How to Wash Cloth Nappies (Cloth Diapers)

How to Wash Cloth Nappies

Babies' nappies require careful laundering, but there are various ways of reducing the amount of washing. You can use a nappy-washing service, if there is one available in your area or you can buy disposable nappies which are used by themselves or with ordinary ones.

The actual washing becomes easier if you have a washing machine of the type which will heat the water and boil when necessary. It should have a capacity of about 6 lb dry weight, or be able to wash smaller loads than its maximum capacity.

If you have to wash by hand, wear rubber gloves so that the water can be really hot. The washing process should be started as soon as the nappies are removed. Put the wet ones to soak in a covered bucket of cold water to which has been added the correct proportion of antiseptic (see the manufacturer's instructions for exact amount). This reduces the need for boiling each time and helps the subsequent washing.

Flush soiled nappies in the lavatory pan, holding on to the ends before soaking them separately.

You need only boil nappies from time to time to keep them white (unless your baby suffers with nappy rash, when they should be boiled every time). Start by dissolving soap flakes or detergent thoroughly in warm water; add the nappies, bring to the boil and boil for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse in cold water.

When possible, dry nappies in the open air, as this help to keep them soft and sweet. If you have little room for drying, a spin-dryer will reduce the drying time. A tumble dryer will dry articles completely (the nappies must be wrung out or spundried first) and the tumbling process will soften the nappies. There are also inexpensive heated dryers, both cabinets and foldaway models, but these are not automatic, so the nappies will need turning and shaking to ensure even drying and softness.

Keep the nappies in a warm place after laundering, so that they are always aired and ready for use.

Real Nappies Cloth Diapers

Real nappies are best described as washable or reusable nappies. These nappies are usually made of cloth with some type of waterproof outer. Real nappies originate from the terry nappy which was the main nappy used by parents up to the mid seventies or early eighties.

Modern washable nappies are fantastic. There are many brands on the market, which are very contemporary, easy to use and perform well. I feel that shaped nappies perform consistently to a high standard. These can come in two parts as a nappy and wrap or as an all in one nappy. To begin with there is no need to fold these nappies they are shaped ready to put on. Forget those sharp safety pins modern real nappies are fastened by poppers, applix (strong Velcro) or by the 'nappy nippa' ( 'T' shaped plastic which grips the nappy and fits to baby exactly).

There is no need to soak nappies nowadays as washing machines are so efficient. Dry paling is best just throw your nappies into a well-sealed bucket until ready to wash. As for washing you only talking about 2-3 extra loads a week with a set of 20 nappies. One disposable user who tested real nappies said 'it is not harder just different'.

There are so many positives to using reusable nappies. To begin with they are cheaper you can save lot of money compared to disposables when using a lot of real nappies, savings are even greater if the nappies are used on a second or third child as I have discovered. They are easy to use just put on a wash when you run low. No rushing out to the shops due to running out of nappies and no lugging large boxes of nappies out of the supermarket. Real nappies are very soft and gentle next to babies’ skin.

They are so cute coming all sorts of materials, designs and colours. These nappies look so good on the bottom of a crawling baby. So real nappies are good for mum and baby what more. One of the most important advantages is that real nappies slim down the rubbish in the bin. Disposable nappies take a lot longer than a lifetime to decompose in landfill sites. Just think of how many nappies one baby could use before they are potty trained and then how many babies there are in the world.

Negative attitudes to modern reusable nappies are often down to lack of knowledge or use of one of the poorer quality nappies on the market (unfortunately there are a few). We cannot blame parents before and after a baby is born is a very busy time. It is then hardly surprising that a lot of mums who go on to use washable nappies do so after their own research or recommendation.

Fitted Cloth Nappies

Fitted cloth nappies are one of the easiest ways to cloth diaper. No pocket stuffing. No folding. No lengthy dryer cycles (at least for the well-made ones!). They are usually also less expensive than all in ones diapers, but are much more convenient than prefolds. Fitteds do require a separate cover to hold moisture in.

