12 Cloth Diapers Answers Every Parent Needs To Know
Cloth diapers (also known as reusable nappies, washable nappies and cloth nappies) are much easier to use than you think. Here are some common questions asked by parents about using cloth diapers.
What do I do at change time?
If the diaper is just wet, all you need to do is take it off, throw the liner away (if disposable) and place the diaper and reusable liner in your diaper bucket instead of in the bin.
If the diaper is dirty, the poo can be flushed away down the loo (much more hygienic than putting it in the bin) and the diaper put in the bucket.
Liquid poo can be washed off by holding the diaper under the flush of the toilet before being dealt with in your normal way.
Are they fiddly to put on?
No, not at all.All-in-ones or shaped diapers are the easiest to use and don't need to be folded - simply put them on just as you would a disposable.Flat or terry diapers do have to be folded but the amazing Nappi Nippa means that you don’t have to use a pin.
Will my house smell?
Only if you leave lots of dirty diapers hanging around for ages.Just think of how your dustbin smells with a couple day’s worth of dirty disposables in it, with real diapers, the poo is disposed of down the loo immediately, so you won’t suffer from this problem.If you like, you can place a few drops of essential oil on a cloth that you keep on the top of the bucket.
Will I have lots more washing to do?
All families have washing to do, so including a few diapers isn’t really more work. When you are ready to do a normal wash, simply take the diapers out of the bucket and put them in the washing machine, it is as simple as that.
Putting diapers into a modern machine with its fast spinning is a far cry from having to put them through the twin tub and mangle that your mother may have used.
Diapers can be washed at 60 degrees and some people even use 40 degrees with the odd hotter wash to keep the stains at bay.
The best way to dry diapers is on the line with the rest of your washing (or on a radiator during the winter) but I do fluff them up by placing them in the dryer for 10 mins with the bath towels after removing them from the line.
Will I get dirty placing them in the washing machine?
No.The poo will have been disposed of, so you are only dealing with a small amount of wee.If you wet pail (see below) you can use a mesh bag to store the diapers so you just need to pick that up and place it in the machine.Dry pailing is even more easy to do.
What is the meaning of ‘pailing’?
Basically, storing used diapers in a bucket.Wet pailing involves putting the diapers into a water and diaper soak solution or similar or just plain water.
Dry pailing is easy - simply put the used diaper into the bucket and put the lid back on.
Don’t all the washing powders harm the environment?
Yes and no. Yes to the extent that all detergents cause some damage (this can be limited by using non-bio or eco-friendly products) but no to the extent that this is still far better than using disposable diapers.
Will I be changing diapers more often?
Not really. Guidelines state that you should change your baby’s diaper every 4 hours during the day (more often for new borns), so this remains the same.
Will my baby get diaper rash?
Diaper rash is caused by bacteria in the poo reacting to the ammonia in wee.The usual way to prevent diaper rash is to change frequently (every 4 hours or so) and let fresh air to get to the diaper area.
The gel core in disposable diapers encourages parents to change less frequently and their design prevents air from circulating.Most real diaper designs are breathable, allowing air to circulate, resulting in a healthier bottom.
What if I go out for the day?
Many parents use real diapers even when they go out - they just take a slightly bigger bag with them. Others have a stock of eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go on holiday.
What about nightime?
Once again, some parents use eco-disposables overnight or place a booster pad inside the cloth diaper.
Will they leak?
Not if they fit properly. A well fitting real diaper with wrap if appropriate is no more likely to leak than a disposable. We recommend that you try a few sample kits to make sure you buy the right diaper for your baby.
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