Cloth nappies

Advantages of Reusable Nappies

In the first two and a half years of life babies go through around 5000 nappies and so they represent one of the major costs to parents. There are a number of advantages to using reusable nappies. The first is that they are more environmentally friendly. In the UK between 3 and 5% of household waste consists of disposable nappies, they take about 500 years to fully breakdown in a landfill site and so by using disposable you will be making a significant contribution to reducing this amount. The second major advantage is that over the course of your babies “nappy wearing days” you will save a considerable amount of money by opting for reusables instead of disposables. The average nappy costs around 10-15 pence, your baby will start off by going through about 6 - 8 nappies a day (although this will decrease as they get older). The cost of nappies adds up to about ?800-850, a lot if you are on a budget. Depending on the type of reusable nappy you use you can expect to spend around?300-600 pounds LESS than your friends using disposables. There are other advantages to reusable nappies on top of the cost factor. Some women swear that their reusables are more “efficient” than disposables, with less leakage. If this is the case for you and your baby the fact that fewer of your babies clothes end up dirty after ten mintues of wear or forever stained is a certain advantage!. There is also the fact that cloth nappies are easier to monitor than disposables and if you have ever been through a day wondering if your baby has wet a disposable or if she is coming down with a cold (as you probably have?or will) you will understand that sometimes being able to tell easily can be a major advantage. Many modern reusables are pretty similar to disposables in their shape etc (for example they do up with Velcro) but these are the more expensive ones and so the savings in the long run would not be as high as of you used “traditional” nappies. There are various nappy washing services to help with washing and drying your nappies if you are lucky enough to have access to them.

Disadvantages to reusables

For all these advantages reusables are not for everybody. For a start they are bulkier to carry around, disposables are smaller (I am talking in numbers of one or two) and are easier to change and use when you are out of the house or on holiday. They are also quicker to change, for some people, who don?t really fancy spending along time on a nappy change this is a real advantage. They require more preparation and some parents find them a lot more work than disposables (although others take it in their stride). They need washing and drying which if you don?t have access to facilities to do this can be a real pain. Reusable nappies need more “learning”, anyone can use a disposable nappy (I hope) but if you hand your baby and a reusable over to Aunt Jane chances are you will need to give a nappy changing lesson.

Choosing your reusable nappies.

If you opt for reusable nappies the next step is to choose the type that will best suit you. Terry towelling nappies are the traditional type of nappy. They provide the cheapest nappy choice costing from around £2 per nappy. You will also need a waterproof cover. They are slightly more work than the more expensive reusables but if you have time and need to make a big saving they are the best option. Shaped nappies are more like disposables in the way they look. They are slightly more expensive than the simple terry towelling but are a little easier to use and are less bulky for your baby. The most expensive nappies are the all in ones they are shaped and have built in waterproof covers. They are the most user friendly but give less saving.

Nappy Laundering Services

These laundering services are becoming more widely available as the number of people choosing cloth nappies increases. The basic idea of these services is to save you the hassle of washing and drying nappies (especially if you don’t have access to a dryer!) The company provides you with a weeks worth of nappies which once used you store in a sealed bin. This is then collected weekly and replaced with fresh nappies. Most companies only provide you with one type of nappy, limiting your choice, and possibly providing you with a nappy that doesn’t suit your needs. Using this service also means that any possible saving you made by using cloth nappies disappears.

What is right for you?

It is impossible for any new parent to chose a nappy (whether cloth or disposable) and be completely confident in their choice. Before my daughter was born I spent hours thinking about this one issue, only to find after she was born that it was the least of my worries!. If you are (like me) cut off from any washing services and are (again like me) dryer-less it probably seems a little daunting to think about washing and drying all of these nappies, no matter how much you can save or how good for the environment it would be. Other mothers find that the thought of using them when they are out is less than appealing. In the end it is rarely a choice between ALL disposables or ALL reusables. Some parents use reusable around the house and disposable when they are out or whatever combination solves their particular concern.