Do cloth nappies slow down walking?

Cloth nappies can seem to be quite big and bulky compared to disposable nappies. Some parents worry that this may impact on their babies physical development. Do cloth nappies slow down walking?

Cloth nappies and movement

There is no denying that cloth nappies are generally bigger and bulkier than disposable nappies. They tend to hold legs and hips in a different position. Many parents are concerned that this may delay movement. Some children seem to roll around more when they have their nappies taken off, for some nappy free time. Does this mean that the nappies are delaying things though?

Generally speaking cloth nappies will not slow down your child’s development. Don’t forget that man parents have used them for many many years and children have all learned to walk. The increased movement probably comes from the difference of having a nappy on to not having one on, rather than the movement having been restricted before. It is also worth considering that children who have problems with their hips, are often placed in cloth nappies by medical professionals. Babies are supposed to have their legs in a frog leg position, for optimal hip development and it is this position that cloth nappies hold them in. For this reason, in many ways, cloth nappies are helping with their development.

Do cloth nappies slow down walking?

Although there might be a very slight difference between a baby in cloth nappies and a baby in disposable nappies, cloth nappies aren’t really going to make any difference. Of my four children, all four of whom were in cloth, they all walked at completely different ages. When a baby starts to roll, crawl or walk has far more to do with each individual baby than what they are wearing.

I’d love to hear about your experiences with babies and learning to walk. How old was your little one? Please leave a comment below.