What do you need to get started with cloth nappies?

When initially researching cloth nappies, I found that there is so much information that it can be overwhelming to know where to start and what you need. Hopefully this will provide a clear, suggested list of what you need, however for personalised help or advice please contact us! 

To use cloth nappies, you will need: 

1. Nappies

2. Liners

3. Storage for wet and dry nappies (at home and on the go)

Other things you may need/want over time: 

1. Additional boosters
     
      

For full time use, you will need between 15-20 nappies and 3-5 of these will need to be night nappies (depending on if you are changing your little one's nappy during the night). 

Some people choose to buy a full set in one go when they decide to start their journey and whilst this is a big initial outlay, you don't then need to buy any further nappy purchases. I didn't do this and like many others, selected nappies based on the prints and style and then expanded our collection as we found brands and styles that worked for us). This does mean that we have around 40 nappies in our collection though! 

    

      

Using fleece or disposable liners comes down to personal choice and what works best for you but a liner of some kind is recommended. If you use a nappy cream, a liner will help to keep the cream away from the absorbent part of the nappy and using a liner means that the poo is caught on the liner and not in the main nappy. This means that it is easier to dispose of the poo and can help to prevent any staining to your nappies. 

But which one should you choose? We use a combination of both as we have found this works best for us. Fleece liners are perfect for wicking away liquid from your little one's bum and you can easily pop the poo into the toilet after a nappy change and then wash the liner with the rest of your nappies. Equally, a disposable liner catches the poo and can then be put into a biodegradable bag or straight into a bin/toilet depending on where you are/what you prefer. 

       

You will need somewhere to store your nappies once they have been used. You can use a combination of any of these products and I will explain the pros and cons of each of these: 

        

Most nappy buckets come with a net lining. This means that once you have changed your little one you can simply put the nappy into the bucket and then load the net bag into your washing machine on wash day. Nappy buckets last forever unless they are damaged and will keep any stinks contained inside! Nobody wants a smelly nursery! 

        

Wet bags come in different sizes and are brilliant for on the go. Most medium sized wet bags have two compartments which is perfect for dirty nappies/dirty clothes, dirty nappies and clean nappies or any other combination you need. Large wet bags are ideal for storing a larger number of dirty nappies from a weekend away or equally at home. We use large wet bags to store our dirty nappies at home as I found these to be the most convenient shape and size and just like a bucket they keep the stinks in! I find it easy on wash day to bring the wet bag downstairs and unload it into the washing machine, putting the wet bag in too so it all is nice and clean! The downside of using large wet bags for storage in this way is that the waterproof layer will eventually wear out and will need to be replaced. We've been using a rotation of 3 large wet bags for the last 21 months and haven't yet had to replace any. 

      

Nappy pods are similar to wet bags except they are an oblong shape and fit a selection of nappies 'standing up' in them. They are brilliant storage for clean nappies and are perfect for child care, or when you are on the go. 

      

As your baby grows and changes, the amount of absorbency they need changes. You may find that they start needing more absorbency over time, especially as they move towards potty training and start having fewer but larger wees! Extra boosters are perfect for stuffing into nappies to extend their use (over night time for example) or to provide additional absorbency during the day. 

     

     

       

Please keep an eye on our blog and on our social media for more information about cloth nappies and get in touch if you have a specific question!