Many families choose to use disposable nappies with their newborn babies from the moment they are born. Some people like to get straight into the details. This post will explain everything you need about cloth nappies, starting with the first one your baby wears.
It is vital to keep your umbilical stump clean until it becomes brittle. Keep an eye on it for the first week and seek advice if necessary.
You might be surprised how cloth nappies can catch you unaware in the first few weeks.
1. The absorbent portion of your nappy should feel damp to the touch. If the nappy feels wet, don’t panic. It should. Disposables do not have this feature. Instead, disposables draw the wetness out of the nappy’s body.
2. Although the nappy may feel damp to the touch, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is complete. Parents worry that their nappy will leak after a short time, but this is often not true.
3. Two-part nappies will be more difficult to prevent leakage if the PUL wrap/cover is used. Before the nappy leaks, it will need to be thoroughly wet. Be aware of any fabric visible around the waist or legs.
What nappies are best for your newborn baby?
There are many to choose from, but these are our favorites.
1. The Bombacio-fitted nappies fit perfectly from 7 to 8 lbs and will last until the child is potty trained. They are so easy to use that we tested them on our 7-year-old daughter and her (2 years) younger sister. Fitted nappies are made of cotton and fully lined with stay-dry (polyester fabric) fabric so that the wet cloth doesn’t touch your baby’s skin. If the baby is still tiny, you can use the fitted nappie without the booster. The poppers at the top of the nappy will reduce the size. Bombacio nappies can save you money by not having to purchase two sizes. This can be a problem when using reusable nappies at birth.
2. Flat nappies and Muslins are great options for newborn reusable nappies. Muslins can be described as significant, thin Muslin sheets. We recommend Muslinz brand muslins because they are thicker and more durable than standard high-street muslins. Terry nappies are another option. For newborn babies, we recommend using 50cm squares. 60cm squares can be chunky. On our YouTube channel, you can find a great video about folding Muslin nappies for newborn babies. To fold a 50cm terry square, skip the first step, which involves folding the corners of the muslin into its center. This will create a smaller square. Flat nappies or muslins are great for newborns. They are inexpensive, wash quickly, and can be used as boosters, burp cloths, or nappy boosters.
3. Although cloth nappies are something that many families desire to use as soon as possible, it can sometimes be difficult for some families. The first few weeks of a newborn baby’s life can be challenging. There is also a lot to heal and care for a baby who needs to be fed, changed, and cleaned frequently. If cloth nappies seem too much, you can switch to disposable nappies after a few weeks. Or, you could use a mixture of disposable and reusable nappies until the fog is cleared up. If you’re reading this in the middle of the fogy, cloudy days of parenting a newborn, I promise it will soon clear.
Which wraps work best with Newborn Reusable Cloth Nappies
There are many choices when selecting fitting covers for your newborn nappies. This is a good thing.
You can start by looking at newborn-sized wraps. Wraps in newborn sizes will cover your muslins. However, if you prefer Bombacio fitted nappies and 50cm terry pieces, skip the newborn wraps and opt for Size 1 wraps. These wraps are slightly longer and have a more significant cut. You can also go directly to the size we call “birth to potty” (bhp). BTP wraps work as well as any other size, but they are too baggy at times and look funny. They will last much longer than a newborn wrap or a size 1. We have found that wraps for newborns last about 6 to 8 months. Wraps for size 1 last up to 6 or 8 months. However, many reports wrap from birth to potty until the baby turns 2.
How often should your baby’s diaper be changed?
Many people believe that newborn babies should be changed ten times per day. This was 50% accurate, according to our research. Many newborn babies have frequent pooping and require many changes during the day. Some babies, like our oldest, do not need to poo so much. We recommend incorporating nappy changes into your regular cycle, such as feed – nap – nap. It doesn’t matter how you do it, aim to change every 2-3 hours and immediately if the baby has had a pee.
