Modern
Cloth nappies are designed to simplify the process, making nappy changes easy
for the most cloth challenged amongst us. They have gathered legs and
waists to prevent leaks. They are trim enough to fit under most clothes and most importantly they are designed to be absorbent where
you need it so your baby is comfortable and dry. There are
so many benefits to using cloth nappies and we know that once you've tried them
you'll think so too.
For your baby
Cloth nappies are made from materials that are very breathable,
which means LESS nappy rash and lower skin temperatures. Would you rather wear cotton underwear, or plastic???
No contact with chemicals
and absorbent gels. Many babies can be allergic to these gels not to
mention their mandatory disuse in tampons due to their link with TSS.
Softer material means a more
comfortable baby. Really why settle for 'feels like cloth' when you
can have the real thing.
Looking great - these
nappies compliment any outfit and look fabulous with a singlet in our hot summers.
Your child may toilet train
earlier as they can feel when they have done a wee and we don't need to
add extra chemicals to our nappies to make this happen.
For your pocket
It is estimated that an
average child in disposables from birth to toilet training will cost
between $3000 and $4000. Multiply this by the number of children you
have and it is an extraordinary amount. I know what I would rather
do with that money!
Estimated cost of a
full-time cloth nappy package including washing liquid, nappy buckets,
liners etc ranges from $650-$900+
Brand
Cost per nappy
No. per day
Total number needed
Washing cost per day
Total cost over 2.5yrs
Modern cloth
$30
6-8
24-36
$0.22
$1140
Snugglers
$0.42
6-8
7300
$0.20
$3248.50
Huggies
$0.61
6-8
7300
$0.20
$4635.50
Baby love
$0.53
6-8
7300
$0.20
$4051.50
Terry squares
$2.05
12-15
36-48
$0.32
$378.10
*The washing cost per day for the disposable nappies refers to the fact that even though you may not be using cloth nappies, you still need to wash your clothes, so some washing is happening in your household. This shows how it doesn't cost much more to throw a few modern cloth nappies into the washing machine with the rest of your wash!!
For the environment
Disposable nappies take 500
years to break down in landfill.
The average baby in
disposables will create 1500kg of waste from birth to toilet training.
Cloth nappies do not mean
that much extra water used for washing if you dry pail and wash your
nappies with your child’s clothing.
The making of some brands of
disposables actually uses more water and trees than the making and washing
of cloth nappies over the nappy wearing period.
What are the different types of nappies I can buy?TOP
Fitted nappies
All
fitted nappies require a cover to prevent clothes and bedding from becoming
damp. Fitted nappies are made of absorbent material such as bamboo, hemp
or cotton (velour, terry or flannelette). These nappies are shaped and
fitted with elastic so they go on like a disposable and keep everything where
it should be, especially at the messiest times. Fitted nappies are perfect
for heavy wetters, night-time and long car trips. They are also good in
the first few months when you may need two barriers of protection against those
charming newborn poos
Prefolds
Prefolds belong to the family of fitted nappies however they do not
contain elastic nor are they shaped. They consist of layers of fabric
sewn together; more concentrated in the middle third of the fabric to create a
much trimmer yet more absorbent form of the terry square. Made from super
soft Indian cotton they are gentle on bottoms yet absorbent and trim. We
also have prefolds made from bamboo and hemp for even greater absorbancy. Prefolds are great at any time however they are
very useful in the newborn period where you are changing more frequently. They
can be used as boosters and inserts later on also. Remember that they require a
cover!!
There are many ways to fold a prefold: you can choose to fold in thirds
and pop into a cover (girl fold), you can fold the front section up and then
fold into thirds (boy fold), or for the liquid poo fold you can do a ‘boy fold’
and then spread out the back of the prefold to catch any liquid poo (see 'How
do I fold prefolds' below for pictures).Alternatively you can fold them much like a terry square and Snappi them
or fit the cover over to hold in place.
Pocket nappiesPocket
nappies are shaped and elasticised however they consist of a shell of laminated
fabric (PUL) that allows the skin to breathe topped with a microfleece or
cotton velour layer to draw wetness away to the core. They have an
opening in the back where you add "stuffers" or "inserts"
made from hemp, bamboo or microfibre. Pockets are quick drying due to the
ability to separate the inserts from the covers and come in a fantastic array
of colours and styles including our speciality: the one size fits all
(OSFA). Pockets are a complete nappy so they DO NOT require a cover and
all our pocket nappies come complete with the inserts so there are no hidden
costs.
