The beginner’s guide to reusable nappies

If you’re expecting a baby or have a young baby already, you may be thinking about using reusable nappies. It can feel intimidating making this decision. There are a lot of misconceptions around using cloth nappies and finding everything you need to know in one place is challenging. Perhaps if you’re parenting with spoons (living with a long term condition) you’re wondering if it’s manageable.

I am a spoonie parent who has used cloth nappies since my baby was around 8 weeks old. It’s not always easy, but it is always immensely rewarding. Read on to find out why I love reusable nappies, how they might help you and how to go about using them.

A warning now: this is a long post. There’s a lot to cover but I wanted to keep it all in one place to be comprehensive and reduce the mental load of having to search around for information.

Reusable Nappy Week takes place this year from 22nd to 28th April 2024. Many retailers will have special offers and events taking place so if you’re interested in starting out, now is a good time!

If you would like to share your thoughts on reusable nappies, you can comment below, or get in touch with me here.

Why use reusable nappies?

It makes sense to start here. In order to make the investment (in money and washing), you need to know that there’s a payoff.

There are so many reasons to give reusable nappies a go, but disposable nappies also have their place. There is no judgement here. They’re not right for everyone. However, it’s my view that they will be the nappies of the future.

Over time, as we become more aware of waste and protecting the environment, I hope that cloth nappies become more accessible and affordable, so that they can be used by more parents.

Environmentally friendly

A report issued in 2023 by Defra confirmed that reusable nappies are definitely better for the environment than disposable ones, even taking into account washing them.
Save money

You could save hundreds of pounds using cloth nappies. Buying second hand, air drying and selling on used nappies can make the savings even better. If you plan more than one child, the savings are bigger again.
Containment of poosplosions

A very technical term, poosplosions refer to the escape of poo (particularly runny newborn poo) from a nappy. Cloth nappies are very good at preventing this.
Natural materials

Most nappies use cotton, bamboo or hemp as the absorbent part. This use of natural materials is thought to possibly reduce the chance of nappy rashes.
Beautiful prints

There are so many fantastic producers of reusable nappies with a range of designs, whether you prefer bright and bold or a more simple style.
UK retailers

Many cloth nappy retailers are based in the UK, though most use overseas production facilities.
No chemical smell

Disposable nappies contain chemicals that allow them to absorb liquids. They also don't hold in poo smells well. If you have a sensitive nose, cloth may suit you better.

So what's the down side?

Well there’s the initial outlay. You’ll need to spend a chunk of money at the start to get going. You can try a nappy library hire kit if you’re not sure they’re for you, so you don’t waste money.

There’s also the washing. This needs to be done ideally every other day, or three days at absolute most. Once baby is weaning, this also involves removing poo from the nappies before they go in the washing machine.

Decided to use reusable nappies? What's next?

You’ll need to think about how you want to use cloth nappies:

Do you want to use cloth nappies from birth? Your first decision will be whether you wish to use cloth nappies from birth, or wait until baby is older. Many nappies are listed as ‘birth to potty’ (BTP) nappies. This means they should fit from newborn to potty training. However, the reality is that most newborns are too tiny to get a good fit in these. They’re generally designed to fit from 10lbs, which is more than most new babies weigh.

So your choice is to buy separate newborn nappies (and there are some economical options here I’ll go into), hire a newborn nappy kit for the first few weeks, or use disposables until baby fits their birth to potty nappies. We did a mix of the first and third option.

Do you want to use reusable nappies full time or part time? This is totally personal choice. I intended to use them part time but have ended up with using cloth almost all of the time. If you’re parenting with spoons, you may find full time use overwhelming. You could use reusable nappies at the weekend only, and then wash on a Sunday night or Monday morning. You could use them just in the week. Just when you’re at home. Whatever works for you. But remember, you will need to wash the nappies every other day even if you’ve only used a few (you can bulk your wash up with anything smaller than a hand towel that can withstand a hot wash).

What style of nappies suit your baby and your family? The main options here are all-in-one nappies (as similar to a disposable as possible), all-in-two nappies, fitted or two-part nappies and pocket nappies. There are also flats, preflats and prefolds. Read on to learn more about each type and find a glossary of terms.

Types of nappies

Reusable nappies consist of an absorbent inner and a water-resistant outer. These can be separate or attached, or somewhere in between. The main nappy types are summarised here.

All-in-one nappies are the most similar to disposable nappies. The absorbent part of the nappy and the water-resistant cover are attached to each other, so there’s just one thing to put on and take off. Pros: easy to use, can normally be boosted. Cons: you have to change the whole nappy each time, can be expensive, if the PUL fails you need to replace the whole nappy, slow to dry.

