Southampton Real Nappy Network

Damppailing: A compromise – keep a jug in the bathroom and pour water onto the last nappy in the bucket to dilute the urine a little. Or just rinse the nappy in the flush. Less liquid to spill in an accident!

Many wetpailing parents use a nappy mesh to drain the bucket without dropping the nappies down the loo! Two buckets may be also be helpful if you have lots of nappies, one for pooey nappies in the bathroom and one for wet, so you don’t have to wash quite so often.   Do remember toddlers and buckets of water don't mix!

Always change a nappy as soon as possible after a poo – bacteria from poo combines with stale urine to produce ammonia which causes nappy rash. Not all rashes are nappy rash – if you are not sure, it is almost certainly NOT nappy rash! A sweat rash can be treated with thorough blotting with toilet roll after wiping, rubbing in cornflour (store in a beaker for tidier sprinkling),  and plenty of fresh air fun (on a waterproof mat!)
Generally the nappy itself should not get dirty because the liner will pick up most of the poo, although when breastfeeding poo will be very runny. With flushable liners some stains will go through to the nappy. It may be worth rinsing the dirty nappy in the flush of the toilet (don’t let go!) to stop the bucket smelling and help prevent stains. Babies do not tend to poo in their sleep, only when they wake, so if they go to bed with full bowels they will fill their nappy shortly after waking.

Washing

• Nappies can be washed at 60degrees although do read the washing labels for your particular nappies and wraps.

• New nappies should be washed a couple of times before use as this improves absorbency.

• Use non-biological washing powder or a laundry ball as these are not unkind to the skin.

• Fabric conditioners impair absorbency but half a cup of white vinegar can be used instead to deodorise and help keep nappies soft.

• If you live in a hard water area, eg Southampton, nappies will gradually become hard because of the detergents that build up. It helps to use a cup of white vinegar at 80degrees (no laundry) or a descaling product to clean your machine and maintain its efficiency.

• Note that staining will be worse with breastfed babies pre-weaning but will gradually disappear. Stains can be treated with Vanish or Biotex before washing.

• Make sure velcro tabs are closed to avoid a nappy chain and rinse Nippas separately with tea tree oil.

• If you accidentally wash a Weenee pad, put an empty load through the machine and shake clothes out over the garden.

Drying

• Sunshine is best! It is a natural whitener and antiseptic. Alternatively…

• Tumble dry (see washing label). This is still substantially less than cost of disposables.

• Dry in an airing cupboard, on a ceiling airer or some kind of freestanding or overbath airer.

• Pure cotton nappies can be dried directly over radiators, Agas etc although a good shaking will be necessary to soften them up afterwards. Nappies or wraps with any plastic content eg Kushies should NOT be dried over a direct heat like this.

• If you need dry terries or prefolds in an emergency, iron them!

Avoiding Leaks

• Pick a wrap that is suitable to go over the nappy you have chosen – pad-style nappies need gusseted wraps to hold them in place (and about 5 of them as they can get quite messy). It makes sense to buy a wrap that is adjustable over a reasonable range of sizes.

• If you think your wrap may be too big at the moment, try adding more absorbent material, such as a booster pad or flannel to pad it temporarily. Your baby will fit it soon!

• When you put the wrap on, feel around the top and the legs to make sure it completely covers the nappy, otherwise the wet will wick out onto the clothes. Ensure any labels are tucked in too. This will soon become second nature to you but you will have to train babysitters etc.

• If the nappy is always saturated, eg in the morning or if you have a heavy wetter, add a booster pad, flannel or a piece of microfibre cloth, even a Weenee pad (no liner required). For boys try folding your booster in half at the front of the nappy, for girls, do the same at the back.

• A nappy with an elasticated front, eg Sandys, may also contain spurts better, especially on tummy-sleepers.

• With pad-style nappies, eg prefolds and Weenees, it is essential to get a very snug fit at the waist of your wrap – this ensures that the elastic around the legs is applied firmly and that the genitals are in contact with the pad. Ensure a boy’s penis is not to one side.

• Change your nappy regularly (or turn your Weenee pad around).

• Try a bigger vest size - stuffable nappies have certainly been known to leak when 'wrung out' by a too-short vest.

• Remember that your baby’s 'productions' will vary over the first 6 months, with factors such as breast/bottle feeding, weaning and (hopefully not) sickness affecting quantity and consistency. Experimentation is part of the fun of real nappies but eventually things will settle down and you will have found the right combinations for you and your growing child.