The Cheat's Guide to Preparing Cloth Nappies

If you've asked Google how to prepare new cloth nappies, he probably told you to wash them anywhere between 3 and 10 times. But if you're anything like us (impatient) and don't like the idea of wasting a whole lot of water to prepare a nappy for first use, this blog post is for you.

The main reason that multiple pre-washes has been traditionally suggested was to increase the absorbency of natural fibres (bamboo, hemp and cotton) prior to first use. Well, the nature of natural fibres hasn't changed and it's true that it does take multiple washes for these fabrics to reach peak absorbency... BUT, we're not big fans of washing stuff 10 times before it can be used. Especially not gorgeous new cloth nappies that you just want to put on your baby! So here's our cheat's way to prep your cloth nappies.

1. Soak boosters overnight in hot water* in a tub or bucket of water.

2. Wash with half a scoop of detergent and line dry.

* Hot water ensures correct shrinkage from the outset, but make sure that you don't go any hotter than manufacturer's instructions. For the pop-ins, maximum washing and drying temperature should not exceed 60⁰C.

A few extra points:

• Please make sure that there is no way a little person can reach the tub or bucket.
• Your nappy outers won't need to soaked overnight, but they should be washed in the machine with the boosters to remove any factory and transit dust.
• Even one-of-a-kind handmade nappies can collect unmentionables along the road to your home, so pre-wash everything at least once before it goes against your baby's skin.
• Don't forget to attach the velcro tabs to the laundering tab that you'll find at the back of the shell, to prevent the velcro snagging during the wash.
• Keep in mind that the absorbency of your natural fibre nappies will improve over the next fortnight as your nappies are used, washed and dried multiple times.

We've used this method of preparing nappies for a few years now and can attest to its efficacy, but if you're still a little nervous about putting a nappy on for night use that hasn't been pre-washed 10 times, put that particular nappy in the wash with your clothes each day until you're satisfied it will get your little one through.

If you have a combination of natural and synthetic fibre nappies (pretend you bought a middle box bamboo pop-ins and a middle box of minkee pop-ins!), you'll need to pre-wash your minkee inserts separately from your bamboo inserts, because the natural oils in bamboo may do a jig with your minkee nappies and cause them to repel urine. Definitely not what you want!

How do YOU prep your cloth nappies?

© Oz Baby Trends 2013

We've Got It Covered

Every now and again, a product is created that makes you shake your head and wonder why you didn't think of it first. Simple yet intelligent, easy yet effective - that's the pop-in car seat protector from Close, and since it launched in Australian last July, it's made it's way onto the car seats of thousands of Australian children, keeping the seats protected and the parents happy.

But it's not just car seats that a reaping the benefits of this nifty little pad. It can be used in strollers, prams, high chairs and trolleys. The ultimate multi-use protection for a wide range of places where little bottoms sit.

And it's now available in a funky new print... Introducing red monkey, which has been walking out the door since it walked in last week!

...

Here's what parents are saying about the pop-in car seat protector...

"I did a compression test on the car seat protector and it held 300 ml. Very impressed!" Shelley, Nowra

"We had our son in disposables during a long car trip and he had an 'explosion'. Thankfully, the car seat protector kept everything off the seat!" Kylie, Dubbo

"We have 3 pop-in car seat protectors - one sits permanently in the car seat, one lives in the nappy bag for use when we're out at restaurants or visiting family and the other is in the boot of the car. I use that one in the trolley." Gina, Toowoomba

"Our son is toilet training and has never had an accident in the car, so I can't attest to how much liquid they hold. But they are AWESOME for catching the crumbs that would otherwise disappear deep into the crevices of the car seat." Jenny, Adelaide

Good, happy children, please!

When I was growing up, we'd ask Mum each year what she wanted for Mother's Day. And each year, the answer was the same - "Good, happy children." Now, as a mother, I emphatically concur that this is the BEST Mother's Day gift!

Mother's Day creeps around each year and most of us enjoy gifts of our own jewellery, painted rocks and homemade cards, which - if you're a wannabe minimalist like me - is just the kind of stuff you love to receive.

But even minimalist mamas need a thing or two, and one of the best new baby products I've ever encountered is the caboo +organic baby carrier. Designed to fit babies from birth through to around 14 kg, this versatile, organic cotton baby carrier, which fits both mum and dad, is Number 2 on my list of Minimalist Mama Must-Haves. Number 1 is nappies.

If Dad does a lot of the carrying, the caboo dx is probably the pick for your family. And the Cocoon weather protector is a great addition if you do a lot of outdoor babywearing. The Cocoon fits most baby carriers and even some strollers, so it fits with the minimalist's desire for products that multi-task!

So, if you'd like to gift yourself with something extra special this year - something that your baby will enjoy too - we've got just the promotion. Maybe you could even slip this blog link to your other half...

To locate your nearest stockist or consultant, click HERE.

What Men Really Think of Cloth Nappies

You’ve seen the Ryan Gosling memes…

Grateful thanks to Glow Bug Cloth Diapers for letting us use their memes :)

I don’t even know if the guy has kids, let alone if he uses cloth nappies on them, so let’s put the memes in the fun basket and see what dads really think of cloth.