All-in-two nappies consist of two parts that generally popper together. The outer part can be wiped clean and re-used as long as it is not soiled, making this system more economical. You can generally buy more inserts and need fewer covers (perhaps 3 inserts to each cover). Pros: more affordable, less washing. Cons: not as easy to use, I find these more prone to shifting during wear.

Pocket nappies are my personal favourite for daily use. The nappy usually has a fleecy liner attached to the outer shell, which makes a pocket with an opening into which you stuff the absorbent part (boosters/inserts). The brilliant thing about these is that the shells dry quickly so you need fewer shells than inserts, and you can use any inserts in them that fit, so you’re not restricted to the brand’s own ones. Pros: quick drying, economical, easy to fit, adjust and boost. Cons: the shell can’t be reused between changes.

Fitted nappies and wraps involve two parts (hence they can be called two part nappies). The inner part forms an absorbent nappy which fastens with hook and look, poppers or a nappy nippa. Then you need to use a water-resistant cover (wrap) over the top. These are often used for night-time although we also use them for nursery and longer car journeys because they’re so reliable. Pros: very absorbent and excellent containment, fewer wraps needed than fitted nappies. Cons: bulky and slow to dry.

Flats and preflats are flat nappies that are folded into a nappy shape and secured, normally with a nappy nippa. They could be terry towels, muslins or preflats which are sewn ready to fold onto baba. You’ll need a wrap over these. Prefolds are different – these are prefolded muslins that have been sewn into a booster to use for all-in-two or flat nappies, inside a wrap. Flat nappy pros: very quick to dry and very economical. Cons: you will need to fold and secure these so less quick to change.

Glossary of nappy jargon

Term	Meaning
Booster	An absorbent pad used to soak up more wee (to boost how much can be absorbed). Also known as inserts and soakers.
PUL	Polyurethane laminate - the water resistant material used for the outer shells (wraps) of the nappies.
Nappy nippa	Grippy plastic hooks to hold a fitted or flat nappy in place (an alternative to safety pins).
Wrap	Water-resistant cover to go over a nappy. Not water-proof (this makes it breathable) so if the nappy is saturated it will start to leak through.
Hook and loop	Also known as Velcro or Aplix, a fastening style.

Materials

The absorbent part of nappies is normally cotton, bamboo or hemp, or a combination. Microfibre is also sometimes used.

Most of our nappies are bamboo. It has a good level of absorbency but we manage to get it dry at home. You may find if your home is cooler that cotton dries quicker. Microfibre can cause compression leaks, where it gets squished and leaks out fluid. This normally happens in a car seat, buggy or carrier, or when a tight outfit poppers over the nappy. I also avoid microfibre because I prefer natural materials.

Hemp is fantastic as a booster, especially for babies that are heavy wetters (do huge wees!) or at night. Cotton can be helpful if your toddler is flooding their nappies (holding wees for longer so they are bigger). Cotton muslins are ideal as a newborn nappy as they don’t need to be ultra absorbent.

Hook and loop vs poppers

Hook and loop (also known as Velcro or Aplix) is very easy to use, so may look like the better choice. However, you will need to be diligent about folding down flaps so that nothing gets caught on it in the wash. The reality is it just won’t last as long as popper nappies potentially can, and it’s must easier for little hands to undo.

With the exception of our night nappies, which get covered anyway by a popper wrap, all of our nappies are poppers and I wouldn’t buy any more hook and loop ones.

Newborn nappies, sized nappies and birth-to-potty nappies

Lots of nappies will be sold as birth-to-potty nappies. This means they are designed to last from birth until your child is potty trained. The reality is that most nappies will not fit well on a brand new baby, as they are often designed to fit from 10lbs.

If you wish to use cloth from birth, you have choices. You could buy newborn nappies or sized nappies. Sized nappies come in normally two or three sizes, for new babies, older babies and larger toddlers. They’re not hugely common but Little Lamb nappies come to mind. This can give a much better fit than birth-to-potty nappies, but will be more expensive as you’ll need to buy more sizes.

Newborn nappies could also be used before moving to birth-to-potty nappies. Lots of companies sell newborn size nappies, such as Bear Bott or Little Lovebum. A cheaper alternative since newborn nappy changes are frequent is to buy muslins and fold them, then use a wrap over the top. Muslins are cheap, fast to dry and can even be tumble dried. They won’t be absorbent enough on their own for an older baby but are perfect for newborns. If you love flats, you could move to terry towels as your baby gets bigger. The Nappy Lady has loads of guidance on how to fold muslin and terry nappies.

