Why choose cloth nappies?

There are many reasons to choose cloth nappies. Cost. Chemical free. Environmental issues. Each person chooses cloth nappies for individual reasons. On average you could save yourself between £400 and £800 by choosing cloth nappies. Your babies bottom will come into contact with much fewer chemicals whilst wearing cloth nappies. You will not be contributing to the UK landfill problem by using cloth nappies.

Cloth nappies look lovely on babies especially with the range of beautiful wraps now available.

Do you have to change them more often?

Yes. You will have to change your cloth nappies more often as they do not contain any of the super absorbent chemicals found in disposables which allow babies to be changed infrequently. Remember however that you are not throwing away money every time you put on a fresh nappy, and babies love to go to the loo in fresh clean nappies as Mummy pops them on.

Are they fiddly to put on?

The new ranges of shaped, fitted cloth nappies means that putting cloth nappies on your baby is no more complicated than putting on a disposable. Terry squares may take more getting used to, but Rhys and I have no problem in getting them on him.

How environmentally friendly are they?

You have probably read the report commissioned by the Environmental Agency earlier this year which portrayed cloth nappies in no better light then disposables. However most cloth users would dispute the data used in the study and you still can't get away from the fact that disposable nappies go to landfill. Yes you will use electricity to wash your nappies but at the end of the day you won't be putting loads of bin bags out for the dustmen to collect every week.

 If you would like to read the report please click here: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/nappies_1072099.pdf

Don't stored nappies smell bad?

All your wet/soiled nappies can be stored in a lidded bucket to keep odours at bay. You can dry pail your nappies or soak them. By soaking the nappies you add a sanitizer to water in the bucket and pop the nappies in that or use tea tree/ lavender oil to neutralise smells. The nappies will be washed once every 2-3 days and so odours don't have chance to build up.

How do I know which ones are best for me?

This is where Bugalugz nappies come in. Fill in the questionnaire on this site ( being developed) or email me with your information and I will suggest the type of nappy you and your baby would be suited to - Email: info@bugalugz.co.uk

Alternatively if you live in the Vale of White Horse, NE Wiltshire, Swindon, Lechlade or Carterton you can arrange  a no-obligation nappy demonstration where we can discuss your nappy requirements and find a suitable nappy system.

How many nappies do I need for my baby?

On average most cloth users start with between 18-24 nappies and 4-5 wraps, depending on the system they choose and the age and number of children they have in nappies. Most find that they accumulate cloth nappies as they go along with new and exciting nappies being retailed. Once you start you may find you are hooked.

Is there anything else I need to successfully use cloth nappies?

Yes. Most cloth nappy users purchase fleece liners to go inside their nappies. The fleece liner acts to wick the wee away from baby's bottom leaving the liner almost dry to the touch. Many also place a paper liner over the fleece liner to catch poo which can then be flushed down the toilet. A paper liner isn't essential but makes cloth nappying easier as it removes the need to rinse the poo off the fleece liner and protects the cloth nappy thus reducing the need to soak your nappies.

I would also recommend that you purchase a lidded nappy pail to store all your nappies in until you are going to wash them and a nappy mesh to place inside the nappy pail so that you can lift all your nappies, in one go, out of the pail and into the washing machine.

When you are out and about a waterproof nappy bag is also very handy indeed to store those soiled nappies in.

Will baby get more nappy rash?

Nappy rash is caused by the bacteria in faeces coming in to contact with urine and producing ammonia which burns baby's skin causing a rash. This means that a baby in cloth is no more or less likely to get nappy rash than one in disposables so long as the nappy is changed when the baby soils it. 

How do I care for my cloth nappies?

Cloth nappies used to be washed at 95 degrees however nappies nowadays can be washed at 60 degrees or even 40 degrees if only wet. A 60 degree wash is sufficient to remove bacteria from the nappies and washing machine.

Non-biological detergent should be used but no softener should be used as this reduces the absorbency of the nappies.

When you receive your nappies from us I will also enclose a sheet of washing tips for your nappies plus further info on the nappies you have purchased. If in doubt follow the laundry instructions on the nappy itself.

Nappy wraps can be washed at 40 or 60 degrees but shouldn't be tumble dried or placed directly on a source of heat as these can damage the waterproofness of the material.

What about when I go out?

When I am out and about I generally take 2 or 3 spare nappies and a wrap but this is because my little boy tends to poo rather frequently. I store any dirty nappies in my waterproof nappy bag along with the wipes and when I get home pop them in the nappy bucket. (The waterproof bag is also washable.)

Will they leak at night?

This all depends on your own baby to some extent. If your little one is a heavy wetter you may need to use an alternative brand of cloth nappies which are more absorbent at night to those you use during the day. You may just need to boost the nappies with a booster to increase absorbency. There are also specialist wraps designed for night time use. 

Will my nursery accept my baby in cloth nappies?

More and more nurseries these days are happy to accept babies who are in cloth nappies. The Nursery my little boy goes to is happy to accept cloth bottoms as are all the nurseries in my town. This should not be a problem.

What is the difference between poppers, aplix and nappy nippas?

Poppers are self descriptive. They are generally arranged strategically on the nappy to allow for a snug fit around your baby.

Aplix is another word for velcro. These nappies are altered by fastening the aplix in different positions as your baby grows.

Nappy nippas are the modern equivalent of the nappy pin. They are T shaped with little claws at the three ends which grip the cloth and hold it securely. These can be used on nappies without poppers or aplix e.g. Nappy Nation, Tots Bots and on two sized nappies to make the smaller sized nappy fit snugly on a newborn.

How do I keep baby dry?

So we have all heard about the "stay dry layer" in disposables - what keeps baby's skin dry in cloth nappies? Inside the cloth nappy you place a fleece liner if the nappy doesn't already have its inner lining as fleece e.g. Fuzzi Bunz, Ellas House. Fleece acts to wick moisture away from baby's skin thus keeping it dry.

What do Bugalugz Cloth nappies do?

My aim is to raise awareness of cloth nappies and their benefits. I hope to offer aftercare advice to customers who purchase nappies so that they do not have to struggle on and possibly give up using cloth nappies if they encounter a problem. Hopefully I will be able to find a solution or suggest some tips to prevent any problems which may occur.

All you have to do is email me: info@bugalugz.co.uk

Can I try before I buy?

Yes. Bugalugz Cloth Nappies offers a hire scheme whereby a selection of nappies can be hired for a nominal weekly fee (non-returnable) plus a deposit (returnable). You would then be able to use the nappies on your little one and find out which is the best system for your baby. Click here to see Nappy Hire pages.

Can I return items if I change my mind after purchase?

Please read my terms and conditions.

What happens if it all goes wrong?

Fear not. Things won't go wrong and I am always available at the end of the phone/email for some friendly advice.