A fitted is an absorbent nappy with snaps or hook and loop (like Velcro) fasteners. You don't need any pins and since it is already contoured and elasticized to fit a baby, there is usually no folding or adjusting needed to get a great fit on your baby. A few brands easily fold down in the front to adjust the sizing, but this is much easier than folding a flat or prefold to fit.

You can use them with wool, fleece or PUL covers. Fitted diapers make it easy to choose a cover. Almost any nappy cover will work with a fitted nappy as long as the cover is sized to fit over the diaper. Elastic at the leg helps hold in messes so the cover is less likely to need washing with every change. Since it fits snugly, you can use it under a wool cover with minimal need for washing the wool.

A good fitted cloth nappy offers a quick drying time. Some accomplish this with a fold out or snap in soaker, others with a quick-drying soaker material such as microfiber.

Whether you prefer snaps or hook and loop fasteners is entirely up to you. Snaps stay new-looking longer and they don't get stuck on anything else in the wash. Hook and loop is easier to fasten, especially for midnight nappy changes on a newborn.

There are hundreds of different brands of fitted cloth nappies on the market. Despite the wide variety available, most are made with these fabrics:

Microfiber - a popular absorbent fabric, used in a hidden soaker or inside a removable soaker. Microfiber is a very fast absorber, but shouldn't be used directly against the skin. Microfiber is fast-drying, but works most effectively for longer periods of time when paired with a natural fiber such as hemp.

Hemp - hemp is very absorbent and can be used to make the whole nappy or just used as the soaper material. Hemp is naturally anti-bacterial and up to 70% more absorbent than cotton. It is very durable, but not very soft. Most nappy-makers use a hemp cotton blend.

Cotton - Cotton is an old standby when it comes to diapering. It is soft, fairly absorbent, and can be in many ways. Cotton prints on the outside adds interest. Cotton knits hold up better than cotton wovens.

Bamboo - bamboo is a very soft material that is also environmentally friendly. You'll find bamboo used in many ways too. It is natually antibacterial, easy on the planet to grow, and is 60% more absorbent than cotton.

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Modern Cloth Nappies

Modern cloth nappies do what they say on the tin - they are nappies just like any other baby's underwear which are designed to catch babies waste and generally make life easier for parents and keep the children comfortable. At the same time though they also have several benefits and in many ways are a more practical choice than disposable nappies which many people use. Here we will look at why this is the case and how you can benefit from modern cloth nappies.

First of all the first obvious advantage of modern cloth nappies is that they are cost effective. This is because modern cloth nappies do not require to be thrown away after you've used them and that means that you don't have to keep buying new ones. This is highly useful as raising a child is expensive enough without constantly having to replace their underwear with large boxes every few days or weeks. The nappies will cost just slightly more up-front because you will be getting cloth rather than something you would throw away, but this then means that you save more money in the long run making them a smart investment.

Modern cloth nappies then also help from a practical point of view as it means that you have one less thing to worry about - you wash your children's nappies from time to time and you don't have to worry about heading out to purchase more when they run out. This again is very useful as there is already an awful lot to worry about and remember when raising children and running out of nappies is a very serious situation to get into.

At the same time modern cloth nappies are made from a nice cloth material and by using fabric softeners you can ensure that these are soft against your baby's skin and by using detergent you can ensure that they are pleasant smelling. This makes them far more comfortable for a young baby than scratchy and crimpling nappies that are just going to get thrown away so you can make your child happier which is good news for both them and you as it means they won't constantly be crying. The nappies are perfectly hygienic if you take the time to wash them properly and because they are just made from cloth this means there are no unnatural scents that would potentially aggravate your child's highly sensitive skin.

This also means that once you change over to regular underwear for your children that the transition will seem less harsh and sudden and your children will likely benefit from this smoother change.

Finally using cloth nappies means that you are saving the environment by reducing less waste and thereby reducing your carbon footprint. Throwing out old nappies is a waste of materials and these materials come from trees and other important natural resources, so by re-using your own cloth nappies you are recycling within your own home and not drawing on any natural resources.