Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your bundle of joy. Be ready to use cloth diapers for your baby from birth. While expecting, I wanted to learn everything I could before meeting my precious baby. So, grab a cup and read on to learn about cloth diapering your newborn. You will find a list at the end of this article with all you may need to set up your material diapering system.
Set a budget
Everyone’s situation is different, but it doesn’t make them better or worse. The cloth diaper handbook (I wish I had one when I first started) does not state that you must have all the nappies immediately. Budget your money and decide how much you want to spend on the investment. It is an investment. You’re investing in diapers for your baby and any future babies. Indeed, newborns aren’t newborns very long. There’s no point in buying 100 newborn nappies if they’ll outgrow them after a few short weeks. It would help if you had both newborn and potty-to-potty nappies on hand.
You can buy in bulk or spread the cost over a few weeks or months. Buying in bulk near Real Nappy Week in April or Black Friday in November can be advantageous. You can also buy one napkin a week or every month until D-Day to slowly build your stock. You can also keep your costs down by purchasing pre-loved diapers from Facebook groups or online sale sites. Search for abbreviations like EUC (Excellent used condition) or VGUC(Very Good Used Conditions). You will find that most people are upfront and honest. They will let you know if the nappies have any stains.
No pressure:
This is what I tell every new parent. Do not force yourself to start using cloth immediately if you do not feel ready. You must rest, stay hydrated and learn about your baby and new family dynamics. You can stay in bed as long as you like. You can smell your baby’s head and count its fingers and toes 100 times. Look for any cute birthmarks. Cradle the soft, lumpy bum. Be amazed at how your baby ended up in your arms. Cry. You can cry out with joy or sadness when the situation calls for it. When I was pregnant with my first child, my mother told me to ride the emotions as they came and let them all out. It came in waves. I cried over and over again at everything. It was sometimes because I loved my baby too much and other times not enough. It lasted a few moments or longer. You don’t need to bottle it up. It needs to be let out. The washing of cloth diapers can wait until your body is healed. You can use disposables as long as you need them.
Which Newborn Nappys?
Muslins are the best option for newborn babies. They also work well with a waterproof wrap. You are correct if you think of muslins in the form of burp cloths. I’m talking about a quality that is not the same as what you’d expect from a package of muslins at Penney’s, but it’s certainly similar. The brand that I used was MuslinZ. These are usually cotton or organic cotton squares. You fold them into a napkin shape, secure them with a safety pin or nappy fastener and then cover them with a waterproof wrap. YouTube has a variety of videos that teach you how to fold nappy squares. With a bit of practice, it’s easy to learn. It was fun to practice different folds before my baby’s arrival. I also included my older son so he felt involved and helpful.
The days of accidentally stabbing your child with a safety pin are over. Hello Nappi Nippas! These fantastic inventions grip the fabric to hold the nappy and ensure a perfect fit. Top tip for waterproof wraps – choose a wrap with a dip at the front so the umbilical cord can dry.
You want to buy only a few newborn nappies as your baby will quickly grow out of them. This soft bamboo or fitted cotton nappies work well for nighttime changes when you’re too tired to fold muslins.
Nappy Rash
The skin of a newborn is delicate, and it may be susceptible to nappy rash at first, whether you use disposable nappies. The nappy rash occurs when wee or poo is too long on the baby’s skin. To avoid nappy rash, change your baby as often as possible after they’ve pooped. As their skin gets used to being urinated on and pooped upon, I think most babies will initially experience some nappy rash. My second child was born, and we immediately put him into cloth after we returned home. He developed a rash on his groin with white spots. The side where his willy pointed and was weeing. The doctor told me it was a fungus infection and I should apply a little Canesten cream. It didn’t help. I tried coconut oil and more creams, but nothing worked. I wanted to put him in a disposable eco-friendly nappy, but nothing worked. I was obsessed with finding a natural way to cure it. I found a blog that suggested using apple cider vinegar to cure eczema. I decided to give it a try. I can’t remember the link, but it said to add 1/2 cup ACV to a baby’s bath or use one tablespoon of ACV with 1 cup of water as a wipes mixture when changing a nappy. I used the wipes mixture at each change and bathed him in the ACV solution every other day. I did not use any creams or oils and let him dry independently. I was surprised at how much the redness reduced after just one bath. Within minutes, he went from being raw red to a soft rose. After a week, he had completely healed and never got a nappy rash again.
