We attend a growing number of antenatal groups, parent craft classes, parent and toddler groups, not to mention talk to many expectant mothers. These are some of the more common statements we have heard, and our replies.

Please remember, though we may well be bais toward cloth, our answers are based on proven facts, not gossip, or marketing media hype.

• “Surely its easier in this rapidly moving world just to use disposables?”

Well, no. Its just as much hassle to empty a bin every day, as it is to put your washing machine on.

• “I haven’t the time to boil and soak nappies, then worry about drying them!”

Then don’t! You don’t need to! Modern cloth nappies now will wash at 40 degrees, (soiled ones at 60 ) the advancement of our washing machines means theres no need to have your cotton nappies soaking in the bath all night like your mother used to!  If you don’t want to worry about washing, use a laundry service.

• “I don’t want to use pins and spend hours folding terry nappies!”

You don’t have to. New designs give you an option of Velcro, popper, or the baby safe replacement of the pin, the Nappi Nippa to fasten your cloth nappy, they are shaped like disposable nappies to fit snuggly around your baby.

• “Cloth nappies smell!”

No they don't. Many parents confuse the chemical smell that a disposable nappy gives as a “baby smell”. Cloth nappies don’t give off any scent, unless of course the scent is the lavender oil many cloth users add to the wash.

• “Why should I wash nappies when I can just throw them away?.”

Did you know around 3 to 4 billion disposable nappies are sent to landfill in the UK every year? It takes hundreds of years for a disposable nappy to decompose, and then don’t forget the scented nappy sack its tied in! The UK will run out of landfill sites in the next ten years. Four percent of all household waste are disposable nappies and the nations taxpayers spend £40 million annually disposing of 800 000 tonnes produced, if we don’t bury it for our children to deal with, we will be burning it – is that the legacy you want to leave for your baby?

• “It causes babies to walk bow legged”

Sorry this one is not true. Its more than likely that you had a cloth nappy as a baby… do you walk any differently? In fact, the extra padding about the spine protects on modern laminate flooring far more than a little bit of gel and paper pulp does. Reusable nappies are also known to aid in helping position hips in some babies, if you don't believe us, ask your midwife.

• “Disposables don’t leak”

Yes they do, they are more prone to let loose poo escape up the back  and around the legs(especially if baby is breast fed) so you end up having to change all the clothing and bedding- and doing an extra wash ! Cloth nappies are a more snug fit against baby, without being overly tight, plus there is the dual layer of wrap and cotton nappy. Nappies are not supposed to leak, don't accept less!
 

• “Its cheaper for me to buy disposables”

Ermm, no. It may be less obvious to spend a few pounds extra on your shopping and struggle home with the bulky packaging on the back of the new travel system, but its not cheaper over the years your baby is going to be using nappies. If this is your first baby you will save anything from £500 upwards after buying your cloth nappies. Of course,  because you don’t throw them away, you will save even more if you have a second…or a third!!!  Your also saving yourself having to drag your newborn out in the rain when you run out of disposables… You might not notice the £5 to £10 a week in your weekly shopping, but it adds up, you will spend more on disposables no matter what brand you opt for.