Bamboo
Bamboo is a relatively new material in cloth nappies.Its 60% more absorbant then cotton, antibacterial and usually stays soft.It is also envirmonmentally friendly as it grows quickly with hardly any or no pesticides.A downside is that it can take a while to dry
Hemp
This is a hardworking nappy fabric being more durable and absorbant then 100% cotton with added antibacterial properties.Most nappy products contain 55% hemp and 45% cotton. Like bamboo it has a short growing cycle it can generally be harvested 4 months after being sown and twice as much can be grown in a field compared to cotton and due to its fast growth it suppresses weeds so therefore it hardly needs any pesticides
It can be slow to dry except the pocket nappy inserts and boosters,can need washing upto 10 times before reaching maximum absorbancy
Terry
This is fairly absorbant and cheap, however being a intensely produced crop it requires huge input of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, it also requires a lot of water to grow. Organic cottons are a better choice as there is no risk of chemicals still being in the cloth
Microfibre
This is used to make shaped nappies, pocket nappy inserts and as a in built soaker pad in fitted nappies.Its light and can hold 7-8 times its weight in liquid and is quicker drying than other materials.However microfibre is not from renewable sources but is a manmade material therefore isnt biodegradable
Fleece
This is 100% polyester and is used as a stay dry liner particularly in pocket nappies as it passes urine through leaving baby comfortable and dry.It is also easy to shake off solid poo, just stretch it over the toilet and it drops off,when the fleece is washed it is stain free and quick drying.Also available in washable nappy liners
Suedecloth
This is also used inside pocket nappies.It is thinner then microfleece but also keeps moisture away from baby
Velour
This material is very luxurious,it feels like velvet and is used in the swaddleebee econappy
PUL
This is short for Polyurethane laminate