Cloth diapers (also known as reusable nappies, washable nappies and cloth nappies) are much easier to use than you think. Here are answers to some common questions about using cloth diapers.
What do I do at change time?
If the diaper is wet, all you need to do is take it off, throw the liner away (if disposable) and place the diaper with the reusable liner in your diaper bucket instead of in the bin.
If the diaper is dirty, the poo can be thrown away down the loo (far more hygienic than putting it in the dustbin) and the diaper placed in the bucket.
Liquid poo can be washed off by holding the diaper under the flush of the loo before being dealt with in your normal way.
Are they difficult to put on?
No, 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. Flat or terry diapers do need to be folded but the fantastic invention of the Nappi Nippa means that you don’t have to use a pin.
Will our house smell?
Only if you leave loads of dirty diapers hanging around for days.Just think about how your bin smells with a couple day’s worth of dirty disposable diapers in it, with real diapers, solids are flushed down the lavatory immediately, so you won’t have from this problem.If you like, you can place 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 a normal wash, simply take the diapers out of the bucket and place them in the washing machine, it is as easy as that.
Putting diapers into a modern washing machine with its fast spin is a far cry from putting them through the twin tub and mangle that your mother may have had.
Diapers can be washed at 60 degrees and some people even use 40 degrees with the odd hotter wash to keep the stains at bay.
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 putting 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 type bag to store the diapers in, so you just need to pick that up and put it in the machine. Dry pailing is even easier to do.
What is the meaning of ‘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 simple - just drop the used diaper into the bucket and replace the lid.
Won’t all the washing powders harm the environment?
Yes and no. Yes to the extent that all detergents cause some damage (this can be limited 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 have to change diapers more often?
Not especially.Guidelines state that you should be changing your baby’s diaper every 4 hours in the daytime (more often for new borns), so this remains the same.
Will my baby get diaper rash?
Diaper rash is caused by bacteria in the poo reacting with the ammonia in wee.The best way to stop diaper rash is to change often (every 4 hours or so) and allow fresh air access 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, which allows air to circulate, resulting in a healthier bottom.
What if I go out for the day?
Many parents use real diapers even when they go out and just take a slightly larger bag with them. Other parents have a stock of eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go away.
What about overnight?
Again, some people use eco-disposables during the night or add a booster pad to the cloth diaper.
Will they leak?
Not if they fit well. A well fitting real diaper with wrap if appropriate 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.