Reusable Cloth Nappies v Disposable Nappies
Discover the true cost of using disposables and why you should choose reusable nappies for your baby.
If you’re looking to convert to reusable cloth nappies but have been met with sceptics’ statements like “washing nappies is just as bad for the planet” or “eco-disposables are eco-friendly and are easier than washing nappies” then this blog is for you.
The false statements above can leave you questioning if cloth nappies really are the best choice. But don’t worry! We’re here to arm you with the facts so you can switch to reusable nappies with confidence.
Cloth Nappies Reduce Waste
The UK disposes of around 3 billion disposable nappies each year, representing an estimated 2-3% of all household waste. This huge contribution to landfill will stick around for over 500 years (it’s likely way more, but who’s is really able to measure that?!)
Not throwing every single dirty nappy that you take off your baby’s bum in the bin means that you don’t have to empty the bin so often, your wheelie bin won’t be overflowing, and there will be much less waste in landfill too. Something your conscience and your local council will be over the moon about!
By the time your baby is potty trained, they’ll have had around 5,000 nappy changes. That’s 5,000 nappies that you’re throwing into landfill if you use disposables or eco-disposables. Even if you swap out just one of your disposable nappies a day to a washable nappy you’ll still save 365 nappies from landfill each year. Brilliant!
Less Really is More
You will only need 15-25 reusable nappies to use cloth nappies full-time from birth to potty training. That’s just a fraction of the 5,000 disposables that you could use while your little one is in nappies. As you can imagine, it takes a lot more energy and raw material to manufacture 5,000 disposable nappies compared to 15-25 reusable nappies. 98% less, to be specific!
It’s not just the environment that reusables save, they’re great for saving some pennies in the long run too. A full-time reusable nappy kit will cost approximately £300 while disposables can cost in the region of £1,000. That’s a saving of around £700!
Manageable Upfront Costs
The upfront cost of reusable nappies is sometimes a barrier for parents looking to make the switch. Luckily, we have a variety of discounted cloth nappy Trial Kits so you can get started for less. There are also plenty of reusable nappy voucher schemes, like Real Nappies For London, that can help with the cost of buying a reusable nappy kit.
We also offer Klarna as a payment option so you can pay in full up to 30 days later or split the cost into manageable monthly payments, all without fees or interest. Yippee! Remember, you don't need to go full-time from day one. Plenty of parents grow their stash slowly.
Isn't Washing Bad for the Environment?
The idea of washable nappies tends to stop people in their tracks. And those who want to make less environmental impact often end up reverting to so-called ‘eco-disposables’ because of the perceived difficulties of washing reusable nappies. Unfortunately, anything that’s used once then chucked in the bin can’t be classed as eco-friendly.
Washing reusable nappies is easy, we promise. You don’t have to soak TotsBots nappies, stir them with a big stick, or boil wash them to get them clean. You just chuck them in the wash with non-bio powder (and no fabric softener) a couple of times a week! Read our How to Wash Reusable Nappies blog for a step-by-step guide.
Using your washing machine more often doesn’t counteract the planet-friendly work of reusable nappies. An updated LCA report confirmed that cloth nappies are up to 40% better for the environment than disposables — even when taking laundering into consideration. Just remember to follow good eco practices like line drying when possible and washing full loads.
Nappies Free from Harmful Chemicals
As well as being better for the environment, reusable nappies are better for baby’s skin. Each TotsBots nappy is free from irritating chemicals or perfumes — and they’ve got the Oeko-Tex certification to prove it. Our natural fabric nappies use bamboo fibre for absorbency instead of chemicals, so you can be confident that you’re wrapping your little one’s bot in nothing but TLC.
Join the Reusable Revolution
We hope this post has helped wash away those sceptics’ statements and encourages you to join us in the fight against those despicable disposables. To get started, take a look at our cloth nappy Trial Packs or the full range of reusable nappies. If you still have questions about choosing or using cloth nappies, please feel free to get in touch via our live chat or hello@totsbots.com — we’re always happy to help.