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Cloth Diapers 101: What is a Snappi and how do I use it?
May 2, 2011 5:09 am | by

What is a Snappi?
The Snappi is a modern, diaper fastener that has become an important cloth diapering accessory. This easy-to-use fastener replaces the diaper pin. It comes in a variety of colors and is made from a stretchable non-toxic material, which is T-shaped with ‘teeth’ on each end. These ‘teeth’ hook into the diaper fabric to ensure a snug-fitting diaper with enough natural movement for the baby.

Why would I want one?
The Snappi is a practical cloth diapering accessory, especially if you are using prefold or flat style cloth diapers, even part-time. The Snappi can be used with or without a cover, and is especially handy as your little one reaches those “in between” sizes with your favorite covers. Snappis help hold the cloth diaper in place, preventing leaks and blowouts with your folded diapers. They can help keep the diaper in place on a squirmy baby as you reach for your favorite diaper cover.

How do I use it?
When you first purchase your Snappi, you will need to stretch it before its first use. The stretching triggers the ‘memory’ of the Snappi to return to its original size, and in so doing, will pull the diaper together to the middle to allow for a snug fit. This is essential for the Snappi to work properly. To stretch, hold the Snappi in the center with one hand, and close to the end of the leg with the other hand. Then stretch it approximately 10 times. As you do this you should feel how the material ‘softens’ or gets more elastic. Follow this stretching procedure with each leg. Then your Snappi will be ready to go!

When it’s time for a diaper change, make sure that the Snappi is attached securely with the following instructions. When attaching the Snappi, hold onto the solid part of the tab. Do not pull on the loops. It is important that the Snappi ‘leg’ being attached be stretched across the diaper before hooking it into the diaper. Snappi recommends you hook left, stretch across and hook right, then stretch down and hook center. In other words, the Snappi should go from a ‘T’ shape to a ‘Y’ shape.

Snappi recommendations and tips:

  • We recommend at least 2 Snappis, so you always have one ready to go, should one get dirty. Snappis can be washed with hot, soapy water; but should not be laundered.
  • Snappis should not be used longer than 6 months.
  • Snappis are available in two sizes, baby and toddler. The toddler size is recommended for children 16 months and above.
  • For more information and manufacturer’s recommendations, please see the Snappi website.

About the Author

Heather is mom to four, born within 40 months (single, twins, single). She writes transparently about her chaotic household to encourage others through the twists and turns of parenting.

Comments

9 Comments

  • Grupna kupovina said...
    July 5, 2012 at 8:41 am

    Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thank you
    Grupna kupovina

  • gorivo said...
    July 5, 2012 at 8:37 am

    Hello, awesome website. All of the topics you posted on were very interesting. I tried to add in your RSS feed to my news reader and it a couple of.
    Viljuskari

  • folija said...
    February 15, 2012 at 9:25 am

    good work… keep the good job…

  • PolovniAutomobili said...
    November 24, 2011 at 8:26 am

    Good work. Thanks for the info. very useful tips indeed.
    Polovni automobili

  • cloth diaper said...
    June 4, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Wish I’d have invented this! This is a great product and a must have for the parents who have chosen to cloth diaper with prefolds or flats. It’s high quality and works like an ace bandage clip.

  • Jill said...
    May 2, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    I wasn’t crazy about snappis either. They worked fine, but I thought they were a pain and my baby would cry when I used them. I almost gave up on prefolds until someone at CB told me that you don’t even need pins or a snappi, you can just lay the prefold in the cover! Now I love prefolds!

  • Amanda said...
    May 2, 2011 at 2:04 pm

    @ usefulmom – I definitely had the small snappis. Bought them from the CB brick and mortar store. They just didn’t work for us at all.

  • UsefulMom said...
    May 2, 2011 at 10:44 am

    I love my Snappis and couldn’t live without them. I’ve used them since my son was born and he’s not 18 months and we’ve never looked back.

    To Amanda – the Snappi you were using may have been too big. There are two sizes. The bigger size may not have held the diapers snug enough and fallen off (I was also surprised by how snug I needed to pull the Snappi). Pins were a disaster in my house. I was bleeding by the time I got a diaper on my son.

    I’m a big believer in use whatever works the best for you. It’s a shame that more people don’t cloth diaper. We never get to experience diapering before we have our own. I’m the only person I know of that uses cloth diapers. The last people in my family who used cloth diaper were my grandmothers!

    If you love pins, by all means, use pins. But for some, the Snappi is a live saver. 🙂

  • Amanda said...
    May 2, 2011 at 10:20 am

    Snappis are EVIL!!! Even though I tried to do everything as perfectly as I could, they would come off under the diaper cover (and because it was covered I wouldn’t know) and they scratched my newborn baby boy (ouch!). I felt like the worst parent in the world. And it happened every time I tried to use them. (I was using them with GMD PFs, FYI) After that I started using pins. I love pins, no more snappis in my house.