For advice on which real nappy is best for you try our "nappy types - pros and cons" page!

If you would like to see the cloth nappies for yourself before you buy, and you live in the Merseyside or North Wales area please contact me to arrange a home visit.

FAQs

Q. What type of cloth nappy will suit my baby?

It's what suits both you and your baby.

A pocket nappy is nappy that you stuff with inserts into the pocket to absorb the liquid. You don't normally need a wrap, and the pocket is often made from fleece, so will keep the baby feeling dry. Once stuffed the nappies are ready to go. Advantages are that you can put additional stuffing in the pocket for heavy wetters or night use.

All-in-one nappies are the easiest as they are just ready to use - no stuffing or snapping in the inserts. The downside with these nappies is that they normally take longer to dry.

Snap-in nappies are similar to all-in-ones but the inserts are attached with poppers (instead of being sewn in) so can be removed for faster drying.

Two-part systems have a nappy (normally bamboo or cotton) with a waterproof wrap. They are known for being excellent at containing mess without leaking and they are very good for overnight use, but they are more fiddly as there are 2 parts to put on the baby. They will also be damp next to the baby's skin when wet, unless a fleece liner is used in addition.

See our "nappy types" link on the left-hand side for more information on which brand to choose.

Q. How many nappies do I need?

A newborn will need about 20 nappies (washing every couple of days) and an older baby will only need about 15.

Q. How do I wash the nappies?

Give the nappies a few rinses before use (bamboo will need about 10 rinses/washes before reaching maximum absorbancy).

Store soiled nappies in a bucket with a lid (no soaking required). If you wish you can do a cold rinse at the start of the wash to help reduce staining, but many people find that this is not necessary. Wash with a very small amount of powder.

Do not use any softener as this will spoil the absorbancy of the nappies and cause them to leak. 40 degrees is sufficient to clean the nappies well. Please also check the manufacturers guidelines.

Line drying normally gets rid of any stains that remain (or leave them to dry by a sunny window)

Q. Do I have to use liners?

No. Soiled nappies from young babies can go straight into the bucket (and then into the machine) without any need to remove the poo. It will wash out easily in the machine and any stains will come out of the nappies if they are line-dried or near to a window whilst drying.

Once weaned and poos are firmer you can either drop it into the toilet or rinse/wipe some of it off before washing. Liners obviously make this task a bit easier but they don't always contain the whole mess anyway!

Q. What else will I need?

A nappy bucket, 2 mesh bags (these are optional but make it very easy to transfer the nappies into the washing machine without touching them), liners (also optional), a wetbag (for out-and-about) and washable wipes if you want to go all the way!