Nappies on a Budget

It’s generally accepted that using cloth nappies works out cheaper in the long run than disposable nappies.  However there is a fairly significant upfront cost, which can be a problem for some people, or put people off.  However there are also ways that you can reduce the cost of that initial outlay as well as getting the best value for money.

1. My top tip would be to start thinking about your nappies as soon as you can.  Buying before your baby arrives means that you can spread the cost and buy bits and pieces as you can afford them.  If you’re working, it also means that the money will come out of your salary rather than your maternity pay!  Some suppliers will allow you to spread payments over a few months, whilst still taking advantage of bulk buy deals.
2. One-size nappies can be a cheaper option overall, since you only have one size to buy.  However, they generally cost more per nappy than a sized nappy so you may have a bigger initial outlay.  Conversely, if the nappy you choose comes in different sizes then you can just get the first size to start with and so spread the overall cost.  This also means that you can see how the nappy suits you over the first few months, and possibly make changes before you get the second size.
3. You don’t need to get a huge amount of kit.  There are lots of accessories that do make life easier, such as disposable liners and laundry mesh bags, but they are not essential.  You may prefer to get the absolute essentials to start with and then add accessories as you need them.  Similarly, resist the urge to buy a load of funky nappies or patterned covers – plain white works just as well and is often cheaper. 
4. Be wary of very cheap nappies –   You need a good quality waterproof layer to ensure a leak-free nappy, and to ensure that your nappy lasts.  In other words, don’t scrimp on the waterproofing. Its better to go for a cheap nappy (absorbent layer) and get a good quality waterproof cover.
5. Don’t be put off by flat nappies – they are a great way to economise.  Personally, I like the bamboo terry squares as they are so much softer and more absorbent than cotton.  They are also slimmer fitting, which means you can usually get away with just one size of terry to last from birth to toddler.  OK, you’ll need to learn to do a few folds, but it’s not too difficult once you’ve done it a couple of times.  Paired with a good quality cover, this system makes for a cheap option, whilst still performing and lasting well.
6. If you’re unsure, try a few brands/styles out before committing to a full set.  Cloth nappies are a personal choice and you want to make sure you get what’s right for you, before forking out hundreds of pounds.
7. Washable liners and wipes are a great alternative to their disposable counterparts, and will certainly save you a lot of money in the long term for a fairly small initial cost.  Just wash with your nappies as normal.
8. Consider using second hand nappies.  There are plenty of places to get good quality, well looked-after second hand nappies – such as www.usednappies.co.uk or on parenting forums.  Look out for nappies that have been well used, as this usually means that they did the job well.  If a nappy that looks immaculate and barely used, it may be because it didn’t work properly and just sat in a cupboard!
9. Look after your nappies to make them last as long as possible, especially if you want to use the same nappies again for another baby.  Don’t use too much detergent (and never use fabric softener), and avoid avoiding soaking any nappies or covers.  Try to avoid tumble drying as much as possible, and wash on as low a heat as it takes to get your nappies clean (40 degrees is usually fine – although I recommend adding an anti-bacterial nappy sanitiser to your wash if you’re washing below 60 degrees).

If you would like any advice or information, please feel free to contact me at vicki@realchoicenappies.co.uk.

Blog provided by Vicki Jordan at Real Choice Nappies

Eco – disposable nappies

“Eco” disposables have become more popular in recent years, with many people viewing them as a kind of half-way house between real cloth nappies and conventional disposables. Unfortunately, these eco-disposables are often not as “eco” as they are believed to be.  Certainly, from a landfill point of view there is very little advantage to eco-disposables, as you still throw them away. 

Firstly, most eco-disposables are so called because they use more environmentally-friendly manufacturing methods and use less chemical gels. Some eco-disposables use degradable packaging, but still there is nothing particularly degradable about the nappies themselves.

Secondly, even if the nappies are slightly more degradable than their conventional counterparts, they still won’t do much if they are sent to landfill.  Landfill waste takes a LONG time to rot down.  This is why councils encourage us to compost our kitchen waste at home rather than send it to landfill

So, even if your eco-disposable nappy was completely biodegradable, you would have to compost it at home in order for it to actually degrade quickly.  In theory, this is fine and there are a few eco-disposables on the market that can be home-composted.  But the reality is a bit different, because we’re not talking about composting one or two nappies.  A child in nappies full-time is likely to get through anywhere between 30 and 60 nappies per week, and it would have to be a pretty impressive compost bin to deal with that many nappies!

So, if you are concerned about landfill and chemical gels, then washable nappies are likely to be a far better option for you.  If there is the odd occasion when you choose to use a disposable, then you may want to go for an eco-disposable from an environmental point of view, since they have usually used less energy in their manufacture. 

Blog provided by Vicki Jordan from Real Choice Nappies.

For more information or personal nappy advice, please contact me at vicki@realchoicenappies.co.uk.

Real Nappies – Multiple children in nappies

The advantages of using real nappies are even greater when you use them for more than one child.  Obviously it makes financial sense to re-use your nappies on subsequent children if you can, to get the most out of that initial investment, but it also works if you have more than one child in nappies at the same time. 

If your children are quite close in age, then chances are you’ll have more than one in nappies at some point.  One-size nappies are great in this situation, as you can use the same nappies for all and don’t have to remember which nappies belong to which child!  You may decide to get a few more nappies to make life easier until your eldest one(s) potty train, although you will find that a few extra is all you need – you certainly shouldn’t need to buy twice the nappies.  You may even find that you can manage with what you already have, depending on the age of the older child(ren) and the number of nappy changes they need each day.

The situation is a little different when you have twins (or more!).  In this case, you will certainly need more nappies than you would for a single baby; however, it doesn’t necessarily follow that twins needs twice as many nappies.  Generally, there are “economies of scale” in having more than one baby in nappies at once, so for twins, for instance, I would usually recommend 1.5 times as many nappies as for a single baby.  Financially, this makes real nappies even better value!

For more information or for advice specific to your needs, please contact me at vicki@realchoicenappies.co.uk.

To read my previous nappy blogs, visit the nappy pages of the website 

Written by Vicki Jordan from Real Choice Nappies.