Reusable Nappies

Cloth nappies are a baby-friendly, environmentally-friendly and wallet-friendly option for infant elimination management. Natural fibres are cooler for your baby, the lack of petro-chemicals used in production make them safer for your baby’s skin, and the re-usability of cloth nappies makes them a far cheaper option than disposables.

Types of Nappies

Modern cloth nappies are shaped, and often have Velcro or snaps to make them just as easy to put on as a disposable. With options such as “all-in-one”, fitted nappies with a water-resistant cover, and “pocket” nappies that can be stuffed according to your baby’s needs, you can choose a nappy system to suit your baby and yourself.

All-in-one Nappies - AIO

All-in-one nappies, or AIOs, have a water-resistant outer, usually PUL or Fleece, with boosting inside, to give you one-step nappying. More convenient than a seperate cover, these types of nappies do take longer to dry, and are less breathable than those with a seperate cover.

"Pocket" style nappies

Pocket nappies have a water-resistant outer, usually PUL or Polyester Fleece, and usually have a stay-dry inner of polyester Fleece or suedecloth, though the inner can be a natural fibre. An opening at the front or back of the nappy allows you to fill the pocket with as much boosting as needed for your little one. As these types of nappies can be taken apart for washing, they do dry quicker than most. They then need to be put back together after washing, and are less breathable than nappies with a seperate cover.

Fitted Nappies with a seperate cover

Fitted nappies are made with all absorbant fibres, usually natural fibres, and can be worn with or without a cover, though a cover is recommended for sleeping and under clothes, as the nappy will "wick" to bedding or clothing without a water-resistant barrier. A cover can be made with PUL or polyester Fleece, or wool. Natural fibres are more breathable, which is great on a hot day.

Flat Nappies or Prefolds

Flat nappies can be made any size, with any natural fibre, and are very versatile as far as fit and placement of extra boosting goes. They dry quickest, as they are unfolded to one layer for washing. Prefold nappies have extra boosting sewn in a strip down the middle, and are quick and easy to put on. Being flat, they do dry quicker than a fitted or AIO nappy, but the extra layers makes them a bit slower to dry than a flat nappy. Either of these types can be pad-folded, and used in a wrap cover, removing the need for pins or snappis to hold them on.

Washing Nappies

Washing nappies is as easy as washing your clothes - just throw them in the washing machine and let it do the work! Due to the drowning risk that nappy buckets full of water present, most people "dry-pail" their nappies - after removing the used nappy from the baby, flush any solids in the toilet, rinse the nappy if needed, squeeze or wring excess water, then leave the damp nappy in a dry bucket until you have a full load of washing. It's quite alright to wash rinsed or damp nappies with clothes, towels, or other items.

When washing the nappies, be sure to use a mild, enzyme-free detergent, and use only 1/4-1/3 the recommended amount. Too much detergent can cause buildup on the nappies, which can cause leaks and/or rashes. Nappies can be washed on cold or warm, or occasionally on hot, though too much heat can damage elastic and modern fabrics. Nappies can be dried in the sun, which is great for removing stains, or in a cool or warm dryer. The best method of washing, from an environmental impact perspective, is to wash a full load on cold, and dry in the sun, as this uses the least power and water.

Alternatives to Nappies?

In some cultures, babies don't wear nappies at all, but are taken to eliminate waste in an appropriate area, from birth. In western cultures, this is refered to as "Elimination Communication", or "EC". Some people who practice EC choose to do so with nappies as backup, some go nappy-free from birth. For more information, visit the Forum, or check the links section.