn sized wraps. The average birth-weight of babies in the UK is 7 1/2 lb - this is within a whisker of the Small size of most, if not all, wraps - buy a couple of newborns by all means if you know you're expecting a below-average baby; but the small sizes can be made to fit 'down' a size quite easily (mail me and I'll tell you how!) - new babies often grow very quickly, and you'll get very little use out of newborn wraps for a baby close to average birth-weight
• Equally, many babies never need the XL size wraps, so I certainly wouldn't buy these until you know you need them