All-in-one, all-in-two, pre fold, booster, liner, PUL, pockets. It can be easy to become confused and disheartened when you start researching the world of cloth nappies. Come and visit us at our Paddington store and we’ll help you choose the product that is right for your family. You won’t have to talk a different language because we explain it in easy to understand terms with the products right there in front of you so you can touch, feel and try. We stock a huge range of different styles, brands and fabrics all in one place so you can easily compare.
The number of nappies you will need depends on whether you plan to use cloth full-time or part-time, on how often you want to wash, what style of nappies you use and of course, your baby.
The average newborn has up to 15 nappy changes whilst an older child requires around 6 changes per day. It’s recommended to wash every second to third day as leaving soiled nappies sitting too long can damage the fibres.
We suggest 24 nappies will cover you for three days of nappy changes (average of 8 changes per day). You need two days worth of nappies, plus one extra day's worth to use while your washing dries. This can be a mixture of different types of nappies or all the one type. If you choose a nappy that requires a separate cover we recommend one cover for every four nappies. For newborns we recommend purchasing approximately six newborn size nappies which will ensure a trim and snug fit. Small sized or one-size-fits-all nappies will be slightly bulkier on your newborn but will still fit them in six months or so when your child has outgrown the newborn size.
Cloth nappies are much easier to look after than you may think. Caring for your cloth nappies is as simple;
- Dispose of any solids in the toilet and rinsing the nappy. If your newborn is breast fed you can skip this step as breast milk poo is water soluble and will wash off in the machine. Using a disposable or reusable fleece liner will make this step very easy!
- Fold any velcro tabs over and if you use a pocket nappy remove the “stuffing” before placing the nappy and cover into a bucket with a tight fitting lid. No water, chemicals or soaking is required.
- Empty nappies and covers into the washing machine and put them through a cold rinse cycle (no need to spin).
- After rinsing add your preferred detergent and put on a warm wash cycle (use only 1/3 the recommended amount as using excess detergent can cause build up in your nappies).
- Dry nappies straight away on the washing line or by tumble drying. Your nappies will wear faster with tumble drying and the sun works as a natural bleach and sanitiser. If your lighter coloured nappies have any stains try the sun before using harsh chemicals or bleaches.
Vinegar is especially useful for removing detergent and soap build up from cloth nappies, as well as for preventing stains from setting, balancing pH and neutralizing urine. It is a natural fabric softener making it a very handy and inexpensive product for your cloth nappy laundry. Vinegar is not recommended for use with nappies or covers that contain PUL (polyurethane laminate) such as pocket nappies all in one nappies.
All nappy products need to be pre washed to clean and fluff up the fibres, which will make them more absorbent. Bamboo requires about 3 pre washes and hemp will need to be washed in hot water (and dried between washes) 5-7 times before use.
After time your nappies can produce a build up of washing powder in the fibres. This can cause skin irritation and leaks if not dealt with.
If you suspect your nappies have a build up soak them for 2-3 hours in a bucket of water with 1/2 cup of baking soda. Scrub the fleece inside lining of each nappy with a small brush and a little bit of dishwashing liquid (a nail brush or dish brush works well). Rinse and wash as normal.
Wool is naturally antibacterial and only needs to be aired between wears. Wool will only require washing if it becomes soiled or if it begins to smell. If your wool covers begin to smell more regularly you will need to relanolise them (lanolin makes the wool water repellent and neutralises the ammonia smell).
Using an olive oil soap, wool wash or a lanolin soap hand wash the cover, gently rubbing the inside of the cover to loosen the fibres. Rinse, roll in a towel to remove excess moisture and dry flat away from direct sunlight.
To relanolise (one a month or so) dissolve a small amount of lanolin in hot water before adding to a bucket of cold water. Dunk the cover in and out of the water to ensure it is well covered in lanolin and soak for 3-4 hours. Roll in a towel to remove excess moisture and dry flat away from direct sunlight.
- Check your nappy is pre-washed before first use.
- Check you have the right size nappy, the nappy should fit around the waist and legs snuggly,
but not too tight. - Make sure that no clothing is tucked into any part of the nappy - as this will cause leaks
- If you have a moderate-heavy wetter you may need to boost the nappy with some additional layers.
- For night time we recommend 2 inserts & a wool cover.
- Remember, leaks from ANY nappy system will happen from time to time (even disposable nappies)
- You may have a build up in the fleece (see nappy maintenance) which will also cause sudden unexplained leaks.
