» What do I need to switch to real nappies?
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 » How do I wash and care for real nappies?
 » How much will real nappies cost me?
 » How many real nappies will I need?
 » Which kind of real nappy will I need?
 » Which real nappy fabric will suit me best?

What do I need to switch to real nappies?

It's really easy. Despite the large and often confusing range of products out there, there are just five basic components needed to put your baby into real nappies (listed in order of how close they go to your babies bottom!):

The liner These line the nappy and when your baby poos, catch most of (and sometimes the whole) mess to stop it from dirtying the nappy. There are usually two weights of liner available. The thicker ones can be rinsed, and washed up to three times in order to re-use them. Both weights can be purchased in biodegradable, flushable form.

The booster An optional extra fabric liner to use in conjunction with, or instead of, the disposable liner. These are often employed just as an occasional safeguard for night-times, long journeys, etc. They absorb more liquids and help keep your nappies clean in the event of a poo! We have found that the increased absorbency of the regular booster alone can significantly reduce nappy rash, but for more sensitive bums there is the further option of the silk booster – specifically designed for delicate skin.

The nappy These now include shaped nappies and prefolds as well as the old traditional Terries. Shaped nappies are a popular and simple-to-use alternative for people who don't want to fold their nappies. They tend to have either a Velcro/applix or popper fastening, or else they’ll need a separate fastener – usually the ingenious ‘nappi-nippa’ (see below). Prefolds are a less bulky, more streamlined alternative; 'liners' which go in specific wraps. Cleverly designed with extra padding down the middle, these cotton squares can easily be folded to provide extra padding at the front or back to suit a boy or girl baby respectively. Terries are larger cotton squares which can be folded in the old traditional way. For all folds, please download this PDF which has pictures and examples. Nappies are replaced with a clean one at each change.

The fastener It's rare these days to find the old safety pins. Nappi-nippas are easy to use and keep the nappy on more leak-proof and comfortable than ever. Some nappies in the range are self-fastening, fitted with either poppers or a fabric fastener such as Applix or Velcro. And while these self-fastening nappies are certainly convenient to use, nothing can match the range of versatility you get from using a separate fastener. The quick and simple nappi-nippa, for example, means you can apply the nappy tight, snug and secure – comfortably tailored to your baby’s ever-changing proportions.

The wrap These are the waterproof outer which keeps your baby’s clothes dry. Certain wraps work better with specific inners - we will detail what product goes best with what elsewhere on the site. wraps do not need to be changed as often as nappies - just once or twice a day is generally ok - just check the state of cleanliness and decide! If it is slightly damp on the inside, you can wipe it clean with a wipe, or with cotton wool dipped in water, and allow it to dry briefly (this usually takes me no longer than the time it takes to change the nappy). If the dampness has seeped through, it's generally time to change it!

Some products combine a nappy with a wrap - these are generally self-fastening, and will be noted on the website.

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How do I wash and care for real nappies?

I thought that I would struggle with this - especially the cleaning bit. But again, this is surprisingly simple. Soiled nappies need to be rinsed off under the shower (or in the sink, or even in the flow of your loo's flush) before storing, and wet ones just need to be stored.

The most important thing to have is a bucket with a lid. We recommend dry pailing, as we find that soaking nappies means that bacteria breed in the stagnant water. They can store for several days in a pail with no water at all, and if you are having a problem with odour despite the lid, you can use a variety of things to neutralise it. Bicarbonate of soda works well, as does tea-tree oil. You shouldn't have to resort to using chemical sterilisers, and can always put a small scoop of washing powder on top of really smelly nappies. Please note that any Velcro-fastened wraps should be fastened before washing, in order to preserve their condition for longer.

Once you need clean nappies, or have a full bucket, simply transfer them to your washing machine and wash at 40 or 60°C. We do most of our washing at 40°C, but for heavier soiling, older babies, and just every once in a while to give them a thorough clean, you might like to use 60°C.  Obviously, we would suggest using an eco-friendly – and non-biological – detergent! Alternatively, the wonderful EcoBalls which we stock are a totally detergent free way of keeping your nappies really clean. They save money and are good for the environment too!

