Real nappies, real choice, real simple!

Choices, choices, choices!
It has been said that the hardest thing about using real nappies is choosing which ones you like best! Unlike with disposable nappies, there's a vast range of real nappies to choose from, which is great because there are nappies to cover every budget, function, and taste possible. The downside of all this choice is that it can be a bit overwhelming when you come to choose what nappies will be right for you. Please don't let this choice put you off using real nappies - the bottom line is that most well known and tried nappies do what they are meant to do, so don't worry too much about their finer points! Having said that, it can be fun to find out about the variety of real nappies available, trying different types and picking your favourites. The range of designs and clever features you will find reflects the passion and ingenuity of real nappy designers, usually parents themselves who have been bitten by the cloth nappy 'bug'! If you look around you will find whole chat rooms and parenting forums dedicated to discussing cloth nappies - I have yet to see one about disposable nappies, which I think reflects how thoroughly rewarding it can be to use cloth nappies.

All the nappies we stock are very user-friendly, as we believe that the easier it is to use the nappies, the more likely people are to get on with them and stick with them.

What type of nappy should I go for?
There are basically three groups of real nappies available: two part systems, all-in-ones and pocket nappies (a cross between two part systems and all-in-ones).

Each type of real nappy has different pros and cons, which are discussed below, and many people find that having a few different types works best so that they can choose which suits the occasion best at the time. Other choices you will come across are one-size and multi-sized nappies and wraps, and velcro-type fastenings or poppers (click on the links to read more about choosing one-size or multi-sized nappies or your nappy fastenings). One-sized real nappies are adjustable so that you can adapt the nappy to fit from birth to potty training. With multi-sized nappies you will need to buy several sizes (usually two, sometimes three or rarely four, depending on your babys' size at birth, build, growth and when he or she potty trains) from birth to potty. Most babies potty train in the day earlier than at night and can be in night nappies for a long time after they are dry during the day. You may well need to buy a set of XL nappies for this stage, but you will not need many (maybe 3 nappies and 1-2 wraps).

You might want to consider a number of factors when choosing which real nappy system will suit you best. In no particular order they are:

1. Your preferences and habits
This may seem a little obvious or even irrelevant, but in our experience it is important to choose a nappy system that you will find rewarding to use. Consider your own personality and habits - what are you most likely to get on with and stick with? Different people find different aspects of their cloth nappies rewarding - Will you enjoy knowing that your whole real nappy kit cost you under £300 or will you revel in your nappies being the newest, coolest thing around? Will you love being able to use the same set of nappies for your baby from birth to potty, or will you marvel at the neater fit of multi-sized? Will bold or bright colours or cute prints make you go gooey or will it be white and fluffy? Is quick and convenient going to be what keeps you going after a broken nights' sleep or will you enjoy learning a bit of origami and folding nappies "just so" for your baby? Does the simplicity of having one type of nappy in your nappy kit appeal to you or will you enjoy choosing from a selection of different nappies to suit each particular occasion?

All too often we hear from people who have bought the cheapest birth to potty kit available on the high street and stopped using their cloth nappies because of leaks and poor fit. Whilst these systems undoubtedly suit some families, they don't suit all. If in doubt try a few types of nappies before you commit to buying. In our experience choosing a real nappy system that you will find rewarding to use for whatever reason is one of the most important factors in terms of sticking with them.

2. Cost
No matter how extravagant you are with the real nappies you choose, you will almost certainly spend less than you would on disposable nappies (unless of course you become 'addicted' to cloth nappies: you know who you are and you are not alone!). However the money you spend on real nappies will be more noticeable as you tend to spend in 'chunks' rather than the £8 or so lost in your weekly shopping with buying disposable nappies.

*These figures are based on 6 - 7 nappy changes per day (the recommended minimum number of changes for babies over a few months old) and on economical 'own brand' nappies (approx. 10p each) to more expensive 'branded' nappies (approx. 16p each).

