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Do Cloth Nappies Really Make a Difference? - January 2016
If you are expecting and are considering using cloth nappies, then you have made a wise choice indeed. They have come a long, long way since I had my babies 25 years ago.
Back then I used toweling squares. I had four dozen. Where we were living at the time was extreme in climates – up to 46 degrees in summer and -3 (or colder) in winter. I had enough nappies to last three or four days for those times when the washing just wouldn’t dry.
Those nappies saved us a fortune, I used them for all three babies. But they were hard work. They had to be soaked and scrubber, washed, dried and folded – every day.
When I see the gorgeous MCNs around today I am almost jealous. I don’t regret the decision to use cloth over disposable nappies for our babies, they really did save us a lot of money, and at a time when we didn’t have a cent to spare.
Cloth nappies have many benefits to using them. They are hands down one of the best ways to save the environment. In addition, as if that isn’t enough, they are easy and gentle on baby’s skin, contain no chemicals and don’t form those gel deposits when baby wets him or herself.
You can also save money using cloth nappies. If those are not enough reasons, then try using them for a month or two and see the difference for yourself.
Saving Money
If you are expecting for the first time, you may not be aware of the price sticker on a box of disposable nappies. Be prepared, because disposable nappies are expensive and you need to get rid of them. With babies using on average six nappies a day, it doesn’t take long to fill a bin up with just used nappies. Cloth nappies are reusable and washable.
On average a disposable nappy costs 45 cents. From birth to two years a child uses approximately 5,800 nappies. The cost for disposables would be $2,689.70. For a second child that cost blows out to $5,379, and $8069 for a third child!
Back then I used toweling squares. I had four dozen. Where we were living at the time was extreme in climates – up to 46 degrees in summer and -3 (or colder) in winter. I had enough nappies to last three or four days for those times when the washing just wouldn’t dry.
Those nappies saved us a fortune, I used them for all three babies. But they were hard work. They had to be soaked and scrubber, washed, dried and folded – every day.
When I see the gorgeous MCNs around today I am almost jealous. I don’t regret the decision to use cloth over disposable nappies for our babies, they really did save us a lot of money, and at a time when we didn’t have a cent to spare.
Cloth nappies have many benefits to using them. They are hands down one of the best ways to save the environment. In addition, as if that isn’t enough, they are easy and gentle on baby’s skin, contain no chemicals and don’t form those gel deposits when baby wets him or herself.
You can also save money using cloth nappies. If those are not enough reasons, then try using them for a month or two and see the difference for yourself.
Saving Money
If you are expecting for the first time, you may not be aware of the price sticker on a box of disposable nappies. Be prepared, because disposable nappies are expensive and you need to get rid of them. With babies using on average six nappies a day, it doesn’t take long to fill a bin up with just used nappies. Cloth nappies are reusable and washable.
On average a disposable nappy costs 45 cents. From birth to two years a child uses approximately 5,800 nappies. The cost for disposables would be $2,689.70. For a second child that cost blows out to $5,379, and $8069 for a third child!
|
Age
|
Qty per week
|
Av. cost per nappy
|
Number of Weeks
|
Cost
|
|
0-3m
3-6m 6m-2-1/2yrs |
70
56 40 |
0.35
0.40 0.50 |
13
13 104 |
$ 318.50
$ 291.20 $2 080.00 |
|
Total no. of nappies: 5,798
|
Total cost: $2,689.70
|
Cloth nappies are expensive to set up, IF you buy new. There are great second-hand bargains to be had. The chart below shows the cost of cloth nappies if bought new.
|
Nappy
|
Qty
|
Cost
|
|
One-size daytime
Night-time (includes boost liners and covers) |
24
3 |
$700
$145 |
|
Total no. of nappies: 27
|
Total cost: $845
|
It costs around $845 to set up a cloth nappy system comprising two dozen daytime nappies, three night-time nappies, three booster inserts and three covers. Straight away you’re in front. The cost for a second child in cloth nappies is $0 – and the more children they’re used for the cheaper per use they become.
