Starting with Cloth Nappies. A Beginners Guide.
Cloth Nappies. For many the idea is a great one, but when they type those first words into Google they suddenly become overwhelmed and instantly click away again.
“How much for one?!” “I need to have a wash routine?” Sounds complicated!” “Prone to leaks?” “Maybe this isn’t for me.”
It’s true that there can be a few things to get your head around, like how many cloth nappies you need, how to use cloth nappies when out and about, or what are the best cloth nappies to buy. Becoming a new parent is overwhelming so adding something else into the mix like “all that washing” and all these questions can seem too much.
I also understand that not everyone is like me. When I get an idea in my head that’s it, I’m going with it and I’ll research it until the cows come home. That’s good news for you though, because it means I’ve done all the leg work, the trails and errors, jumped the stumbling blocks for you and I’m here to give you all the knowledge you need on how to use reusable nappies.
If your worried about all those myths you’ve heard, the “their not even that great for the environment” myth, the “their so much work” myth, and the “you’ll give your baby bowed legs” myth, then check out THIS ARTICLE on “Myth Busting Cloth Nappies” where I debunk them all.
If your wondering why it’s even worth switching to cloth nappies check out “Let’s Talk about Cloth Nappies” and “10 Reasons Cloth Nappies are better all round” to make you all fired up and ready to go.
Now Let’s get started.
Pin me for later…..
Where to start with cloth nappies?
Okay, now your sure that switching is a great idea. You might be pregnant and waiting for baby to arrive, or baby might be here and your keen to get a pretty nappy on their bottom, where do you start?
Order a couple of nappies.
I would start just ordering a few. Go with a brand or brands that are super popular. Baba and Boo never get a bad review and seem to fit all babies nicely. Bambino Mio are one of the easiest to use if your worried about popper nappies and getting the fit right these are the most like the traditional single use nappy. Or if your willing to invest some money The Motherease Wizard Uno is my top easy to use, long lasting, and versatile nappy.
I’ve written in detail why each work well in “My Top 5 Cloth Nappy Brands” here.
If your worried about investing any money up front I recommend Googling if your area has a local Nappy Library. These libraries, normally run by volunteers, will lend you a set of nappies to trail. These libraries are so great because you can test out which styles of nappy you may like, and because they are run by volunteers they are always enthusiastic about cloth, always knowledgeable, always happy to answer any questions you might have, they even offer demonstrations.
If like me you don’t have a nappy library local to you you could go for a trail kit like THIS ONE from Fill Your Pants. Try it out for £10. If your like it you pay the rest and keep your nappies and if you don’t send them back and it’s only cost you a tenner.
Make sure you check whether of not your local council gives out vouchers for reusable nappies. That’s right, many councils hand out cash for you buy nappies with. What could give you more incentive?
Watch some cloth nappy tutorials.
There’s so many great guides you can watch that will make switching to cloth seem like a breeze. I watched 100’s of YouTube videos when I was pregnant and this made it feel all the more simple when my little one arrived. I would recommend watching a few fitting videos. It’s totally easy once you’ve done it a few times but reusable nappies do fit slightly different to their single use counterparts. If you put them on like a disposable you may be prone to leaks which could in turn lead you to giving up. Get the fit right, problem solved.
Find my Youtube video below to get the perfect fit.
Understand the Lingo.
I know one thing that scares parents new to cloth is the lingo.
It all makes sense when you know. Here’s a little line up of the terms you may come across.
All in one nappy.
Refers to a type of nappy with everything you need sewn together. The insert may come out for quick drying and it may still have a pocket to add a booster in.
A fitted nappy.
A nappy which is made up of just the absorbent material that is a fitted size. Meaning it will not grow with the baby and will come in Small/Medium/Large for example. These need a cover on the top and are most commonly used for nighttime as they are longer lasting but much bulkier.
Birth to potty. (BTP)
This refers to any nappy with poppers on the front that can be adjusted to the size of your baby. Meaning it should fit your baby from around 1/2 months old (depending on their size) all the way to potty training. It’s worth bearing in mind that although they are called birth to potty they most probably won’t fit your newborn. If you want to cloth from day dot you will need to invest in a newborn stash of nappies.
Inserts.
The absorbent part of nappy that can be taken out when washing and drying.
Booster.
Essentially an insert used to boost the nappies absorbency should you need it. More absorbent materials such as bamboo or hemp are the most common materials used as boosters.
A wrap or a cover.
This is the waterproof cover that goes over a fitted nappy. Could also go over the old school terry nappies or a muslin folded into a nappy.
A pocket nappy.
A nappy with an outer shell that a comes with an insert. You put the insert into the pocket, hence the name.
All in two nappy.
Comes with the outer shell which looks more like the waterproof covers/wraps but has inserts that clip in.
Prefolds.
Squares of an absorbent material that are folded into a pad and used as the absorbent part with a cover/wrap over the top. Could also be used as a booster.
Terry Nappies and Muslins.
Terry nappy are what your grandparents would have been familiar with. Essentially as large square piece of material folded in a certain way to become a nappy. These days you don’t need to fasten with a safety pin, instead a Nappy Nipper can be used. You would then need a wrap/cover to go over the top (no plastic pants here).
Muslins can be used in the same way but are great for newborns as they are slimmer and quick drying. This helps in the newborn stage when your changing far more frequently.
There are many different folds out their and many great YouTube videos to help you get the knack for all of them. Don’t be afraid to practice on a teddy rather than a wriggling baby.
Join the cloth nappy community.
I highly recommend if your in the UK joining the Facebook group Cloth Nappies UK. There are many others out there for people outside the UK including Clean Cloth Nappies Down Under.
Don’t be scared off by the number of people commenting with problems they need help with. This is by nature a help group so people only comment when they have problems. I can promise you however, no problem is too big for this group and I have yet to come across a problem that these ladies can’t solve. It has been a wonderful community for me to be apart of especially as a new Mum.
Lurking in this group while I was pregnant (not weirdly I might add,) reading comments from other parents asking questions and talking about problems they had come across pretty much gave me all the knowledge I needed going into our cloth nappy journey and I can’t thank this group enough.
Make sure you have a good wash routine.
I’ve written all about mine and how easy it is, you just need to follow the steps and let it become second nature. Find it HERE.
Get the extra cloth nappy essentials.
Your going to need a bin or a large wet bag to store your dirty nappies in while their waiting to be washed. I have the Tots Bots bin and mesh bag. They work amazing for me and the lid is locking so small hands can’t open it, even if they do give it a good go on a daily basis. The mesh bag is important so you needn’t touch any yukky nappies on wash day. Just lift it out and straight in the wash. Some prefer to hang a large wet bag somewhere to save space. Baba and Boo do some large enough for a couple of days worth of nappies.
You’ll also want a smaller wet bag for out and about.
Just Give it a Go.
There’s sometimes nothing harder than just making the jump. There maybe many things are could scare you off but really nothing could go wrong that a change of clothes and a washing machine can’t sort.
Everyone I know that has dived in has loved using cloth, saved money and become addicted by the pretty prints.
So just give it ago.
As always, much love.
Hannah xxx
How many cloth nappies will you need to go full time and ditch the disposables for good?