All about absorbency

Absorbency can be a significant factor in parents' decision-making regarding the use of diapers. The materials available can be quite numerous with different names, but also different types of inserts. Therefore, the onset or absorbency of diapers can be overwhelming for many and may even prevent them from taking the plunge and trying out cloth diapers. We intend to delve into the materials behind absorbency in diapers, their different properties, advantages, and disadvantages. The ranking of various inserts will also be explained, all to make your journey and decision-making as straightforward as possible when it comes to the world of cloth diapers.

The materials that are most common in absorbency are microfiber, bamboo, cotton, and hemp.

Microfiber used to dominate the diaper market a few years ago, but now more people are leaning towards natural materials. Microfiber is a synthetic material similar to what is often found in towels, but it is exceptionally quick to absorb moisture, which was the main reason for its popularity at the time. Another reason was also how inexpensive this material is. Although microfiber quickly absorbs liquid, the fibers do not hold onto the liquid for long, and they cannot hold a large amount of urine at once. Therefore, diaper changes need to be frequent, and microfiber inserts are not known for good overnight absorbency. At our evaluation, there are several drawbacks to microfiber material, but most materials have their own pros and cons. The material is not environmentally friendly and cannot be in direct contact with the baby's skin due to the risk of skin irritation. If you have microfiber inserts that you want to use, we recommend always placing the inserts on top because microfiber absorbs liquid faster than natural materials. It should be noted that the material should never be in direct contact with the baby's skin.

Cotton has been the most common material in the diaper world and was the only material available in the old days when children wore "old-fashioned diapers". Cotton holds liquid exceptionally well. Cotton is suitable for sensitive skin, but it tends to become stiff and wrinkled after washing, which is immediately corrected with use. Many find cotton inserts often seem more bulky, but that is mainly because compared to bamboo, cotton is stiffer and denser. However, a particularly popular blend is Bamboo-Cotton inserts, which quickly absorb liquid but also hold it very well.

Bamboo has been a trailblazer in the textile world in recent decades. Not only in the world of diapers but also in clothing, household items, baby products, and the list goes on. Many diaper brands offer bamboo inserts, and bamboo is known for its antibacterial properties, excellent absorbency, softness, and good finish. Bamboo inserts are also in the cheaper category, although it mainly depends on the different bamboo blends available. Bamboo inserts can be placed directly against the baby's skin and absorb liquid quite quickly while keeping it well. Many of Noah Nappies' absorbent products are made from Bamboo viscose blend, which shrinks less in the wash, the material is lightweight, and exceptionally soft.

Hemp is the "trump card" when it comes to long-term absorbency or nighttime diapers. Naturally, hemp material absorbs liquid exceptionally slowly but retains the most amount of liquid. Therefore, hemp inserts should always be placed at the bottom if you decide to mix materials. We wholeheartedly recommend using hemp and bamboo on top for excellent overnight absorbency. Like cotton, hemp stiffens and shrinks slightly in the wash but corrects itself with use. Hemp is more expensive than cotton and bamboo, but it is the most efficient material when it comes to children who urinate a lot or nighttime diapers. Here's how you rank inserts correctly by material!

The most absorbent material goes at the bottom, and then, in descending order: hemp → cotton → bamboo → microfiber.