Diary of a new mum: cloth nappies

I first came across cloth nappies in 2006 while I was working in a nursery. Or rather that was when I first came across modern cloth nappies.

I had seen the old terry towels that my parents had used for us, and even learnt various folds for them during child development classes at school. But I could understand why people preferred the convenience of disposable nappies to all that folding, pinning and covering in hot, sweaty, water-proof wraps.

But these new nappies quite frankly took my breath away with how soft and convenient they were. I was hooked on them within days of changing my first cloth bottomed baby and knew that when I had a family of my own this was the way I wanted to go.

So when I fell pregnant and first started looking for the bamboo and cotton nappies I had loved so much just five years previously I was amazed by just how much choice there was and how incredibly popular cloth nappies truly were.

There are entire communities online dedicated to cloth nappies and they are one of the best ways to learn about all the different types and brands of nappy available and which ones are best for various needs. For example, you may be wondering whether a  cloth nappy will really be absorbent enough to deal with a heavy wetter, or how on earth you will manage to dry nappies during the winter without a tumble drier.

You’ll find answers to all of these questions on any of the online communities and if you cannot find the answer you need you can always ask and someone will be sure to come to your aid. There is even a cloth nappy natter board here on iVillageUK which is a great place to start your cloth nappy journey.

It was through talking to the ladies on there that I decided to try a variety of different nappy types rather than having to decide which of the many options to choose as our main type. Many women have a favourite type but use another style or material for use at night or on days out or when they need a nappy that will dry in a hurry.

And choosing the use cloth doesn’t mean you have to give up disposables completely. My husband and I are slowly building up our stash, buying second-hand or ‘pre-loved’ nappies as and when the types we like turn up for sale and so are still only using cloth part-time. And even when our stash is complete we plan on keeping a few disposables in the house for use when we go to visit family for the weekend and don’t want to take all the washing with us.

So far we have tried prefolds, shaped nappies and pocket nappies. Prefolds are squares of cloth, stitched in a way that you simply fold in three and then place in a waterproof wrap which holds the absorbent cloth in place. They are perhaps the most simple nappies we have seen and are not my favourite but I can see their use in bulking up my stash quickly and cheaply and so we’re happy to have them on hand as spares.

Shaped nappies are, quite simply, cloth nappies that are shaped like a disposable so cuts out the need to fold them like terry squares. They fasten either with sticky tabs (like Velcro) or with a handy thing called a ‘nappy nippa’ which catches onto the fabric in three places, avoiding the use of a safety pin. These also need covering with a waterproof wrap, but are so easy to use and stay in place beautifully. And for heavy wetters you can easily add a booster pad of fabric in the nappy for extra absorbency.

Pocket nappies are perhaps my favourite of the bunch because they are easy to use and quick to dry. Like the shaped nappies, they are like a disposable and so easy to put on baby. However the shaped part forms a sort of ‘pocket’ between an outer waterproof layer and an inner fleecy lining. You then fill this pocket with booster pads which absorb the liquid. The reason these nappies dry so quickly is because of the fact you take the boosters out to wash, so you don’t have one thick piece of fabric that needs to dry, but rather several smaller parts.

I am quickly getting addicted to finding out as much as I can about these nappies and am constantly on the look-out for new ones to try. As the modern nappies don’t need soaking the same as the ones my parents used they are just so easy to throw in the washing machine even on a daily basis.

If you do decide to have a go with cloth nappies, do check with your local council as to whether they have a ‘real nappy campaign’. Many councils now run a money-back scheme so you can claim back some of the cost of buying what you need. My local council offers £30 back on the first £50 you spend, and this doesn’t have to be in one shop. I have heard of people buying several items on eBay and still getting the money back. Just remember to keep all your receipts and you should be fine.

Using cloth nappies has never been so easy, nor so attractive. Why not consider giving it a go?