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Why Cloth Nappies?

Why use reusable Nappies?

Ok, so first, why not?

Well, I suppose people would argue that disposables are just so handy, no mess to deal with and better for nappy rash. Hmmm is that it? I seem to have run out of things to say about them!

Lets deal with those issues first then. First of all, did you know that nappy rash is actually caused by the reaction between urine and poo? So, it doesn’t actually matter what type of nappy you put your child in, if you don’t change them immediately after they have ‘soiled’ their nappy then they will be prone to nappy rash.

As for dealing with mess, well in the 2 years I have been using cloth on my son I can honestly say I have dealt with less leaks and soiled clothes than when I used disposables on my first two daughters.

I think the reason for the soiled clothes was the fit of disposables. They just are so flimsy that anything other than urine seems to fly out of the top or the leg holes, leaving a new baby with it up their back or down their legs. This then led to baby needing a full set of new clothes and a bath!

So, considering this, how does that make them harder work than cloth?

So now why?

Ok costs.

Well the obvious one is the savings. Did you know that between birth and the age of 2 and a half it will cost you around £1324.40. This is how I worked it out.

At birth you will use approximately 10 nappies a day as you change through the night as well.

10 nappies/day @ £0.20/nappy = £2.00/day

7 days a week at 2.00 = £14.00/week

At around 3 months this may drop to 7 changes a day.

7 nappies/day @ £0.20/nappy = £1.40/day

7 days/week @ £1.40/day = £9.80/week

So in the first year with 3 months/12 weeks at £14.00/week and 40 weeks at £9.80 per week it will cost you

£168.00 + £392.00 = £560 for the first year.

£509.60 for the second year

£254.80 for half of the third year.

This is a total of £1324.40

If you bought 20 birth to potty pocket nappies; say the most expensive brand at £20 a nappy, they would set you back £400. That would save you a whopping £924.00!

If you bought sized nappies and wraps they would cost you for

15 size 1 nappies and 3 wraps and 15 size 2 nappies and 3 wraps cost approximately £324.00. This would save you £1000.40!!

So, if ever there were a reason to switch to cloth cost would be a major factor in the decision.

An added bonus is there is a market for pre-loved nappies, so once you’ve finished with them, if they are a decent condition…then sell them on! Even better!

The environment.

Did you know?

Each year close to three billion disposable nappies are thrown away? This accounts for 670,000 to 750,000 tonnes of waste. Disposable nappies make up about 4 per cent of household waste and they may take up to 500 years to degrade.

I even read somewhere that if HenryVIII had been in nappies that they would still be degrading now!

If you think about it there is only so much waste we can bury in the ground and cover over. We need to start being more responsible. Even if you only used 1 cloth nappy a day in place of a disposable that would save 730 nappies going into landfill just from 1 baby! That’s a staggering amount!

Choice

Well, the choice of reusable nappies out there is immense. So there is bound to be something that suits your baby.

Cloth is so soft next to your babies skin why would you choose anything else? The different patterns and fabrics can enhance even the funkiest of outfits whilst doing a job at the same time!

As a mum that uses cloth nappies the hardest choice I have had to make with cloth nappies is which gorgeous one I am going to buy next!

There are nappies out there to suit every budget, from old fashioned terry squares to fake minky fur pockets nappies.

My advice to anyone about to venture into the world of cloth nappies, is to not buy in bulk initially. There would be nothing worse than spending more than £200 on nappies that will last you till your baby potty trains then discovering they don’t work for you!

Choosing the Right Cloth Nappy

There are quite a few factors to consider when choosing the right option for you and your baby.

How much do you want to spend?

What nappy system do you want?

Who will use the appies with your child?

How are you going to dry your nappies?

How much do you want to spend?

Money is a big factor in choosing a nappy system. It’s the outlay at the beginning that people are most aware of. When buying disposables people don’t realise how much they spend, as the money is spent in dribs and drabs.

Many councils run incentive schemes. These help mums and mums to be to make a small purchase of real nappies before buying in bulk. Visit your council website and see what they offer in your area. These schemes are designed to encourage people to try nappies who wouldn’t normally bother.

What nappy system do you want?

A 2 part system consists of a seperate 'fitted' or 'flat' nappy and a wrap (waterproof cover).

Pocket nappies have a waterproof wrap attached to a liner and a ‘pocket’ to put your inserts in. This means you can wash then in two parts but they can be put on like a disposable in one part.

An All-in-one nappy has an outer wrap that is attached to an absorbent inner nappy, either permanently sewn in or fastened in with poppers.

Who will use the nappies with your child?

You need to consider whether the nappies will be going to nursery, to grannies and granddads and most importantly whether daddy will be changing baby’s bum.

How are you going to dry your nappies?

This can heavily influence what you buy and how many nappies you have in your ‘stash’.

If you have a tumble drier this means you can basically buy many of the products on the market. If not, then you need to consider how long the nappies will take to dry either at room temperature or on the washing line.

Fabrics like bamboo can generally take longer to dry than micro fibre so make sure you ask these questions of whoever sells you your nappies.

Using Reusable Nappies – What Do You Need?

In actual fact you don’t need very much to get you started using cloth nappies. Its not even necessary to go out and buy them all at once. Buying 1 or 2 a month will soon get up you up to a full ‘stash’ in no time and will also enable you to discover which nappies work the best for you and your baby.

You need to think about how often you are going to wash your nappies. This will give you a good idea how many you will need to get you through till the next wash.

If washing every other day for a newborn you will need approximately 20 nappies. If kitting out an older child you will need between 10 and 15 nappies.

Additional to the nappies, you may need -

A lidded bucket. It doesn’t have to be a specific nappy bucket you may be able to pick one up cheaply from your local DIY store. The nappy bucket is the place to store your soiled nappies till wash day.

A wet bag, to put your dirty nappies in, when you’re out and about. These come in a range of funky and practical designs.

Liners if the type of nappy system you have chosen require them. Liners can be either washable or flushable. Liners help keep the moisture away from the baby’s skin and they retain solids so that they are easier to flush down the toilet.