You can spend anything from £70 (for flat nappies and plastic covers) to several hundreds of pounds on real nappies. We have calculated the costs of a few of our popular nappying systems. The criteria and numbers of nappies we have based these calculations on are shown below to give you an idea of their costs.

The real nappies we have chosen, whether one-sized or multi-sized are designed to fit up to approximately 35lb (15.9kg, the majority of children reach this weight between the ages of 2.5 and 5 years; many children tend to become potty trained during the day between 2 and 3 years of age). The figures (unless otherwise stated) are based on 7 nappy changes per day and on washing every 2 - 3 days, costing for 21 nappies, 14 for the first two days and 7 to use during the day that you wash and dry the first 14 and so on. This would be a comfortable number of real nappies to be washing every 2 - 3 days and you may need less. If you wash more often or if you intend to mostly tumble-dry your nappies you will obviously be able to manage with fewer nappies. Many people manage fine with 18.

These costings are at our prices and do not include the cost of washing such as the extra wear and tear on your machine, washing powder, electricity, nappy sanitiser (if you use it) or accessories etc. However, they also do not account for using your real nappies for more than one child, which would obviously save much more money.

One-sized, shaped, two-part systems
The cheapest real nappies we stock are the one-size nappies that fit from birth into toddler-hood and beyond. You can choose from shaped two-piece systems such as the Motherease One Size or Multifit or the Tots Bots (the Size 2 with Nippa fastening) or Bumble, used as one-size nappies, with wraps.

Using paper liners rather than fleece liners will add approximately £12.60 over 2.5 years (or less if you wash and reuse them).

One-sized pocket nappy system
The one-size pocket nappy sytem, the Wonderooor Mommy's Touch, is another economical choice. Although these nappies are sometimes perceived to be expensive, you will see from the calculations below that they are actually a very economical option.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that with one-size nappies some babies will require a larger size of real nappy towards the end of their nappy-hood, as some do grow out of them before they are at the potty training stage, especially if they are stocky or potty train later. This would incurr further cost at this stage. But, for the sake of comparison of real nappies with disposable nappies, you would of course incur further costs than those quoted above if using disposabe nappies beyond the age of 2.5 years. For more discussion of the pros and cons of one-sized real nappies click on the link.

Multi-sized, shaped, two-part systems
If you go for multi-sized, shaped, two-part nappies you will pay more.

For multi-sized, pocket nappy systems:

Of course a huge factor in calculating the true costs of real nappies is that you can use them on a second or third baby (maybe a fourth - we have some still working well after four babies) which brings the cost down to a tiny fraction of what you would spend on disposable nappies. If you don't re-use your nappies on another baby you can sell them on - real nappies hold their value extremely well, with main brands fetching upward of half of their cost price second hand.

3. Time to dry

Shaped nappies and pocket nappy inserts
Most real nappies can be tumble dried, but it is cheaper and 'greener' to hang dry. Line drying is best because it is free, leaves nappies smelling fresh and the sun bleaches out any stains. However in the absence of sunshine (what, in the UK?!) you can hang-dry somewhere warm, preferably with good air movement, such as in front of a radiator, above your central heating boiler, etc. Some nappies dry quicker than others, but most will be dry within 24 hours. Whether you intend to tumble or hang dry your nappies two factors influence how long they take to dry: how much they can be 'unfolded' to reduce the layers and what fibres they are made from. As you'd expect, the more you can open a nappy out to dry it, the quicker it will dry. Hence single layer terry square nappies dry quickest, then prefolds, then shaped nappies. Some shaped nappies have a built-in flap that opens out during washing to speed up drying (e.g. Tots Bots). The main disadvantage of the all-in-one nappies is that the waterproof outer increases drying time and they take the longest to dry. Hemp, being very absorbent, tends to take longer than cotton to dry. Synthetic microfibre terry, which absorbs moisture between rather than into the fibre, dries the quickest.

