We all know the reasons we want to use cloth nappies. Save money, better for our environment, cuter, no harsh chemicals, etc. Everyone you speak to seems to agree that cloth nappies are a good idea…
"BUT…"
There is always a but.
Having my hair cut yesterday the hairdresser told me it was good I was toilet training our eldest because nappies are so expensive for two babies. I explained I used cloth so that wasn't a major issue for us. She stopped, "oh cloth is good but it's just too much work, you must be home full time so it's easier".
I just nodded. It's an argument I don't want to start. I respect anyone's decision to do what they choose for their child. But telling me cloth nappies take up too much time, and they don't have the time, is a common misconception. I was pregnant, working 4 days a week in a proper office job, building a house, and running Baby Bare — and I still managed to do cloth nappies full time. If I could do it, any one could.
But why do most parents avoid using them? Statistics tell us in Australia, only about 5% of parents use cloth nappies. That's only 1 in 20 parents. Today I want to go through these reasons and set a few things straight about using cloth and disposables.
Washing
The dreaded washing. Yes, it's true. You do have to wash your cloth nappies. There is no denying this. But it's pretty easy, like washing your undies. You just throw them in the machine, wash and hang out to dry. There is no soaking or scrubbing. What's one more load when you have a baby anyway? And what is your time worth? If you are paying $30 a week on disposable nappies ($1500 or so a year), can you justify that as a good use of your time to make those savings?
Start up cost
Buying a set of nappies can be a big investment. Anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a couple of thousand. While this is expensive you may like to consider how long it takes to pay it off. Our full pack of nappies is $384. Based on about $33 per box of nappies, its about 12–13 boxes. You may find you go through a box in a week with a newborn. So within a short time you will be seeing it paid off — then you are on free nappies! Also consider contacting us to ask about a lay by which may make the cost easier too. Consider putting a set of nappies on lay by when you reach 28 weeks pregnant, they can be paid off and shipped to you before your baby arrives for the cost of a box of disposables a week (about $33).
Touching waste
Many parents comment that they don't want to deal with dirty nappies. It seems dealing with waste on cloth is worse the dealing with waste in a disposable. Did you know it is against the law to dispose of human waste in the normal landfill bins? Human waste should be flushed down the toilet. This means regardless of which nappies you use, the waste should be being disposed of in the same place. After you've done this, the washing machine should do the rest of the work. You are wiping up and cleaning your child, so why is it a perceived issue to clean the nappy too?
You'll be amazed how well modern cloth nappies deal with big messes. They generally avoid stains quite well and at the end of the day, a bit of sunshine can go a long way!
Bulkiness of the nappy – Do we need bigger sized clothes?
Some cloth nappies are very bulky. Some are trim (like the Baby Bare Cub). My daughter has never had an issue throughout her use of cloth nappies with fitting into her clothes. Find a nappy that is trim and fits your child well. Extra boosting will cause it to be bulkier. Aim to change your child every three or so hours so you don't need to boost heavily. Besides, the World Health Org recommends children be changed every three hours. This will keep your child healthy, clean, and comfortable.
Baby needs changing more frequently
This can be true. But the reason your disposable nappy is lasting so long is because of all the chemicals designed to absorb so much more then their own weight. World Health Org says for health reasons your child should be changed frequently. It is not recommended to keep a baby in a dirty or wet nappy as this leads to nappy rash. Also the nappy becomes very heavy and uncomfortable for your child. Therefore, just because a nappy lasts longer doesn't mean it should be worn that long. Consider how uncomfortable you would be if you had a nappy on that smelt like wee, was puffed up to ten times its size, and was sagging under the weight of all the waste in it.
Today's post isn't about guilting or shaming parents who use disposable nappies. It's about trying to highlight misconceptions in the community about cloth nappies. Many parents over think what it will be like to use them. They dwell on things like washing and dismiss the benefits to their child, wallet, and the community by choosing cloth nappies. We simply hope some parents may realise that their perception is not entirely accurate and give cloth nappies a go! After all, until about half way through last century it was the only way available to parents. Help us stop being such a disposable society and consider cloth as an investment in the future for your child and grandchildren.
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