While I was preparing for baby, I was keen to research and learn about reusable nappies and wipes with a view that once comfortable, I would make the switch from disposables to reduce my impact on the planet.
My mum and nan kept mentioning Terry nappies and the process they both used back in the day. But during my research, I learnt that the world of reusables (also known as cloth nappies) had come on significantly.
(For the purpose of this blog post, I will just mention that I am not an expert. At the time of writing I have been using reusable nappies for six or seven months, and I wanted to share my experience. I have pointed to expert resources throughout the coming post if you need them).
What you need: A basic guide
- Nappies. There are two types -All in ones (AIOs) and pocket nappies that partner with boosters. Quantity will depend on whether you’ll be clothing full or part-time; is it for more than one child? and how often you’ll be able to wash them.
- Boosters (microfiber, bamboo, charcoal, hemp…there are several types available). These are what you stuff the nappies with for absorption.
- Liners (fleece or disposable, for catching poops!)
- Nappy bucket with a lid
- Large Mesh bag to store used nappies in the bucket before washing
- Small wet bag for storing used nappies when out and about, at nursery etc.
Building my stash of reusable nappies
Before I could get going, I needed to build my stash of reusable nappies and to begin with this felt like a minefield as there are so many brands out there. Reusable nappies come at a cost, but you do ultimately save money in the long run so you should see it as an investment.
When starting out, the advice for stash building is to try and purchase a few different brands and types for both nappies and boosters to work out what works best for you and your baby. Additionally, it’s worth checking your local council website for any incentives such as cash back or even trial kits, and to see if you have a local nappy library nearby.
I was really lucky that at the time of building my stash, Bambino Mio released a range to Aldi, and I managed to purchase a few of the nappies and a couple packs of boosters at half the price they usually retail for elsewhere.
Also, many of the reusable nappy brands send you a discount code if you sign up on their websites which is another useful way to save some money.
For a budget brand, I highly rate Littles & Bloomz and Alva pocket nappies. These can be purchased new very cheaply on ebay and/or Amazon.
Purchasing preloved reusable nappies
I also managed to get a few preloved nappies on Facebook Marketplace and eBay. Providing the nappies are clean (“no stinks or stains”), purchasing preloved nappies is a great way to build your stash affordably.
Reusable nappies are designed to last years and seeing as children are on average only in nappies 2-3 years it makes sense to pass the nappies on once finished with them. Buying preloved is also a great way to try different brands.
The Reusable Nappy Selling Page UK on Facebook is a good place to begin your search.
Reusable nappy brands in my stash
Bambino Mio; Baba & Boo; Littles & Bloomz; Bum Genius; Alva; and Tots Bots.
Washing
For me, how to wash the nappies was my biggest obstacle before I felt ready to begin using reusable nappies. There is a ton of advice out there, much of which conflicted with other things I had read so this was a real pickle for me, especially as the message seemed to be ‘get it wrong and you’ll ruin your nappies’.
There is also a big debate about whether to use non-bio detergent or bio. The old school advice (and the one I currently go with) is non-bio, but there is a big clean cloth nappy movement using bio detergent and it’s something I may switch to in the future with more understanding.
Because of the nature of dirty nappies and the aim being to prolong their life, washing needs to be thorough. But also the more you wash, the better the nappies are at absorbing liquids and you’ll need to do this a few times with new nappies before you can use them (or risk leaks).
My current routine is that I wash dirty nappies and wipes every two or three days. I begin with a rinse cycle without any detergent, and then a long wash on either 40° or 60° with a full scoop of non-bio detergent (powder), and then end with a final rinse.
In all the wash cycle lasts 3.5 hours and however you chose to wash your reusables, a long wash cycle is the advice.
Why I love using reusable nappies
Asides from the obvious environmental impact, for me there is something so wonderful about a cloth bummed baby, their padded butts are just gorgeous! The variety of designs available with reusable nappies also make using them such a joy and the process fun.
Once I got over the few hurdles to fully understand what I needed, built my stash and learnt a wash routine, using reusable nappies has been so straightforward and easy.
Further Advice
The Nappy Lady: She is considered a little old school now in the community, the website is still a good resource of information.
Cloth Bum Mums (CBM) fluffy advice and chat Facebook group is an incredibly friendly community and very willing to share advice.
Reusable Nappy Brands (various): If you are struggling with a particular type of nappy, you can turn to the brands themselves for help and advice.
Reusable Wipes
While I can completely acknowledge that reusable nappies won’t be for everyone, I don’t see why you wouldn’t at least consider reusable wipes. For out and about, baby wipes are fine, and one pack covers bums, hands and faces, and everything else to be honest.
But that aside, baby wipes are crap. You can never just pull one out of the pack which is a nightmare when most of the time you only have one hand free, they dry out super quickly, and they don’t clean. Reusable wipes are so much more effective for removing mess, and then cleaning the area afterwards.
There are a number of brands out there offering reusable wipes, I purchased a pack from Cheeky Wipes to get me started. I have a top & tail bowl next to the changing table with some clean tap water in it and I wet the reusable wipes as I need them, and they are put in the wash with the nappies.
Note: I see a lot of confusion with Cheeky Wipes from other parents looking to make the switch to reusable wipes as it talks about using essential oils. I was also confused by this for ages and wondered if it was necessary and it’s not. Plain clean tap water is all you need.
What are your thoughts about reusable nappies and wipes? Would you/do you use them?
Until next time x