Fabric conditioner should not be used at all with cloth nappies. It works by coating fibres with the chemical contents, and in the case of real nappies, this means that these fibres become a lot less absorbant.

Drying the nappies is quickly and easily achieved on the line. Line drying is great for real nappies, especially on hot days when the sun will help naturally bleaching out stains. And, while certain products can be tumble-dried, we would suggest checking the label (and your eco-conscience) before doing so. However, we also recognise that many people do not have outside space to dry their nappies, and sometimes tumble drying is unavoidable. In these instances, we recommend using the Ecozone Dryer Balls, which soften the nappies while drying, and also cut the drying time by up to 1/3rd! 

In many cases, (especially with bamboo) nappies need to be washed several times before use. This is because when they are loomed, the fabrics are coated with a substance to help them go through the looms more easily. This substance has the same effect as fabric conditioner - it will stop the fibres being able to absorb moisture. Although some manufacturers recommend up to 10 times, we find that 3 or 4 is usually enough, and the absorbancy will increase with each wash from then onwards.

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How much will real nappies cost me?

Not as much as disposables will! With a batch of real nappies – be they prefolds, shaped, terries, or a mixture of the three – you may never need buy another nappy again! And as all wraps, nappies and even liners are washable, they can be used and re-used time and again – even passing on from one baby to the next. The resale value of cloth nappies is high too - especially the more sophisticated shaped ones. Many parents sell their nappies on sites like Cloth Nappy Tree or the Used Nappy Company after they have finished with them - saving money and making them an even more eco-friendly option.

Please visit our blog to see our article The real cost of real nappies - which will give you a cost comparison of real nappies compared to disposables, over the time period for which your baby is likely to be using nappies.  This shows the amazing savings you could be making - even when detergent and electricity costs are taken into account for the washing of your nappies, real nappies will save you up to £1177 compared to disposables!

The initial outlay for a regular batch of real nappies is soon recouped – especially when your baby needs changing 6, 7 or 8 times a day! What’s more, some local authorities offer grants to encourage the use of real nappies, making the decision to switch even more appealing. For information on councils offering real nappy grants, you can go to The Real Nappy campaign’s website, where they offer a ‘nappy finder’ service based on your postcode. Tick the ‘incentive scheme’ box, hit search, and you will quickly find whether there is a council incentive scheme in your area.  To see which council schemes we support, please click here. If you're council isn't listed, please phone us up and we can see if we can become a registered supplier for them.

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How many real nappies will I need?

That generally depends upon the number of changes your baby needs on a given day (not to mention the number of small children you have!) Factor in your own particular lifestyle demands (read: how often you’re able to wash the nappies) and you’ll soon discover how many nappies are needed to suit your own routine. Personally, we cope pretty comfortably on enough nappies to warrant a full load of washing, plus one or two in reserve. So our loose recommendation would be for 12-24 nappies per child, with a wrap for every 3-6 of these.

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Which kind of real nappy will I need?

Again, there are no hard and fast rules here: simply use the nappy which best suits baby and you. In order to find out what this is,  you can use one of the following information services:

Our live chat feature - access this on the left hand margin of any page on our site - as long as it's showing online, an advisor will be able to answer all your questions.

Our phone consultation - phone us on 01422 847733

Information on the site or blog.

Our multimedia page - videos featuring discussions of the different factors which affect your decision choosing nappies.

Our one recommendation, as mentioned previously, would be to use a more absorbant nappy (and/or a booster pad) overnight.

The Clean Green Nappy Company takes its cue from our customers. So, while our principal objective is to offer a simple and straightforward service in real nappy products, this is best achieved in conjunction with you. If you find that you have any requirements that we don’t as yet cater for – or have any queries, requests or suggestions that might improve this site or our service – then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Which real nappy fabric will suit me best?

We discuss this extensively on our multimedia page but below is a list of the main features of the different fabrics.

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