FAQ's

Below are some of the most common questions which we are asked. If you have a question which hasn't been covered here than please contact us and we will happily answer.

How many nappies will I need?

This will depend on which type of nappy you buy and how long they take to dry. For Birth To Potty (One Sized) the recommendation is about 15-18 for full time use. When the baby is very young and has more nappy changes you will need to wash every day. By 3-6 months this will turn into every couple of days and after this you will probably find you can wash every third day without worrying about running out of nappies. We don't recommend leaving nappies longer than 3 days as smells can start to build up.

If you go for sized nappies then you will probably need around 15-18 of the smaller size and around 12-14 of the medium to larger size. With Two Parters, wraps dry very quickly and do not need to be changed with every nappy change unless soiled, so you will only need to buy one wrap to every 4-5 nappies.

You can always start with the minimum amount and see how you get on and add to your collection if needed. Also, don't necessarily buy all the same brand. At first you could buy a selection of styles and see which type suits your lifestyle and baby first and then add more of your favourites to your collection.

How many washable wipes will I need?

For full time use probably around 30. You could always buy an extra few of another colour for use on hands and face.

Do I need to buy extra boosters?

Not necessarily. Depending on which type of nappy you use, you may find the absorbency perfectly adequate. With pockets, they usually come with two inserts, newborn and regular size. You can always put the two together for overnight boosting. All In Ones or Two Parters may need extra boosting but it's one of those products you can add as you deem necessary. Boosters can be great if you want extra insurance for overnight or if you're out and about and know it will be a while before you get to change your baby.

Do I need to buy extra liners?

This is really a personal choice. Some parents never choose to buy additional liners where as some can't face the thought of dealing with solids so will purchase flushable liners. We never used to use liners but once we started using the washable variety we wondered why we'd never used them before! They're great because if the baby poos soon after putting the nappy on, you can remove and replace the liner without having to change the whole nappy. We prefer the washable variety as they are larger and thicker with better coverage than the flushables and just go in the wash alongside the nappies.

Do I need to buy a special nappy pail?

We didn't as we found the nappy pails to be an unnecesary expense and opted for buying a large bucket with lid from the local bazaar store. As long as you are using a bucket with a secure lid then it doesn't have to be made especially for nappies.

How do I stop smells in the nappy pail?

Depending on the time of year or age of your baby, you may find smells start to build up in the nappy pail. Teething babies can have a more fishy ammonia type smell to their wee, as can toddlers. If you're finding the smell too much to handle then there are a couple of options. Firstly, sprinkle a little bicarbonate of soda into the bottom of the nappy pail to absorb odours. Secondly, stick a sanitary towel or liner to the inside of the lid and add 2-3 drops of teatree or lavender oil to it. Both of these have a natural antibacterial effect and also smell great too. Thirdly, don't leave your nappies too long between washing. While in the winter you can probably get away with washing every 3-4 days, in the height of the summer you way wish to lower this to every other day.

The nappies smell as soon as my baby wees in them or smell bad when taking them off.

If it's just wee then there shouldn't really be a strong smell to the nappy, especially when first put on. If the smell is fishy or a strong smell of ammonia there could be a couple of reasons. Toddlers produce more strong smelling wee due to the change in the acidity of their urine; there isn't anything you can do about that! A teething baby will have more of a fishy smell to their urine and their solids; again there isn't anything you can do about that. If however you don't have a toddler or you're sure your baby isn't teething then it may be that you have a build up of washing detergent in the nappies. To remove it first wash the nappies as normal with detergent, then wash the nappies on a 50-60ºC wash without detergent (there is no need to dry them in between). Follow with a cold rinse and look to see whether there are still any suds in the water. If there are then repeat the process. If the water is clear then the build up should have been removed and the nappies should smell clean when taken out of the machine.

If you search on the internet about removing odours from cloth nappies you will find many remedies which people use. Proceed with caution when choosing to follow them. If you use a product on your nappy which is not recommended by the manufacturer then you will lose any rights to return.

My nappies are leaking. What's gone wrong?

First of all check that you are stuffing any pockets correctly and the insert is laying flat and not scrunched up. The same applies to adding boosters to Two Parters or AIOs - make sure the booster is flat and not bunched. Secondly, make sure you put the nappy on tight enough so there are no gaps around the legs and it fits snug around the waist. You may need to go up or down a size on the poppers for the one size (BTP) nappies if it's not fitting correctly. Thirdly, make sure you are using the correct level of absorbency for your baby or toddler and boost the level if necessary especially for overnight or if leaving your baby in the same nappy for a longer period of time. Some babies and toddlers are very heavy wetters so you'll need extra absorbency and to change the nappy more frequently.

If you are still getting leaks it may be that you have a build up in your nappies from excess washing detergent and they are not absorbing properly or are repelling the wee. To test, take a clean dry nappy and pour a little water where the baby would wee. It should start to soak through the top liner to the inner part. If the water is not soaking through the liner and is running off the edge of the nappy then you need to wash the nappies to remove the build up. To remove it, wash the nappies on a 50-60ºC wash without detergent. Follow with a cold rinse and look to see whether there are still any suds in the water. If there are then repeat the process. If the water is clear then the build up should have been removed. Dry the nappies and test again with the water.

Can I use nappy rash cream?

Recently many cloth nappy manufacturers have developed nappy rash creams that are safe to use with cloth nappies - please check before applying. However some nappy manufacturers state never to use nappy rash creams with their brand. It is important to follow the manufacturers recommendations as using a cream may invalidate your right to return. If you do need to use something for a rash then you could consider using an extra disposable liner inbetween your babies skin and the nappy, or cutting up an old t-shirt and lining the nappy to prevent any staining.

My nappies are stained, how can I clean them?

The best stain remover available is natural sunlight. If you have a particularly stained nappy then take it out of the machine straight after washing and lay it out flat in natural sunlight. The stain should lift in a few hours. If the stain is still visible when the nappy dries then repeat the process.