Have you Cottoned on Yet?
By admin on Jun 15, 2008 in Home & Garden, Guides
So, you’re thinking about nappies? Not everyone’s favourite aspect of parenting, but they’re a pretty much an essential part of having a baby. This guide provides information about the benefits of real nappies, as well as the realities of using washable nappies at home, so you’ll be able to make an informed decision about what is right for you, your baby, your lifestyle and our environment.Real nappies have come a long way from meaning complicated folding, pins, scratchy plastic pants, boiling, soaking and hours of extra work. Like almost everything else in modern life, things have changed in the washable nappy world over the last 30 years. Cloth nappies:
- Save up to £1200 per bum by washing real nappies at home
- Soft, natural fibres against delicate skin
- Potty training up to 6 months earlier
- No nasty chemical content & no animal testing
- Use less energy & water, even including the washing
- Save over a tonne of waste going to landfill sites
- No more struggling with bulky packs from the shops!
Real nappies are also called washable nappies, cloth nappies, cotton nappies, and even old-fashioned terry nappies. For all these different names, they are basically the same idea: a nappy you wash & use again, rather than put in the bin, like a disposable or single use nappy.
There are literally 100s of different styles & designs to choose from, and real nappies are fast becoming not just an eco-friendly choice, but a fashionable lifestyle choice, with greater choice to show off your wee one’s style from their earliest days!
That’s WHY more & more people choose real nappies, next you’ll want to know:
HOW?
Well, while real nappies are not quite as self-explanatory as single use nappies, there isn’t all that much to it. Just think about what you need a nappy to do, and the 3 basic ‘bits’ that make up a real nappy system make perfect sense – it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 …
1. A LINER catches the poo, so it can be flushed easily.
2. A NAPPY is the cotton bit that absorbs the wetness.
3. A WRAP (or cover, or pants) is the waterproof layer that protects clothes.
Changing real nappies is just as simple as changing single use nappies, you just throw the nappy in a bucket, rather than in the bin – and no need to tie the nappy in a little bag to stop the house smelling of poo, because that bit gets flushed away! No need for boiling or soaking, just chuck the used nappy in a dry bucket and add them to any whites wash. If you line your bucket with a net laundry bag (or old pillow case!), then you throw the open bag straight into the washing machine without even touching the nappies - simple. A normal 60 degree wash cleans & sterilises your nappies, so no need for harsh chemicals, messy soaking or energy-draining boil washes.
I thought it may be beneficial at this stage to outline some questions which are regularly asked of me which hopefully you will find useful.
What about Nappy Rash?
The incidence of nappy rash has massively increased since disposables were introduced to the market place. The most important thing to prevent nappy rash is keeping your baby’s bottom clean, not just feeling dry. It’s really easy to know when a real nappy needs to be changed, not so easy for a disposable that always feels dry, and changing your baby as soon as possible is the key to avoiding nappy rash. Many of the real nappy parents I know saw hardly any nappy rash, and only then when their babies were ill or teething. Nappies made from natural fibres, with a breathable wrap over the top allow much more air to circulate, keeping skin cooler and less irritated than a combination of paper pulp, chemicals and a non-breathable plastic layer.
What about comfort?
Would you choose chemically treated paper pants over natural cotton ones? Would your baby? Real nappies are soft and comfortable, let skin breath and reduce the possibility of irritation from added chemicals. Babies have been in real nappies for hundreds of years, without all the modern styles of nappies, with no problems at all. It’s only adverts for disposables that make us think that they must be more comfortable, common sense tells us otherwise!
Again, adverts for disposables would have us believe that no baby ever learnt to walk before the new, hyper-slim-fitting disposables were invented, and we all know that’s rubbish, literally. While some real nappies may look a little bulky at first, it’s just a matter of what you are used to, and of course a nice soft, comfy cotton nappy gives lots of padding when the little ones land on it when they’re learning to walk.
What about hygiene?
What’s hygienic about putting poo in the bin? Human waste belongs in the sewer system, where it can be properly treated, and not in a landfill site where it can leach out pathogens, viruses and emits methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. If soiled nappies are washed at 60 degrees, then real nappies are far more hygienic than putting poo in a bin. With any kind of nappy, store used ones sensibly, and out of reach of toddlers.
What about childcare?
A lot of people worry about what their child-carer will say about real nappies. No registered child-care provider should have a problem with using real nappies. After all, you are paying them to care for your child, and if they have a problem with your choice of nappies, what else might you disagree on? Some child-carers need just a little bit of advice and support, and they will be changing real nappies along with the best!
What about going out?
Going out & about with just real nappies for the first time can be a bit daunting, particularly if you’ve used disposables before, but it’s really not a problem. All you need is a waterproof bag to store the nappies in until you get home, when you can throw them in the bucket. For days at nursery or overnight stays you’ll want a bigger bag, or a couple of smaller ones. If you’re using flat nappies, it can be handy to have a couple folded & ready to put on in your nappy bag. If your nappy arsenal includes any shaped or fitted nappies, when you’re trying to balance your baby on one of those teeny public changing stations, they can come in handy.
Changing real nappies, like every bit of being a parent, comes with practice, none of us are experts to start with, but it doesn’t take long to be winning nappy-change races against those who haven’t cottoned on to real nappies yet!
What about nights?
Those pesky ads again! Babies have been sleeping through the night for generations before sodium-polyacrylate was invented (that the nasty gel which absorbs all the wee & can absorb vital moisture from delicate skin). There are millions of parents around the world who get a good night’s sleep with a baby in real nappies! Disposable nappies don’t make babies more intelligent, sleep better or for longer, eat better, or able to do somersaults at the age of 2, that’s all just marketing, designed to get parents to spend £100s on rubbish, literally.
When using real nappies at night time, an extra booster to add absorbency can help. And fleece liners keep babies feeling dry, which isn’t important unless that is what your baby is used to, so if you’re switching from disposables, they might help.
What about breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is best for you and your baby, and the benefits increase the longer you are able to breastfeed for. There is lots of help and support available in all areas of the UK (and Wiltshire), so ask your midwife or health visitors for more information on local support groups & advice.
Breastfeeding is only a nappy-issue for the first months, before introducing solid food. Because breast milk is exactly what your baby needs, so much of it is digested that the resulting poo can be quite runny, so you’ll want to think about what nappy system will hold it in. Any nappy, flat or fitted, made from terry material will hold on to the poo best, the bigger the loop, the better the poo-handling. Get in touch for more advice.
What about potty training?
Children today are potty training 6-12 months later than they did 50 years ago, and many parents using cloth nappies see their children potty trained by 2 years. Cloth nappies allow babies to feel when they are going to the toilet, and so they do not have to learn a whole new set of sensations when training. Choosing wraps or nappies which close with poppers for this size can help, as they can be pulled up & down like pants.
This guide was written by Gary Lamont, Real Nappy Network Co-ordinator for the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. To encourage more families to use cloth nappies in Wiltshire, the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has a scheme which provides free and independent information, trial kits for parents to borrow and try out the various nappies on offer, a money back voucher to assist with initial costs (up to £30 refund) and local events and demonstrations with opportunities to meet other Real Nappy users. There are similar schemes available in most counties so contact your local council for more information on what is available where you live.
If you would like further information you can contact Gary Lamont from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust on 01380 725670 ext. 236 or email GaryL@wiltshirewildlife.org.
