- Absorbency
- this varies between nappies, but it's important for a first-time user not to worry too much about the nappy (not the wrap) seeming damp. Unlike with disposables, where the urine is sucked into the core of the nappy by gels, cloth nappies will feel damp, but there's a big difference between a nappy being damp and it being so wet it will leak. You should only need to change every 2-4 hours. And some people think that being able to see the wetness is an advantage you can tell whether your child is drinking enough fluids.
- Bleach
- This can damage the elastic in shaped nappies, so it's better not to use it.
- Bucket
- You can buy specially-made nappy buckets, but any bucket with a tight-fitting lid will do. The lid stops smells getting out and inquisitive children getting in (especially important in homes with a toddler). The size you need will depend on how many nappies you have and how often you do a wash. Some people wash daily, others every 2-3 days.
- Boosting
- You can buy specially-made boosters, or just buy some face-cloths for this purpose and fold them, or use more than one nappy, e.g. a prefold and a shaped nappy. Placing the booster inside a shaped nappy may seem neater, but if the booster is very thick, it could cause gaping round the legs and so cause leaks. An alternative is to place the booster on the outside of the nappy, between it and the wrap.
- Choice
- Choosing the right nappy for you and your baby is very important. There is a huge variety of cloth nappies, varying in absorbency, cost, design and ease of drying. There's sure to be one out there which suits you.
- Fabric conditioner
- This reduces the absorbency of nappies, so it's not advisable to use it.
- Fluff Filter
- All washing machines have one, and in time they will fill up with fluff, which reduces the efficiency of the washing machine. It's a good idea to clean it out regularly.
- Gaping
- If there is a gap between the baby and the nappy, especially in the leg area, then pee can flow out before it can be absorbed by the nappy. You need to tighten the nappy or use a smaller one. If the wrap is loose this can be less serious if a baby is immobile, but if the top of the nappy or the area round the legs is exposed, then wicking will occur. This means the wrap is too big, or that it needs to be tightened.
- Hard nappies
- Depending on the type of water in your area, you may find that your nappies become a bit hard (you can judge whether this will happen by the state of your towels). Certain fabrics are also more likely to have this problem than others, for example long-loop terry (of the sort used in TotsBots and Daisies) is more prone to hardening than is brushed terry (the sort of terry used in the Mother-ease nappies). Hard nappies will probably not bother your baby as there is a fleece liner next to their skin. If it bothers you, there are various things you can do to soften them:
Tumble-drying nappies, while not necessary on a regular basis can be a quick way to soften nappies. Line-drying nappies in the open air tends to make them softer than drying them indoors on an airer, and certainly softer than drying them on a radiator.
Some people find that if they reduce the amount of washing powder they use, or if they change powder, it can make a difference.
Once the nappies are dry, if you scrunch them up and rub them against themselves, this will soften them a bit.
If none of these options work, using large fleece liners will reduce the amount of hard nappy touching the baby. Some nappies are completely fleece-lined, as are most pocket nappies. - Nappi Nippas
- These will only work with terry nappies (terry squares or shaped nappies made from terry fabric). They work best on long-loop terry, because they can catch these loops better. They need to be stretched to a 'Y' shape to be effective.
- Nappy Mesh
- The mesh is a mesh bag which you place inside the bucket (stretching it over the rim, so that it hangs inside the bucket). The dirty nappies are then placed inside the net and and when you're ready to do a wash, lift out the nappy mesh and put in the washing-machine.
That way there's no need to touch all the dirty nappies. As long as the top of the mesh bag is open, the nappies will come out as the washing-machine spins. - Pre-washing
- Pre-washing all new nappies increases their absorbency. It's recommended that you do this 2 or 3 times before using them.
- Redness
- Some people find that their baby's skin can become a little red in the first week of the transition to cloth nappies. It's not clear why this is, but could be because their skin is adapting to being in conditions different from those in a disposable nappy. This type of redness usually clears after a week. It is not the same as nappy rash.
- Soaking
- Soaking isn't necessary, though some people prefer to. Remember to use a nappy-bucket with a tight-fitting lid to stop smells escaping (and children investigating the contents!). Add a few drops of tea tree or lavender oil to improve the smell and act as a disinfectant. Products such as nappisan can damage the elastic on fitted nappies. Wraps and the outer part of all-in-ones can be damaged by soaking, as it affects the waterproofing. If you soak, you don't need to do a pre-wash in the washing-machine.
- Staining
- If you are dry-pailing, staining is more likely. To avoid staining you can run a rinse cycle before washing. A rinse in cold water removes a lot of the waste materials before washing and also stops stains setting.
- Tumble-drying
- This can be very useful if you need to get your nappies dry fast, or to fluff them up, but don't tumble-dry wraps or fleece liners. It may damage them, and they air-dry very fast anyway.
Tumble-drying isn't the most environmentally-friendly way to dry your
nappies, so you may wish to use this method sparingly. - Velcro
- If using a nappy or wrap with velcro or applix fastenings, close them before placing them in the wash to prevent them catching on other items in the washing-machine.
- Washing powder
- Some are kinder to skin and to the environment than others. Some babies and children react badly to certain brands of powder. If this is the case, try switching to another brand. It may also be helpful to reduce the amount of powder used. If you use too much, it can build up in the nappies and make them harder. You can tell if this is happening to your nappies by re-washing the clean nappies with no powder. If soap bubbles appear, you've been using too much powder.
- Wicking
- This occurs either when a part of the nappy is sticking out of the wrap, or when a nappy is so wet that some of the wetness is absorbed by the bindings of the wrap. Moisture will then transfer to clothing.
- Wipes
- If you switch to cloth, you may decide to use cloth wipes too. Any cloth will do, and as you wash them with the nappies, they're no extra work. Some people make up special wipes solutions, but others simply dip the wipes in a bowl of water as required, or pre-moisten them on a daily basis.
- ZZZ
- Cloth nappies are particularly good at night because they can be boosted, and so last the night without leaks.
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