Cloth Nappy Myth Busting!
They are too expensive/the cost saving is minimal if at all.
Cloth nappies could save parents almost £1200. You can buy all the nappies, wraps and fastenings required for 33 months of nappy use for just under £80, if you buy new. The same amount of money would only buy 8 weeks of disposables. Some brand of nappies are significantly more expensive, but if cost is a deterrent, you can look at the myriad of pre-loved cloth nappy boards that exist.
Overall laundry costs: Washing machine depreciation + detergent + energy = £27.09 + £62.00 + £32.27 £121.36 over 33 months.
(Figures are from http://cleangreennappy.co.uk/PDFs/costcomparisonwithcharts.pdf)
Cloth nappies could save parents almost £1200. You can buy all the nappies, wraps and fastenings required for 33 months of nappy use for just under £80, if you buy new. The same amount of money would only buy 8 weeks of disposables. Some brand of nappies are significantly more expensive, but if cost is a deterrent, you can look at the myriad of pre-loved cloth nappy boards that exist.
Overall laundry costs: Washing machine depreciation + detergent + energy = £27.09 + £62.00 + £32.27 £121.36 over 33 months.
(Figures are from http://cleangreennappy.co.uk/PDFs/costcomparisonwithcharts.pdf)
The initial outlay seems expensive, what makes cloth the cheaper option?
The initial cost surprises a lot of people, but have a look at our breakdown of disposables versus cloth to see how much you could save overall! Some people use cloth from birth, spreading the cost of buying over the months leading up to babies arrival, others reuse cloth from their older children, making an even bigger saving. Some mums make the switch after a few months and start part time or just during the day at first, purchasing a few each month until they have enough to use them full time. There is also a huge selling community for cloth nappies where preloved ones can be bought and sold, buying preloved is even cheaper and if you sell them once you’ve finished with them you can make some of your money back. Reusable wipes can save you even more money and are very easy to use if you’re washing nappies already. And don’t forget your local council’s cashback scheme!
The initial cost surprises a lot of people, but have a look at our breakdown of disposables versus cloth to see how much you could save overall! Some people use cloth from birth, spreading the cost of buying over the months leading up to babies arrival, others reuse cloth from their older children, making an even bigger saving. Some mums make the switch after a few months and start part time or just during the day at first, purchasing a few each month until they have enough to use them full time. There is also a huge selling community for cloth nappies where preloved ones can be bought and sold, buying preloved is even cheaper and if you sell them once you’ve finished with them you can make some of your money back. Reusable wipes can save you even more money and are very easy to use if you’re washing nappies already. And don’t forget your local council’s cashback scheme!
Won’t I constantly be washing and drying?
How often you wash depends on how many nappies you have and which types. Most mums using cloth only wash them every other day or even every 3 days! They can be tumble dried on a low heat setting or hung out on the line, if you don’t have an outside space them can be hung indoors on airers (either standing or the ones that hang on radiators) or some mums have a drying line in their bathroom. For most mums their wash loads increase anyway when a baby comes along, plus cloth nappies contain poop explosions far more effectively, which saves some of the clothes washing!
How often you wash depends on how many nappies you have and which types. Most mums using cloth only wash them every other day or even every 3 days! They can be tumble dried on a low heat setting or hung out on the line, if you don’t have an outside space them can be hung indoors on airers (either standing or the ones that hang on radiators) or some mums have a drying line in their bathroom. For most mums their wash loads increase anyway when a baby comes along, plus cloth nappies contain poop explosions far more effectively, which saves some of the clothes washing!
The chemicals used to clean are just as damaging to the environment over the same time frame as it takes to decompose a disposable.
One way to minimise damage to the environment is to use eco-friendly detergents such as Ecover or BioD.
Clothes don't fit over them well.
Modern cloth nappies aren't as bulky as terries - some are almost as thin as disposables. Many parents find that normal clothes fit just fine, but if not, just buy the next size up, or go for clothes that are especially designed to fit over cloth bums, such as Frugi.
Cloth makes nappy rash worse as bum can't breathe.
Not true. Modern wraps are breathable unlike the plastic on the outside of disposables. Cloth nappies also get changed more frequently so skin is cleaner and less likely to develop nappy rash - see bit below about wetness too.