You will need to calculate the cost of soaker (if you use it – some MCNs don’t recommend it), water and power for washing and drying, but you’ll still be in front dollar-wise. Line dry and you'll save even more.
If you think about it, your baby will probably be in nappies for around two and a half years. That is a lot of money in the garbage if you choose to use disposable nappies.
Better for Baby
Again, while disposable nappies are good for travelling or for family trips, using cloth is hands down the best option for baby’s skin. Cloth nappies are soft and gentle and that’s what you want next to your baby’s skin. MCNs come in a variety of fabrics, from micro fleece to bamboo, and they are all soft and kind to bub.
You can still get toweling and flannel nappies too and they are also kind on tender skin. They’re chemical and dye free, and if they are properly laundered they are as soft as MCNs.
While there may or may not be a lot of research surrounding the affects of those chemicals on your baby’s skin, why take a chance and wait for something to develop. Save the disposables for when you need them.
Better for Baby and Better for the Environment
Not only are cloth nappies better for baby, they are the best thing to happen to the environment, and their return is a blessing in disguise. Returning to using cloth nappies saves tonnes of waste in the landfills. Each year 800 million disposable nappies are dumped in landfill in Australia – the equivalent of 2 tonnes over the lifetime of each baby who wears them. Nappies that are still not biodegradable clog the landfills, which does no good for anyone involved, especially not a new baby who wants a future to look forward.
Saving Time
Many new parents think that buying disposable nappies will save them tons of time. This is not the case. Cloth nappies are simply soaked in a covered bucket and then washed in the washing machine. There is really not too much in the way of time that using cloth nappies will take up.
Even in the olden days when I had babies, it only took about 15 minutes a day at the most to launder and fold the nappies – these days it’s even faster.
Cloth nappies are better for baby, better for the environment, better for your wallet and don’t really take up too much of your time either. Hands downs, cloth nappies really are great.
You will need to calculate the cost of soaker (if you use it – some MCNs don’t recommend it), water and power for washing and drying, but you’ll still be in front dollar-wise. Line dry and you'll save even more.
If you think about it, your baby will probably be in nappies for around two and a half years. That is a lot of money in the garbage if you choose to use disposable nappies.
Better for Baby
Again, while disposable nappies are good for travelling or for family trips, using cloth is hands down the best option for baby’s skin. Cloth nappies are soft and gentle and that’s what you want next to your baby’s skin. MCNs come in a variety of fabrics, from micro fleece to bamboo, and they are all soft and kind to bub.
You can still get toweling and flannel nappies too and they are also kind on tender skin. They’re chemical and dye free, and if they are properly laundered they are as soft as MCNs.
While there may or may not be a lot of research surrounding the affects of those chemicals on your baby’s skin, why take a chance and wait for something to develop. Save the disposables for when you need them.
Better for Baby and Better for the Environment
Not only are cloth nappies better for baby, they are the best thing to happen to the environment, and their return is a blessing in disguise. Returning to using cloth nappies saves tonnes of waste in the landfills. Each year 800 million disposable nappies are dumped in landfill in Australia – the equivalent of 2 tonnes over the lifetime of each baby who wears them. Nappies that are still not biodegradable clog the landfills, which does no good for anyone involved, especially not a new baby who wants a future to look forward.
Saving Time
Many new parents think that buying disposable nappies will save them tons of time. This is not the case. Cloth nappies are simply soaked in a covered bucket and then washed in the washing machine. There is really not too much in the way of time that using cloth nappies will take up.
Even in the olden days when I had babies, it only took about 15 minutes a day at the most to launder and fold the nappies – these days it’s even faster.
Cloth nappies are better for baby, better for the environment, better for your wallet and don’t really take up too much of your time either. Hands downs, cloth nappies really are great.