12 Cloth Diapers Questions Answered for Curious Parents
Cloth diapers (also known as reusable nappies, washable nappies and cloth nappies) are much easier to use than you think. Here are answers to some common questions about using cloth diapers.
What do I do at change time?
If the diaper is just wet, all you need to do is take it off, throw the liner away (if disposable) and place 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 (far 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 toilet before being dealt with in your normal way.
Are they difficult to put on?
No, not at all.Shaped diapers or all-in-ones are the simplest to use and need no folding - simply place 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 my house smell?
Only if you leave lots of dirty diapers hanging around for ages. 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 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 more washing?
All families have washing to do, so including a few diapers isn't really more 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 a far cry from having to put them through the twin tub and mangle that you 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 to fluff them by putting them in the dryer for 10 mins with the bath towels after taking them off 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 so you just need to pick that up and place it in the machine.Dry pailing is easier to do still.
What is 'pailing'?
Basically, storing used diapers in a bucket.Wet pailing means putting the diapers into a solution of water and diaper soak or similar or just water on its own.
Dry pailing is easy - simply put the used diaper into the bucket and put the lid back on.
Won't all the washing powders harm the environment?
Yes and no. Yes, as all detergents can cause some damage (this can be limited 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.Advice states that you should change your baby's diaper every 4 hours during the day (more often for newborns), 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 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 inside disposable diapers encourages parents to change less often and their very design stops air circulation.Most real diapers are breathable, allowing air to circulate, resulting in a healthier butt.
What if I go out?
Many parents use real diapers even when they go out and just take a slightly larger bag with them. Others have eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go away.
What about overnight?
Again, some parents use eco-disposables overnight or add booster pads to the cloth diaper.
Do they leak?
Not if they are fitted properly.A well fitting cloth diaper with a wrap if appropriate is no more likely to leak than a disposable.We advise that you try a sample kit to make sure you buy the right diaper for your baby.
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