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1. Which factor is most important to you when choosing your nappies:
· Environmental impact?
The most recent Environment Agency Report (18/10/08) states that parents using washable nappies can reduce their environmental impact by 40% over disposable nappies by adopting a sensible washing routine (washing full loads, no higher than 60 degrees and not tumble drying). Using your set of nappies on a second baby (or passing them on) also contributes to reducing your nappy impact on the environment. Taking this into consideration, nappies that dry quickly so that you are not temped to use or get a tumble dryer will help you to be kind to the environment. Quick drying nappies include Pocket Nappies of all kinds and 2-part microfibre nappies such as the Bambinex Teddy, Little Lamb Microfibre, Tots Bots Flexi Tot.
The Report did not stretch to looking at the fabrics used in modern nappies and presumed that all cloth nappies were cotton. Obviously this has a large bearing on your environmental impact. Look for Organic cotton or Bamboo nappies. Organic cotton is cultivated without the use of pesticides. Bamboo is a highly eco-friendly material which grows naturally without the need for chemical pesticides or fertilisers. It has a very short growth cycle, is easily cultivated and is totally bio-degradable. Tots Bots Organic Cotton, Bambinex Bamboo nappies, Tots Bots Bamboozles, Little Lamb Bamboo and Organic Cotton, Tots Bots Flexi Tot.
These two considerations (drying time and fabric) may seem to be at odds with each other, as bamboo, a very green fabric, takes the longest time to dry. But a mixture of nappies can give you the best of both worlds - for example, the majority of nappies can be quick drying pocket nappies, with a few super absorbent bamboo for night time.
· Ease of use?
All In Ones - the ultimate in convenience. You do not need any extra wraps or inserts with All In One nappies. Everything is attached. All In One nappies used to suffer from long drying times but the new designs now incorporate a flap-out booster so that they now dry about as quickly as a typical two-part nappy. Real Easy from HipHipBaby and Tots Bots EasyFit.
Pocket nappies - waterproof layer and stay-dry layer are attached, you simply add absorbent inserts to the pocket made by the two layers. Once you have added the absorbency your baby needs, pocket nappies are just like an all-in-one and very easy to put on. They dry quickly as you wash and dry the nappy and the inserts separately. Fuzzi Bunz, Wonderoos, Lollipop Pocket nappies, Swaddlebees, Minki pocket nappies (for night time), Pocket Bots.
· Natural fibres next to baby’s skin?
Modern nappies are made from either natural materials; cotton, bamboo, hemp, or synthetic materials; microterry, polyester fleece (used for the layer next to baby’s skin) or a mixture of two or more. Fleece will keep baby’s skin dry as it wicks moisture away but is a synthetic fabric. It is impossible to know how a baby's skin will react to a fabric until you try it.
Nappies with natural fabrics upermost (i.e. next to the skin if you don't use a liner): Tots Bots Flexi Tot (bamboo velour), Nature Babies Diddy Diaper (cotton jersey), Little Lamb Cotton and Bamboo, Swaddlebees Pocket Nappies (organic cotton velour), Bambinex bamboo, Tots Bots Bamboozles (bamboo).
· Cost?
Just looking at the prices of individual nappies does not always give you the whole picture. Think about how many you will need to buy of a particular nappy. Pocket nappies can work out to be economical as they dry so quickly you can get away with buying less. Onesize nappies are a very economical option as you will only have to buy one set of 20 or so, but they don’t suit all babies, and if you end up with two babies in nappies at the same time you would need to buy a few extra. Also the wear and tear on a set of Onesize nappies has to be taken into account. Don't expect a set of 15 Onesize nappies to be saleable after a couple of babies! If you are thinking of using your set of nappies on more than one baby two-part, sized nappies will probably last longest in terms of wear and tear as the small and medium sets will only be used for a few months each and the large set for perhaps 12 to 18 months. The wraps for 2 part nappies are not washed every time they are worn, only when dirty, which helps to lengthen their life.
· No leaks?
Most people would agree that two-part nappies (a nappy and separate wrap) is the most leak-proof option. Many people get on brilliantly with pocket nappies and stay leak free with no extra effort, but some people find that they have to change pocket nappies more frequently, i.e every 2 hours rather than every 3 (longer for older babies).
· Funky designs?
Everything from bright colours to polka dots to leopard skin print! Show off that cloth bum and make disposable users jealous! Have a look at Fuzzi Bunz, Tots Bots, Pocket Bots and Minki pocket nappies. Plain cotton nappies can be covered with gorgeous wraps from Nature Babies and Motherease.
