Reusable nappies - A handy guide
Introduction to Reusable Nappies
When we started our journey to make reusable nappies EVERYONE said “Do people still use those?” and to this day it is still a question people ask, but thankfully not so frequently now as more and people are now becoming aware of the fantastic alternatives to disposables out there. Modern reusable nappies are totally different to the nappies that were available when we started, however the reasons for choosing them are still the same:
Reusable nappies save you money
The average disposable is around 8.7p and reusable nappies cost around 0.03p per change. That's a significant saving for your first baby, and if you use them with baby number two it'll just save you even more.
They work better than disposables
Our cleverly designed reusable nappies have leak-proof seams for a soft, snug fit and are super absorbent too. No up the back leaky poos with a TotsBots! They are easy to use too, just use a liner to dispose of the poo and store in your nappy bucket until it’s time to wash. No need for messy soaking either, just pop them into your machine and wash with non-bio powder at 40 degrees for wet, 60 degrees for soiled, and voila!
They don't contain any irritating chemicals
You have just carried your baby around for 9 months watching what you eat and drink in order to give your baby the best chance and we bet you wouldn't choose a whole host of chemicals to wrap baby in; which is the reality when you use disposable nappies. TotsBots reusable nappies are the only cloth nappy brand to be completely Oekotex 100 certified too– meaning absolutely no harmful chemicals next to your bubba's delicate bottom ever.
No Rashes
Reusable nappies are much less likely to cause nappy rash it’s a fact. This includes eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions too. Plus, using reusable nappies encourages early potty training too. Happy days!
Reduce your household waste
If you had to pick one of those household jobs that you could avoid would it be putting the bin out by any chance? Switching to reusable nappies will cut your household waste by 50%, so that’s fewer trips dragging the bin bags to the dustbin for you and no stinky nappies sat in the bins for a week or two, depending on how often your council does the rounds.
Reduce your carbon footprint
Even taking into account the amount of energy used in washing, choosing reusable nappies will reduce your carbon footprint by 40%. Another fact to consider is each baby in disposable nappies will produce 2 tonnes of waste that will take up to 500 years to breakdown; or when landfill runs out, these will be incinerated releasing dioxins into the air we breathe. This versus 2 kilos of fabric required to make 25 reusable nappies that can be re-used again and again for many year is a staggering difference. Do it for their future.
They are beautiful
Quite simply reusable nappies are so much nicer looking than the insipid white flimsy paper disposables. Babies just look cuter in cloth.
Here’s our quick guide to the different types of reusable nappies:
So now you know the benefits of reusable nappies, but what about all the different types out there? It does get a bit confusing, but here at TotsBots we like to keep it simple for you so we only have 2 types of nappy:
Nappies for day-time - Teenyfit, EasyFits and Bamboozle Nappy Wrap
Nappies for night-time - Bamboozle Night-Time
The EasyFit:
- A one-piece reusable nappy that has a bamboo absorbent core and integral waterproof outer
- No assembly required! The most similar to a disposable you can get
- Pop in a stay dry liner and you're ready to rock n roll
- This is easy to use during the daytime and fits from birth to potty training
- 4-6 hours between changes
- The TeenyFit is a smaller very similar version of the EasyFit for teeny tiny early babies.
Pros: Easy on and off. Slim fitting. Perfect for use with child-minders & nurseries. Best nappy for daytime as it fits well under clothes.
Cons: May need boosting for heavy wetters, so just add in another absorbent pad.
Bamboozle Night-Time
- Two-piece system consisting of waterproof cover and shaped bamboo reusable nappy – no nappy pins required!
- Two sizes available: Size 1 for smaller babies like twins and prem (6-18lbs) and Size 2 which fits most from 'birth to potty' (8-35lbs)
- Super stretchy for a soft comfortable fit on baby
- When it’s time to change, remove the nappy, put on a new one and reuse the waterproof cover
- Will last up to 12 hours
- The best reusable nappy ever for overnight use
Pros: Unbeatable absorbency and containment.
Cons: Can be bulkier than a daytime nappy and takes a longer to dry than the other reusable nappies in our range.
Bamboozle Nappy Wrap
- Two-piece system consisting of waterproof cover and bamboo absorbent Bamboozle pad
- The Bamboozle pad splits into two and can be used three ways, so is perfect for for light-wetters & newborn babies right up to heavy wetting toddlers.
- When it’s time to change, remove soiled pad, give the cover a wipe and pop in a new pad. Insert in a stay dry liner and you're ready to go!
- This is the most economical nappy in our range
- Fits from birth to potty
- 4-6 hours between changes
Pros: Slim fit, fast drying, economical.
Cons: If your baby has very runny poo you may need to change the cover with each pad.
What will I typically need?
- 15-20 day nappies (If using Bamboozle Nappy Wrap, you need 20 Pads and around 5 waterproof wraps depending on how often you wash)
- 5-night nappies plus a couple of waterproof covers
- Liners - disposable or reusable
- Bucket or bag to store the dirty nappies in (plus a mesh bag to line it)
- Waterproof bag to use out and about
Which reusable nappy type is best for my baby?
It mainly comes down to your lifestyle, budget and fit on your baby as all our nappy types are easy to use and work brilliantly. If your baby is going to nursery or child-minder, the EasyFit is best as it’s most like a disposable and people just get it. If you are on a tight budget, then go for the Bamboozle Nappy Wrap system as it is the most economical. For night-time, go for the Bamboozles with a Bamboozle Wrap. It’s what everybody uses and is simply unbeatable overnight!
What do you do with the poo?
As mentioned earlier, liners make the job of disposing of poo from reusable nappies that bit easier. When it’s time to change just remove the liner and throw the poo in the loo. You can use reusable fleece liners too, just tip the poo in the loo and wash these with your reusable nappies.
How much work are they?
We have been using reusable nappies on our own babies here at TotsBots for the last 18 years and can confirm that they are not that much extra work at all. It goes like this:
5 minutes to put in the machine, pop in the powder and select your cycle
5 minutes to hang up or pop in the dryer once the cycle is finished
5 minutes to fold and put away
3 times a week
That’s not even a whole hour, the washing machine does all the work for you anyway, plus it’s probably on every couple of days anyway so you might as well pop some nappies in there too. Our babies are worth that little extra we think, plus you will never feel guilty using a reusable nappy, but you may feel guilty using a disposable knowing that it can take up to 500 years to decompose.
We hope we have convinced you of all the wonderful reasons to make the switch to using reusable nappies. If you have any more questions drop us a line hello@totsbots.com
Happy Nappying! Shop our reusable nappies HERE