Reusable nappy know-how
Reusable nappies have had a rebirth since the days when terry nappies were the only option for most parents. They have evolved into a range of funky designs, which may appeal to even the most dedicated disposable user. For one thing, Velcro fastening, poppers or plastic clips have taken the place of pins, so you no longer have to worry about jabbing your baby while changing her nappy. Also, most modern washable nappies are shaped, like a disposable nappy, so you don't necessarily have to get a degree in origami in order to fold the nappy to the right shape -- you can take your pick from a wide variety of shapes and sizes available on the market. It's a good idea to sample a few different types of reusable nappy before you buy a bulk pack because different styles suit different shaped babies.
Another plus point of modern reusables is that soaking soiled nappies in buckets of hot, soapy water is an option not a rule. Your baby's poo is collected in biodegradable liner sheets, which can be flushed away and then you can store used nappies in a dry nappy bucket until you have enough to make up a load in your washing machine. Use your washing machine's pre-wash to loosen any dried poo, and then wash the nappies on a 60 degrees C cycle. Some parents still like to soak their nappies before washing, but it is not compulsory.
You'll need around 15-20 nappies if you plan to use reusable nappies full-time, or around 8-10 if you are using them part-time. If you wash them a few times before using them on your baby it will increase their absorbency - they are at their most effective after about three washes. Most manufacturers recommend using non-biological washing powder and no softener, as using softener also reduces the absorbency of the nappies. Some manufacturers also recommend an extra rinse cycle to make sure all the detergent is rinsed away.
Why use reusable nappies?
Disposable nappies, by definition, are thrown away and this is where a big problem with them lies. The environmental impact of disposable nappies is considerable. According to the Women's Environmental Network (www.wen.org):
• Nearly three billion nappies are thrown away in the UK every year.
• The vast majority of these (90 per cent) end up in landfill.
• Disposable nappies have nearly twice the environmental impact of home laundered nappies, and over two and a half times the impact of service washed nappies.
• It is not known how long it takes for the plastics in disposable nappies to decompose but it could take hundreds of years.
It's such a big problem that some local councils are offering parents an incentive to use cloth nappies - get in touch with your local council to see if their waste management department has a scheme in your area - you could get a free starter pack of reusable nappies, or money back if you have bought or used washable nappies, or both.
Pros and cons of reusable nappies
For some mums the thought of washing nappies, like their mothers used to do, is a real turn off, but there are some strong plus points to consider before you dismiss the idea completely: Prices correct at July 2008
• they are relatively easy to use
• they are kind to the environment
• they are soft on your baby's bottom because they are chemical-free
• they save you money.
On the downside:
• reusable nappies do take a while to dry which, if you don't have a tumble dryer, means radiators covered with drying nappies in the winter.
• more of your time will be taken up washing and drying the nappies.
• for some nappies you need to buy lots of extras as well as the nappy, such as wraps, clips, liners and so on.
If you really can't bear the thought of washing and drying nappies yourself, nappy laundering services are available in larger towns. For more information visit the National Association of Nappy Services website www.changeanappy.co.uk or call on 0121 693 4949.
Where do I start?
You could try looking on an internet site that explains the many different types of nappies and nappy accessories available - www.twinkleontheweb.co.uk has a good introduction to what's involved, or you could try www.thenappylady.co.uk or www.kittykins.co.uk.
Use websites or coffee mornings to talk to mums who've got experience of reusables - hearing that other people do it and it's fine will give you a lot of confidence.
Send off for trial packs of one or two suppliers whose products appeal to you. But beware of getting too many different sorts of nappy - there are lots of options out there and it's easy to get confused!
Which type of reusable nappy should I use?
You can tailor your baby's nappy collection to suit your budget, your ability to get them dry quickly, or if neither of those factors are an issue, whichever nappy you like the look of, and which fits your baby best. There really is a much wider choice of reusable nappies than there used to be. There are basically four different types of reusable nappy available today:
Terries: The cheapest and most basic reusable available. These traditional terry-towelling squares need folding into a triangular shape and securing with a nappy clip. On the plus side, they are quick to dry, but on the down side they are not as absorbent as some of the modern reusable nappies.
Pre-fold: Basic cotton non-terry nappies that are folded into a rectangular shape and held in place by a waterproof outer wrap. These also take less time to dry but may not be as absorbent as shaped nappies and all-in-one nappies.
Shaped nappies: A cloth nappy already shaped to fit around your baby, which you use with a waterproof outer wrap. They resemble disposable nappies in shape and fasten either with Velcro tabs or poppers. Some shaped nappies are available in different colours or patterns.
All-in-one nappies: Cloth nappies, shaped like disposables, with the nappy and a waterproof cover stitched together. Depending on the design, you can get more leaks with this type of reusable as there are fewer layers to catch any escapes. They can also take longer to dry because of the built-in waterproof outer, but they look snug when on and come in a range of colours and designs.
What else will I need?
You'll need some disposable nappy liners. Any poo is caught by the liner and the whole thing can be flushed away before the nappy is soaked/washed (see our section on washing and drying, below). There are also reusable fleece liners available.
You may also need some booster pads. Some makes of two-part nappies suggest booster pads to give extra-absorbency at night.
Plastic nappy grips are the modern alternative to nappy pins if the nappies you're using don't have velcro or popper fastenings. Nappi Nippas are very popular and retail at around £1.50 each.
You'll need to buy a bucket with a lid for storing dirty nappies prior to washing.
Finally a tumble dryer, while not essential, certainly helps with drying.
How many will I need to buy and how much will it cost?
It's very difficult to give hard and fast figures for reusables, so much depends on: which system you decide to use, how efficient your washing system is, whether you can tumble-dry and how many additional items you decide to buy.
But as a rough guide, a basic two-part nappy system costs around £5 - £11 for the nappy and around £4 - £10 for the outer wrap. You’d probably need to buy about 20 nappies and three wraps to start with - and the wrap size will alter as your baby grows, so don’t buy too many in one size!
All-in-one nappies cost around £8 - £15 each, and you're likely to need at least 15 of these. Booster pads cost around £10 for 10.
Some retailers will supply you with a trial pack of all their different makes to see which you like most, which is a huge help as the last thing you want to do is shell out and then decide you don't like the system you've invested in.
A bucket with lid will cost around £5, and disposable liners are £5 for 100.
Reusable liners are around £1.50 - £2.50 each
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