Nappyneedz

Why do my cloth nappies rustle? Usually, cloth nappies shouldn’t make any sounds, but sometimes you might find that some of them begin to make a rustling noise like a plastic carrier bag being scrunched up. But what causes this odd sound? Is it something to worry about? How can you avoid it? Rustling cloth nappies With any luck, rustling cloth nappies is something that you won’t have to worry about. If your nappies are well looked after, washed correctly and have no faults in the fabric, then it shouldn’t be a problem. From time to time, you might come across the odd nappy that it happens to. Usually, this will be the waterproof layer of the nappy that is effected. The PUL laminate starts to come away from the polyester fabric and it is this that is making the noise. This isn’t something that happens often. Occasionally if the nappies have been subjected to harsh laundry practices, or if there is a fault in the PUL when it is manufactured, then it might happen. T...

What are the best cloth nappy inserts? How do you decide which ones to use for your baby? Here’s our guide to picking inserts for your cloth nappies. Types of inserts Cloth nappy inserts come in a wide range of types and styles. When you are choosing the right inserts for your babies nappies, then you might want to think about the type of fabrics that they are made out of as well as the shape and size that they are. The most basic inserts are rectangles of a number of layers of cloth sewn together. The advantage of these is that you simply slip them into the nappy. Other inserts require folding up, in order to be placed in the nappy. This does mean that they are slightly more fiddly, but being as they can be unfolded, they will dry faster. Inserts that need folding range from simple flat nappies to more complex shapes. When it comes to fabric type, then it’s important to decide what is most important. Different fabrics offer different choices in terms of absorbency, thickne...

New Zealand designed cloth nappies is a phrase that seems to pop up all of the time, but what does it actually mean? Are all nappies that claim this the same? What is it about our nappies that make them different to other brands on the market? Want to learn more? Then read on. Designing cloth nappies I’ve always been quite proud of the fact that our dinky nappy was designed right here in New Zealand by me. But of course I was part of this process every step of the way, so I understand what it actually means when I make that claim. Back in 2007, when my oldest son was only a year old I’d been using cloth nappies since he was born. I decided that I wanted to try and make some nappies myself and so I started the slow process that would eventually lead to the dinky nappy. I think I’d be the first to admit that actually, my first attempt wasn’t the best. I spent the following years working on my nappy making skills and tweaking the design to add things that I liked f...

Eco-fabrics, those that are natural or better for the environment are obviously the ideal choice for reusable products. There are a number of other things that need to be taken into consideration when choosing fabrics for cloth nappies and reusable menstrual products. Here’s a look at the fabrics that we choose and why we have selected them. Why we use different fabrics I have to admit that when I first started using cloth nappies, I hadn’t really given a great deal of thought to the different types of fabrics out there. Thirteen years ago, when I was pregnant with my first baby, I had assumed that using cloth nappies would mean me entering a world of plastic pants, safety pins and cotton squares. I soon discovered that there was much more to modern cloth nappies, with bamboo, PUL and other fabrics being used. Over the years that I’ve been working with reusable products, things have changed even further and while there is a great deal of choice, each type of fabric com...

What are liners for? Liners for cloth nappies are not an essential part of using cloth nappies, but they do have advantages. Here is a look at the different options available to help you choose the right ones for your baby. Some times people seem to get a little confused between a cloth nappy liner and an insert. I’ll start off by explaining what each of these things is and what you do with them. An insert is the absorbent part of the cloth nappy. It’s the bit that soaks up liquid and in many ways is actually the nappy itself. Many nappies, such as our dinky pocket nappy have an insert that goes in the nappy and provides the absorbency. Liners are different, as a rule, they are not absorbent at all, but are designed to do a number of things: Catch any solids in order to make cleaning the nappy easier. Provide a ‘stay dry’ layer, so that liquid passes through, but feels dry against the skin. Prevent creams and lotions from touching the nappy and potentially reduci...

Drying cloth nappies can be a challenge at this time of the year. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a nice breezy day and manage to get them out on the washing line. More often than not, it’s raining or just too miserable to use the washing line, so what can you do? Here are our top tips for drying your cloth nappies. Tips for Drying Cloth Nappies Clothes airers are handy, as you can move them inside if the weather turns wet, or put them out if the day is nice. Hang out wet nappies before you go to bed, your house will probably be warm enough to start the drying process off. Always remember the meter from a heater rule! Most cloth nappies can be tumble dried. If you want to reduce your use, start them off in the dryer and then finish on an airing rack. A hanging airer with pegs is good for smaller inserts and wipes and can be hung in a window. On a cold but breezy day, hang out your nappies to start the drying process and then finish in front of the heater. Most inserts take...

I often get asked about dealing with stains on cloth menstrual pads. Due to the nature of washable pads, it’s highly likely that you are going to have some stains to deal with from time to time. But, with a few little tricks up your sleeve, it shouldn’t be a big problem. Washing hints for cloth pads When it comes to washing cloth menstrual pads, cold water is your friend. This may seem a little strange, usually, when it comes to cleaning very dirty washing, warm water is ideal. The difference with washing menstrual pads is that blood is a protein. This means that hot water denatures it and causes the stain to set. It is a similar process to when you cook an egg. The heat causes the egg white to turn from clear to white and solidify. The heat has denatured the protein and altered it. If you wash your pads in cold water, you have a much better chance of washing out blood and stopping stains from occurring in the first place. You don’t need to use any special powders or l...