Let’s talk reusable nappies

More and more parents are choosing to use reusable nappies as concern about the environmental impact of disposable nappies grows. One child will get through thousands of nappies in the first few years of their lives and this can add up if you’re buying disposable nappies regularly.

However, many people have misconceptions that cloth nappies are pricey and messy. It is true that they are not cheap at the beginning but once you have made the initial investment it is unlikely to you will need to buy many more. They often come in attractive prints and patterns and the market is growing all of the time.

As with everything you buy for your baby, there are many types of reusable nappy and every one has its own pros and cons. Considerations will include how they fit your child and how long they take to dry.

We asked Wendy, also know as The Nappy Lady, some of your key cloth nappy questions.

Q: I’d like to use cloth nappies but haven’t got a clue where to start, can you help?

There are two types:

1)     This type has a waterproof nappy cover and then a separate absorbent nappy underneath. The cover, which usually has a colourful print on it, can be reused and it is only the underneath layer which is changed after the baby has done a wee or a poo. An advantage of this type of nappy is that you have two elasticated barriers for a poonami explosion.

2)     An ‘all-in-two’ has a cover and then an absorbent pad which attaches to the cover with poppers. This type can be quicker to put on but the containment level isn’t quite as high. The pad is also smaller than the above type so it is not as absorbent.

You may choose to mix and match between the two types if you want a more absorbent type for night-time or long car journeys.

Q: How many do I need to buy?

If your baby is under six months we recommend 20 nappies in total. This would include five suitable for night-time and 15 for the daytime.

For a baby over six months we advise 15 in total - three or four for night-time and 11 or 12 for daytime.

If budget is an issue and you want to wash daily then you can obviously reduce the amount of nappies you buy by half.

Q: Do you put soiled nappies in the washing machine?

No. You put a liner inside the nappy which can be a paper disposable liner which goes down the toilet or a fleece liner which the poo can easily drop off into the toilet and you then wash at 60 degrees with your nappies.

The nappy can then go into your dirty nappy bucket which has a mesh bag liner which also goes into the washing machine with the nappies.

Firstly put the nappies on either a rinse cycle or a quick wash, generally without detergent to given them a good rinse. Then put them on a long (2-3 hours) 60 degree cotton wash with detergent.

Q: How do I dry them?

Air drying is best but you can use heated airers too.

You can tumble dry but you have to be careful not have it too hot, especially for any fabrics made from bamboo.

Q. What do I do when I’m out of the house?

You won’t be taking your nappy bucket out with you so instead you can buy a wet bag which you put all of your soiled nappies into. Then you can take them home with you and either wash them or transfer them into your nappy bucket.

If you’re going on holiday and will have a washing machine then take your reusables and wash as you would do at home. They will dry faster if you’re in a warmer climate.

If you’re not going to have access to a washing machine then consider using disposable nappies. A holiday is meant to be relaxing and if you’re hunting for a launderette or worrying about handwashing then you won’t be enjoying yourself.

Q: Can I start using these straight away with a newborn?

Yes, many brands have size 0 reusable nappies which are suitable for newborns, under 10lbs, and they often have a cutaway area for the umbilical cord.

But consider how your birth was and how you’re getting on with breastfeeding as you don’t want to be worrying about reusable nappies when you need to recover physically and establish feeding in those early weeks.

Q: Is it too late to start with a 17 month old?

You can start at any time. You would probably need a smaller quantity and only in one size so it would be a cheaper investment.

Cloth nappies can make a child feel wetter which can help with potty training a toddler as it may mean they don’t want to wee or poo in their nappy anymore.

Q: How much will I spend? 

There is something for everyone’s budget but an initial investment of £100 is common and our customers rarely spend more than £400.

:: The Nappy Lady can be found at www.thenappylady.co.uk or @thenappylady on social media