As parents we’d all like to do our bit to help the environment and one way to start is to use cloth nappies instead of disposables. Here’s mum of one Chelle McCann from our Parent Panel with some tips on getting started.

Before Fizz was born I considered using cloth nappies but the expense seemed to rule my decision and I opted for Eco Friendly disposables  instead. After Fizz’s birth the hospital provided us with a well known brand everyday but on our return home we used the Eco Friendly nappies. Then, halfway down the pack, we started getting leaks and nappies that wouldn’t fix. In the end we knew the well known brand worked and we didn’t think of all the environmental consequences, mainly because we had a newborn and we were getting little sleep. We wanted ease of use and as little faff as possible!

When Fizz was six months old I won a cloth nappy competition over at the natural parenting blog Diary of a First Child. This gave me the nudge to start investing and I spent £45 with this nappy company to bulk up my collection to two days worth. I have never regretted it. For what it cost for under 2 months worth of disposables I had got enough to last a few days and each month I added another 1-2 nappies to the collection. So really, getting started was made easy for me and I was such a convert I even offered to do a cloth journey blog for the company that had been so helpful to me in my quest to have a cloth bummed baba.

The nappies can sometimes feel a bit fiddly at first but once you get the knack they are easy to use. Overall it is the best decision for Fizz because when using them her nappy rash is better than it is with disposables. Much much better in fact: natural and organic is the best choice for Fizz and her Nursery was really pleased to use it in comparison to other styles they have used.

So how can I sell it to you to tip you over to thinking about cloth?

• It’s environmentally friendly-in six months we estimated that we had stopped 1000 nappies from going to landfill
• They’re good for baby –tends to be less nappy rash
• You can use them again for the next child or pass them on
• It does save money in the long run
• Disposables were costing me around £30 a month: times that by at least 24 months = £720.
• Cloth nappies can be anything from totally free eg hand me downs to £13 – £15 each for new ones. You will need about 15 for 3 days costing you  approx £225

Here’s what I’d suggest to get started:

• Around 15 nappies, with their inserts and liners costing you approx £225
• A bin or a wet bag (around £3.95 for a bag, but buy at least 3 to keep a rotation)
• Liners (to throw away the poop easily £5.99 for 200 sheets)
• Flannels (to be extra environmentally friendly and wipe baby’s bottom)
• Tea Tree oil
• Nappy soak for your nappy bin (I don’t use this as tea tree seems enough)

I always suggest to  people with bumps that now is the time to think about investing. During your last 6 months of pregnancy focus on splitting the cost over those few months. It means spending around £35 a month, similar to the price of your monthly disposable costs, but once you’ve invested-that’s it!

So, what is your experience with cloth nappies? What suggestions would you add to my list or what questions do you have about using them?

Leave a comment or question for Chelle, she is very happy to discuss details about the nappies she chose, you can also contact her via Twitter @ChelleMcCann.

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