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Velcro, Poppers or Nippa

Some considerations when choosing your nappy or wrap fastenings.
There are different advantages and disadvantages to popper, Velcro, Nappi Nippa fastenings, some of which are listed below.

Ease of fastening
Velcro (or Aplix, a more durable type of hook and loop fastening) is a popular choice in newborn and medium sized nappies and wraps as it is quick and easy to fasten. It also good if your baby is wriggly at changing times, or if you put the nappy/wrap on while your toddler is standing up. However, being easier to undo, some toddlers learn to undo it and may be able to take their nappy off themselves at inopportune moments! However, when your toddler is dressed this probably won't be too much of a problem as they can't easily get to the Velcro. Poppers take slightly longer to fasten up but are more toddler-proof. Nappi Nippas are also easy to use after a little practice, though not as quick as Velcro. Nappi Nippas are also easy for toddlers to remove and the grippa 'teeth' are quite sharp, but this is not likely to be a problem if the nappy is under a wrap that a toddler can't remove.

Wear
Popper fastenings tend to be the most durable and are ideal for one-size nappies which will need to last and last. Nappi Nippas can eventually cause the nappies to lose their ability to hold a nippa (the loops in the fabric are all opened). However fabrics differ in how susceptible to this problem they are. Bamboo seems to be quite susceptible (though is a relatively new fabric so it may depend on the specific details of the fabric weave, quality etc). Microterry tends to continue to grip well. Cotton terry will lose its grip eventually. Velcro tends to wear out more quickly than poppers and can stick to the nappy, other nappies or clothing in the wash, causing them to wear more quickly. Worn velcro does not stick well and can also peel up at the edges causing the velcro to rub baby.

Adjustability
Poppers are usually placed separately at the waist and leg and so offer separate adjustability at the waist and leg which can make for a better fit, especially if your baby has a slim waist and chubby legs or a tubby tum and thin legs. However, there are more possible positions with velcro, so it will probably depend on the individual nappy/wrap and baby shape as to which gives a better fit. Nappi Nippas probably offer the best adjustability of all because they grip in two directions to allow adjustment of the rise (height) of the nappy and the waist. They are ideal for newborn nappies where a snug fit is essential to prevent runny poo leaks.

Pulling up
Some popper-fastening nappies or wraps are suitable to use as pull-ups for the older toddler . The best ones for this are those that popper at the sides, e.g. Sandy's nappy, all Swaddlebees range apart from the one-size, as the nappy can be pulled and stretched without undoing the fastened poppers.

Still stuck as to which to go for?
Of course, if you have yet to have your baby you will not know whether he or she is going to wriggly to change, will learn to undo velcro, or have a tubby tum! The bottom line is that all fastenings usually do the job they are meant to do!

If you are interested in our preferences and recommendations then our suggestions would be as follows: if you are buying multi-sized nappies Nappi Nippa fastenings for your first-size nappies might be a good choice. For your larger nappies popper or Velcro / Aplix fastenings might suit better. However, if you are going for one-size nappies poppers might be a better option for durability.