Pocket nappies and wraps
Some wraps and pocket nappies can be tumble dried on a low heat setting but are best hang-dried, as this maintains their condition for longer. Wraps made entirely of synthetic fibres dry quickest, and those with a cotton layer take longer, though will still hang-dry dry in a few hours or overnight. Like wraps, pocket nappies are usually made entirely of synthetic, non-absorbent fibres and hang dry very quickly, in a few hours at most.

4. Ease to put on (for other carers or a wriggly baby)
Pocket nappies are probably the easiest to put on as there is only one piece to put on (even if a booster is required) and one set of fasteners to do up. All-in-ones are also very easy as they are one piece with just a paper or washable liner (to catch the solids), though they will need a booster sometimes, making things only slightly more fiddly. Shaped nappies come next, as, although there are two pieces and a liner to put on separately, the nappy is easily fastened around the baby and is held in place while the wrap is adjusted and fastened. Prefold and terry square systems are probably the trickiest to put on, requring folding and fixing in place (Nappi Nippas make this easier than pins), although with practice you can get very skilled at this (apparently!).

5. Bulkiness and absorbency
Real nappies are more bulky than dry disposable nappies, which contain special gel which expands when the baby wets to hold the urine. However, babies do not show any discomfort or distress at wearing more bulky nappies and there are no known health problems associated with this. As a rough rule, the more absorbent a real nappy is, the more bulky it is. However, two factors make a difference to this: what fibres the nappy or insert is made from and how the absorbency is distributed. Hemp fibre is more absorbent than the same weight of cotton, making for a slimmer fit. Micro-terry fibre is also highly absorbent whilst remaining very trim, lightweight and soft. With shaped nappies the absorbency is distributed all around the baby's nappy region, though is usually concentrated between the legs. With a pocket nappy the absorbency is usually just between the baby's legs and up the front and back. Shaped nappies therefore tend to give a slightly 'bigger bum' look all over, whilst pocket nappies may be a bit bulkier between the legs, depending on the inserts you use.

6. Versatility of absorbency
With real nappies you can vary the absorbency to suit your needs. With both shaped and pocket nappies you can use them unboosted and slim for playtimes and use boosters to increase their absorbency for other times such as night-time, long car journeys or for when the baby is older. You soon get to know how long your nappy will last for your baby.

7. Ease of care and washing
Many people worry about the extra work required to use real nappies, and are justifiably put off by the thought of getting too involved in the pooey ones! Real nappies do require a bit more effort than disposable nappies in our opinion. With a disposable nappy you wrap it up, put it in the bin, and then you never see it again (though you might get the odd reminder whiff from the bin as you walk past!). Of course your descendents in a few generations might see it too! With a real nappy you have to rinse the poo off and then put the nappies in the washing machine and dryer. This does involve getting slightly more acquainted with your darling offspring's waste products, although cleaning and wiping does this to some extent, whatever nappies you use. Also, it is amazing how quickly you get immune to all but their worst productions: as it gets worse as they get older you gradually aclimatise to it!

An interesting aside here is that it is actually illegal to put human waste products in the bin due to the risk of disease contamination of landfill sites. Disposable nappy manufacturers recommend that you scrape the solids off your nappies before you dispose of them in the bin.

In terms of the extra work, you will probably need to do an extra washing load every 2-3 days. This is honestly negligible when considered against all the other washing babies produce, especially as they begin to feed themselves and explore their world more independently!

Most real nappies are pretty easy to care for. There is no need to soak them, just let your washing machine do the work for you. With wet nappies simply separate the parts of the nappy and put into your dry bucket. With soiled nappies drop the loose solids off the nappy into the toilet (made easier if you use a flushable liner or a stretchy fleece liner), rinse the worst of the mess off (a bidet makes an excellent nappy sluice!), and put into your nappy bucket. On wash day put into the washing machine and do a rinse cycle first to remove most of the soiling. Then wash at 60ºC with 1/3 - 1/2 of your usual non-biological detergent. Occasionally an extra final rinse afterwards may help remove detergent build up. Pocket nappies may need slightly more care to prevent damage to their stay dry liner than shaped nappies, which can probably withstand slightly more abuse.

