Beginners guide to washable nappies

Cloth nappies, reusable nappies, real nappies, washable nappies, cloth bums, whatever you call them there's lots of choice and at first it can seem confusing.  Here at Babi Pur we get lots of phone calls asking which nappy is best or which nappy we recommend so I thought I'd write a little post to try and answer some common questions.

What size nappies do I need? Most cloth nappies are now "One-Size" nappies so they last from birth (7lbs) to potty training (35lbs).  This makes washable nappies very economical, only having to buy them once, and we would recommend one-size nappies such as bumGenius 4.0, bumGenius Organic, Flip, Pop-In and Tots Bots Easyfit to the majority of customers.  Nearly all of our nappies don't need an extra waterproof outer wrap as this is supplied with the nappy.

How many cloth nappies do I need is a common question we get asked.  Well this really depends on how often you want to wash them but assuming you use 6-7 nappies a day and do a nappy wash on the 3rd day then you need about 20 nappies.  20 nappies is a great way to start if you're committed to using them, you may need some extra night boosters later on but having a stash of 20 nappies is sure to get your babies bum in cloth on a daily basis.  Various multipacks are available for all the different brands so have a browse of our nappy section.  The more nappies you have the less washes you need to do.

Which reusable nappy is best? You can split reusable nappies into two types of absorbent cores, natural fibres (cotton or bamboo) and microfibre (polyester), natural fibre nappies are more absorbent but take a long time to dry whereas microfibre nappies aren't quite as absorbent but dry very fast.  So you need to decide which is best for you and your baby.  If you have limited drying facilities then microfibre nappies such as bumGenius 4.0, Pop-In Dream Dri, or Flip stay dry would be better suited taking as little as 2 hours to air dry.  If absorbency is of a higher priority then natural fabric nappies such as bumGenius Organic, Pop-In Bamboo or Flip Organic all offer a high level of absorbency.  It's also worth considering that natural fibres are better for sensitive skin as they are naturally antibacterial.  The answer to which is right for you is often a mix of both natural and microfibre nappies in varying quantities.  If you think microfibre nappies are best for you then it's still worth having 2 or 3 cotton/bamboo nappies for night times or long car journeys to keep baby's bum happier.  The Flip nappy system offers a mix of stay dry (microfibre) or organic (cotton) inserts making it extremely versatile allowing you to pick and choose which insert to use when you need it.  bumGenius 4.0 is probably one of the easiest reusable nappies around often described as the cloth nappy even dads can use, once you've popped the insert into the pocket you put it on just the same way as you would a disposable nappy.  bumGenius Organic is really easy too with no stuffing or poppering but it can take a while to dry compared to the others.  Pop-In Bamboo when used with the Pop-In nite Booster is one of the best night time nappies around offering excellent absorbency.  Tots Bots Easyfit nappies are a good all rounder giving good absorbency, a reasonable drying time and a combination of bamboo and microfibre in the same nappy, oh and some pretty patterns which are always nice

How do I wash them? No you don't soak or boil them and you don't use nappy sanitiser.  You put a nappy liner on the nappy before putting it on you baby, this catches the poo and you can just throw it down the toilet.  The dirty nappy that's soaked in pee pee goes into a bucket or wet bag (we recommend a few drops of tea tree to kill the stink) and when you're ready to do a wash you throw the whole lot in the machine. We recommend a rinse first, then a hot wash at 60 degrees with s small amount of normal non-bio detergent, never use softener. Line dry, tumble dry or air dry, line drying makes poopy stains disappear.  There's more info about nappy care here.

All the nappies we sell at Babi Pur are simple, affordable and easy to use.  They'll save you bucket loads of money compared to disposables and help the environment too in lots of different ways.  Washable nappies are better for your baby's bum too with no nasty chemicals right next to their sensitive bits, to find out more about what's in your nappy look here.  You can also read Nicola's article "Getting started with cloth nappies"  and Nappy FAQ's which explain all the different materials and sizing and covers things in more detail.

