Frequently Asked Questions

Modern reusable nappies are highly practical, soft, absorbent, breathable and washable! They save money, reduce leaks and teach your child to be potty trained in a natural way and a lot quicker.
When thinking about reusable nappies, don't think about the flat pre-folded terry towelling! Real nappies have come a long way from complicated folding, pins, scratchy plastic pants, boiling, soaking and hours of extra work!

Firstly, sitting in a wet nappy does not cause nappy rash as fresh urine is sterile. Nappy rash is caused when stale urine comes into contact with faeces producing ammonia, which burns the skin. The reason that we associate real nappies with nappy rash is because disposables have an absorbent gel and supposedly this process cannot take place. However any carer changes their baby as soon as required and that is whether you use a disposable or reusable nappy. Bear in mind that there are other types of rashes too.

To prevent nappy rash whether with disposables or reusables, we recommend to ensure that the entire area of skin that was in contact with the nappy has been washed. If you're truly green and would like to save money, why not use wipes made from an old flannel or cloth with warm water? Still, if you'd prefer disposable wipes, make sure you steer well clear of any that contain alcohol. We recommend Jackson Reece, wipes which are dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic. If there is a rash, apply a good cream afterwards that will form a barrier on the baby's bottom.

Don't use barrier creams all the time as it prevents the skin from breathing and makes it more sensitive, which in turn increases the chances of your child developing nappy rash.

From personal experience, we've seen far less leaks with reusable nappies than we have with leading brands of disposables. The elasticated legs and waist bands on most modern reusable nappies, combined with a secure outer wrap, really do work well and keep leaks in, as long as you ensure that the outer wrap is securely covering every area of nappy and that you are using the appropriate wrap and nappy for the child's age/weight.

Babies do produce a lot more washing! Reusable nappies do not necessarily add to the volume as you can put them with your towels and other high temperature items. Any modern washing machine is well equipped to give all the clothes a thorough clean. Make sure you use your Ecoballs® for a cheaper and more eco-riendly wash! Once you are used to the system and routine, it really is as easy as throwing away the nappy in the outside bin!

When you are on the move you will find it much easier to use nappy liners, which can simply be lifted out and flushed away, whilst the nappy can be stored in a tote bag. When at home, we personally use a bidet spray plumbed simply in to the toilet to spray down any dirt before we place it in the nappy bucket. Once the bucket is full it gets washed with whatever else we have that can go on at 60°C.

The frequency of washing depends upon how many nappies you have available to rotate and how many your baby actually uses. This depends very much on their age as newborns are changed much more often than toddlers.

In short, yes. But you only need to wash at 60°C if you have a soiled nappy in the wash. Nappies wet with urine only can be washed at 40°C to be perfectly clean.

Anywhere between 40°C and 60°C is sufficient to kill most bacteria. Sunshine also helps to sanitise and kill any bacteria that might possibly escape the wash and stay in the nappy.

Understandably! Use a flushable or biodegradable liner and most of the time you won't have to - just chuck it in the loo. You could also use a fleece or silk liner that will flush clean quickly and easily. Alternatively, get a bidet spray installed on your toilet and rinse the nappy down that way. We will be stocking these shortly.

Not necessarily. If you leave soiled nappies for a week, or if you fail to wash your nappy bin out properly when you empty it, then it's a strong possibility. However, current nappy bins have sealing lids so that any potential smells do not escape. See how to keep the nappy pail fresh smelling with dirty nappies in one of our top tips we found! Remember that disposables smell too and need to be taken to the outside bin otherwise they can smell out the house!

At first they will until you get the knack of using them. It also depends on what system you use. An “all-in-one” nappy is much quicker than a terry or pre-fold. Pocket nappies can also be prepared with the booster pad in advance to make them as convenient as an all-in-one. The two part system is the hardest and slowest to get to grips with. Having two layers to put on can sometimes be tricky to do with a wriggling toddler. But as mentioned earlier, you just need to stick with it for a week or two to work out a routine and to see which nappy suits you best.

Check before you sign on with a childminder or nursery and enquire whether they will be willing to use them - give them the link to this guide! If they do accept real nappies, make sure you provide them with enough spare nappies, liners and tote bags to keep soiled nappies in.
Your local council should be able to provide you with a list of local childcare providers that have been asked to supply details of whether they support the use of real nappies. Some nurseries are even part of the Eco-Schools programme which takes into account all aspects of sustainability and the environment.

Yes! We recommend to start from day one to get into the swing of putting the nappy on and the routine of storing soiled nappies and washing them. Some reusable nappies are designed especially for tiny babies and birth-to-potty nappies can be used on babies that weigh as little as 2.3 kilos (5lbs).

Yes. Because feeding tends to trigger your baby's bowel movements, you will probably need to change the nappy whenever you feed. You can therefore only really begin to use one nappy for the entire night as soon as your baby drops the night-time feeds. When you start to use one nappy throughout the night, you can use an ordinary nappy with several boosters. Be prepared to experiment a bit to find the right level of absorbency. We recommend you do not use the PVC or PUL wraps at night as they are not as breathable as a good quality wool or fleece wrap. You may also prefer to use a different type of nappy at night than during the day. From our own experience we recommend using a grobag and/or bedding that promotes air circulation. Some grobags with arms, for example may restrict air flow and when using a wool wrap your baby may wake up with wet pyjamas and bedding.