ApiAfrique Nappies

From birth to 30 months, a baby approximately uses 5 000 disposable diapers. This represents 1 ton of waste. Using reusable diapers instead is a great commitment to waste reduction.

Unlike disposable diapers, ApiAfrique’s products keep the harmful chemicals off of your baby’s skin. Its organic fabric ensures wellbeing and softness.

Finally, by choosing our products, you promote women empowerment in Senegal. ApiAfrique offers stable, sustainable and fulfilling jobs to its seamstresses.

ApiAfrique’s cloth diaper is composed of :

• A waterproof cover – made of PUL fabric (Oeko-tex certified) – closing on the waist with snaps
• An insert snapped onto the diaper, which is an organic cotton absorbent. The insert is made of velvet (Global Organic Textile Standard certified) for softness on your baby’s skin and a layer of fleece (GOTS certified) known for its absorbing properties.
• A mini insert made of bio cotton (GOTS certified) to use in the cover size 1 or as a booster above or inside the insert for the cover size 2 and 3 to absorb more pee.

All our products are manufactured in our workshop in in Senegal.

Since every baby is unique, ApiAfrique’s cover is available in 3 sizes.  Your choice depends on the weight of your baby.

Size 1: from 2,5 to 5kg (5,5 to 11 lbs)

Size 2: from 4 to 8 kg (9 to 17 lbs)

Size 3: from 7 to 18kg (16 to 39 lbs)

The snaps on the cover enable you to adjust the length and width of the diaper.

Thanks to ApiAfrique’s distribution partners, diapers are available in France, Senegal and other countries.

For information on prices and availability, you may directly contact the distributor of your area whose contact details are made available online https://apiafrique.com/en/shop/

Before using the diaper for the first time, we recommend the following instructions to make it more absorbent overtime:

• Let the insert and cover soak in cold water without detergent for a few hours
• Wash the insert and cover once (machine wash or hand wash)
• Dry insert and cover in the dryer or hang dry in the sun

Washing by hand:

• To remove the excrement, turn the diaper over the toilets or use a shower head. If you’re using protection veils, take them off with the excrement and throw them away.
• Rinse the cover and the insert in clear water
• Wash with a small quantity of soap or washing powder. If needed, use a stain remover soap for textile.
• DO NOT USE BLEACH OR SOFTENER.
• If possible, dry naturally in the sun until the diaper is completely dry (the sun is a natural stain remover)

Ironing:

• In some countries it might be necessary for sanitary reasons to iron the cotton insert before use. NEVER IRON THE WATERPROOF COVER.

Machine wash:

• To remove the excrement, turn the diaper over the toilets or use a shower head. If you’re using protection veils, take them off with the excrement and throw them away.
• Pre rinse all your diapers in the machine
• Add the rest of your laundry and set your machine for a long 40° or 60° program.
• Use a simple washing powder or liquid that doesn’t foam or smell too much nor that is to “greasy” (ideally less than 5% glycerine).
• DO NOT USE SOFTENER (you would clog your diaper) NOR BLEACH
• Dry naturally in the sun until the diaper is completely dry (the sun is a natural stain remover)

Ironing:

• In some countries it might be necessary for sanitary reasons to iron the cotton insert before use. NEVER IRON THE WATERPROOF COVER.

You can use a dryer to dry your diapers, soft program for covers and normal program for cotton insert. If your insert has become a bit stiff, using the dryer might be a good way to soften them.

A clogged insert doesn’t absorb anymore because soap residue or washing powder/liquid are stuck on it.

Noticing a clogged diaper:

1) it doesn’t absorb anymore

Take the drop test:

Take a clean insert and pour a few drops of water on distinct spots.

If the water is not absorbed by the insert, it means the diaper is clogged.

2) the diaper smells bad even if it’s clean

To scrub a diaper:

You first want to scrub your washing machine: pour half a bottle of white vinegar in your machine and start a 90° program with nothing in the machine (do it every 6 month).

Scrub the diaper: Once to three times à year, wash your clean inserts at 60° WITHOUT SOAP OR WASHING POWDER/LIQUID and dry it in the sun.

If this is not enough, repeat and add a glass of white vinegar or 2/3 spoon of bicarbonate.

BEWARE: do not use soda crystal with the waterproof cover.

To avoid clogging:

• Do not use greasy cream on your baby’s bottom. If you use some, make sure it’s totally absorbed by the skin.
• Do not use softener in your machine
• Do not use soap or washing powder/liquid with glycerine

ApiAfrique’s cloth diapers are reusable diapers made with natural or certified textiles. They are perfect for daytime use under any climate.

