Baby Freebies

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 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 my 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 washing, so to add in a few diapers isn’t really that much extra work.When you are ready to do a normal wash, just take the diapers out of the bucket and put them in the washing machine, it couldn't be easier.

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 60c and some people even use 40c 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 my washing machine?

No.The poo will have been gotten rid of, so you are only dealing with a little 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 more easy 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 easy - simply drop the used diaper into the bucket and replace the lid.

Won’t 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 use more diapers?

Not really.Advice states that you should change your baby’s diaper every 4 hours during the day (more often for newborns), so this remains the same.

Will my baby get diaper rash?

Diaper rash is 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 lock away moisture core in disposable diapers makes parents change less often and their very design stops air from circulating.Most real diapers are breathable, allowing air to circulate, resulting in a healthier butt.

What if I am away from home?

Lots of parents use real diapers even when they go out and just take a slightly bigger bag with them. Others have eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go away.

What about nightime?

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

Are the leaky?

Not if they fit as they should.  A well fitting real diaper with wrap if appropriate is no more likely to leak than a disposable.We recommend that you try out a few sample kits to ensure you buy the best diaper for your baby.