Night nappies

If you are using one nappy overnight, you will need it to be reliably absorbent and contain well. Generally, a fitted nappy is best for this, with a separate cover. This will offer maximum containment (though remember you will still need to change the nappy if baby does a poo). You can boost a fitted nappy (either inside the nappy, or between the nappy and wrap) to add absorbency as needed. Night nappies can end up being very bulky!

My go to night nappy has been the Bamboozle Stretch, made by TotsBots who sadly no longer trade. Little Lamb are a good alternative but we found they weren’t as wide between the legs and we had leaks with these although every baby is different. We’ve moved to using Bells Bumz Reusabelles fitted nappies and they are fab. Lovely and soft even in our hard water area, and they popper which makes it harder for little one to undo them herself. They contain several layers of cotton, bamboo and hemp so we don’t need to boost. We use a mix of Motherease Airflow wraps and Bells Bumz BreeZe wraps. The advantage of the BreeZe wraps is they’re a birth-to-potty fit whereas Motherease wraps are sized. However, although I’m happy with the BreeZe wraps, I think Motherease wraps generally offer a better fit.

Liners and boosters

This confuses a lot of people. Liners are used inside nappies to provide a soft barrier between the baby’s bottom and the absorbent part of the nappy. This wicks away moisture so that baby doesn’t feel wet from the nappy. Liners are often fleece or athletic-wicking jersey (AWJ). These are not absorbent. Often pocket nappies in particular will already have a fleecy lining, meaning an extra liner is not needed.

Liners can also be disposable. These are generally made of paper or bamboo, and are thin sheets designed for single use (though some brands can go through the wash a couple of times in a mesh bag if not soiled for reuse). You can flush as much poo as possible, then bin the liner, to avoid intense poo scraping. Not really needed prior to weaning, and many don’t use them after. We find them particularly useful for nursery as staff are happy to remove them making the clean up job at the end of the day easier.

Boosters (also called inserts) are absorbent pads used inside nappies. They may be used on their own (inside pocket nappies or an all-in-two cover) or to ‘boost’ a nappy which already has absorbent parts. Normally for the newborn phase one or two inserts may suffice, depending on material and how much the baby wees. For my toddler, we generally use three boosters – two bamboo and one hemp – in our pocket nappies, and a hemp alongside a fitted bamboo nappy for overnight.

Washing and caring for nappies

You will need to wash your nappies every other day ideally. This is to prevent ammonia build up on the nappies which can damage the natural fibres, and to reduce the chance of staining.

Between washes, you can store your nappies in a pail (like a bucket) or a large wet bag sometimes called a hanging pail. If you go for the traditional pail, you can get liners for this so you just lift the whole lot out together. Then wipe down the pail ready for next time. Wet bags can go straight in the wash with the nappies.

There is no need to soak your nappies. Simply rinse off solids (if post weaning) and store in your pail of choice. Then wash in your washing machine.

You will need to use a cold rinse cycle first (around 20-30 minutes) which will wash away a good amount of the wee. This needs to drain so a pre-wash often isn’t ideal. Then a long cottons cycle normally works well (at least around 2 and a half hours). You can wash at 40 degrees or 60 degrees, however if you have two children in cloth, your child is poorly or you have a newborn under 3 months then definitely wash at 60 degrees. Check nappy care labels for manufacturer guidance. I wash my wraps in a mesh bag to protect them in the wash. Make sure any hook and loop (Velcro) tabs are stuck down so they don’t stick together in the wash.

Laundry powder is best for washing nappies and you should check you’ve got the right dose as you don’t want to over-dose your nappies. We use a sensitive non-bio powder and generally wash at 60. Liquid and pods aren’t great for nappies because they can cause build-up over time which could reduce absorbency, and it’s harder to get the right dose.

After the wash, you can air dry your nappies inside or on a line outside. If you need them quicker, those without PUL can normally be tumble dried but check care labels.

The great news is that newborn nappies can go straight in the wash as they are, because the milk-only diet of babies of this age is water soluble. After weaning has begun (even if baby is hardly eating), you’ll need to remove solids from the nappy before washing so they don’t end up in your washing machine. There are various methods for this – a dedicated silicone spatula, a dinner knife (not ever used for eating!), rubber gloves, using the shower head or running under the flush of the toilet. As baby continues weaning, you will eventually hopefully reach the point of ‘ploppable’ poos. This is a joyful time, when you can simply shake the solids off the nappy into the toilet, and flush them away. Bliss.

If this terrifies you, consider disposable liners. Not so planet friendly but if you can’t get all the poo off it’s not the end of the world as they can go in the bin (not down the toilet!). Ideally, poo should be flushed whether in a reusable or disposable nappy anyway, so do your best with this.

