Using and Caring for your Nappies

Information that will help you to get the most out of your new nappies.

If you have any questions or would like specific instructions for the brand of nappies you have bought, please email info@totnesnappycompany.co.uk Please note that this is just a guide. Follow manufacturer's instructions first and foremost.

NEW NAPPIES
Wash your nappies prior to use to remove manufacturing residues and boost absorbency - 2 or 3 times for natural materials (cotton, hemp, bamboo, cotton velour) and once for synthetic materials (wraps, pocket nappies, micro-terry, fleece). Bamboo and hemp nappies especially will increase in absorbency with each wash for about the first 10 washes, so you may need to change more often at first with bamboo and hemp nappies before they become fully absorbent. Remember though, we cannot refund pre-washed nappies so we advise that you just wash and try one initially to make sure you are happy with your purchase before washing the whole set.

COLOURED NAPPIES
Wash coloured nappies separately from white ones for the first couple of washes just in case the colour runs. Most manufacturers recommend that you do not soak coloured nappies as this can lead to the colour fading over time.

USING YOUR NAPPIES
You may like to use a stay-dry / stay-soft fleece liner with your nappy. This will help to prevent staining and aid removal of the contents of the nappy. Some people like to use a flushable paper liner instead of or as well as this to make life even easier when the nappy is soiled. Place the baby on the nappy and liner and fasten with the poppers, Velcro or Nappi Nippa fastener to give a snug but not tight fit around the waist and legs. If the nappy needs a wrap, lift up baby's legs and slide the wrap underneath their bottom (making sure the back is at the back!) then fasten around the nappy with the poppers or Velcro. Don't feel you have to do the wrap up really tightly against baby's skin, a two-part system has two layers of defence against leaks (the nappy and the wrap) so such a close fit does not have to be achieved. Make sure that all of the nappy is tucked into the wrap around the waist and legs and that, with pocket nappies, none of the insert is sticking out of the pocket at the back.

CHANGING
Newborn babies will need to be changed up to 12 times per day because they tend to poo often and have very sensitive skin. Once your baby is past that initial newborn stage, you should change your washable nappies roughly every 3-4 hours or earlier when soiled. However, some experts say that all nappies (disposable and reusable) should be changed more frequently, every 2 hours. You will soon learn what level of absorbency you need (i.e. if you need boosters & how many inserts for pocket nappies) to achieve the time lapse that suits your baby.
If you are finding that you are having to change more frequently or if you are getting leaks, make sure that for two-part nappies all of the nappy is tucked into the wrap. For pocket nappies, make sure that the fit around the legs is snug, that you have not over-stuffed the nappy (this can sometimes cause the leg openings to gape), and that the clothes worn on top are not too tight (you may need to go up a size for vest-tops that popper between the legs).

Wet nappy: You will need to have a nappy bucket ready with your nappy mesh bag lining the inside (stretch over the rim to hold it in place). Remove the nappy. With a pocket nappy shake (or pull) the insert out of the nappy and drop both into the bucket. With nappies and wraps, you just need to put the nappy in the bucket - you can use the wrap again. Check that any Velcro tabs are fastened back to their "washing" position and put nappy (and any boosters, liners) into the bucket. Put the lid on.

Soiled nappy: If you have used a paper liner, remove the liner and contents and flush down the toilet. If you have used a fleece liner, remove the liner and contents and shake the liner over the toilet until everything is off the liner. If everything comes away clean then just pop everything into the nappy bucket as above.
If liners or nappies are very dirty there are several different methods of dealing with them (and everyone finds their own routine!). If you will soon be doing a wash, you can throw the dirty nappy and liner straight into the machine and run a rinse cycle if your machine has a short one. Then add in other nappies, clothes etc and do a full wash. Alternatively, you can rinse the nappy under the bath tap into a spare bucket then store it in your nappy bucket with the other nappies. The very last option, if you find you are dealing with very messy nappies, is to soak them in a separate bucket. This is not essential in any way, it just prevents staining. Please be aware that most manufacturers do not recommend soaking as it increases wear and tear on the nappies and with some nappies it can reduce the elasticity around the legs and waist. Soaking can also fade coloured nappies. If you feel that you have to soak you nappies, use a separate bucket so that you only soak the very dirty ones. Place a mesh bag inside the bucket and stretch it over the rim to hold it in place. Put enough water in the bucket to cover a couple of nappies, but not too much that you can't lift it. You can add a couple of drops of tea tree oil for its antibacterial properties with many nappy brands but please check with us or the manufacturer first as many do not recommend this and will not replace nappies that have been damaged through use of additives whilst soaking. Put the nappy and liner in, put the lid on and put the bucket out of reach of toddlers.

WASHING
If all your nappies have been stored in a dry bucket: If you use a mesh laundry bag (highly recommended), lift the mesh bag containing the nappies out of the bucket and place in the washing machine. Leave the top of the bag open and the nappies will work their way out during the wash. Give the bucket a quick rinse and add a drop of tea tree or lavender oil to keep it smelling fresh.
If some of your nappies have been soaked: Place the bucket right up to the door of the washing machine. Place an old towel or cloth or terry square over the edge of the washing machine door and behind the bucket to catch any drips. Lift the mesh bag containing the nappies out of the bucket and put into the machine. Chuck the drip-catching cloth in as well. Empty the dirty water into the toilet and wash out the bucket with water and tea tree oil (a washable wipe is good for this). Add in your dry-pailed nappies to the load and you are ready to wash.

Wash at 40 or 60 degrees with about half or a quarter the amount of non-biological detergent you would use for a normal wash (this works perfectly well and prevents detergent build-up which can damage your nappies). Do not use fabric softner as this will decrease the absorbency of your nappies. Please do not add anything extra to the wash unless you have checked with the manufacturer that it will not damage your nappies. Bleaching agents, sanitisers, vinegar and essential oils are not necessary and can damage the waterproofness and elasticity of your nappies.

Hang dry your nappies if possible. Outside in the sun is obviously ideal as your nappies will dry quickly, smell gorgeous and any left-over stains will be bleached out by the sun. Obviously this is not always possible so you could dry your nappies on a rack indoors - close to (but not on) a radiator will speed things up or tumble dry them (not hot).