Cloth diapers (also known as reusable nappies, washable nappies and cloth nappies) are much easier to use than you think. Here are some common questions asked by parents about using cloth diapers.
What do I do at change time?
If the diaper is just wet, all you need to do is take it off, throw the liner away (if disposable) and place the diaper and reusable liner in your diaper bucket instead of in the bin.
If the diaper is dirty, the poo can be flushed away down the loo (more hygienic than putting it in the bin) and the diaper put in the bucket.
Liquid poo can be removed by holding the diaper under the flush of the loo before being dealt with in your normal way.
Are they fiddly to put on?
Not at all.Shaped diapers or all-in-ones are the simplest to use and need no folding - simply place them on just as you would a disposable.Terry or flat diapers do need to be folded but the amazing invention of the Nappi Nippa means no pins are needed.
Will my home smell?
Only if you leave lots of dirty diapers hanging around for ages.Just think of how your dustbin smells with a couple day’s worth of dirty disposables in it, with real diapers, the poo is disposed of down the loo immediately, so you won’t suffer from this problem. If you like, you can put a few drops of essential oil on a cloth that you keep on the top of the bucket.
Will I have to do lots of washing?
All families have lots of washing, so to include a few diapers isn’t really that much extra work.When you are ready to do your usual wash, remove the diapers from the bucket and put them in the washing machine, it is as simple as that.
Putting diapers into a modern machine with its fast spin is a far cry from having to put them through the twin tub and mangle that you mother may have used.
Diapers can be washed at 60c and some even use 40c with the odd hotter wash to keep away stains.
The best way to dry diapers is on the line with the rest of your clothes (or on a radiator during the winter) but I do fluff them by placing them in the tumble dryer for 10 mins with the bath towels after taking them off the clothes line.
Will I get dirty placing them in the washing machine?
No.The poo will have been disposed of, so you are only dealing with a small amount of wee. If you wet pail (see below) you can use a mesh bag to store the diapers in, so you just need to pick that up and put it in the machine.Dry pailing is easier to do still.
What is ‘pailing’?
Basically, storing used diapers in a bucket.Wet pailing involves putting the diapers into a water and diaper soak solution or similar or just plain water.
Dry pailing is very easy - simply drop the used diaper into your bucket and replace the lid.
Don’t all the washing powders harm the environment?
Yes and no. Yes to the extent that all detergents cause some damage (this can be reduced by using non-bio or eco-friendly products) but no to the extent that this is still much better than using disposable diapers.
Will I be changing diapers more often?
Not really.Guidelines state that you should change a baby’s diaper every 4 hours during the day (more often for new borns), so this is still the same.
Will my baby get diaper rash?
Rashes are caused by bacteria in the poo reacting to the ammonia in wee. The best way to stop diaper rash is to change frequently (every 4 hours or so) and allow fresh air to get to the diaper area.
The gel core in disposable diapers encourages parents to change less frequently and their design prevents air from circulating. Most designs of real diapers are breathable, allowing air to circulate, resulting in a healthier butt.
What if I am away from home?
Many parents use real diapers even when they go out and just take a slightly bigger bag with them. Others have a stock of eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go away.
What about during the night?
Again, some parents use eco-disposables overnight or add booster pads to the cloth diaper.
Will they leak?
Not if they fit well.A properly fitted real diaper with wrap if needed is no more likely to leak than a disposable.We advise that you try a sample kit to make sure you buy the right diaper for your baby.