How many nappies do we need?

This will depend on the types of nappy you choose and how much you plan to use them. For full time use, I would suggest the following as a guide:

Newborn nappies:

You’ll need to change newborn nappies frequently, around every two hours, and as soon as they’ve done a poo regardless of how soon after the last change. Nappies worn at night should last a little longer once they stop overnight poos (for us that was around 10 weeks, but it varies).

Total nappies required around 25 to 30 for washing every other day. If using muslins and wraps, you can probably have fewer as they will dry quickly. You may need more if using all-in-ones. I’d suggest a ratio of one wrap to every 3 nappies for this age.

From 2 months to 6 months:

You can slow down a little with changes but will probably need to keep them to around 2 to 2.5 hours until baby is getting older, and as always change when baby has pooed even if the nappy has only just gone on.

Total nappies required around 20. This could be made up of 4 or 5 night nappies and 15 or so daytime nappies. If using quicker drying nappies such as all-in-twos, pockets or folded nappies, you will need fewer shells (wraps) than inserts.

6 months plus:

Changes can be nearer every 3 hours now, so you’ll need fewer nappies. Perhaps 3 or 4 for nights and 12 to 15 for daytimes.

This will depend on which nappies you choose. If you’re using slow drying all-in-one nappies or fitted nappies, you may need more.

As well as the nappies themselves, you will need some accessories including liners, boosters and pails, detailed below.

Reusable nappy accessories

Liners – reusable or disposable, particularly useful after solids are introduced. Reusable liners dry very quickly so you’ll need maybe half as many as nappies.

Boosters – made of cotton, bamboo or hemp, these are perfect for adding absorbency to a nappy if you need it. Hemp is super absorbent but slow to dry, so I tend to pop a thin hemp booster in night nappies and pocket nappies. Some of our all-in-ones already contain hemp, so I boost with bamboo here. My favourite bamboo boosters are Little Lamb (available in double and triple thickness depending on how absorbent you’d like them to be). Ideally, put the fastest absorbing material nearest baby’s bottom. You’ll get more of an idea for how many you need once you get going, so perhaps just start with one bundle.

Pails – you can store nappies until wash day in a pail (like a bucket) or large wet bag (sometimes called a hanging pail). We use the wet bag option because it’s hung up out the reach of little hands, and it can all go in the wash so makes wash day less mucky. I sort the nappy (binning disposable liners and pulling inserts out of pocket nappies) before it goes in the pail, so that I know I can just chuck everything in the machine.

Wet bags – the most amazingly useful baby purchase that nobody seems to have heard of, wet bags are reusable water-resistant bags designed to hold dirty nappies out and about. But they are so, so much more than that. They can hold clean or dirty clothes, nappies, muslins and bibs, small ones can be great for dummies, snacks, teethers and toys. Even baby carriers and coats could go in there. Nappy pods are great for taking a day’s nappies out with you. Double handle bags can hang on the pushchair handlebar. They are the baby essential of the future, I’m sure of it. You can read more about the things you need for your new baby here.

Scrapers – for the removal of poo post-weaning. We don’t have one of these and use the flush or shower head instead since it reaches the loo, but lots of people use a dinner knife or spatula for this job. Don’t worry, lots of poos come straight off the liner with little effort once weaning is established for many children.

Wipes – if you’re going to use reusable nappies, why not give cloth wipes a go too? Many nappy retailers sell these too (we love bamboo velour ones for softness). Either wet as you go with a bowl of water or at the sink, or pre-wet some for the day. You can use essential oils or Poppets to scent and condition the water. We have around 40 wipes in total which is plenty.

Socktopus (mini rotary clothes hanger) – these are amazing for drying tiny baby socks, but are also really useful for drying boosters, liners and wet wipes. IKEA sell the one we use but there are others.

Cloth nappies and childcare settings

We have been very lucky with our nursery as they were completely open to using reusable nappies and have persevered to find a system that works. Initially, I thought all-in-one nappies would be easiest as they are simple to put on. However, I found that they required a bit more finesse in terms of the fit and over time we moved to fitted nappies with a wrap. They have been 99% leakproof since then, and I suspect the very occasional leak has been due to a wonky wrap.

We provide a large wet bag and staff bin the disposable liners then put everything else in the wet bag. When there’s been a poosplosion, they’ve done their best but sometimes I have to do some further scraping when the nappies get home. Generally, though, it’s been great and has saved us buying disposable nappies just for nursery.

Speak to your childcare provider about using cloth. You can provide printed fit guides or even a video to help. You could offer to go in and demonstrate. Be prepared to try different systems until you find what works. You may need more nappies than you currently have as childcare settings often change more frequently.