All in Ones (AIOs) All
in Ones are the bees-knees of modern cloth with an outer layer of PUL
(waterproof fabric) that allows for breathability, as well as varying layers of
hemp, bamboo or microfibre sewn in and topped with flannelette, cotton velour
or microfleece. This means that there is no need to stuff them. These
nappies are great to grab and go, however they do have longer drying times
(best to dry them inside out). All in ones can also be known as "snap in
AIOs" - this means that the layers are not sewn in, they snap in place
using plastic snaps or press studs. These nappies can also be referred to
as an All in two or AI2.
Like
all things there is a terminology to modern cloth nappying that you will begin
to pick up as you go along. Here are some of the most common terms used:
One Size
This means
the nappy is designed to grow with your baby from birth (approx 4kg) to toilet
training (approx 15kg). These nappies give the ultimate in economy
especially when used on more than one child. Some nappies adjust with
snaps on the front (e.g. Happy Heiny, Haute Pockets, Bumgenius. Baby Kanga),
others fold down in the front for the newborn stage (e.g. Nappylicious,
Bumwear), and some have adjustable leg and waist elastic (e.g. FuzziBunz).
Insert or
Stuffer
An insert
refers to a wad of fabric, usually microfibre or hemp, which is placed inside a
pocket nappy. Some inserts are one size meaning they are intended to be used in
a one size nappy and as such have snaps to fold along as the nappy grows with
the baby.
Booster
A booster on
the other hand is a wad of fabric placed on top of the nappy's inner or outside
of a fitted nappy between the nappy and cover. The purpose of a booster
is to boost the absorbancy of the nappy. Generally boosters are made
of hemp or bamboo as microfibre should not be in direct contact with the baby’s
skin due to its drying effects.
Liners
Liners are
used on a nappy's inner to catch any solid mess. Liners can be
washable (usually microfleece) or flushable (biodegradable paper) or
disposable. Raw silk liners can be used for children with extra sensitive
skin or aversions to human-made fibres.
There are many ways to fold a prefold: you can choose to
fold in thirds and pop into a cover (girl fold), you can fold the front section
up and then fold into thirds (boy fold), or for the liquid poo fold you can do
a ‘boy fold’ and then spread out the back of the prefold to catch any liquid
poo (see images below, from www.time2changeuk.com/foldingprefold181204.html).
Girl
fold
Boy fold
Liquid poo fold
Alternatively
you can fold them much like a terry square and Snappi them or fit the cover
over to hold in place. Prefolds are great at any time however they are
very useful in the newborn period where you are changing more frequently.
They can be used as boosters and inserts later on also. Remember that they
require a cover!!
The number of nappies you need
depends on the age of your baby, how often you wish to wash and if you want to
use cloth full time or part time.
For example a newborn will need more nappy changes than an older
baby and you may not want to wash as often in those first few weeks. A
less expensive option for these early days is the use of prefolds and
covers. Have a look at our newborn page for more information on this.
Most babies need around 6-8 nappy changes per day as well as
a night nappy. If you are using cloth part time, and you wash every other
day, then 12 nappies on hand will get you by. A full time stash usually
consists of 24-36 nappies. However you don't need to purchase these all at
once, most people find it easier to build up their stash gradually, finding the
nappies that suit them best along the way.
We also like to recommend you trying different types of nappies as
well such as pockets, all in ones and fitteds, so you know which system works
best for your family. Have a look at our packages page for some great deals on
different types and numbers of nappies.
Modern Cloth
Nappies do not require much extra time or effort; you don't even have to soak
them if you don't wish to. Let’s face it; the washing machine does most of
the hard work for you. Simply remove the nappy from your baby flush any
solid waste down the toilet and store your nappies in a nappy bucket with or
without water (our manufactures recommend without water - dry pailing).
While you
don't necessarily need any special tools to help you clean any of the solid
waste off your nappies, we do recommend using a Little Squirt to help you with
this chore. This is a high pressure hose that attaches easily to the side of your
toilet (no need to get a plumber in) and is so easy to use, we would be lost
without ours!! They are available at some hardware shops or have a look online
as well. If you live in Townsville, the lovely people at Reece Plumbing sell
The Little Squirt. So go in there to purchase one...I promise you won't regret
spending the money on one of these little beauties.
When you
have a bucket full throw them straight into the machine with half as much
detergent as you would normally use. Use a detergent that contains NO
bleaches, enzymes, fabric softeners etc. Then hang on the line, or pop them in
the dryer (most of our products are dryer friendly), and your nappies are ready
to go again and again.
Not all MCN
are made the same and not all parents like the same procedures. Here are
some specific instructions for certain nappy types and some tried and tested
tips from other MCN parents.
Wool Covers
These need
to be hand washed and laid flat to dry. They also need to be lanolised to
retain their natural water repellent properties. DO NOT PLACE WOOL COVERS
IN THE DRYER, THEY WILL SHRINK. Have a look at the great range of wool
lanolising sprays and washes we have on sale.
