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Table of Contents
Why use washable nappies?Forget sweaty plastic pants, sharp pins, difficult folding, leaking inefficient nappies – cloth nappies have changed a lot in recent years! Velcro and poppers make using them easy. Shaped nappies mean you don’t have to be an origami master to use them. New fabrics give us waterproof, yet breathable wraps and fleece liners keep the nappy totally dry against baby's bum! Many come in pretty or cute prints as well as white, and there are different nappy systems to suit your pocket and your lifestyle. Biodegradable flushable liners enable any solid waste to be flushed away in the toilet. Nearly 3 billion nappies are thrown away in the UK every year. The vast majority of these (90%) end up in landfill. We do not know how long it takes for the plastics in disposable nappies to decompose but it could take hundreds of years. In households with a baby nappies make up about half the volume of the weekly bin. This gives families the opportunity to cut their waste in half by using cloth nappies. Washable nappies are re-used time and time again often lasting the ‘nappy lifetime’ of 3 babies and when they are discarded most are bio-degradable! Cotton is natural and breathable. “Real” nappies do not contain potentially harmful gels and baby’s faeces go into the sewage system not into landfill Back to TopWhat is the average cost ?The average baby is in nappies for 2½ years, which is about 7000 nappies! Depending on the brand you use disposables could cost between £700 and £1200 for each baby. “Real” nappy prices vary depending on the brand and quantity of nappies you choose, but a complete system usually costs between £200 and £300 to do a baby from birth to potty – add about another £150 for laundering including wear & tear to your machines and that‘s still a saving of between £350 and £850!...and then you can use them for the next baby!
Back to TopHow do I choose ... ?Your decision may be based on cost, ease of use, fit,absorbency, drying time, no of children in nappies at one time, likelihood of further children. etc. Types of nappy systems There are 3 basic types:- All in one’s are as like disposables as possible with integral waterproof outers and Velcro closures. Very convenient, however they can be slow to dry. Shaped nappies – shaped like a disposable nappy, but with separate waterproof wraps. Dry reasonably quickly. Prefolds – flat nappies & traditional terries these require some folding prior to use. They are economical and dry quickly. Pocket Nappies - this is a fairly recent trend in nappying systems. The pocket nappy is basically a two-layer nappy into which you 'stuff' some form of absorbent layer - usually its up to you what you use - for a newborn you might use muslin squares - and for an older baby pre-folds or terries are an affordable option. Often the pocket nappy has a waterproof outside and a fleece inside which means it acts as an ALL-IN-1, and you don't need a fleece liner - however it has the advantage that because the 'stuffing' comes out they are much quicker to dry. Sizing The other key difference between nappies are whether there are several sizes of a brand or whether a brand is one-size. Several sizes – between 2 & 5 sizes of nappies cover from birth to potty, often it is the wraps that come in all sizes with less sizes of the cotton nappy part. You can be assured that there is a size to fit your baby at each stage of growth. These are a good option if you intend 2 or more babies in washable nappies as each size has less wear before use on the next baby. One-size – Nappies which will, with some adjustment fit from birth to potty. However, they can be bulky on a new-born and not really adequate enough for a large toddler. Often there are multiple sizes of wrap to fit over these. One-size can be economical if you know its only for one baby. Back to TopWhat are they made of ... ?Nappies are made from various fabrics with different qualities. The absorbent part of a nappy is generally cotton - either towelling or woven. More recently nappies are being made of hemp which generally gives a slimmer fit for the same amount of absorbancy. Fabrics used for waterproof outers include laminated cotton or polyester, PVC, wool, fleece and micro-fibre. Liners to catch solids and keep babies skin dry can be either paper which you flush away or fabric e.g. polyester, silk or fleece which is washed and reused. Boosters are used to increase the absorbancy of your nappy.
Back to TopWhat else do I need... ?Apart from your nappies the only things I think you really need are:-
I can supply you with these and other 'extras' if you wish, including:-
but I found that I didn't use these things - so you may not need to either! I don't stock them at the moment, but I can get them for you along with your nappy order.
Back to TopHow do I wash them ... ?There are various washing routines, using different cleaning and sterilizing agents so a great amount of control can be exercised over just how much environmental impact your routine has and how much it costs. Almost 90% of households have a washing machine, so most parents will be in a position to cope easily with cloth nappies. Biodegradable, flushable paper liners make dealing with dirty nappies even easier. STORING NAPPIESWet nappies and rinsed soiled ones can be placed in a dry lidded bucket while waiting to be washed. Alternatively use a soaking solution. I never used a soaking solution as I hated lifting wet dripping nappies out of the bucket - and I think they smell more if they are wet - but its your choice. If you do soak your nappies you will probably want to invest in a nappy net. WASHING Boil washing was the traditional way of washing and sterilizing traditional nappies e.g. terries. However, done regularly it may reduce the life of the nappy so is not generally recommended by manufacturers. These days a wash cycle at 60 degrees is the most common option. 40 degrees is actually enough to cleanse nappies. I used to alternate washing at 40 and 60 to save energy. I had several wraps that HAD to be washed at 40 degrees - this was a pain - so I only stock items that can be washed at 60. I found that because I was 'dry pailing' if nappies were particularly 'soiled' I would normally set the washing machine to do a rinse and then do a wash. DRYING Biological detergent's as well as perfumes, optical whiteners and other ingredients in ordinary washing detergents may cause skin irritation. Adding ½ - ¾ cup of vinegar in the last rinse cycle will help to keep nappies soft. BEWARE: fabric conditioner will reduce the absorbency of nappies - this includes products that have fabric conditioner in them such as Bold. It is important to thoroughly rinse the nappies before drying - and it sometimes helps to use less washing powder or liquid than you normally would. Back to TopI'm interested - now what... ?Most of the best brands are not available on the high street, and buying one-off trial nappies by mail order can be expensive so it is advisable to talk to someone who has used a variety of real nappies & always try a few nappies before committing yourself. I used real nappies for 4 years, and have gleaned a lot of information from talking to other real nappy users. Within Milton Keynes I am happy to come and demonstrate a variety of nappies, no obligation - and I run regular demonstrations at home. To arrange a demo or trial please call. Back to Top |
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