Nappy Info

Below is some information that we believe will assist you with your purchase of cloth nappies.  If you cant find what you are after in this seciton, have a look at our FAQ section which has some really great Q & As about using and choosing cloth.


However, if you wish to have a chat to us about how any of the products work or the success of modern cloth nappies in general, please contact us at anytime and we will endeavour to help you.  We love to help.  We know tyring to work out whether to go cloth or what to buy is really daunting.  We have tried out lots of different brands and nappies so we might be able to give you some guidance as to what is right for you.  Dont spend hours reading through materials and trawlling the net -  just email us and we'll try and help. No question is too small!

 

Why Cloth?


We are unsure as to why more people do not use cloth. We can only assume that most parents are not aware of the benefits of cloth nappies and the changes to the designs over the years. Yes, they used to be ugly, complicated and a pain to use, but the modern cloth nappy is now as easy to use as a disposable nappy but without the cost of a disposable (financially and environmentally).
Here are some reasons to switch to cloth:
 

1. Adorable and fashionable designs

Forget those ugly disposable nappies that come in one plain design. The modern cloth nappy is available in a number of fantastic and fashionable designs, so the modern cloth nappy is not only a functional nappy, but a must have fashion accessory for any bub. They also come in a Minky fabric which is a super soft layer on the outside of the nappy and is absolutely huggable.
 

2. Easy to Fit, Easy to clean

They fit onto your bub just like a disposable (either with velcro or pop button clasps). When they are dirty, you simply store them in a bucket until washing day (which is almost every day when you have a new bub) and then throw them in the wash with everything else. After they are washed you need to pop them on the line (or some of them can be dried in the dryer) and then they are ready for use again. Easy! Dont worry, there is no need to touch the dirty part of the nappy or even soak them if you dont want to.
Where each of our nappies can be dried in the tumble dryer, we have indicated that in the product description for that nappy in our website.
 

3. Can double as a swim nappy

The nappies that are made of PUL (polyuetherane laminate) on the outside can double up as a swim nappy by removing the inners and simply snapping the nappy to the bub. There is no need for the inners when using in the water as absorbency is not needed.
Where the nappy can be used as a swim nappy, we have indicated that on the production information for each nappy in our website.
 

4. May save you potentially $3000

They can potentially save you thousands of dollars each year as the nappies can be re-used over and over again for one baby or more than one baby.

When we considered that we spent approximately $30 per week on nappies for our bub (which adds up to $1500 a year and $3000 by the time our bub is 2 years old) switching to cloth became a savvy financial decision (given that we would be down to one income for some time). When you add in the additional financial benefit of being able to use the same nappies for subsequent babies and on your toddler for toilet training etc, the savings increase!

If you are given the nappies (as a baby shower present for example), the savings are even better! You never have to pay for nappies, ever! Speak to us about setting up a gift registry for your baby shower today (which can all be done online).
 

5. No harsh chemicals against your babys skin

The natural fabrics of the modern cloth nappies (including bamboo, fleece, hemp and other modern fabrics) mean that the nappies are not only environmentally friendly but they are gentle on babys skin and babies are less likely to get nappy rash when using cloth nappies compared to disposables.
 

Top tips for buying cloth


Making the choice to switch to cloth nappies is an easy decision to make but choosing the right cloth nappy can be a daunting task. There are a lot of different styles and fabrics to choose from. When we first started out we surfed the internet for hours to work out what we needed but we were still left scratching our heads about whether we needed a pocket, all in one, sized nappies, nighttime nappies, nappies with removable inserts and so on.

Below are our top tips for to assist you in choosing which nappy you would like to buy, but if you are still left scratching your head, please contact us and we can give you a call to discuss. Alternatively, if you are in the Brisbane area, from time to time we hold workshops and go to markets where we demonstrate the various types of nappies and are available to answer any questions you may have face to face. We also urge you to subscribe to our Facebook page if you have not already done so as we post information and deals on our Facebook page from time to time.
 

