When I fell pregnant with my second child, if someone had told me I would be using washable nappies I would have laughed them out of the room. Our first daughter was in disposable nappies and it was something that was just done, there really never was any conversation about it, it was just the done thing.

However, a little way into the pregnancy a friend of mine told me that she had bought washable nappies for her baby that was due in the coming months. She encouraged me to have a look at them, and by this time my husband and I had actually thought of them but didn’t really know where to start. I went and had a look at them and was really impressed by the look and feel etc, it was at this point that we really started to look into the pro’s and con’s of washables and seriously consider using them. It didn’t take long to come to the decision that we would be daft not to use them! We couldn’t quite believe how much money we would save by using washables, and the information on the impact of disposables on the environment was positively scary!

Anyway, we decided which ones we preferred and went ahead and bought them. As soon as our daughter was born and we got her home, out came the nappies, and we’ve never looked back! I will never forget the first one I put on her, she wriggled her little bum into it as it was so soft, and even though they can’t smile at a few hours old, I could tell she was comfy.

And I knew then that we had really made the right decision.

Our Daughter is now 16 months old and still wearing her washable nappies, we have found them easy to use, easy to wash and they are even great for days out. She had no nappy rash at all until she started teething, and even then it cleared up really quickly, and I’m sure that’s because of the nappies.
The only time we don’t use the washables is when we are away on holiday, when we are going away we use biodegradable disposable nappies, they are slightly more expensive than your basic disposables, but I have found that we don’t need to change them as often as normal nappies, therefore you actually get more for your money!

Caroline

Allow me to dispel a myth, washable nappies are not:
a) complicated
b) hard work
c) too expensive.

There is an awful lot of publicity surrounding washable nappies at the moment, and most retailers will have you believe that they are super complicated and you will need a home demonstration or something of the sort, well, as far as I’m concerned, if you can make a cup of tea, you can fathom out a washable nappy!

Yes, they’ve got a bit more to them than your common disposable, but it’s really not rocket science!
Your bog standard washable nappy consists of a waterproof cover, a nappy and a flushable liner- that’s it.
Washing them really couldn’t be easier as all you have to do is put them in the washing machine, the nappy itself can be tumble dried if you need them quick, or you can hang them out to dry if you would prefer. The waterproof covers dry really quickly so even though they can’t be tumble dried, you will still have them ready for use very soon after washing.

There are quite a lot of different brands of washable nappies now, and just like disposables it’s all down to personal preference, apart from the fact that with washables you have more choice, and you can make them look great with the different colours and patterns!

The pricing for washables is very reasonable, some are more expensive than others, but they will still save you up to £1,000 over the time your child is in nappies. A birth to potty pack will cost you around £200 just think about how many disposables that would buy you, and the financial benefits become very clear!

In fact consider that £200 will last approximately 4 1/2 months before you need to buy more nappies.

If you still find the idea of washables unappealing, you can use bio-degradable disposable nappies, they are slightly more expensive than your standard disposable, but out of personal experience when I tried them on my daughter, I found that they are more absorbent therefore you use less, a win win situation!

Hope this helps you on your way to a decision!

Caroline.

The average newborn goes through 8-12 nappies a day.  Picking the right nappy is a important decision, but the options can be overwhelming. Caring parents have more than enough choices when shopping for nappies. Washable  or disposable?  Which brand?  What size? The options available are enough to stress out even the most well balanced parents. But don't worry… we'll help you with the best information so you can find the best nappy to suit your little one.