Using reusable nappies when you're a parent with a chronic health condition

When I first told people I wanted to use reusable nappies, most people were surprised and some even tried to dissuade me. For some people, it was just the idea of handling the soiled nappies, which made little sense to me when you’re having a baby. Bodily fluids are part of the deal!

Most people thought it sounded like hard work. All that washing, do you really want to do that? The truth is that the washing is the tough bit. But I find doing any amount of laundry challenging for purely practical reasons: carrying the basket full of clothes up and down the stairs, and hanging them up to dry, can be really draining for me. Adding three loads a week to the already humungous washing pile we accumulate as a family of two adults, a baby and a dog really hasn’t mattered to me overall. It is the reason we didn’t start sooner though and there have been times I’ve felt overwhelmed.

The thing is, using cloth was really an emotional decision for me, far more than a practical one. It was something I really wanted to do before our baby was born. A lot didn’t go to plan for us in the process of making, birthing and raising a new baby. Getting to use the nappies – and, yes, prove others wrong – was a healing process for me.

I’ve also found a brilliant community both in person and online with other reusable nappy users, some of whom are also parenting with long term conditions.

I think as a spoonie parent, you have to choose your adventures. This mattered to me and it was worth the effort. The payoff has been brilliant. But it might not be worth the spoons to you, and that’s ok too.

How to buy cloth nappies

There are lots of UK retailers of cloth nappies and a few of them are listed below. Look out for sales, Reusable Nappy Week in April and special offers if you’re shopping on a budget.

Often people question buying reusable nappies second hand, but as long as you wash them very thoroughly there’s no reason not to. It’s better for the planet and will be cheaper. Try nappy groups on Facebook or Vinted, although Vinted’s rules prohibit selling used nappies so posts are often removed. You may find new, unused nappies here though.

Be sure to ask questions if buying second hand: what is the general condition of the nappies? Is the PUL in good condition (no bubbling or holes)? How many children have the nappies been used for? How have they been washed? Are they from a smoke and pet free home (if this matters to you)? Have they been stored correctly? Use Paypal Goods & Services to send money as this offers both the buyer and seller some protection.

Leaks and fit issues

Leaks mostly occur due to total saturation or a fit issue. If the nappy is totally soaked from front to back or has leaked through the actual PUL, then you’ll need to add absorbency. A slim hemp or bamboo booster might do the trick here.

Nappies need to fit correctly to avoid leaks, particularly around the leg creases. Most nappies need to be tucked into the knicker line (different to disposable nappies) although some brands don’t. Check the brand’s own fit guides to be sure. The nappy will come up lower than a disposable nappy so don’t be tempted to open all the rise poppers too quickly. This could leave gaps around the legs.

If you’re finding the fit looks messy and you’ve got rise poppers done up, try putting your fingers inside the poppers on the front and pushing the excess fabric up for a neater fit.

The Nappy Lady offers a fantastic troubleshooting service if you’re still in doubt.

FAQs and common misconceptions

PUL failing – when nappies are not washed or stored correctly, the PUL can develop small bubbles or holes which will reduce its water-resistancy. This isn’t necessarily a reason not to use these nappies or wraps, as it’s only a problem when they are saturated to the outer layer. However, it will make them less reliable. Sometimes PUL fails for other reasons (temperature, manufacturing defects, age of the nappy) and it is for me the most frustrating part of reusable nappy use. Wash and care for your nappies well to reduce the chance of PUL issues.

Rashes – nappies should be changed frequently but even the most diligent of parents may occasionally find baba has a nappy rash. Many believe cloth nappies reduce rashes, and we’ve had very few but each baby is different. If you’re using a nappy cream, I’d recommend adding a fleecy liner into your nappy to prevent the cream getting absorbed into the nappy itself.

Change frequency – as I mentioned above, nappies should be change regularly. Newborn nappies will need changing more often (around every two hours) and by the stage we’re at now at 18 months, we change every 3-4 hours as needed. If baby has done a poo, change the nappy. This will reduce the risk of rashes, and is just more comfy for baba (and your nose!). Often people complain that you can change a disposable nappy less frequently and to be fair, they will absorb more wee and ‘need’ changing less. However, for baby’s comfort and skin care, disposables should be changed just as frequently, even though they don’t necessarily ‘need’ it.

Dealing with poo – I’ve gone into some detail about this above, but it is my personal view that poo is part of having a baby and therefore it’s not a deal breaker for us (even my neurodivergent husband who can experience sensory overload). But we all have our own limits and comfort zones, so listen to yourself and co-parent(s).

Managing parenthood with chronic health conditions