How to Choose a Nappy
There are a huge variety of nappies on the market, so choosing which to use can be bewildering even if it's not your first baby. And of course, as your baby grows and develops their needs change - and their nappy needs to keep up! A variety of brands supply disposable nappies which claim to have a vast array of different features which can seem pretty confusing - breathable, re-sealable, swimming, lock away. Which you should choose depends on a number of factors many of which are individual to you and your baby.
Key Features to look out for:- Absorbancy
One of the most important features, especially at night, is to choose as absorbent a nappy as possible. This will help minimise leaks when they're likely to be wearing the same nappy for a bit longer than during the day and may also help prevent nappy rash. - Fit
Just as some brands of clothes never seem cut to fit you, you'll probably find that certain brands of nappies are better or worse fits on your baby too. Look for a good fit around the top of their legs and tummy, it needs to be snug to prevent leaks but not so tight as to cause discomfort. Check the edges are well padded and not going to rub. Specific boy and girl nappies are also available although more and more brands and parents seem to be choosing the unisex option. - Price
This may or may not be a factor for you, but you're going to go through a lot of nappies over the coming months so for most mums it does play a part! Beware however of false economy - if you're changing a cheap nappy more often as the stickiness fades too quickly on your little wriggler or because it is less absorbent then its not necessarily cheaper in the long run.
Pull Up Pants are a middle step between a nappy and underwear for older children and are often used in the potty training stage to guard against accidents and help your child feel more grown up.
Disposable or Re-Usable?
A disposable nappy is an absorbent gel or pulp inside a pad which is then covered with a shaped liner to fit a baby's bottom - as the name suggests they are used only once and are thrown away once soiled. The opposite is a reusable nappy which is made of folded or shaped cloth and then fitted with a throwaway waterproof liner. This is then used with waterproof baby pants which are re-usable. The liner is thrown away but the cloth interior and outer pants are machine washed and reused over and over again.
| Disposable Nappy Pros | Disposable Nappy Cons |
| 1. Easy & quick to put on | 1. More Expensive |
| 2. Convenient | 2. Arguably less eco friendly - they do not degrade easily so sit in landfill sites for years after you throw them out. |
| 3. Often fit smaller babies better | 3. There's a small risk of disposing of nappy waste - if it contains any disease causing organisms and reaches water sources it can cause contamination and possible infection |
| 4. Less washing! | 4. Possibly more expensive overall |
| 5. Less upfront cost - expense is spread over time | 5. Use man made materials which could in some cases affect babies with sensitive skin |
| Washable Nappy Pros | Washable Nappy Cons |
| 1. Some research suggests babies using cloth nappies may potty train earlier because they are more aware of when they are wet. | 1. Larger initial outlay in purchasing a set of nappies |
| 2. Often made of natural and unbleached materials (even pure cotton) which is | 2. Some parents find washing nappies particularly unpleasant (although nappy laundering services are available) |
| 3. Often cheaper in long run | 3. If you don't have a tumble dryer, getting them dry in winter can be a nightmare |
| 4. Can come shaped and with popper or Velcro fasteners to improve fit. | 4. Some people argue that the carbon footprint caused by using your washer and dryer more frequently for loads of nappies is worse for the environment than disposable nappies. |
| 5. May need changing more frequently | |
| 6. Less convenient when out and about as soiled nappies have to be carried home |
Washing re-usable nappies
If you plan to wash your baby's nappies yourself at home, you will need to work out a system to make sure you don't run out of clean nappies. A full washing machine load will wash about two days' worth of nappies.
- Make up the sanitising solution in a lidded bucket
- Shake out the nappy liner and any faeces into the toilet
- Very soiled nappies can be sluiced off in the toilet
- Place the soiled nappy in the bucket
- Every other day drain the buckets (most nappy buckets have strainers on the side to make this easier)
- Wash the nappies on the longest, hottest wash possible
- Dry the nappies outside if possible or in a tumble dryer if you have one and the weather is poor. If you have time then, it's a good idea to fold nappies into the right shape ready for use as you stack them - you'll thank yourself in the middle of the night!
In some areas of the UK, you may be able to take advantage of a nappy laundry service. These are companies which will collect, wash, dry and deliver the clean nappies back to your home. Genius!