PUL Covers
Advice on these covers varies,
however if it is only a cover then generally you can cold wash and line
dry. Some manufactures allow tumble drying of nappies with PUL outers,
however this MAY reduce the life of the nappy. If you are tumble drying
nappies with PUL outers try and remove them as soon as they are dry (i.e.
5-10mins).
Other
Washing Methods
Some nappy companies recommend
washing in a solution of vinegar and tea tree oil, however this is not
recommended on some non-natural fibres or PUL.
Leakage Issues
If you are having problems with your nappies leaking, first check that the nappy fits correctly around the leg area and, if the nappy is new, that you have pre-washed the nappy a couple of times (5 - 6 times for bamboo nappies). If you are still having problems, you may need to do a strip wash of your nappies, to ensure that the detergent hasn't built up on your nappies. To do this, run a hot wash with a drop of dishwashing liquid and an extra rinse cycle. If you see any suds appearing, repeat the hot wash until no suds appear.
Stains can be caused by different foods,
illnesses and medications. Stains will not affect the performance of your
nappy, however to remove any stains (if desired) then the sun is the best stain
remover. Take your wet nappy and hang to dry in the sun. If the stain is
stubborn squirt it with a little lemon juice and it should come right out after
drying in the sun.
Some nappy rash ointments cause nappies to repel
and not function properly. If you mistakenly get nappy rash ointment on your nappy,
wash your nappies normally and then apply some dishwashing liquid, like Dawn,
to the affected area. Scrub the affected area with a toothbrush or other
bristle brush. While this is a suggested method, it may not always work. Nappies
affected by nappy rash ointments are not covered by any warranty. If you
require a nappy rash cream, use a natural based product, never one that
contains cortisone or zinc based products. If you need to use these ointments,
make sure you put a liner (either flushable or silk) between your baby’s bottom
and the top of the nappy.
Magic Stick ointment, that we stock, is a fantastic nappy rash ointment, as it is effective and won't harm your nappies. Cherub Rubs Baby Balm is also a lovely product, as is Baby Bottoms Baby Balm.
Vinegar was originally used in cloth diapers
to "soften" them up and possibly as a disinfectant many years ago.
However modern cloth nappies do not need any further softening and with
detergents that are effective and hot water no additional disinfecting is
needed. This could also cause a stink problem if any vinegar is left on the nappies.
You
can soak your nappies in a nappy bucket with half a cap of washing liquid
(the baby stuff) and then pour the whole thing into the washing machine and put
it through on a normal cycle. That's the only washing liquid you will
need to use! Alternatively, you can place your nappies in a dry nappy
bucket (after removing the solid waste into the toilet) and then simply place
these into the washing machine when it is time to wash, remembering to use only
half of the normal quantity of detergent.
If you are
exclusively breastfeeding there is no need to wash the poo off, just throw the
nappy straight into a bucket of water or into the washing machine. Do a
quick rinse cycle first and away you go.
If your
nappies start leaking for no apparent reason, you may have a build up of
detergent on them. You will need to do a 'strip wash' to help with this
problem. This is easy to do, all you need to do is do a hot wash with a drop of
dishwashing detergent in it, and repeat rinse. If there are any suds, then
repeat hot wash with dishwashing detergent until no suds appear.
We live in a
city with high water restrictions so water usage is always on my mind. I put the nappies on a rinse cycle first with the lowest water
level and then add my sons clothing and do the full wash with the
nappies. So far I haven't had any trouble with staining, build up or
smell.
Ammonia smell is caused by detergent residue
and the combination of urine. Run your nappies through the wash again and be
sure to use the manufacturer’s recommended detergents. Ammonia smell can also
be caused by diet of the child and the acidity of the urine. Wash as quickly as
possible if you find this is chronic. But keeping your nappies as residue free as
possible is key. You may wish to wash your nappies in half a cup of bicarb soda, this also helps remove any smells.
Isn't wool hot??
Actually it's not. Wool has the unique ability to act as a breathable
insulator, meaning it helps keep the body at a constant temperature and does
not conduct heat. This is due to the small pockets of air formed by the fibres
of the fabric.
Why use wool covers??
Wool covers are breathable and environmentally friendly. This makes it the
perfect material to use for babies with sensitive skin. Clean, lanolized wool
covers will absorb 30% of their weight in moisture before they feel wet. The
lanolin on the wool interacts with the ammonia in urine to form a soap, making
the wool covers self-cleaning. This means that you don't need to wash them
every day. Just hang them out to air dry and about once a week hand wash them
in a lanolin rich soap, wool wash or use a lanolin spray. Have a look at the
great range of wool washes and lanolin sprays on sale here at The Nappy Bucket.
