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 answers to common questions about using cloth diapers.

What do I do at change time?

If the diaper is simply wet, all you need to do is take it off, throw the liner away (if disposable) and put 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 away by holding the diaper under the flush of the toilet before being dealt with normally.

Are they fiddly to put on?

No, not at all.All-in-ones are the easiest to use and need no folding - just put them on just as you would a disposable.Flat or terry diapers do still need to be folded but the fantastic invention of the Nappi Nippa means that pins are not needed.

Will our house smell?

Only if you leave loads of dirty diapers hanging around for days.  Just think of how your bin smells with a couple day’s worth of dirty disposables in it, with real diapers, the poo is flushed down the loo straight away, so you won’t suffer from this problem.If you wish, you can put one or two 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 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 in, so you just need to pick that up and put it in the machine.Dry pailing is even easier to do.

What is ‘pailing’?

Basically, storing used diapers in a bucket.  Wet pailing involves putting the diapers into a solution of water and diaper soak or similar or just plain water.

Dry pailing is easy - simply put the used diaper into the bucket and put the lid back on.

Won’t all the washing powders damage 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 be changing diapers more often?

Not really.Guidelines state that you should be changing your baby’s diaper every 4 hours in the daytime (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 best way to prevent diaper rash is to change frequently (every 4 hours or so) and let fresh air access the diaper area.

The lock away core inside disposable diapers encourages parents to change less often and their very design stops air circulation.Most real diaper designs are breathable, allowing air to circulate, resulting in a healthier bottom.

What if I am away from home?

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?

Again, some parents use eco-disposables overnight or add a booster pad to the cloth diaper.

Will they leak?

Not if they fit well.A properly fitted real diaper with wrap if needed is no more likely to leak than a disposable.We would advise that you try a few samples to make sure you buy the right diaper for your baby.