Thank you for choosing washable nappies! Here are some tips on how to get the best use out of your nappies.
How often to change and how to prevent leaks
During the day, nappies should be changed every 2 to 4 hours, depending on your baby’s age and on the absorbency of the nappy material, but always straight after a poo. Generally, younger babies may need changing every 2 hours (with a fully liquid diet) and will increase to 4 hours nearing toilet age. The whole nappy should feel wet when it is changed but if it feels soaking wet then consider changing a little more frequently or adding extra absorbency like a booster pad. Always ensure that the nappy is completely tucked into the waterproof outer wrap to prevent leaks. When putting the wrap on, feel around the top of the legs to make sure it covers the nappy and is as snug as possible, otherwise the wet will soak out onto clothes. Some reusable nappies are sized and fit a certain weight range, and some have rise poppers on the front that are used to adjust the size to fit snugly to prevent leaks.
The outer wrap can usually be used all day but will need changing if it has come into contact with any poo from the nappy or if it feels very wet from contact with the nappy.
At night, try out your nappy for absorbency – it may need extra padding - and then your baby can stay in the same nappy for 12 hours or more (unless they poo). Babies do not tend to poo in their sleep, only when they wake, so if they go to bed with full bowels, they will fill their nappy shortly after waking.
Cream is not necessary during every change, but use it if the nappy area is red. Tea tree or lavender cream, or a combination of the two, is a good natural remedy. Change more frequently if your baby has nappy rash and cream during every change.
If you need further help with fitting or troubleshooting leaks, your local reusable nappy retailer can give you advice, or you can find fit guides and guidance online.
Night nappies
These need to be absorbent and waterproof to go through 12 hours plus without leaking. Some materials (such as hemp or bamboo) may be absorbent enough to last 12 hours without extra padding. Other nappies may need extra padding, pad them up as much as necessary. Suggestions for padding are:
- pre-fold nappy
- terry nappy folded between legs
- a couple of flannels
- booster pads, etc (booster pads can be bought from local nappy advisors or an online nappy supplier)
Improvise with anything absorbent! Place extra padding at the front for boys, but in the middle for girls. It may be worth considering having a specific type of nappy for night time use and another type for the day time. Make sure the wrap still goes over the whole night nappy.
Nappy rash
Nappy rash has nothing to do with wetness. Most babies are not bothered by a wet nappy at all, although some find it itchy when teething. Nappy rash arises when stale urine comes into contact with the bacteria in poo, producing ammonia. Research shows that the type of nappy used is irrelevant as a cause of nappy rash. A child using reusable nappies may be less likely to have nappy rash, simply because parents may be more aware of proper cleaning of the whole nappy area.
Important things to note are:
- always change a nappy straight after a poo
- always clean the whole area, not just the genitals
- some children will simply be more susceptible to nappy rash than others
- diet also affects it, so consider keeping a food diary if your child gets regular nappy rash
- teething is also a prime cause of nappy rash, even for children not otherwise susceptible
- try using fleece liners to keep your baby’s bottom dry if they have a rash, to prevent it from worsening
- change nappies more frequently if they have a rash
Washing and drying nappies
Always read the garment care label for your particular nappy and cover. Any velcro tabs should be folded over to prevent snagging. Detergent needs to be a full dose adjusted for machine load size and water hardness (Dorset is a hard water area) and you can use non-biological or biological detergent. Some non-bio powders are gentler than others. It’s advisable to wash at 60° for under 6 months old regardless, or if your preference is to use non-bio powder. If you wish to reduce to 40°, bio powder is advisable. If eco powder is preferred, be aware of those containing a high soap content as they may not be suitable for use with cloth nappies, it can leave a residue and cause build up on the fibres.
New nappies should be washed a couple of times before use as this improves absorbency. Do not use fabric conditioner as this reduces absorbency.
