Using cloth nappies for your newborn comes with many benefits from saving money to waste reduction. As a new parent, you don’t know what you don’t know - right?! Here are the 5 things I wish I knew before I dived into the cloth nappy world
Stop researching!
What works for one person’s baby may not work for your baby. There are a lot of opinions out there one what brands work best. My top advice: go for ones that you will like to use the best (velcro, snaps, prefolds ,etc.), go for ones that will best suit your situation - do you have limited drying space in the winter and need a quick turnover option? Can you get away with having a large stash to choose from? You will get to know what words from trial and your own preference. A trial pack for newborns or one-size-fits-most (3 mths+) will give you a good taster to the styles of nappies on the market.
Getting a solid wash routine is gold
Yes, there will be washing (even babies alone will create more washing). To make it as easy as possible, I make my wash routine work around me. For example; before I leave the house, I put the pre-wash cycle on (I have known to even shoo the kids outside so I do not miss the rouge nappy that needs washing!). Then, when I arrive home, I separate any pocket nappies and inserts and click on the main wash. Done! To make it easy for any washing helpers in your house, a How-To Poster to hang in your laundry to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Cheapest is not always best
The saying if you get what you pay for rings true for cloth nappies. You are investing in something that you want to use over and over again. Investing in a quality brand of nappy will last the distance for at least two, even three children. The upfront cost may seem high, however, it will look a lot more appealing if you have ever added up what you will pay for disposable nappies.
Your wallet and your bin will thank you!
By always reusing your nappies, your wallet will thank you for not having to add the cost of a box of disposable nappies to your weekly shopping bill. Your kerbside bin will thank you for not loading it with single-use disposables, especially if you have two kids in nappies!
It does get easier
Newborns require at least 12 nappy changes a day. As they get older, the number of changes reduces. Plus, as you get to know your baby, you will work out your own rhythm around changing/feeding/sleeping (refer to point one!)
The weeks as a first-time parent can be unpredictable. To some, using cloth nappies can seem daunting and an extra task on top of caring for your newborn. I know how this feels and I have been there. If you are going for cloth and the going gets tough - give yourself a break mumma! Take 5, catch up and start again next week. When this happened to me, (and I found the will power to get back on the cloth wagon), I would use the weekend to get my act together and have everything ready for Monday to hit the ground running. Better to rest than to throw in the (cloth) towel to make for a successful cloth nappy time for your baby.
Emma Avery | Cloth Baby - Modern Cloth Nappies