How Often Do You Need to Change Cloth Nappies.

When deciding to start using cloth nappies I was pregnant with my first child. I therefore had no experience of cloth nappies nor disposables. Everything I learned, I learned on the job and all seemed normal. However if you have used disposable nappies on your baby already you may have many question as to how cloth nappies may differ from what you are already used to. Like “Do I need to change cloth nappies more often?” or “how many times a day do I need to change cloth nappies.

A newborn will need their cloth nappy changing roughly every 2 hours (10-12 times a day), while older babies can go to every 3/4 hours (6-8 nappies a day) . This is actually the same for cloth or disposable nappies.

It is a common belief that cloth nappies need to be changed more often because most cloth nappies are not absorbent enough to last more than 3-4 hours. This means cloth nappy parents are more likely to change more frequently. But remember this is not a bad thing and can decrease the chances of nappy rash.

If your find your cloth nappies need changing more frequently than this there are a few things you can check.

How long should cloth nappies last?

Depending on how much you boost your cloth nappies a nappy should last 3-4 hours. I aim to change my daughter every three hours but know they will last slightly longer should they need too, for example she falls asleep or we are busy and forget.

Can I make My cloth nappies last longer between changes?

If your nappies leak before the 3 hour mark you may need to add a booster to the nappy or check the points I outline in “6 Reasons Your Cloth Nappies are Leaking.”

Why Do i need to change a newborn’s nappy more frequently?

Newborns feed frquently. On an all liquid diet changing often is part of the course. Newborns also have more sensitive skin so could end up with a rash if not changed often enough. Aim to change your newborn every 2 hours weather using cloth nappies or disposables.

DO I need to change cloth nappies throughout the night?

In the early days it’s a good idea to change a newborns nappy through the night. They feed frequently through the night and as above have more sensitive skin. However as they get a little older, sleep longer and feed less you can keep them in one nappy all night. If using cloth nappies your going to want a liable nappy system to last the full 12 hours. For this I recommend fitted nappies with a wrap plus as many booster as your baby may need depending on how heavy a wetter they are. My daughter is a heavy wetter (due to still always wanting to feed at night), I detail everything we use to get us through the night leak free in “Night Time Cloth Nappy Solutions.”

why do disposable nappies last longer than cloth?

Disposable nappies use a hydro gel, most commonly sodium polyacrylate. This gel means disposable nappies are able to stay slim and last without leaks for up to 12 hours. It is for the reason that there is a tendency to change less often when using disposables but the same guidelines apply. Change every 2 hours for a newborn and roughly every 3 hours for an older baby.

Getting started with cloth nappies? dive into my series for everything you need to know.