One way to minimise damage to the environment is to use eco-friendly detergents such as Ecover or BioD.
Clothes don't fit over them well.
Modern cloth nappies aren't as bulky as terries - some are almost as thin as disposables. Many parents find that normal clothes fit just fine, but if not, just buy the next size up, or go for clothes that are especially designed to fit over cloth bums, such as Frugi.
Cloth makes nappy rash worse as bum can't breathe.
Not true. Modern wraps are breathable unlike the plastic on the outside of disposables. Cloth nappies also get changed more frequently so skin is cleaner and less likely to develop nappy rash - see bit below about wetness too.
Won’t my baby be wet or uncomfortable?
All modern cloth nappies have either a built in stay-dry layer or the option to add a fleece (or other material) liner to keep babies bum nice and dry. You can buy these or even make your own! Fleece doesn’t fray so you can buy a cheap fleece blanket and cut it up to make lots of lovely liners yourself. Have a ‘Google’ to see the number of chemicals in disposable nappies that are needed to keep babies dry, fleece does exactly the same job and feels lovely and soft against their skin! Different ‘boosting’ with absorbent materials will combat leaking if you have a heavy wetter.
All modern cloth nappies have either a built in stay-dry layer or the option to add a fleece (or other material) liner to keep babies bum nice and dry. You can buy these or even make your own! Fleece doesn’t fray so you can buy a cheap fleece blanket and cut it up to make lots of lovely liners yourself. Have a ‘Google’ to see the number of chemicals in disposable nappies that are needed to keep babies dry, fleece does exactly the same job and feels lovely and soft against their skin! Different ‘boosting’ with absorbent materials will combat leaking if you have a heavy wetter.
What am I supposed to do with all that poo?!
Many people aren’t aware of this but babies and small children excrete many viruses in their feces including Hepatitis A, rotavirus, shigella, salmonellosis, amebiasis, live polio virus (from vaccines), and typhoid among others. In order to keep these viruses from contaminating underground water supplies, the poo in disposables would ideally not be thrown out with your usual household rubbish - particularly solid waste as they get older – so should really be disposed of in the toilet anyway. You would need to do the same with the poo in cloth nappies but there are many ways to do this without ‘handling’ anything ‘icky’ and now that bin collections are usually fortnightly, it’s handy to flush it away rather to wrap it and have it in the bin for 2 weeks.
Its gross - who wants to reuse something like that.
No different to sleeping in hospital sheets. And believe me they have far worse stuff on them! (See also "Don't want to have to deal with poop" below.)
Many people aren’t aware of this but babies and small children excrete many viruses in their feces including Hepatitis A, rotavirus, shigella, salmonellosis, amebiasis, live polio virus (from vaccines), and typhoid among others. In order to keep these viruses from contaminating underground water supplies, the poo in disposables would ideally not be thrown out with your usual household rubbish - particularly solid waste as they get older – so should really be disposed of in the toilet anyway. You would need to do the same with the poo in cloth nappies but there are many ways to do this without ‘handling’ anything ‘icky’ and now that bin collections are usually fortnightly, it’s handy to flush it away rather to wrap it and have it in the bin for 2 weeks.
Its gross - who wants to reuse something like that.
No different to sleeping in hospital sheets. And believe me they have far worse stuff on them! (See also "Don't want to have to deal with poop" below.)
Don't want to have to deal with poo.
You'll be dealing with it in a disposable anyway - then it will be sitting in your bin for potentially 2 weeks. I'd much rather lifta liner off and throw it down the loo than have my bin stinking for a fortnight. Also, for pre-weaning babies with liquid poo, you don't need to deal with it at all. A cold rinse in the washing machine prior to the wash gets rid of the poo for you. Once babies have solid poo, a disposable liner and/or a fleece liner makes it easy to remove solids.
How do I make sense of all the different types and jargon?
All the names and types can be off putting, for some the biggest obstacle is the complexity of choice, your local nappy library can give you info on what’s available and what types are best for you depending on your lifestyle. There are online communities and forums where you can get even more advice and information, and there will be details of local ‘Nappuccino’s’ or demo’s on our Facebook page, where the library team will be on hand for practical support. We also offer home visits where you can have a look at lots of nappies, or receive support and advice even if you’re already using cloth.
