Cloth Bum Mum

  • Natural Home

    Simple tips to try cloth wipes

    It’s crazy out there, am I right? 

    While we’re all sat at home most of the time (I hope) social distancing and trying to flatten the curve of the Coronavirus, there seems to have been a run on certain products where people have stockpiled ahead of lockdown. We all know about the toilet rolls but I have heard so many people say how difficult it is to get disposable nappy’s and wipes during this time too. I am sure it is because of this that my Instagram inbox has been inundated with questions about how people can quickly switch to trying cloth to help ease their worries.

    Most of the questions I have received have been about cloth wipes so I am going to start there but I will also cover cloth nappies in some detail a bit later, just so you have all the options.

    How easy is it to switch to cloth wipes?

    Super easy.

    But alas, it’s not that easy, right? There is something that at first makes us feel as if its not nice to have dirty wipes sitting around whereas usually you’re used to bagging everything up and throwing it away. I know it feels different because I felt it myself and I found that I dragged my heels and didn’t quite know where to start when it came to giving them a shot.

    Let me start by saying this, if you can stomach changing your Childs nappy then cloth wipes won’t freak you out. Nature must have programmed us this way because I know for sure I would gag if I had to change a nappy that wasn’t my own child but there must be something nature builds into us to make us not fret when it is our own children. Doing cloth wipes (and nappies) is exactly the same, nothing gross about it and you just get on and do what you have to do. 

    I don’t have any wise tips when it comes to cloth wipes but I do say just grab some and jump straight in because that is exactly how I did it. I tried to find cloth wipes that were affordable, had great reviews and wouldn’t be a huge waste of my money if I decided after trying it that it wasn’t for me.

    Now I want to go back to a point I mentioned above and that is about not having to continue if you decide it isn’t for you. I know it feels like there is a lot of investment involved in changing to cloth wipes and nappies, and yes there is, of course, an upfront cost but over the course of your baby’s time in nappies and using wipes you will definitely pay out less than you would if you use disposables. One thing that is important to know is that there is a great resale value in cloth nappies and wipes. So even though you’re already quids in any way there is also the chance that at the end of your journey with cloth you will even be able to recoup some of that money back. Whether the end of your journey is next week, next month or next year. Don’t feel like once you start that you have to continue if you really feel like this isn’t for you – there is nothing wrong with trying something and it not being the best fit for you and/or your family. 

    Now is a great time to try cloth wipes but working them out can be a myriad, so let’s start with some simple tips to get you started.

    Choose the wipes that you want

    I didn’t go for a popular brand when it came to picking mine, I picked a Terry & Bamboo mix by a brand called MuslinZ which I picked up on Amazon and they are amazing and affordable too. Not sure what more expensive brands give you but this is everything we needed and more.

    Wash them on 60 degrees

    This is the same for both cloth wipes and nappies. Many will recommend washing between 40-60 degrees but I always opt for the high temperature to kill any bugs that will be lurking. I wash them in with my cloth nappies and just use washing powder (fabric conditioner will clog cloth nappies and reduce their absorbency)

    You don’t need to dry them before use

    This is because you’ll be wetting them to use them on your little one so you can use them wet straight after washing if you like. Also, if you do want to dry them and you have a tumble dryer I really recommend giving them a spin from time to time because it really fluffs them up. 

    Store them in a Tupperware that you already own

    Don’t be drawn into fancy storage solutions for your clean wipes unless you really want them of course. I rummaged around my cupboard, found an old Tupperware container that would fit a few wipes in perfectly and I store that either on the side at home or in my nappy bag.

    What about nappies?

    There are so many ins and outs when it comes to cloth nappies, that there is no way I can break down quickly as I have already kept you for so long so I’d love for you to check out my blog post on why I started using cloth nappies and what I have learnt so far. 

    I plan on doing a more in depth blog post on cloth nappies really soon, so leave me your comments and questions and I will be sure to answer them.

  • Natural Home

    Why I decided to try cloth nappies & what I have learned so far!

    For people who don’t know me that well the decision to delve into the world of cloth nappies probably seems like a random one given that Hadley is 7 months old when this post goes live, but to those that know me, they are probably used to me doing things out of the traditional norm. I started for a couple of reasons; to reduce our environmental impact where possible and because we’re very passionate about what we put onto and into our bodies. Using nappies with zero chemicals was perfect to fit in with our lifestyle.

    When did I decide to try cloth?

    This question is two-fold really, actually, it might even be threefold. The first time I thought that I might one day like to try cloth nappies was way before I was even pregnant when a friend was expecting her first baby and she bought a huge amount of cloth nappies for her little one on Black Friday. The second instance was when I was pregnant and was considering what the best options would be and the third was when I finally felt like I was ready to give it a shot. 

    stack of cloth nappies

    How did I get started?

    I figured there were two ways in which to get started; carefully consider all my options, do a ton of research and figure out what I wanted to do or, grab a couple of cloth nappies, go all in and figure it out as I go. As you can imagine if you know me at all, I went for the second option. Our local Sainsbury’s stocks the Bambino Mio cloth nappies, so I got one and some biodegradable liner and went home and gave it a whirl. It seemed great, so I washed and dried the nappy and gave it another go the next day and so on. I decided I loved it so I grabbed another and then another. Then Aldi had a baby event which was stocking the Bambino Mio’s at almost half price so I picked up 7 and I was on my way.

    Did you need much to get started?

    I don’t know the official answer of the things you’re supposed to need, but I grabbed the cloth nappies, biodegradable liner and a wet bag from The Little Vegan Boutique (check them out on Instagram), to store the soiled nappies in when out, and aboutand just went all in. As of yet, that’s all I’ve needed.

    Are cloth nappies worth the expense?

    I think so. Although it’s an outlay and investment at first, in the long run, it will save you so much money in disposables.

    Isn’t it gross to do cloth nappies?

    Not at all. In fact, I don’t find it much different than dealing with a disposable nappy if I am honest. The only difference is I bring my nappies home and wash them instead of throwing them away (and contributing to landfill). As for the contents of the nappy, most gets caught by the liner and everything else washes out perfectly on a 60-degree wash cycle.

    Are you doing cloth full time?

    At the moment no, and for a couple of reasons. The first being I actually really love my disposable brand (which is Rascal & Friends) and I am quite comfortable to stay using them overnight at the moment as they work. I figure one nappy a day rather than 5-7 is at least reducing the impact. Also, we have loads of disposables still as I picked up a huge amount at a baby event when they were half price and I don’t want to waste them. I also have just used disposables for convenience on our holiday (and also because I didn’t have enough to cloth full time for a week without washing facilities).

    How easy are they to clean?

    I find them super easy. Using the biodegradable liners helps to catch most things, but anything it doesn’t washes out easily at 60 degrees.

    What do you recommend for getting started?

    A willingness to try, 1 or more cloth nappies, some biodegradable liner and a wet bag.

    Any other recommendations?

    If you aren’t adverse to second hand, there is a thriving second-hand market in cloth nappies, all in excellent condition. Oh, and I should probably warn you that collecting new prints is addictive.

    I hope this helped and if you have any more questions please leave me a comment below so I can answer it. Starting using cloth nappies can seem so daunting but its definitely been the best decision I have made.