Idiots guide to cloth nappies?

[midori1999]

I just do not understand them. I think it's because I'm old and have used disposables so much and I always if find it hard to get my head round something new...

Anyway, I am thinking I would like to use cloth with this baby. My younger siblings were all in terry towelling nappies and I know Tesco now sell these, but I would prefer the modern, shaped kind.

Can I please ask:

- how many do you need?

- does one size fit all babies or do you need to change sizes as the baby grows?

- are they more or less bulky than disposables?

- do you need just the nappy, or a liner/booster and do you need anything outside of the nappy?

- can any of them be tumble dried?

- do they leak more or less than disposables?

- how much does it cost roughly for a 'set'?

Thanks.

 

[Rachel_C]

How many you need depends on what type you have and how often you want to wash them, as well as how you dry them. Some nappies will dry in less than a day on an airer so you'd only need two day's worth (i.e. 12 for a newborn for the first day, then another 12 for while you wash and dry the first lot). Other types might take two days to wash and dry so if you only wanted to wash every other day, you'd need four day's worth (i.e. 12 for day 1, 12 for day 2, then another 24 for days 3 and 4 while the first lot dry).

Some nappies are one size and adjust to fit different size babies, some are sized. The one size nappies don't usually fit from birth, it's more like 4-8 weeks old.

Cloth nappies are usually bulkier than disposables because they don't have all the nasty chemical gel in them. Some aren't much more, some are a lot more. Wider nappies are actually better for baby's hip development so it's not a bad thing.

What you need depends on the nappy. Most nappies come with everything you really need, although if the description says that the nappy will need a wrap (waterproof cover) this is not usually included. That would be for nappies called fitteds, or terries or prefolds (flat nappies).

Some can be tumble dried but not all. All will last longer if you don't, same as your clothes.

They leak less than disposables once you get the right nappy. With sposies, you are very limited, there are maybe 10 different types to try so if those don't fit your LO very well you just have to pick the best of a bad bunch. With cloth nappies there are literally thousands of brands so there is something for everybody. You can pretty much always find a nappy that fits perfectly.

Cost depends on what you go for. On a really tight budget you could maybe do it for £50 plus your washing costs (around £1 a week including detergent, electricity, water, wear and tear on your machine). Other people love the fancy nappies and spend thousands because it's fun and they can! I'd say a good cost to work for would be around £300. There is a HUGE market for preloved nappies which can make buying them cheaper and also means you can sell your used nappies on when you're done with them.

Definitely have a look through the FAQ sticky at the top, there's lots of good info in there. The most important thing to remember is to try things before you spend much - don't get sucked into spending £300 on a full set when you don't even know if they will work on your LO.