1. Try before you buy bulk

If you are new to cloth, dont buy 20 nappies that are all the same without first trying that nappy and being sure it is the nappy for you. Try different styles to work out which fits into your lifestyle before buying in bulk. We suggest that you buy at least one of each of the following:

1. a pocket nappy. Try any of the Green Kids nappies or one of the Designer Bums nappies;
2. a fitted/sized nappy. Try the Itti Bitti DLish.
3. a one size nappy. Try the Cushie Tushie Chameleon, GroVia Hybrid or Ones and Twos.
4. a snap in one (SIO) nappy. Try any of the Grovia hybrid nappies, Itti Bitti Tutto, Itti Bitti DLish or Cushie Tushie Chameleon;and
5. an all in one (AIO) nappy. Try Tots Bots Teeny Fit or Easyfit, Pikapu AIO or the Grovia all in one cloth nappy.

This combination will cost between $130 - $170 (depending on the brand of nappies you choose). We have put together a pack containing these nappies so you can buy a trial and work out what works best for you. See our New to Cloth One of Everything Trial pack in our custom pack section of our website for this pack.   
 

2. Go for function as well as style

Dont buy only the nappies that look cute (and yes there are lots of those). Do your research about whether the nappies you are buying actually work. There are a number of cheap imitation nappies out there that leak. Piggy Tails has personally tested the nappies we sell on our babies, and when used in accordance with their instructions we believe that our nappies do not leak.

However, we suggest you do your own research by looking up online baby forums and asking other mums who have used nappies. Also check out our Facebook page to see if any of our lovely likers have any comments that may help you in your purchase.  Often we pose a question for comment and the feedback we get is invaluable.

3. Buy for your lifestyle

Think about your lifestyle and what will work for you.

No two babies and parents are the same so what works for us may not work for you. For example if you are time poor and are after convenience only, you may want to consider only buying all in one nappies (as opposed to a nappy that requires you to clip in and remove inserts, although we prefer to use a combination of nappies, as the insert nappies dont cost as much when you consider that you can buy many inserts for the one nappy).
 

4. Start Small

Buy sized (smaller) nappies for newborns. Some of the one size fits all nappies (not all) are larger fitting and wont fit as snuggly on a small newborn as a small sized/newborn nappy does.

Newborn nappies will generally tend to last you until your baby is 2 to 3 months (depending on the size of your baby) so dont go crazy with buying too many of these tiny little packages (although they are cheaper than the one size nappies). We used Itti Bitti Dlish (small) and Tots Bots Teeny Fit for our third baby until he was about 10 weeks. Both brands worked very well for us.

We do stock newborn trial packs and bulk packs which you can find in our newborn cloth nappy section of our webstie. 
 

5. Buy a good nighttime nappy (if you are using cloth at night)

Some people choose to use disposables at nighttime until they are comfortable with using cloth 100% of the time. However, once you are ready to go cloth full time, make sure you use a good nighttime nappy that wont leak. Definitely go for functionality at night!

Nighttime nappies will tend to be bulkier because they are designed to last longer periods between changes so bear this in mind when choosing.

See our night nappies section of our website for these nappies.

If you are not keen on buying a night nappy, you could try a good absorbent daytime nappy with a night time booster (such as the Cushie Tushie night time booster or the Pikapu pack of boosters) with a nappy like Cushie Tushie Chameleon, Green Kids Anytimes or Minkytimes nappies, Pikapu AIO or any the Tots Bots Easyfit.

Some people also use a fleece or wool nappy cover over their daytime nappies (with a nighttime booster) to increase absorbency (and warmth in the cooler months), however, we prefer to purchase a special night time nappy becuase we know they work the best and we dont take any risks with leakage at night (because our bub struggles to sleep for long times at night anyway).
 

Using Cloth: Hints and Tips


Here are some tricks we use in relation to cleaning, caring for and using cloth nappies. However, you must always use your nappies in accordance with the manufacturers instructions to ensure you do not void your warranty.

Where any of these tips conflict with any manufacturers instructions, we cannot recommend that you follow them if you do not want to void your warranty.
 

