Cloth nappies are fun, fashionable, and easy to use. There is a wide range of styles available for every family member. Cloth nappies are so much more sophisticated than cloth nappies used by our grandparents and parents. Making the switch to cloth nappies could save families thousands of dollars for each baby.
Many people find it overwhelming. It can be overwhelming to consider all the options and it can be difficult to understand the language. How do you begin? Where do you begin? What should you buy?
These are my top 10 tips and tricks (with discount codes) that will help you with your cloth nappy journey.
LEARN THE BASICS
A nappy generally consists of two parts: the absorbent part that captures the mimi, and the waterproof portion that keeps it contained. The style of the nappie is determined by how these two parts fit together.
There are three sizes of nappies. There are three sizes: One size, Extra large, and Newborn. Extra Large and Newborn are used for napping. The bulk of your collection will consist of one size, which generally fits between 3 and 3 years old (give or take).
Velcro or domes can fasten nappies. Velcro is quicker to apply, but it catches all the fluff and requires cleaning. While a messier job, a dome is generally easier to put up.
A glossary of terms is included at the end of the post to help you get familiar with the terminology. Remember that no matter what brand or style, this is how your cloth and nappies.
It’s on, they crap. You take it off, and then you wash it.
There are so many options for cool colors and patterns. Ziggy is my favorite. I love to take a seat in the sun and stuff my clothes.
SHOP SMARTER
Parents want to have everything ready and waiting for the baby’s arrival. But the problem is that you don’t know which nappy will work best for your baby or what size you’ll be having. If your baby is 9lb and has delicious thighs, it’s not worth buying lots of small nappies.
The baby can go without newborn nappies within a few weeks depending on their needs. OSFMs usually last for at least 2 years. They are the best place to make an investment. You might start by hiring a baby-care kit so you can get an idea of the type and brand of nappies you like. Then, invest in the nappies that your baby will use the most.
Tip: If you like the look of them, you will be more inclined to grab them and use them.
SHOP AROUND
It is common to believe that cloth nappies today are costly. However, there are many brands and prices available.
Get discounts Receive discounts of up to 10% by signing up for mailing lists, VIP groups, and support groups and using the code OFFICIALLY with Bear & Moo and Tuti, Fluffy ducks, Chirpy Cheeks, and Tuti.
Take a look at the second-hand shops. Many people donate their nappies to second-hand shops, who don’t know the true value of the item, and then sell it cheaply. A good brand of diapers with inserts was $4 at my Salvation Army shop. Before you buy, make sure to inspect the waterproof lining for any tears.
Second-hand nappies can be found on Trademe or in local buy-sell groups.
Tip: Give second-hand nappies a thorough clean.
It’s easy to do: Fill a tub with hot water, add Persil, and a few shakes of nappies. Add nappies to the bath, and let it cool down. Use a small amount of detergent (no detergent) to wash the clothes. Hang to dry.
ABSORBENCY IS EVERYTHING
A highly absorbent nappie can differentiate between cloth diapers and disposables as your baby grows. Parents often have problems around the age of 10 months when their baby’s bladder starts to leak. This is especially true if they bought nappies with only one microfiber insert.
Sometimes you can buy new nappies and upgrade the insert at the time you purchase it. It’s easy to upgrade or add a second insert to your existing nappies.
Bamboo and hemp fibers have high absorbency. You can combine them with microfiber to get the best of both.
Compare brands and prices by carefully examining the inserts offered by each brand. Sometimes, more expensive nappies offer better absorbency. Many brands offer the option of purchasing extra inserts.
GET THAT FIT
People have often put off cloth nappies because of leakage. It doesn’t have to be an absorbency problem.
Remember to “scrunch” the napkin between your baby’s legs as you place it between their thighs. Make sure that the napkin is tucked into the crease of the thigh (as shown in the photo).
Use a prefold/cover system to ensure that all absorbency is contained within the waterproof cover.
Don’t make it too tight. If there is a gap at the front, it is fine.
Scrunch the nappy so it sits in the thigh crease.
Make sure it’s fitting well around the legs. Adjust the domes on the front to make the nappy smaller.
WE HAVE WASHING MACHINES FOR 2019
Nappies can be easily incorporated into your regular washing routine. It’s best to keep it simple. No soaking or buckets. Babies are messy, and you’re going to be very familiar with your washer. Cloth nappies won’t make a difference to how much laundry you do.
This is how it works. This is a bit of a backward approach. Most families place the dirty nappies into a dry container. However, our laundry is too small to fit in two baskets.
It is important to have a full load. This ensures that everything gets great agitation, and it also gives the laundry a thorough clean. To get the best agitation, wash small items and not towels.
Use a high laundry power. This is the dirtiest laundry you will wash.
You can find great advice from many places about how to keep your nappies clean.
THINK OF THE SAVERS (& THE PLANET)
In the first two and a half years, you’ll change on average 6000 nappies. This is quite a lot of nappies. Disposable nappies can cost anywhere. from 40c to.80c per nappy depending on which brand. You will spend $2400- $4800 on disposable nappies over 2.5 years.
You can set up a full-time stash with brand-new nappies for as low as $400.
Let’s not forget about the environmental impact. Every day, approximately 1 million nappies are sent to landfill in New Zealand. Because our landfills are highly engineered, the nappies that we throw away today will last for generations to come. The better the planet is left in, the more we clothe.