"I like them. They're easy to use with the velcro - no need to fiddle around with pins or snappies. We can use them right through our baby's nappy and toilet-training stages, without having to upsize; so in the long run, they're a cheaper option. They seem easy to clean and they look super-cute on our baby!"
Gerard, Toowoomba

“As a first time Dad I quickly worked out that the concept of "giving your baby the best" had been well and truly hijacked by companies using a guilt-trip mentality to charge inflated prices for gimmicky products. In my experience, modern cloth nappies were the glaring exception to this; not only were they streets ahead of disposables in absorbency, comfort and reliability, they ended up saving us a lot of money. Who could ask for more than that?”
Stephen, Wagga Wagga

“What appeals to me the most about cloth nappies would definitely have to be the monetary savings. While the initial outlay may seem high, we’ve found the investment in cloth has paid for itself many times over. My other concern, which really only developed after we’d been using cloth for some time, is the health effects of disposables. Studies cite that disposables raise scrotal temperature by 1 degree, and this rise in temperature has been linked to infertility later in life. Dude, I want grandkids!!”
James, Sydney

"Disposables stink! Honestly! And it's not just because the baby is often left in them longer to save some money. Plastic, pee and poo don't mix. If you don't believe me, try the smell of a wheelie bin with a week's worth of nappies!"
Brian, Darwin

“Modern cloth nappies are quick and easy to use, and are nice and cheap compared to disposables every month. Also means no nappies going to landfill.”
Ben, Newcastle

"I like cloth nappies because there is less trash to take out."
Cam, Nowra

"After using disposables with our first child, my wife came home from an expo with 20 reusable nappies, and honestly - I was slightly concerned that my wife wouldn't want to use them after a couple of weeks. Two kids in cloth later, the exhibitors at the expo apparently knew their stuff - we have saved thousands of dollars and thousands of kilos of extra rubbish going to landfill. And washing is really not that hard. Even I manage it!"
John, Tamworth

"Modern cloth is way easier than the old cloth nappies. I managed to bluff my way through changing a modern cloth nappy after forgetting my wife's instructions. Disposable nappies have their place, but what a huge waste! Modern cloth nappies look way better than disposables anyway."
Cameron, Kellyville

"I'm of an older generation of dads, so disposables never really came on to our radar until our youngest was born, and to be honest, after having survived the use of cloth on 3 kids before him, we just couldn't see the sense of using disposables. They cost more, create a phenomenal amount of garbage and we were living proof that using cloth nappies doesn't kill anyone."
Donald, Vincentia

"I was the one who wanted to use cloth, so we decided from the outset that whoever put the final nappy in the bucket that took it over the edge was the one who set the load and hung them out!"
Nick, Lyneham

"I like that we don't have to constantly buy disposables!"
Tim, Foster

"Cloth nappies are easy. Easy to put on, easy to clean, easy on the environment and easy enough for a dad to use."
Andrew, Broken Hill

"They are really good for the environment because they are not going into landfill. Also when you pick up your baby wearing cloth they feel more comfortable to hold - unlike a disposable which feels all crinkly and plasticy."
Lawrie, Longwarry

What does your man think of cloth? Tell us in the comments!

© Oz Baby Trends 2013

Don't keep this secret!

My long-standing love for the pop-in bamboo wipes grew a little deeper recently when I started using them in the kitchen instead of Chux.

No more smelly, germ laden conventional dish cloths, labouring over the dishes for weeks at a time...

We keep a dedicated set for the kitchen and they live in a drawer with the tea towels. These ones go in the wash at the end of the day and a fresh one comes out for the morning. It's revolutionised my kitchen, I tell you!

Perhaps I'm a little late to the Kitchen Wipes Party and you're already doing this? Go you! Don't keep the secret to yourself - pass it along!

Staying Dry During the Winter

Two super cute new training pant prints are on their way to Oz Baby Trends HQ and we are very excited about them!

Designed to look and feel like grown up pants, Pop-In trainers let little ones feel the wetness and can be pulled up and down easily. Designed to hold one medium sized wee, these are a REAL training pant - not just a thin nappy!

The new prints will be available in Coolpass - a specially designed inner fabric made with a fast wicking, fast drying (polyester) yarn. This means that liquid is drawn up very quickly and effectively into the absorbent panel.

Come laundry time, this fabric is so convenient - it air dries incredibly fast making it a great option for winter, and for those who don't have any outdoor drying space.

Helicopter and Tulip will be available in May 2013 in the 4 different sizes:

Small 12 - 18 months
Medium 18 - 24 months
Large 2 - 2.5 years
Extra Large - 2.5+ years

Washing Nappies... It's Not Rocket Science

We're often asked the ins and outs of caring for cloth nappies, and the truth is, it's really very simple. Once you've been washing them for a week, you'll feel like an old hand! But at first, it can be quite daunting. There's a lot of information (and misinformation!) floating around and lots of questions to ask.

Which detergent do I use?

Can I tumble dry them?

What about the poo?

Can I use cream?

What temperature should I wash at?

The good news is that each and every Pop-In has basic wash instructions on the tag (eg. No bleach, wash at no hotter than 60 degrees Celcius, etc). The great news is we've put together a list of extra tips and tricks to help break down the barriers of confusion that often reign in this area of cloth use... And which don't fit on a care label!

We hope our Use Care Tips help!

A note on detergents: We personally use soap nuts and have done so for 3 years full time, but prior to that I used whichever eco washing detergent was on special at the supermarket and just used half a scoop for a full load of nappies. It really doesn't need to be rocket science. Please remember, however, that your warranty does not cover the use of DIY washing detergents, such as those claimed to replicate Rockin' Green.

A printable version of our Use & Care Tips can be downloaded HERE.

Comprehensive wash and care instructions can be found HERE.

© Oz Baby Trends 2013