How do I look after my nappies?

Unlike old fashioned cotton nappies, modern once wash much better and do not need to be soaked at all. If it is wet, you can through directly into the machine or nappy bucket until wash day. If soiled, shake out solids (or flush liner) and if anything has leaked onto the nappy rinse off and keep until you are ready to do your next load of washing.

How many nappies will I need:

It depends if you would like to use cloth nappies full or part time. For full time use we recommend 20 nappies, especially for younger babies as they need to be changed regularly.  For babies 1 year and older you can get away with less but the more you have the less frequently you will need to wash them.

What detergent do you recommend?

With cloth nappies it is always best to use a eco-friendly, mild detergent.  Some of my personal favorites are soap nuts, wash balls or Bloublommetjie laundry wash (available only in the Cape I think).  The other brands of eco friendly detergents available at health shops are also fine, just remember to keep it mild and try any detergents on half the recommended dose as you really only need a little to wash nappies.

If you would like to use your regular detergents do so at 1/4 the recommended dosage eg for Skip or Omo use 1-2 mini scoops, this is more than enough to give your nappies a good clean without creating a soap build up.

If you do get a soap build up you will know as you get a strong odour on the nappies either as soon as they are wet or even after being washed, the absorbency of the nappy is also affected, to eliminate this it is advised to strip the nappies (you can strip the soakers and boosters every few months and the covers only when really necessary. Adding bicarb to your wash cycle and a little vinegar in the rinse every once in a while also helps to keep nappies fresh and eliminate soap build up.

For stains we usually use and recommend a bar soap such as the regular green laundry bars or our natural tallow laundry bar, this is great to give the nappies a scrub with before going into the laundry and will eliminate all stains without having to use any harsh detergents.  Drying nappies in the sunshine will also help to get rid of any stains.

What cant I use on these nappies?

Please do not use any bleach, fabric softeners or other harsh cleaning agents on those nappies as they will damage them.

What sizes do they come in?

Our nappies are one size fits all, from birth to potty independence.  They have 4 rows of snaps on the front to adjust the rise and a high quality Velcro (Aplix) strip on top to adjust the waist size.   Having one size nappies saves thousands compared to having to  buy them in different sizes.  It also means that you can use the set on both your younger baby and an older sibling at the same time.

Can I use these nappies on newborns?

For the first few days babies poo is very sticky and black as they are still expelling what is called Meconium. This will stick to nappies and stain them quite badly so we would recommend either using a large cloth liner such as cut up old tshirts/toweling or flannel (as long as it is something you don’t mind throwing away after use : )  After this stage the nappy can be used as normal.  The nappy will be slightly bulkier on a newborn but it is still smaller than most other brands of cloth nappies and much smaller than cotton toweling squares.

How long will my child wear nappies?

Most children gain potty independence between the ages of 2-4 and for many, wearing a night time nappy until 4 or 5 years old is often required.

How do I place an order?

Please email us for an order form, complete the order form, email it back to us and we will post you your order.  Alternatively see one of our agents county wide.

Have a question not answered here?  Email us: sales@bamboobaby.co.za