So for two extra loads of washing a week and a small initial outlay you can help save the planet, keep your baby's bum happier and save lots of £££££'s.  No brainer ?

If you need any more help or advice we love a chat about washable nappies so just give us a call 01766 515240 .

The thought of millions of used disposable nappies sitting in landfill for hundreds of years, refusing to biodegrade, is pretty disgusting. But what's the alternative? Huge, baby-swamping terry nappies that need to be boiled for hours and then dried for days on the line? In fact, washable nappies have evolved so much in recent years that terry nappies will soon be a distant memory...

Washable nappies aren't what they used to be. Until a relatively short time ago, 'washable nappies' meant enormous terry squares which swamped the baby; it meant fiddling with giant safety pins, and boiling tin buckets of soiled nappies on the stove every day to get them clean.

If that's your childhood recollection of Mum using washable nappies on your little brother or sister, and it's put you off the idea of using washables on your own baby, that's understandable. In today's fast-paced world we look for convenience in every aspect of our lives, and when it comes to nappies there's no exception; who needs all that extra work and expense, when disposable nappies are so cheap and easy to use?

The reality is that just as the disposable nappy has made technological leaps and bounds in recent years, so has the washable nappy; today's washable nappy is convenient, fully adjustable, hygienic and cheaper than disposables. And with all of us striving to leave behind a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations, switching from disposables to washable nappies is one simple - yet high-impact - step we can all make, with a minimum of effort and expense.

Not convinced? Here are a few facts and figures worth bearing in mind.

Environmental impact

Nearly 8 million nappies are thrown away in the UK every day, and we don't know how long the plastics in them take to decompose.  Your baby will get through around seven nappies a day, from birth until two and a half years of age. That's an average of 6,384 nappies per child, which will stay in landfill for literally hundreds of years.

Even the most eco-friendly fully disposable nappy is only 70-80% biodegradable. Yet the latest disposable inserts used with washable nappies are so natural, you can even dispose of them in your compost bin.

Disposable nappies also are made of superabsorbent chemicals, including a chemical called tributyl which is known to disrupt sex hormones. These chemicals sit close to baby's skin 24 hours a day, and once the used nappies are in landfill, they'll poison the ground and threaten wildlife.

Washing and drying

You might think that washing and drying a day's supply of washable nappies would be hard work, and just as harmful to the environment as disposables. Washing machine set to 'boil', tumble dryer constantly running, or central heating left on for long periods to help your washable nappies dry - right?

In fact, many washable nappies are made from highly absorbent and fast-drying microfiber fleece, and come out of the washing machine almost dry, ready to be reused within a couple of hours.

Convenience

The latest technological developments have produced a washable nappy that is set to turn the world of nappies on its head; you can now combine washable nappies with a disposable - and fully biodegradable - insert. The insert is the same price as a branded disposable nappy and is just as convenient to use when you're out and about - without the environmental consequences.

This washable/disposable combination - the bumGenius Flip Nappy - sports adjustable poppers so it will fit a baby from birth to potty training; the outer part is fully washable, and you can choose to kit it out with washable inserts when you're at home, or convenient disposable inserts when you're not.

Cost

If you use disposable nappies on your child from birth to potty training - again, based on using an average of seven nappies per day - even if you can always find disposable nappies on special offer, conservatively you're going to spend £800 per child (in reality, it's going to be closer to £1,200).

However, if you use washable nappies instead, with complete nappy kits costing from £100-£300 the savings are obvious - even when you include the running costs of your washing machine. And, of course, your washable nappies can be used by your next child, and the next... so depending on how many children you have, you could literally save thousands of pounds by switching from disposables to washable nappies.

What's more, most local authorities in the UK now offer cash incentives to parents who want to use washable nappies instead of disposables - so making the switch from disposables to washable nappies is even more affordable!