A final point on this is that using real nappies requires a little more organisation and planning than using disposables. Again, we are only talking about making sure you put the nappies in the washer every couple of days and hang them to dry so it's not beyond most people's organisational skills. And it you've got a couple of wraps and some old towels, t-shirts etc you'll never totally run out of nappies, so no need to pop out to the 24 hour supermarket at 3am for a pack of disposables!!!

To sum up, using real nappies is more effort than using disposable nappies but not much more. Using real nappies gives you a 'feel-good' buzz after each change too - ask any cloth nappy addict!

8. Containment (i.e. best for no leaks)
The fit of the nappy is crucial to containment, and this varies according to the nappy and wrap brand and the build of your child, so its impossible to say which particular nappy gives the best containment. However, shaped, two-part nappies are generally the best type of nappy for containment, as there are two sets of elasticated leg cuffs and waistbands to act as barriers to leaks. Choosing a well-fitting wrap is the most important and it is worth paying a little extra for quality. With all-in-ones and pocket nappies you are more dependent on good adjustability of the fit, so it is a good idea to try one before you buy many. With any type of nappy including disposable nappies there will be the occasional leak, and indeed many people change from disposable nappies to real nappies to give them more control over preventing leaks, particularly at night time.

9. Comfort for baby
This is one of the biggest considerations for many people, and the two factors mentioned most are bulkiness and wetness against the skin.. Unfortunately babies can't tell us what's comfortable so we have to guess at it.

Some real nappies are relatively bulky, especially on tiny babies. The one-size nappies and even the size 1 nappies can seem enormous on a newborn! However, there is no indication that this is distressing for babies. With most real nappies any excess bulk is at the front of the nappy and does not make it uncomfortable for the baby lying on its back. Baby has just come from nine months in a small close-fitting bag of fluid so if their nappy slightly restricts their leg movements I doubt they lose sleep over it. The main downside of bulky nappies is that your baby may not fit into tiny clothes for very long and if this is an issue for you I would receommend you go for one of the trimmer options such as the Bimble, Diddy Diaper or a pocket nappy with a trim insert. Although an extra expense, a set of first size nappies is likely to sell very well second hand, so you will be able to recoup some of this inital outlay to put towards your second size nappies.

With the wetness issue, provided the baby's nappy is change every 3-4 hours when wet, there is no reason for wetness to cause discomfort or harm. Baby's skin is used to being wet and fresh urine will not cause rash on healthy skin. However many people feel that babies will be more comfortable if their skin is kept dry and some babies do seem to cry when their nappy is wet. If you are one of these people you can use a nappy lined with a stay-dry layer or use a separate stay-dry liner. These are usually made of polyester fleece, like the fleece used for your jacket, a synthetic material which does not absorb moisture but allows it to pass through into the nappy. The fleece dries quickly, keeping a dry layer against the skin. Unlike cotton and other natural fibres fleece does not get 'hard' and chaff when it is wet, so maintains a soft layer against the skin too. Fleece is surprisingly effective at keeping the skin dry. To test this for yourself put a piece of fleece on top of a folded towel and slowly pour on half a cup of water onto the fleece. Leave it a few minutes and then press down onto the fleece and see how wet your hand becomes. Remove the fleece and press the towel and see how wet your hand becomes.

10. Cute factor
No matter how pragmatic a view you take of it, there's no getting away from it, real nappies do look really cute! There is something to suit every taste, from the cuddly, traditional look of fluffy white terry nappies, with Tots Bots, Motherease, or Easy Peasy, to the trim, colourful Fuzzi Bunz, Wonderoos, or Swaddlebees and the fun and eye-catching patterns of Nature Babies wraps and Stuffables. Obviously you wouldn't choose a nappy based on looks alone but...

Real Nappies, Real Choice, Real Simple! We try to persuade you to 'have a go' with real nappies and offer some tips on choosing your real nappies

Real Nappies, Real Choice, Real Simple!
We try to persuade you to 'have a go' with real nappies and offer some tips on choosing your real nappies