12 Cloth Diapers Questions Every Parent Needs To Ask

Cloth diapers (also known as reusable nappies, washable nappies and cloth nappies) are much easier to use than you think. Here are some common questions asked by parents about using cloth diapers.

What do I do when its time to change?

If the diaper is simply wet, all you have to do is remove it, throw away the liner (if disposable) and put the diaper and reusable liner in your diaper bucket and not the bin.

If the diaper is dirty, the poo can be flushed away down the loo (more hygienic than putting it in the bin) and the diaper put in the bucket.

Liquid poo can be washed off by holding the diaper under the flush of the loo before being dealt with in your normal way.

Are they hard to put on?

Not at all.All-in-ones or shaped diapers are the easiest to use and don't need to be folded - simply put them on just as you would a disposable.Flat or terry diapers do have to be folded but the amazing Nappi Nippa means that you don’t have to use a pin.

Will the house smell?

Only if you leave lots of dirty diapers hanging around for ages.Just think about how your bin smells with a couple day’s worth of dirty disposable diapers in it, with real diapers, solids are flushed down the lavatory immediately, so you won’t have from this problem.  If you like, you can put a few drops of essential oil on a cloth that you keep on the top of the bucket.

Will I have to do lots of washing?

All families have lots of washing, so to include a few diapers isn’t really that much extra work.  When you are ready to do a normal wash, simply take the diapers out of 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 even use 40c with the odd hotter wash to keep away stains.

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 disposed of, so you are only dealing with a small amount of 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 water and diaper soak solution 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 the washing powders harm the environment?

Yes and no. Yes to the extent that all detergents cause some damage (this can be limited by using non-bio or eco-friendly products) but no to the extent that this is still far better than using disposable diapers.

Will I have to use more diapers?

Not really.Guidelines state that you should change a baby’s diaper every 4 hours during the day (more often for new borns), so this is still the same.

Won’t my baby get diaper rash?

Rashes are caused by bacteria in the poo reacting to the ammonia in wee.  The best way to stop diaper rash is to change frequently (every 4 hours or so) and allow fresh air to get to the diaper area.

The lock away core in disposable diapers encourages parents to change less often and their very design prevents air from circulating.  Most designs of real diapers are breathable, allowing air to circulate, resulting in a healthier butt.

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. Other parents have a stock of eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go away.

What about during the night?

Again, some people use eco-disposables during the night or add a booster pad to the cloth diaper.

Are the leaky?

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.