General Information on how to use re-usable nappies & caring for your nappies.
How To Use Re-usable Nappies:
On the inside of the nappy (between the nappy & baby's bottom), you place the liner. This allows wetness through into the nappy but not pass back to baby's delicate skin.
Solids will be caught in the liner, which can then be easily removed & disposed of by flushing down the toilet. Wet liners may be disposed of by flushing down the toilet or by adding them to the compost heap. Re-usable liners (fleecy) can be soaked in a nappy bucket & washed ready for re-use.
On the outside of the nappy you place a waterproof wrap, as the nappy will become damp once the baby starts to wee.
The waterproof wrap prevents the nappy leaking onto baby's clothes.
It is most important that the nappy fits well, making sure that the nappy & the liner are throughly tucked into the wrap. This prevents the dampness from the nappy to wick out onto clothes.
The outer wrap should be snug, but not be too tight that it leaves red marks on baby's tummy or legs. If so then the next size up is required.
Washing Re-usable Nappies:
All new re-usable nappies should be washed before use, as it increases their absorbency. A nappy will reach it's maximum absorbency after about 6 washes.
Soiled Nappies:
If you are using bio-degradable flushable liners, simply remove the liner & flush it down the toilet or put it on the compost heap (wet liners only).
If you are using washable nappy liners, then remove the poo from the liner. Then soak the liner & the nappy in the nappy bucket ready for washing.
Half fill the nappy bucket with water & add nappy sanitiser, or a few drops of T-Tree oil.
Wash the nappies at 60°C using a non - biological washing powder. Only a small amount of washing powder will be required (about a third of the recommended amount), as the high temperature of the wash sanitises the nappy rather than the washing powder.
Too much washing powder will make the nappies stiff & build up of residues may lead to skin irritation & nappy rash.
Fabric conditioner should be avoided, as this can affect the absorbency of the nappy & again lead to skin irritation.
Waterproof wraps do not need to be washed after every use, unless the nappy has become very wet or the wrap has become soiled. It should only be changed after every 2-3 uses.
Most wraps can be machine washed at 60ºC, although wherever possible it is best to hand wash, as continued machine washing will accelerate the deterioration of the fabric.
Re-usable nappies can either be dried on the line, in a tumble drier, on an airer or in the airing cupboard.
The cheapest option is to dry nappies on the line. This will maximise the life of the nappy, as the sunshine will deoderise, sanitise & naturally bleach them.
A quick turn in a tumble drier will soften the line dried nappy.
