Q & A washable nappies

Why go for washable nappies?

Save at least £400 per baby compared to disposable nappies.
Purest for your baby - naturally absorbent so no need for gels or chemicals.
Best for the environment - less resources used, nothing goes to landfill.

How easy are washable nappies to use?

They take a little more effort than disposables, but are well worth trying. We recommend starting with washable nappies when your baby is 8 to 12 weeks old.

1. Half fill a Nappy Bucket with water and add a shake of Bambino Mio Nappy Fresh to make it smell nice.

2. Put a Nappy Mesh into the bucket to make it easy to pull the nappies out!

3. When your baby's nappy needs changing, remove nappy liner and throw into the loo.

4. Put in the inserts and nappy liners and cover into the bucket.

5. When the bucket is full or you're about to start a clothes wash, take the bucket to the washing machine, pull the inserts and nappy covers out (in the nappy mesh bag) and put into the machine.

6. Hang out to dry over night.

How many washable nappies do I need?

Newborn babies may need to be changed 8 or so times every day, so you will need at least 16 nappy inserts.

You may only need 4 - 6 nappy covers as these are less likely to be soiled.

Older babies may only need 4 changes each day, so 8 nappy inserts and 4 nappy covers should be enough.

Which washable nappy would you recommend?

Beaming Baby's own washable nappies and inserts have been made to our usual exacting standards and have been designed to provide comfort for your baby and convenience for you.

Terry nappies are a traditional favourite and they are great value. Terry nappies can be folded to suit your baby's needs and are super soft and absorbent. Terry nappies are really versatile and the quickest drying washable you can buy. You don't need to worry about struggling with nappy pins, just use quick and easy Nappy Nippas. Terry nappies are also very useful to have around, and can be used as a muslin, baby towel, breastfeeding blanket changing blanket or a makeshift bib.

Liners - a thin tissue to keep baby's bottom dry. We recommend Beaming Baby Biodegradable Liners, these can be flushed down the loo!

Washable Nappy Materials

Hemp Cloth Nappies:

Hemp is the most absorbent but it is also the most likely to get stiff and in some cases it may hang onto odors more than bamboo or cotton. IMO natural hemp lasts longer than overly processed hemp. More natural hemp is unbleached so it has a cream color and is not super soft. If the hemp is white and silky, it is probably hemp rayon and no longer a truly natural fiber.

Hemp does not require pesticides or fertilizers to grow, and it is good for the soil it grows in. It is most often mixed with organic cotton for stability and softness.

Bamboo Cloth nappies:

Bamboo is super absorbent and stays the softest after many washes. Bamboo comes in many forms - velour, jersey, fleece, flannel, etc. Bamboo velour wears out a bit faster than bamboo fleece. Fleece is more absorbent than velour, but velour is also very absorbent.

Cotton Cloth Nappies:

Cotton is a workhorse fabric. It is pretty absorbent, though not as much as hemp or bamboo. It rarely holds onto odors, is easy to keep clean, does not need stripping as often as synthetics, and has held up better in our hard water than any other natural fiber.

With any of these fabrics, they will wear out faster if you use a detergent that has a lot of borax in it. Bamboo and hemp can almost dissolve away with regular use of borax-detergents - especially in hard water.

Bamboo:

Bamboo fleece is a popular option for cloth diapers. It is super soft, wicks moisture away quickly, and can keep your baby comfortable even when wet.

Hemp:

Hemp inserts are a real work-horse in the cloth diapering world - they are durable and super thirsty! You won't find much 100% hemp fabric, it is usually blended with cotton (45% cotton, 55% hemp), which makes it softer and more comfortable. Hemp does come off the clothes line quite stiff, though, so you may want to soften it up in the dryer!

Microfiber:

Microfiber is a man-made, absorbent material. Made of a polyester/polyamide blend, they are light and fast-drying. You should use a barrier, such as fleece liners, between a microfiber insert and your baby's skin, because microfiber can dry out and irritate their sensitive skin. Microfiber is also a little like a sponge - since it's fluffy, moisture may ""wring out"" of it when subjected to compression. In general, layer for layer, bamboo, hemp, and cotton are trimmer and more absorbent than microfiber.