Beginner’s guide to cloth nappies with Darlings Downunder
Published on 30 March 2022
Every day, 5.6 million disposable nappies are thrown away in Australia; that’s 2 billion every year, with disposable nappies comprising 4% of household waste.
Cloth and reusable nappy expert Fiona from Darlings Downunder is hosting a free reusable cloth nappy workshop on Wednesday 20 April 2022 at Maroondah Federation Estate, in Ringwood.
As well as leaving with the know-how to begin your cloth nappy journey, attendees will also receive a free cloth nappy.
Ahead of the event, the team at Darlings Downunder gave us the lowdown on the benefits of going cloth, cleaning tips and how to become a cloth nappy convert.
Q. What are the main benefits of cloth nappies?
The main benefit of cloth nappies is the impact they can make on your budget and your family’s environmental footprint.
A lot of parents start considering reusable nappies when they see just how much waste their tiny little newborn is creating!
According to a lifecycle study by the University of Queensland, compared to a baby that uses cloth nappies, in a single year disposable nappies manufactured for just one baby will:
- Use 20–50 times as much land for raw material
- Use four to eight times as much energy
- Use about the same amount of water
- Create over 300kg more landfill
This is the case even if you include not only the growing of crops for the fabric and manufacturing of cloth nappies, but the washing of them for that year as well.
There’s a financial impact to using disposable nappies for parents as well. According to CHOICE Magazine, parents using single-use nappies will spend from $1,700 to $3,000 per child on disposable nappies depending on when their child toilet trains and which brand of nappy they use.
Parents using cloth nappies will usually spend $250-$1,000 on cloth nappies (though it can be less if they use terry squares, buy secondhand nappies or use the same nappies on more than one child, and will usually spend around $100-$200 a year on water, electricity and detergent washing them.
Plus, parents know exactly what they’re putting against their baby’s skin, and reusable nappies come in attractive colours and prints to add some brightness to a not-necessarily-great part of parenting.
Q. There are lots of different types of cloth nappies—what is a simple way for someone to choose the right nappy for their baby?
Most reusable nappies work for most babies most of the time (newborns can be the trickiest, especially if you’re using a nappy that adjusts to fit from birth/cloth to birth to toilet training), and there are work arounds and tips—like switching to a more absorbent insert or getting the fit right to prevent leaks to help if you’re having issues.
Learn about the different styles—Pocket, All-in-One, Fitted, All-in-2, Terry Flat and Prefold—and determine which style will suit your family the best. For example, a Pocket nappy or All-in-2 is great for Melbourne weather as the inserts can be separated from the waterproof shell; an All-in-One nappy can be easy for baby sitters or childcare; and a Fitted nappy and cover is the most absorbent option for nights or heavier wetters. Then, look at the brands available in the style that appeals to you most. This can cut out a lot of unnecessary research into different brands and you end up with a nappy that will work for your family.
Remember that most parents have several different types/brands of reusable nappies in their stash and at different stages they may prefer some of the others. There is no one ‘perfect’ nappy.
Attending a cloth nappy workshop or talking to a family who already uses reusable nappies can also be a great way to get a handle on how it all works.
Q. How do you clean a cloth nappy?
Keep it simple.
- Solids (once you’re past the runny poo stage!) should go in the waste water system. Wipe off with toilet paper or use a nappy sprayer to get it into the toilet or rinse the nappy under the laundry tap.
- Dry pail—pop the nappies into a basket until you’re ready to wash them. You don’t need to soak nappies any more!
- Don’t leave the nappies longer than two days before washing.
- Put the nappies through a short wash cycle to remove as much of the soiling as possible. Then, put them through a heavy-duty cycle (like cotton) up to 60 degrees.
- Use the full amount of detergent for a heavily soiled load.
- Most nappies can go in the dryer on low heat but drying on the line is the most environmentally-friendly option.
Q. What is the best way for someone to get started using cloth nappies?
If you can borrow several different nappy brands from friends, that can be an easy way to try some before committing to a purchase, or there are a few cloth nappy libraries you can hire reusable nappies from (just make sure the nappies are washed according to Australian laundry standards). Otherwise, a trial pack from a multi-brand retailer of several different types/brands is the best way to start your stash and trial different options.
Secondhand is also an option to try some nappies on a budget, but, do be aware that sometimes they may have had more wear than advertised so if you experience problems, it may be more related to that rather than to the brand/style itself.
Q. What are some of the things parents and carers can do once they are finished with their nappies?
If the reusable nappies are still in excellent condition, they can be passed onto family or friends, donated to charities or through ‘pass it on’ groups, or sold online in buy/sell/swap groups.
If a nappy is passed-it and can’t be repaired, then parts (like boosters and inserts) can be used as dusters or cleaning cloths, and while snaps and waterproof layers can’t be composted, most of a natural-fibre nappy can be.
Q. What advice would you give a parent or carer who is thinking about trying cloth nappies for the first time?
While it can seem overwhelming when you start to research cloth nappies, once you start using them it all makes sense and you wil become an expert in no time.
See if your Council, the Australian Nappy Association or a local cloth nappy business holds cloth nappy workshops. Attending a workshop where you can see lots of different nappies in real life and getting the chance to chat to an expert and ask all your questions can give you the confidence you need to get started.
Just give it a go. Thousands of parents around Australia use reusable nappies every day. There are great resources and support available if you need help or get stuck. Often there’s an easy fix to help you out.
Q. What would you say to a parent or carer who is concerned about the ‘effort’ required with cloth nappies opposed to disposable?
Whenever we choose a reusable product over a single use product, there is extra work involved. For example, we have to wash dishes (or stack the dishwasher) rather than throw out disposable plates and cutlery. When you have a baby, there is a whole lot of extra work involved (not just nappies!), but, setting up systems and routines helps to manage this.
Washing machines do most of the work when it comes to cloth nappies. Getting into a routine of washing and how you store them will help integrate them into your life, and it will become part of your normal day.
If you’re concerned about handling cloth nappies when you’re out and about (just pop the dirty nappy into a wetbag and deal with it when you get home!), then start by just using reusable nappies at home until you’re comfortable. If you’re worried about using cloth at night, just use them during the day until your feel confident to use them at night. Or, maybe decide that you’ll use disposables at night and reusable nappies during the day. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Doing our bit
Council is committed to reducing the number of disposable nappies going to landfill.
Maroondah is currently one of 12 Councils participating in a feasibility study to discover more about reusable nappies.
We have just closed off consultation for the study, which engaged with both parents and caregivers to understand any barriers they face to using reusable nappies.
This will be an important first step in not only diverting waste from landfill but creating behaviour change across Maroondah and Victoria.
The project team is currently analysing the data and will soon provide recommendations for the next steps for this fantastic initiative.
In the meantime, if you’re thinking of giving reusable nappies a go, come along to the cloth nappy workshop to hear more from Fiona at Darlings Downunder and to see the variety of cloth nappies available for parents to use.
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