Disposable VS Cloth Nappies
So what got me thinking about cloth nappies, and what is my plan??
Well, I've been hearing and seeing a lot of stuff from moms about the 'world of cloth', so when the discussion came up in the local mommy Whatsapp group- I jumped on board the chat-train! There was talk of inserts, pockets, liners, wet bags and an overwhelmed-with-information me just said I'd research it on my own. There was also a mommy who voted pretty hard for disposables, but, me being who I am...I have to figure it out for myself and see what my little one prefers!
So the plan is to invest in a few cloth nappies, and give it a trial!
What are my Preconceived Pro's:
1. Saving Money
This is probably the biggest factor. With Covid 19 and people losing jobs , finding ways to cut costs has become essential for almost every household. So, I did some math. If we switch to cloth full-time, we'll save about R4000 (at least) a year. That's a big enough save for me to be interested! If we only use cloth part-time, it will obviously mean lower savings, but still a save none-the-less.
2. Avoid Nappy Rash
So my little girl has been struggling with a quite-noticeable rash, and it had me concerned about what causes the rashes in the first place. Apparently there is a chemical in disposable nappies that is directly responsible for rashes. I guess we'll have to test this theory, as our many different bum creams don't seem to be helping quickly enough for my liking.
3. Softer on the skin
Obviously we want to do everything we can to protect our precious bundles from literally anything bad! Being pro-active about her skincare falls under that category for me. Currently, I am doing a terrible job. She's got the bum rash, and redness between her little fat rolls, and every now and then she gets a few red bumps on her face. I'm only human though, and babies tend to have these issues regardless of how diligent moms are! Obviously cloth is going to FEEL softer on her soft skin, and I think she'll probably feel more comfortable in the cloth generally. She might hate it though, so this could end up a Con. Either way, it's worth a try if in will help keep baby's skin soft and clear of red lines!
4. Design
The cute designs on the nappies make them an outfit accessory. I can look at the nappies as mini shorts rather than baby underwear (if that makes sense at all??) . Here's an example: I'd feel pretty strongly about putting pants/tights/bloomers over disposables if she's wearing a dress, whereas the cloth nappies don't bring up that same concern for me. Maybe I'm crazy?...Yup, definitely am. Either way, the designs (and even solid colours, which are cheaper) are cute!
5. Environmentally friendly
First of all, I am nowhere near as passionate about the environment as I maybe should be, but that doesn't mean I'm intentionally doing things that would make me suck as a human being...basically, I pick up my trash, I've walked to the shops instead of driving and I enjoy gardening, BUT, this is NOT the biggest reason for going cloth. This would just be an awesome benefit that would be added to my not-sucky-human list!
6. Re-sale
If the trial goes badly, I can always sell them! There's a market for pre-loved cloth nappies. I'm not sure how I'd feel about purchasing a pre-loved cloth nappy at this stage, but I'm definitely grateful that there's mommies who do and will!
My Preconceived Con's:
1. Might not be as financially viable as I hope
Some moms have brought up extra electricity, detergent and water costs as a debate against the savings you'd get from using cloth. This is a bit of a concern for me, as our municipality has already replaced our town's water-meters with new water-limiting versions. Big fines and water being cut does NOT sound appealing...neither do high electricity bills.
2. Might cause different rashes and reactions
Considering all the skin issues I mentioned above, this is a worry. Apparently some detergents don't work well with the cloth and can cause different rashes on the baby's skin. Would I be prepared to change detergents? Yes, but it may be a process considering the one we currently use does not cause asthma flare ups for the mr! Obviously his health also matters to me, so that might end up being a big enough problem to say "byyyyeee"
3. More work
This one I've gotten Mixed information from various people. Some say the washing load is more intense, and others say their washing routine has stayed exactly the same. I don't mind doing washing, so that's not really the con here, the problem is doing more washing. In other words, having to do multiple loads extra will be a problem for me. If I think of her clothes and how full the machine is with her stuff, there really is enough space to add some nappies to the mix, but that's assuming I know how many nappies I'll need to wash - which I don't. I think it will already help that I wash her clothes separately from ours. Let's wait and see.
4. Not everyone is on board
This means that If I end up loving the cloth nappies, I'll still need to keep a few disposables on-hand for when she is in the care of someone else. This could change if baby reacts well to the trial. At the end of the day, if its better for her, I'll fight whoever I need to to make it happen, and since everyone truly wants what's best for her, it wont be too difficult to come to an agreement! If it really REALLY goes well, I'll most likely be able to go full-time cloth!
5. It's an investment
It is not cheap to buy cloth nappies. Yes, it's only and initial expense, but the pricing can be quite daunting. Honestly, if I hadn't done the math on what we'd potentially save, this investment would've been an automatic NO from me. I realise there's an option to buy piece by piece , but one cloth nappy is still the price of a packet of disposables! Let's be honest, spending any money now is scary!
The Trial:
So here's my plan- I've invested in a set of cloth nappies (pocket) and will test them as part-time use for a week. Since I cant use regular pocket nappies for nighttime (you get specific cloth options which work better for nights), I will continue using the disposables for her night nappy!
After that week, I will make a few notes on my experience and whether or not I'll extend my trial by 2 weeks, and continue adding on should the trial be working well! I'll give the process a chance for a month and see how the little one as well as my mental health copes with the change. (A happy , well-rested mommy makes for a happier day for baby! - and we all know how loosely I'm using the term well-rested!)
*This post is NOT sponsored, and all the items were purchased. I'll include the brands I got, as well as the links to where they can be bought!
*Images from pexel & brand shops
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