Cloth Nappy Tips At Bumpy Buns

Tips for Using Modern Cloth Nappies

* CHANGE REGULARLY
Whether you choose to use cloth nappies or disposable nappies it is important
to change your baby's nappy frequently. Nappy rash is related to how often
the baby's nappy is changed, not what type of nappy is used. If your baby
wakes at night and you need to feed or soothe your baby back to sleep, it is a
good idea to get in the habit of changing his/her nappy first. It is also
recommended that you do not leave your baby in a soiled nappy, even if
he/she has gone back to sleep.
For the most part, barrier cream use should be limited for cloth nappies as it
can 'clog' up the liner. However, sometimes a rash will emmerge and barrier
creams are necessary. Thank you to Wildeearth for providing the following
tip....
powder the baby's rash with cornflour, put on a layer of Nappy Paste
(Wildeearth sell this) then powder the paste with more cornflour.
It worked a treat for me every time!

* RASHES
If your baby gets a nappy rash (or any other rash for that matter)
that doesn't mean that your baby cannot wear cloth nappies. You need to find
the source of the rash. Are you leaving it too long between nappy changes? Is
your baby having a reaction to the the washing powder you're using? Or is
there another factor involved? Read info in relaton to allergies on
paediatrix.com.au

* HEALTH & SAFETY
It is a good idea to wear gloves whenever rinsing out or washing your baby's
nappies, in case you have any small cuts on your hands. If you choose to
soak your nappies, it is important to keep the nappy bucket out of reach of
any children.

* BE ORGANIZED
It is always easier to have your nappies "put together" and lined up in your
change table at the beginning of the day.

* A CLEAN WIPE
When cleaning your baby's bottom, use toilet paper for the first wipe, and
then use a cloth wipe to get a thorough finish.

* A POTATO MASHER?
If you decide to soak your nappies, a plastic potato masher is very handy for
pushing the nappies under the water in the bucket.

* WASHING NAPPIES IN
All cloth nappies need to be washed several times before use to help them
attain a good absorbency.

* NO FABRIC SOFTENER OR SOAP FLAKES
Don't ever use fabric softener or soap flakes when washing the absorbent
part of a nappy because it may leave a residue on the nappy preventing the
nappy from absorbing liquid.

* A WARM BABY WIPE
To wipe your baby's bottom with a warm cloth instead of a cold one, put some
warm water in a thermos every morning. At each nappy change, pour a small
amount of this water into the thermos cup and dip your wipe in.

* OUT & ABOUT WITH BABY
To store your used cloth nappies when you're out, be creative. You can use a
make up bag for a small outing. The plastic bags that blankets are sold in are
useful for larger outings as they usually have a zip and they slide easily into
most nappy bags. When you're going to one place for an entire day, take a
nappy bucket as a dry pail. If all else fails, a used plastic shopping bag will do
the job just fine on any outing or emergency situation.

* RECYCLING WASH WATER
You could investigate recycling your wash water in the laundry. After all, we
don't empty the sink after each dish - only when we've done ALL the dishes,
or the water is dirty. Consult your washing machine manual for instructions.

* BABY TAKING OFF NAPPY
To stop a clever baby from taking off his/her own nappy there are 2 things
you can do. Making sure that the nappy is always covered with shorts may
help, otherwise a Snappi Nappi is virtually like a lock! (Note that a Snappi
Nappi can't be stuck directly into PUL without damaging the fabric.)