2. How do you plan to dry your nappies?
· Line dry / drying rack indoors
By far the kindest to your nappies, the environment and your pocket. Pocket nappies dry very quickly; about an hour on the washing line or overnight indoors. Their inserts take longer but are still relatively quick drying. Wraps also dry quickly. Shaped cotton nappies can take from all day on the washing line to a couple of days indoors. Hemp nappies take a long time initially, but after lots of washes they seem to become a bit quicker drying (as well as more absorbent). Bamboo nappies take a long time to dry. As a very general rule for two-part nappies, the more absorbent the nappy, the longer it will take to dry.
· Tumble dryer
Not good for your electricity bill or the environment. Repeated use will reduce the life of your nappies. But when there is no other option and you are facing a dry nappy shortage, they can be useful. They will also make terry nappies feel soft, but this doesn’t improve their performance in any way. Bamboo nappies can be damaged by tumble drying them too hot (or drying them directly on a radiator).
3. Which type of nappy fastening do you prefer?
· Velcro
Many modern nappies come with Velcro or “Aplix” (a long lasting Velcro).
Pros: Quick and easy. Very adjustable. Fairly obvious to work out!
Cons: Older babies can operate it as easily as adults! Not as durable as poppers, it usually works ok after a few years use but velcro nappies tend to look worn more quickly than popper and Nippa versions.
Velcro fastening Nappies:Tots Bots, Nature Babies Diddy Diaper, Minki Pocket Nappies, BumGenius, Lollipop pocket nappies, Little Lamb nappies, some Easy Peasy nappies.
· Poppers
Pros: Very secure - can’t be undone by older babies. Can be very adjustable depending on how many poppers the manufacturer has used. Should be obvious to others.
Cons: Not as adjustable as Aplix or Nappy Nippas. A few nappies come with a slightly confusing array of poppers that may be tricky for someone who has not used that type of nappy before.
Popper fastening nappies: Fuzzi Bunz, Swaddlebees, Wonderoos, Motherease Onesize, Real Easies, Easy Peasy Bimble and Bambeasy.
· Nappy Nippa
A very clever invention to replace nappy pins. The “claws” on a Nappy Nippa grip the fabric, holding the nappy in place.
Pros: The most adjustable option. Nippa nappies will fit earlier and will still fit long after the Velcro or popper version runs out of adjustment. Nippa-fastening nappies tend to be cheaper.
Cons: Something else to remember or lose! Not obvious for others to work out.
Nippa fastening nappies: Easy Peasy Bimble and Bumble, Nature Babies Diddy Diaper, Nature Babies Big Softie and don’t forget terry squares!
4. Is your partner supportive of the idea of using cloth nappies?
Having any family member against your decision to use cloth nappies can really wear you down, but when your partner is dead set against it, it is especially hard to continue under pressure. Get him/her on board by making sure he/she is present at your nappy demo if you are in an area where you can arrange one. Then they can ask questions and your nappy advisor can answer, usually from experience. Find out what the objections are - they are very likely to be on our "Cloth Nappy Misconceptions" page. See the link to the right.
Will your partner be changing nappies?!!
If your partner is not happy about using cloth nappies, but will be changing nappies, pocket nappies and All-in-Ones are the easiest to put on. Also, stick to only one type of nappy. I would recommend Real Easies as you don't even have to separate the insert from the nappy when you put it in the bucket (something my husband still can't manage to do even though he is VERY pro cloth nappies!) If you get addicted to trying different types, keep them in a separate basket that only you use!
5. Will other people be changing your baby’s nappy on a regular basis?
· Grandparent?
· Childminder/Nursery?
· Other?
If the answer is yes to any of these, as above, stick to one type of nappy for daytimes and go for pocket nappies or All-in-Ones as they are very simple to put on.
6. Do you plan to breastfeed your baby?
Breastfed babies’ poo can be very runny and will need good containment. Most modern cloth nappies will contain newborn poo better than disposables, but two-part nappies (nappy and separate outer wrap) are especially good at containment as there are two barriers.
7. How many children do you already have in nappies?
If you will have several babies in nappies at once (of different ages) perhaps think about Onesize nappies so that you will only have one set to delve into and take in the changing bag. If it is a Onesize two-part nappy, don’t forget that you will still need different sized wraps.
8. Do you plan to have more children?
If you do, the extra cost in buying sized nappies (i.e. a set of small, medium and large) starts to look easier to cope with as they will get less wear with the first baby. If you are planning to have LOTS of babies, this is probably the best idea financially – bearing in mind the advice in no.7 above!!
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