Baby Tips 101

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 simply wet, all you need to do is take it off, throw the liner away (if disposable) and put the diaper and 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 away by holding the diaper under the flush of the toilet before being dealt with normally.

Are they hard 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.Flat or terry diapers do still need to be folded but the fantastic invention of the Nappi Nippa means that pins are not needed.

Will our house smell?

Only if you leave lots 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 put a few drops of essential oil on a cloth that you keep on the top of the bucket.

Will I have to more washing?

All families have lots of clothes to wash, so to add in 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 so much easier than having to put them through the twin tub and mangle that your mother may have used.

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 easiest way to dry diapers is on the line with the rest of your washed clothing (or on a radiator during the winter) but I to fluff them up by putting them in the dryer for 10 mins with bath towels after taking them off the washing line.

Will I get dirty placing them in the washing machine?

No.The poo will have been got of, so you are only dealing with a little wee.If you wet pail (see below) you can use a mesh bag to keep the diapers in, so you just need put that in the machine.Dry pailing is even easier to do.

What is ‘pailing’?

Basically, storing used diapers in a bucket.Wet pailing involves placing the diapers into a solution of water and diaper soak or similar or just plain water.

Dry pailing is very easy - simply drop the used diaper into the bucket and replace the lid.

Won’t all the washing powders damage the environment?

Yes and no. Yes, as all detergents can 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 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.

Won’t my baby get diaper rash?

Diaper rash is caused by bacteria in the poo reacting to the ammonia in wee.The best way to prevent diaper rash is to change frequently (every 4 hours or so) and let 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 - they just take a slightly bigger bag with them. Others have a stock of eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go on holiday.

What about during the night?

Again, some parents use eco-disposables overnight or add a booster pad to the cloth diaper.

Do they leak?

Not if they fit properly.A well fitting reusable diaper with wrap if appropriate is no more leaky than a disposable.We advise that you try a sample kit to make sure you buy the right diaper for your baby.