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How Much Money Will I Save By Using Cloth?
As the graph above shows, you can expect to spend about $10,000 on disposable nappies for 3 children. However, you can outlay money once on cloth nappies, and reuse them for all of your children. The ongoing cost of cloth nappies is minimal. See our article on cloth vs disposable for more information.
How Do You Wash Cloth Nappies?
Each manufacturer gives reccomendations on washing their nappies. However there are basically 2 methods that people use:
Method 1 - Dry Pailing
1. At each nappy change, discard solid waste into the toilet. Then put the nappy into a dry bucket or dry pedal bin.
2. Every 2nd or 3rd day (depending on your nappy supply) put the nappies in the washing machine and put them through a pre-wash or rinse cycle. Follow this with a normal wash using ½ the amount of powder that would be used for a similar sized load. (Some people find that they don't need the pre-wash.)
3. Hang them in the sun to dry. The sun is used as a bleach taking out any remaining marks in the nappy and killing any bacteria.
Note It is recommended not to leave nappies in a dry pail for more than 2 days as the elastic may be affected by the urine.
Method 2 - Soaking
1. Each morning half fill a nappy bucket with warm water and
sanitizing powder.
2. At each nappy change, discard solid waste into the toilet. Then put the nappy into the bucket.
3. The following morning put the nappies through a RINSE CYCLE ONLY.
4. Hang them in the sun to dry.
Most cloth nappies can be dry pailed or soaked and most cloth nappies can be put in a clothes dryer on low. You may choose to use different methods of washing at different times. Note that soaking nappies may eventually affect elastic performance. Also, products containing PUL should not be soaked. See here for more washing tips.
How Do You Discard Solid Waste?
Solid waste belongs in the toilet regardless of what type of nappy system you choose (even disposables!). The 2 easiest ways of discarding solid waste into the toilet in an environmentally friendly manner are:
1. Flushable, Disposable Nappy Liners
These are placed inside the nappy closest to the babies skin. They allow moisture to pass through to the absorbent layers of the nappy and they 'catch' the solid waste. When the liner gets soiled, simply drop the liner into the toilet. (Note: Not all disposable nappy liners can be put into the toilet.)
2. Cloth Nappy Liners
These are placed inside the nappy closest to the babies skin. They are usually made from microfleece or polar fleece. Solid waste just rolls right off the fleece.
3. The Little Squirt
The Little Squirt is a simple hose that attaches to your existing toilet water supply tap (no plumber needed) allowing you to squirt the nappy's contents straight into the toilet bowl with no mess, no fuss. The trigger is fitted with a tamper proof system so toddler's can't get up to mischief!
Can I Use Cloth On My Baby At Night?
To increase the absorbency of a cloth nappy so that it can last your baby the whole night, all you need to do is add more cloth inside the nappy. These pieces of cloth are called 'boosters' and are designed specifically for this purpose.
How Many Nappies Do I Need?
If you're purchasing nappies for a newborn baby, you need to consider that he/she could need up to 12 changes a day for the first couple of weeks. Even after that your baby will probably need about 8 changes per day. Therefore, 24 nappies is a good number of nappies to purchase at this time. You may need to wash every day for the first couple of weeks and then every 2nd day after that.
An older baby may only go through about 5 nappy changes a day. Therefore you'd only need about 15 nappies if you're washing every 2nd day.
Lifestyle also plays a role in the decision about the number of nappies you require. You may even like to keep 2 nappies permanently in your nappy bag or car to make getting out of the house with a baby just that little bit simpler.
Are There Any DISPOSABLE and Environmentally Friendly Options?
Yes! Look at our Weenees Eco Pads which fit inside our Weenees Covers as well as our Bumpy Buns nappy covers. Weenees eco pads can be flushed down the toilet or composted.
Where Should I Put My Change Table?
It's common practice to put a baby change table in the nursery however it may be more hygienic to put your table in a wet area such as the toilet, laundry or bathroom, depending on how much room each one offers. It is possible to purchase a wall change table if your space is limited. As well as your creams, wipes and nappies, it is ideal to have your bucket or pedal bin within reach of the change table. It is also helpful to have a second bucket or pedal bin next to the toilet. | 
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