You'll be dealing with it in a disposable anyway - then it will be sitting in your bin for potentially 2 weeks. I'd much rather lifta liner off and throw it down the loo than have my bin stinking for a fortnight. Also, for pre-weaning babies with liquid poo, you don't need to deal with it at all. A cold rinse in the washing machine prior to the wash gets rid of the poo for you. Once babies have solid poo, a disposable liner and/or a fleece liner makes it easy to remove solids.
How do I make sense of all the different types and jargon?
All the names and types can be off putting, for some the biggest obstacle is the complexity of choice, your local nappy library can give you info on what’s available and what types are best for you depending on your lifestyle. There are online communities and forums where you can get even more advice and information, and there will be details of local ‘Nappuccino’s’ or demo’s on our Facebook page, where the library team will be on hand for practical support. We also offer home visits where you can have a look at lots of nappies, or receive support and advice even if you’re already using cloth.
Won’t all that bulk stop them learning to sit / walk?
This is a very common misconception regarding the use of cloth nappies – they actually help to keep little ones hips in the ideal (‘frog’) position for their development, as they shouldn’t really be straight legged until a bit older. Disposables have only been around for about 35 years, so anyone born before that and walking around now was wearing cloth as a baby. There are disposable wearing babies that don’t walk until they’re 2 and cloth wearing babies that are walking at 9 months - babies will do these things when they’re ready, but a nice big squishy bum makes for a soft landing!
This is a very common misconception regarding the use of cloth nappies – they actually help to keep little ones hips in the ideal (‘frog’) position for their development, as they shouldn’t really be straight legged until a bit older. Disposables have only been around for about 35 years, so anyone born before that and walking around now was wearing cloth as a baby. There are disposable wearing babies that don’t walk until they’re 2 and cloth wearing babies that are walking at 9 months - babies will do these things when they’re ready, but a nice big squishy bum makes for a soft landing!
Won’t my baby be wet or uncomfortable?
All modern cloth nappies have either a built in stay-dry layer or the option to add a fleece (or other material) liner to keep babies bum nice and dry. You can buy these or even make your own! Fleece doesn’t fray so you can buy a cheap fleece blanket and cut it up to make lots of lovely liners yourself. Have a ‘Google’ to see the number of chemicals in disposable nappies that are needed to keep babies dry, fleece does exactly the same job and feels lovely and soft against their skin! Different ‘boosting’ with absorbent materials will combat leaking if you have a heavy wetter.
Travelling is restricted.
Only if you allow it too. However you don't HAVE to use 24 hrs / 365 days. Just do what and when you can.
All modern cloth nappies have either a built in stay-dry layer or the option to add a fleece (or other material) liner to keep babies bum nice and dry. You can buy these or even make your own! Fleece doesn’t fray so you can buy a cheap fleece blanket and cut it up to make lots of lovely liners yourself. Have a ‘Google’ to see the number of chemicals in disposable nappies that are needed to keep babies dry, fleece does exactly the same job and feels lovely and soft against their skin! Different ‘boosting’ with absorbent materials will combat leaking if you have a heavy wetter.
Travelling is restricted.
Only if you allow it too. However you don't HAVE to use 24 hrs / 365 days. Just do what and when you can.
My child is / will be in childcare before they’re potty trained, will I still be able to use cloth nappies?
Sometimes parents would like to try cloth but are worried that nursery / grandparents or other childcare will refuse to use them. Modern cloth nappies are so easy to use, they now have poppers and Velcro instead of folding and pins and can be put on just like a disposable! Once you’ve done a demonstration, most childcare providers will be happy to use cloth nappies on your little one and grandparents are usually impressed at how far nappies have come!
*Thank you to all of the lovely mums from Mums & Mummies To Be In Burton on Trent & Surrounding Areas who shared their pictures with me for this page*
Sometimes parents would like to try cloth but are worried that nursery / grandparents or other childcare will refuse to use them. Modern cloth nappies are so easy to use, they now have poppers and Velcro instead of folding and pins and can be put on just like a disposable! Once you’ve done a demonstration, most childcare providers will be happy to use cloth nappies on your little one and grandparents are usually impressed at how far nappies have come!
*Thank you to all of the lovely mums from Mums & Mummies To Be In Burton on Trent & Surrounding Areas who shared their pictures with me for this page*