This is the single most common question we get about cloth nappies – and nearly always the one that feels like the big hurdle before you start: what on earth do you do with the poo? Short answer: much less than you’d think. Here we go through it calmly, step by step, from the very first weeks to when your baby starts on solid food.
From Emelie: This was exactly what I worried about most before I started. In reality it became a non-issue pretty quickly. You get used to it, it takes a few seconds, and after a while you don’t even think about it. Don’t let the poo be the thing that stops you giving it a go.
The first weeks: you don’t need to do anything
As long as your baby is exclusively breastfed, the poo is water-soluble. That means just what it sounds like: it dissolves and washes away all on its own. You don’t need to rinse, scrape or do anything special – pop the nappy in your wet bag or pail and run your wash as usual. The prewash takes care of the rest.
If your baby has formula, the same principle applies as long as they haven’t started on solids. Formula poo is often a little firmer – if you can tip it into the toilet, do; if you can’t, it’s water-soluble anyway and washes away. It never needs rinsing clean.
This tends to be the big relief for new parents: the stage when you change the most nappies is also when the poo is easiest to deal with.
When your baby starts on solid food
Around six months, when your baby starts trying real food, the poo changes character – it becomes firmer and no longer water-soluble. Here’s what you do: tip the solid part into the toilet before the nappy goes away for washing.
Not everything can always be tipped, though – some babies have loose tummies now and then. Then you simply wipe off what’s left with a bit of toilet paper. We didn’t find it much extra work at all; wiping a bottom with paper was coming anyway in time, once our child was out of nappies. The poo just ends up where it belongs, in the toilet – only a little sooner.
The easiest trick: a disposable liner
If you’d like to skip rinsing and keep things as easy as possible, a disposable liner is your best friend. It’s a thin bamboo-fibre liner you lay on top inside the nappy, closest to your baby. It catches the solids, and when it’s time to change you simply lift out the liner with the poo and throw it away. What’s left is usually a nappy that just needs a normal wash. Especially handy on trips, at the childminder’s, or when things need to be quick.
Storing them until wash day
After a change, collect the nappy in a wet bag (our first choice) or an open pail with a towel over it – the key is that air can get to them. Two things to keep in mind:
- Never soak the nappies. Dry storage is better, both for the fabric’s longevity and for keeping smells at bay. Soaking nappies is old advice that no longer applies.
- Don’t seal them up completely airtight. A tightly closed pail – or a plastic bag – traps the moisture and can cause bad smells. A wet bag keeps the smell in but still lets through just the right amount of air.
Most people wash every two to three days, so nothing has time to sit and turn sour.
The wash does the rest
The wash itself is simpler than its reputation: run a prewash followed by a main wash at 60°C, ideally with an extra rinse. The prewash dissolves anything left, 60°C takes care of bacteria, and the nappies come out completely clean and fresh. No bleach, no fabric softener. And don’t worry about the machine – today’s washing machines handle nappy washing perfectly well; you don’t need any extra cleaning cycle. If you’d like the full routine, it’s in the washing guide.
But isn’t it gross?
Less than you’d think. One thing many people don’t consider is that with cloth nappies the poo ends up in the toilet – where it actually belongs – rather than tied up in a plastic bag in the bin, where it otherwise sits and smells until it’s emptied. Many who’ve got used to cloth even find it feels a bit backwards to throw a poo nappy in the rubbish again. More on that and other beliefs in cloth nappy myths.
FAQ
Do I have to rinse every nappy?
No. If your baby is breastfed, nothing at all is needed. Once they’re on solids, it’s enough to tip the solid part into the toilet – or use a disposable liner.
Do I have to use a disposable liner?
No, it’s a helper, not a requirement. Many only start using them once their baby is on solids, others not at all.
Can I flush the poo down the toilet?
Yes, solid poo can be flushed. Don’t flush the disposable liner, though – that goes in the bin.
Does the nappy pail smell?
Not if it can breathe and you wash every two to three days. A wet bag or open pail with a towel keeps smells at bay – avoid a tight lid and soaking.
Not sure where to start? A starter kit is an easy way to try the whole routine at your own calm pace.
By Emelie, founder of Time Ahead Sweden — mum of three, curious about how we as parents can make thoughtful everyday choices.