Ever consider using cloth nappies for your little ones?
Apart from the money saving and waste saving, they
look freakin' adorable. For first-timers it can be hard to know where to begin so we asked five mums to tell us all about their adventures in fluff.
What was your biggest motivation for using cloth nappies?
"I won a cloth nappy on a Facebook competition, and was very impressed with how easy they looked to use. With two babies under 14 months, I was using a huge amount of disposables at the time so I was very intrigued by them." – Caroline
"I had two babies under two in nappies, so as well as the expense of buying nappies what really bothered me was the amount of waste. The bins were constantly full of nappies easily a large black sack every second day; it really made me think." – Emer
"To be honest my little boy used to breakout in the most horrendous rashes when we used disposables. I realised this was from the chemicals in disposables. I switched to organic nappies and then to cloth. They are better for your baby, better for your pocket and better for the environment." – Orlaith
"I think moving to Inishbofin brought a bit of the environmentalist out in me without realising and I started wondering about cloth nappies and how much less waste we'd be generating." – Tara
"My bin only needs to go out half as often, which pleases the environment... I get to include cute patterned nappies in my kids' outfits, which pleases me (A LOT). And we get to save some money, which pleases the man in my life." – Nadja
Did you find any challenges with cloth?
"Not really it took a while to get used to getting the right fit and what boosters to use but once we figured it out we were flying it. It also took a while to figure out our wash routine." – Emer
"My first baby arrived one day after we were expecting him and I used disposables for the first few weeks and was glad that I did – with getting the hang of breastfeeding and all that a new baby involves I doubt I would have had the time or frame of mind to figure out the cloth – there are so many different types and options it can be overwhelming. If it hadn’t been for the loan option (see link below) I don’t know if I would have gone with cloth – I just didn’t know where to start. The loan is a must for those interested in cloth – IMHO!" – Tara
Did you ever get any attitude about it?
"People think they’re much more work than they are – when I said I was considering it, lots of people were like ‘Yeah that’s all well and good until the time comes...’ but it was all well and good and still is!" – Tara
"People think I have lost my mind. I think my mum's just waiting for me to tell her I'm joining a hippy commune. My mum's generation flinch when they hear we use cloth but there's really nothing to it. Every 2-3 days we just stick all the nappies in the wash at 60 and that's it!" – Orlaith
What's your top tips for parents starting out with cloth?
1. "Buy a large bin with a lockable lid for storing dirty nappies – that gorgeous little baby lying quietly in the Moses basket very quickly becomes a toddler with a penchant for rummaging!" – Tara
2. "Don't be disheartened by the occasional leak they happen even in sposies (disposables) and once you find the right brand and fit they don't really happen." – Caroline
3. "Follow/join/befriend the Cloth Nappy Library Ireland and the Cloth Nappy Chat Group (Ireland) on Facebook – amazing resources!" – Tara
4. "Definitely get a loan from the cloth nappy library to try out different brands I've two babies in cloth and one brand that suits my little girl might not suit my little boy. Also the ladies in the cloth nappy chat group on Facebook always have fantastic advice." – Emer
5. "Head to fairs like the Earth Baby Fair to see cloth up close!" – Orlaith
6. "Buy a few decent wet bags for storing wet and soiled nappies when out and about and at home before wash day." – Caroline
7. "Invest in a sock dryer/airer they are very handy for hanging nappies out on!" – Caroline
8. "Enjoy the fun, funky colours and amazing prints." – Caroline
Some essential cloth nappy resources:
In the first year a baby will need up to 3,000 nappies which could cost up to €600.
A biodegradable nappy could take up to 50 years to decompose. Even using a mix of disposable and cloth nappies could go some way towards reducing costs and environmental impact. A
Uk study conducted in 2008 concluded that the use of reusable nappies (when laundry conditions are optimum) considerably reduces the environmental impact.
Visit:
Cloth Nappy Library
Cloth Nappy Chat Group (Ireland) Facebook Page
Earth Baby Fair 