They are available in 3 sizes that follow the evolution of your baby thanks to the snaps that enable you to adjust the length and width of the diaper.

Size 1: from 2,5 to 5kg (5,5 to 11 lbs)

Size 2: from 4 to 8 kg (9 to 17 lbs)

Size 3: from 7 to 18kg (16 to 39 lbs)

Size 1 diaper (2,5 to 5kg):

• Use 1, 2 or 3 mini inserts. Overlay them inside the cover
• If you want, you can add a protection veil on top.
• Close the diaper on the front using the 2 snaps on each wings. Check that the diaper is well adjust on your baby’s waist and thighs (the diaper mustn’t move and the insert mustn’t leave the cover).
• If necessary, adjust the length of the diaper with the snaps.

keep your mini inserts, they will serve you as boosters for the covers size 2 and 3.

Size 2 (4 to 8kg) and 3 (7 to 18kg) diapers:

• Fold the insert following its length or width depending on the size/adjustment of the diaper.
• If you fold it following the length, you can snap the insert to the bottom of the cover to stabilize it.
• You can add one or two boosters, on top or inside the insert to extend the absorption. Place it at the front for boys and in the middle for girls.

Did you know: Beyond a certain age, babies’ pee are bigger. From 8/10 kg (9 months) add one or two boosters in the diapers to avoid leaks.

• Close the diaper on the front using the 2 snaps on each wings. Check that the diaper is well adjust on your baby’s waist and thighs (the diaper mustn’t move and the insert mustn’t leave the cover).

If your baby’s diet is undiversified, you can still use ApiAfrique’s diapers. Nonetheless, the diapers need to be changed more often to avoid any leaks.

A small baby drinks a lot and unlike what we think, he/she pees a lot.

Do not hesitate to assemble the pieces of the diaper in advance to make it quicker when it’s time to change your baby (or for your nanny or the nursery).

For a nursery day, prepare at least 5 diapers and a bag.

If you want to know more you can watch our tutorial

ApiAfrique’s diaper is ideal for daytime if you change your baby every 3 to 4 hours. In some occasion, it can be used for night time if you use 2 inserts.

For babys who pee a lot, you can use a classic cloth diaper or a disposable diaper (until we make our night diapers).

For a fulltime use:

• 8 to 12 cover (4 Size 2 and 4 size 3)
• 12 to 20 inserts
• 4 to 8 booster

You can continue using disposable diapers meanwhile using cloth diapers if you want or need it. In that case,

For a part time use:

• 3 covers
• 10 inserts
• 4 boosters

When you’re not at home, store them in a closed waterproof bag.

At home, you can store them in a bucket or a closed bag or directly in the washing machine.

If you want, you can add few drops of essential oil of tea tree or lavender on a clean wipe, in your storage.

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DIRTY DIAPERS UNWASHED FOR MORE THAN TWO DAYS OR IN WATER FOR TOO LONG.

To avoid leaks, soak and clean the inserts before use. To know more about washing the cloth diaper, look at our washing section.

Knowing where the leaking comes from:

1) What is the sex of your child?

With boys, leaks are more common, especially on the front of the diaper. To avoid leaks, place the sex of your baby down and don’t hesitate to add a booster fold in two at the front of the diaper.

2) Does the leak happen less than one hour after changing your baby?

The diaper might be wrongly positioned:

• Check if the insert is well placed
• Check that the insert doesn’t leave the cover
• Check the adjustment of the cover: neither too loose nor too tight. TIP: go around the diaper with your finger to see if it’s not too tight for your baby
• Check that the clothes don’t squeeze the diaper. Check also if the body isn’t stuck between the thigh and the diaper which would create a leak.

Your insert might be clogged:

Try the drop test (washing section)

3) Does the leak happen more than one hour after changing your baby?

When you open the diaper, was the insert soaked?

If it does:

You need to strengthen the absorption capacity by using a booster or by changing your baby more often.

If not:

The clothes of your baby might squeeze the diaper or get stuck between the thigh and the diaper, thus creating a leak. To avoid this, close only the middle snap of the body or don’t use any body.

Did you know? To strengthen the waterproofness of the elastics of the diaper (on the thigh), rub them with a vegetal fat (like shea butter or lanolin).

To strengthen the fibres of the diapers, you can use the dryer from time to time. Do not excessively use it to avoid wearing up your diapers. Reminder: use the soft program for the covers and normal program for the cotton inserts.