12 Cloth Diapers Questions Every Parent Needs To Ask
Cloth diapers (also known as reusable nappies, washable nappies and cloth nappies) are much easier to use than you think. Here are answers to some common questions 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 thrown away down the loo (far more hygienic than putting it in the dustbin) and the diaper placed 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.Shaped diapers or all-in-ones are the simplest to use and need no folding - simply place them on just as you would a disposable.Terry or flat diapers do need to be folded but the amazing invention of the Nappi Nippa means no pins are needed.
Will our house smell?
Only if you leave lots of dirty diapers hanging around for ages.Just think about how your bin smells with a couple day’s worth of dirty disposable diapers in it, with real diapers, solids are flushed down the lavatory immediately, so you won’t have 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 to more washing?
All families have lots of washing, so to add in a few diapers isn’t really that much extra work.When you are ready to do your usual wash, remove the diapers from the bucket and put them in the washing machine, it is as simple as that.
Putting diapers into a modern machine with its fast spin is so much easier than having to put them through the twin tub and mangle that your mother may have used.
Diapers can be washed at 60c and some people even use 40c 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 gotten rid of, so you are only dealing with a little 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 easier to do.
What is ‘pailing’?
Which means, 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 very simple - just drop the used diaper into the bucket and replace the lid.
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 reduced by using non-bio or eco-friendly products) but no to the extent that this is still much better than using disposable diapers.
Will I have to change 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 with 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 lock away moisture core in disposable diapers makes parents change less often and their very design stops air from circulating.Most real diapers are breathable, allowing air to circulate, resulting in a healthier butt.
What if I go out for the day?
Many parents use real diapers even when they go out and just take a slightly larger bag with them. Other parents have a stock of eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go away.
What about nightime?
Again, some parents use eco-disposables overnight or add booster pads to the cloth diaper.
Do they leak?
Not if they fit properly.A properly fitted real diaper with wrap if needed is no more likely to leak than a disposable.We recommend that you try out a few sample kits to ensure you buy the best diaper for your baby.
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