If dried outdoors, nappies benefit from the natural bleaching effect of the sun. However, if this is not possible, some nappies can be tumble dried (check washing label as this is not suitable for all types of nappy) or aired indoors (ensure room is well ventilated). Nappies containing polyurethane laminate (PUL) (pocket shells, wraps or all-in-ones) should not be tumble dried or put directly on a radiator.
Tumble drying helps to keep nappies nice and soft, but it is less ecologically friendly than natural drying and is an added expense. Tumble drying is also likely to reduce the life of your nappies as it may perish any elastic content in the nappy or can pick out bits of fluff in each nappy and so over time reduce the amount that each nappy can absorb. If you need to tumble dry, use a low heat setting if possible. Bamboo especially is susceptible to heat damage.
Heated airers may be used as they have a lower temperature/contact area, and if you need to dry on a radiator, you can put a tea towel/hand towel or similar over the top and place the nappy on, so it is not directly in contact. If nappies are dried on radiators, they will tend to become a little hard, although they can be shaken out to reduce this.
In hard water areas, nappies may gradually become hard because of the detergents and limescale that can build up. It helps to run an 80° hot wash (no laundry or washing powder, just a cup of white vinegar in the washing machine drawer dispenser) on your machine occasionally, to keep it clean.
Sanitising nappies
There are a few options for storing dirty nappies between washing. Store them dry in either a lidded bucket, a traditional laundry basket with holes providing air flow around the nappies, or a zipped wet bag. A lidded bucket must be washed or wiped between uses, as should a laundry basket. A wet bag can be emptied into the washing machine and then added into the nappy wash for cleaning. Wet bags are also very handy for taking out and about in your change bag and come in various sizes depending on what you need.
It’s not advisable to use anything like tea tree, vinegar or bicarbonate of soda as these can invalidate manufacturer warranties. Stains can be sprayed with a specialist stain remover (sodium percarbonate or active oxygen bleach), if necessary, before putting in the nappy bucket, but stain remover is often contained in modern detergents. Staining will be worse with breast-fed babies pre-weaning but will gradually disappear. Rinsing through a dirty nappy before placing it in the nappy bucket will stop the nappy bucket smelling.
Paper or fleece liners
Paper liners are used to catch solids, rather than providing a stay-dry layer. It may be worth waiting until your baby is a few months old before starting to use them because as your baby gets older and the poo becomes more solid there is more for the liner to catch! Flushable biodegradable paper liners are available, but it is still better to dispose of them with the rubbish to maintain healthy drains.
For a good stay-dry layer, or while your baby’s poo is still runny, use a fleece liner. As poo becomes more solid you will find it drops off into the toilet easily before the liner is washed with the nappies.
Paper and fleece liners are available from local nappy advisors or online nappy suppliers, and some large supermarkets sometimes have paper liners in the baby aisle.
Baby clothes fitting washable nappies
Some baby clothes are now cut for the slimness of disposables. There are also ranges of baby clothes which cater specifically for wearing over washable nappies, but these do tend to be more expensive than the usual high street or supermarket brands of clothing. As washable nappies can be bulkier it helps to look for more generously sized clothes – some high street brands seem to be more generous than others - or buy clothes that do up between the legs at least one size larger. It is also possible to buy vest extenders from online nappy suppliers (which popper on to the bottom of baby’s vests and extend the length).
Using washable nappies when you are out and about
It is possible to use washable nappies all the time, wherever you are, although you may prefer to use disposable nappies for occasional use such as on holidays. When out with your baby make sure that in your baby changing bag there is a waterproof bag to carry home your used nappies in. This could be a waterproof bag like those used for wet swimwear or a specific waterproof and washable drawstring wet nappy bag (available from local nappy advisors or online nappy suppliers).
Nurseries and child minders should be happy to use your washable nappies on your baby. When you first register an interest with them explain that you would prefer to use washable nappies, offer to show them how to change your baby’s nappy (they may be picturing folding terry nappies and using pins without realising how easy they are to use now) and pack enough spare nappies when you take in your baby as well as a waterproof bag to bring the used nappies home in.