When I was new to cloth nappies there were plenty of questions to untangle. Which cloth nappies should you choose? Which is the best one? Why are there so many different types? How many nappies do you need? Here I'm sharing the things I wish someone had told me from the start.
How I found my way into cloth nappies
I tried my way through different nappy systems and materials, and found a real hobby in it all. I was amazed at how many parents of little ones, just like me, fell for cloth nappies — and surprised by how many people think they're the same nappies Grandma used. To my mind, modern cloth nappies are the nappies of the future.
For you who are new to cloth nappies, or looking for an alternative to disposables, here are the tips I wish someone had given me at the beginning.
Four tips I wish I'd been given
- Keep it easy — start small. There's nothing odd about alternating disposables with cloth nappies. Some people start right away on the maternity ward and find it the most natural thing, but I had my hands full in the new role of mum and chose to bring cloth nappies in slowly. They found their way into our routines just as the post-birth aches and the freezer meals were being phased out.
- Try different nappies. Our little babies come in all shapes, and different nappies suit different moments. I borrowed nappies from my sister, wrote notes for the different inserts and was terrified of putting them in wrong. Looking back, I realise it didn't matter that much — as long as you use good-quality inserts it needn't be complicated.
- Don't be afraid to adjust the snaps. On one-size nappies, the baby sometimes grows in length, sometimes in width. It can take you by surprise when it's time to change the setting — especially the times you have to snap back down to a smaller size again.
- Don't overcomplicate the washing. You're probably already using a gentle detergent for the rest of your baby's laundry — use it for the cloth nappies too.
My journey to find a reusable alternative to disposables has been genuinely fun. As a seasoned cloth-nappy user, I'm looking forward to using cloth nappies early on with a possible sibling — I have the routine, and I love the feeling of using the same nappy over and over again.
By Emelie, founder of Time Ahead Sweden — mum of three and curious about how, as a parent, you can make considered choices in everyday life.