Nappyneedz

Eight years ago today I became a Mum for the first time; 8 whole years of being a mother.  It’s also been 8 years of cloth nappies.  I think I’ve mentioned before that I started out working as a cloth nappy advisor, as well as sewing my own nappies when my oldest was about six months old, and it’s from this that Nappy needz grew.  I thought, seeing as I’m feeling a little nostalgic, I’d have a little look back over my 8 years of cloth nappies, and share some of my first nappies with you. First nappies I used I’d planned on using cloth nappies, long before I was even expecting my first baby, although back then I’d expect them to be pretty much like my Mum used on my brothers.  Things had come a long way since then though, and the choice of cloth nappies out there were quite different.  That said, the first cloth nappies that I used on my little man were quite similar to those old terry squares my Mum used.  I started out with muslin squares that I folded using the “Jo fold” and then fas

Do you use cloth nappies out and about? The idea of using cloth when you are away from home can seem quite daunting, but with our top tips, you should find using cloth nappies out and about really easy. Tips for using cloth nappies out and about  Take plenty of spare nappies: There’s nothing worse than not having enough nappy changes whatever type of nappies you are using. Always take extra covers as well as inserts, you might not normally need to change the cover at each change, but you don’t want to be caught out when using cloth nappies out and about. Get a good quality wet bag, with a zip or drawstring closure that will help keep in smells and wetness. If you are using cloth wipes, think about taking them dry to wet when you need them, or carry a bottle of water to wet them as you need them. Biodegradable wipes make a good alternative when you are away from home. When using cloth nappies out and about, consider using flushable liners, then you don’t have to take solid waste home wi

If you are dealing with nappies that leak, you may hear people talking about compression leaking.  But what exactly is a compression leak and how do you deal with it?  What is compression leaking? You might sometimes hear compression leaking called compression wicking, but it is exactly the same thing.  As you might imagine from the name, compression leaking or wicking is caused when the nappy is compressed.  Basically the insert is squeezed and the liquid comes out.  Because there’s nowhere for it to go, it often leaks out past the PUL outer or cover.  Compression leaking often happens when your little one gets older and is doing larger wees and is sitting.  The combination of a very wet nappy and the nappy being squeezed because your baby is sitting, can cause this compression leaking to take place. Do all nappies suffer from compression leaking? Usually compression leaking only happens when you are using microfibre on it’s own, and you don’t tend to see it when you have a natural fi

Cloth nappies on the market currently are made from all kinds of different fabrics, but what about cotton nappies? For many years, all cloth nappies were made from cotton, but these days cotton tends not to be used.  Are there advantages to using cotton nappies? Is cotton still a good choice for your babies cloth nappies when there are so many other fabrics to choose from on the market? Long lasting cotton nappies The first cloth nappies that I bought and used (and made) for my oldest son, eight years ago now, were cotton.  There were already other fabrics available on the market, but for the most part, nappies were still made of cotton.  Eight years and four children later, a lot of those cotton nappies are still going strong.  One of the great things about cotton is that it can take a lot of abuse, and still last well.  Although most modern cloth nappies aren’t designed to be boil washed or soaked, (and lets be honest here, you don’t actually need to) most cotton nappies will stand u

Starting cloth nappies on an older baby or toddler may seem a bit daunting, but for many people, they just aren’t ready to give cloth nappies a go until their little one is past the newborn stage.  Here we give you some hints and tips for starting cloth nappies on an older baby. Starting cloth nappies on an older baby If you’ve been using disposable nappies on your baby for some time already, then making the switch and starting cloth nappies on an older baby can take a bit of getting used to,  One of the big advantages of doing it at a later stage though, is that you have usually got the hang of other things such as feeding, and taking care of a demanding newborn by the time you give cloth a go.  If you are trying cloth for the first time, doing it on an older baby, means that you  can take your time and build up to using cloth as much as you want, trying out the different styles and types to see what works for you before taking the plunge into using cloth full time, or at least most o

Storing cloth nappies: You’ve bought your cloth nappies, and they are all ready to go for your little one, but where are you going to keep them.  What are your options when it comes to storing cloth nappies? Where is going to be the handiest place to put them, and keep them ready for your next use.  We asked some of our facebook followers to share their storage solutions with us. Storing cloth nappies When it comes to storing cloth nappies, ideally you want somewhere that’s close at hand when you need to change your little one, is easy to get at, and where you can put the nappies neatly so that they are all ready to go.  For lots of you, the ideal place is a book shelf next to the change table.          One of the added advantages of this kind of storage, is that the cloth nappies look really great when they are all put in together. Some people like fabric nappy stackers that hang at the end of the change table or cot.  These are particularly good for flat cotton nappies or prefolds t