An Honest Review of Cloth and Terry Towelling Nappies

The statistics are scary. An estimated 21 billion disposable nappies, or diapers, are added to landfill every year in the US alone. Taking up to 500 years to rot away, each of these nappies then releases potentially toxic chemicals into the environment. With this to consider, it makes sense for parents to consider using cloth nappies as an alternative. The big selling points are fewer chemicals, less cost and of course less pollution. But let’s be honest, parents are some of the busiest people on the planet, so how practical are reusables really? And, considering the initial cost, will they actually save you money in the long run?

So remembering the long list of questions I had whilst pregnant with my first child, here are my thoughts since deciding to take a chance and ‘go eco’.

Will they create loads of extra washing for me to do?

It’s really not as bad as you think. If you use cloth nappies for a newborn baby, then you can expect to get through around ten every day. But this soon slows down. I change my 14 month old five times a day and average a wash-load of nappies every third day - hardly laborious is it?

Are they difficult (and disgusting) to use?

The days of fiddling folding and scary sharp pins are thankfully long gone. 21^st century reusables are far more user friendly and attractive. There are several different types - pre-folds are possibly the easiest and work just like a disposable. The terry towelling nappies still exist, and are often the cheapest option, but these days, parents can use the ultra clever nappy clips, or nappy nippas, a far safer option than the so-called ‘safety’ pin. The two part nappy system is my favourite - a quick easy fold, into a shaped outer wrap and hey presto! Trust me, if I can do it, you can too.

As far as hygiene is concerned, a nappy liner catches the nasties which then get flushed away (as quickly as possible), so there is no need for soaking the dirty nappies. You then just throw the nappy in a bucket, instead of a bin. One great tip I read was to keep a wash bag or pillow case in the nappy bin, then you don’t even need to touch the nappies to load the machine. Genius!

Will they keep my child dry?

Hmmm, possibly problem number one. As much as I would like to claim that cloth nappies are as effective as disposables in keeping baby dry, I must admit, you will need to change your baby more often. But by more often, I’m only talking about once or twice a day more. A nappy liner provides a barrier between your baby’s skin and the damp cloth, so the problem is not nearly as bad as you’d expect. I change my little one every 3 hours, and this is sufficient to keep him comfortable.

Do washable nappies help with potty training?

On the positive side, the feeling of dampness can actually enhance your baby’s awareness of their bodily functions, and can help with potty training. The baby learns to associate the feeling with wetness, and understands the connection. This could explain why children these days are potty training on average 6-12 months later than babies from 50 years ago.

Will they stop my child sleeping through the night?

In theory, no. You can buy extra absorbent padding to use in the nappy which should keep baby comfortable until morning. However, many eco-mums that I know use cloth nappies in the day and switch to disposables at night. Some also switch to disposables for going out, just using cloth nappies at home. I say, whatever works for you. You are much more likely to stick to using reusables if you make it easy on yourself.

And what about the cost? Will they save me money in the long run?

Although the initial cost of cloth nappies seems high, it is nothing compared to the small fortune that you will spend on disposables. Even with the extra costs of washing powder and energy, they will still save you money. As mentioned, there are several different types available, and these vary in cost from the cheap terry towelling type to the more expensive, but easy to use pre-folds. And when you’re done, you can sell them on. There are specialist websites that sell second hand washable nappies, and parenting sites often have sale boards that you can use to advertise your nappies.

In some areas of the UK, councils are offering a cash-back initiative for all cloth nappy users, usually around £30. Check your local council website for further details.

So that’s the bottom line. For me, the benefits of early potty training, no chemicals next to my baby’s skin, saving money and saving the planet far outweigh the seven extra changes and two extra wash-loads that I have to do each week. My advice is give it a go. After all, we brought our children into the world, surely we want their world to be as beautiful as possible?