1. Soak nappies in cold water overnight before use (instead of washing 4 to 5 times). Many manufacturers recommend that you wash your new cloth nappies 4 to 5 times before using them. Instead of washing you could try soaking them in cold water overnight. We usually do that and then wash them once the next morning and then hang them out to dry in the morning and most of the time they are ready just after lunch (because, lets face it, we all want to use our new nappies as soon as we have them). Saves time and electricity! If it does not work, there is not loss you can always wash them 4 to 5 times the next day.

2. Eucalyptus or Tea Tree Oil in the lid of the smelly nappy bucket to freshen it up. Some nappy buckets can get a little smell when the lid is lifted. To help reduce the smell, you can dip a cotton bud in Eucalyptus or Tea Tree Oil and tape it to the underside of the lid of the nappy bucket.

3. To save money, buy a nighttime booster and use in a daytime nappy instead of buying a nighttime nappy. If you are endlessly searching for a nighttime nappy that is not too bulky, you might want to consider instead purchasing a nighttime booster (we like the Cushie Tushie nighttime booster) and inserting it into a good absorbent daytime that has a PUL or minky PUL outter (like the Cushie Tushie Chameleon nappy, Green Kids Anytimes and Minkitimes nappies, any of Tots Bots nappies, the Grovia Hybrid nappies or any of the Itti Bitti nappies). The night boosters are incredibly absorbent and you can save money doing it this way as some nighttime nappies can be quite expensive. If your bub is a heavy wetter this might not work for you, but it is worth a try. If the booster by itself does not work you can always try using additional boosters that go with each nappy (e.g. using additional mini boosters with the Cushie Tushie Chameleon). You must also make sure there are no gaping wholes around the legs of the nappy (to reduce leakage).

4. Dont use nappy rash creams unless you use a liner to protect your nappy or you are using the GroVia Magic Stick (or some other cloth nappy safe cream). Many nappy rash creams reduce the absorbency of the nappies by covering the absorbent fibers of the nappy. When using cloth nappies, the instance of nappy rash can be significantly reduced, but if your baby does experience nappy rash and you want to use a cream, ensure you use either a flushable liner or a fleece liner. See our Nappy Liners section of our website for the liners we stock.

5. Rinse your nappies before putting them in the nappy bucket. If you rinse your nappies before placing them in the nappy bucket, you will reduce the possibility of your nappies being stained. You should not leave your nappies in the bucket for more than 2 to 3 days in any instance (to prevent staining and smelling out the laundry!)

6. If your nappies have lost their absorbency, try strip washing. Strip washing may be needed if your nappies have too much detergent or other build up in them. Strip washing involves washing your clean, dry nappies in hot water (no more than 60 degrees) without any detergent. After the first wash, wash again with a very small amount of dishwashing detergent or shampoo (no more than a teaspoon) and then wash as many times as needed to remove all the bubbles from the water coming out of your washing machine. Do not strip wash more frequently than every six months.

7. Use a snap in one or pocket nappy (without the inserts) for toilet training. Once your baby is ready to toilet train, cloth nappies are a wonderful tool for that. We find that some of the absorbent training nappies or disposable pull ups are not very helpful for toilet training as our bubs were happy to wet them (because they could not feel what they had done). Cloth nappies (without the inserts or with a reduced amount of inserts) are wonderful for this. Babies can feel what they have done straight away. Also most cloth nappies are easy for toddlers to put on and off, making them perfect for running to the toilet in a rush. Alterntiavely, you can buy cloth pull ups. Tots Bots and GroVia both have great trainers that we stock. They have some level of absorbency, but they are not designed to be as absorbent as a nappy.

8. Use a snap in one or pocket nappy or a nappy cover or shell (without the inserts) as a swim nappy. Many cloth nappies can be used as swim nappies. Simply remove the inserts and away you go. Obviously you cant use the all in one nappies as swimming nappies. You should be aware that chlorine can sometimes break down the absorbency of the nappies, so use the same one as a swimming nappy every time (so you dont run the risk of wrecking all your nappies in your stash).