Before we dive into this I want to make sure that before we dive into this I want to make sure to say, this is a VERY personal decision for anyone to make.  There is absolutely no right or wrong when it comes to choosing between using cloth nappies or disposables, make sure you choose what is right for your family, your child and especially you (as the parent).

Personally with my first baby, cloth nappies were not an option for me. My focus was on working out how to be a mum, & the thought of dealing with washing nappies while trying to work it all out was just too much for me.
When my second baby was born I was 100% ready to use cloth nappies.  My reasoning was that it would keep the cost down with my second, and that it is better for the environment,
Here are a few things I took into account when deciding how to make modern cloth nappies (MCN) work for us. 

How many cloth nappies will I need?

The foremost thing to find out is "the number of nappies I will need”. This will count on how frequently your baby/child has to be cleaned up and how frequently you would like to wash the nappies. You would have to multiply how frequently you would like to clean the nappies by the number of times in a single day you usually have to change your little ones nappy. You will need at least five to ten nappies as a stockpile. 
I was able to get a package deal on 24, thank goodness I got that many as my second child has ended up with a lot of allergies so the poos, well, they are never ending. It’s always better to have as many as you can so you have backups for those poopy days :)

How to you deal with Dirty Cloth Nappies - dry and wet containers

There are 2 kinds of nappy containers that you can make use of - a dry container and a wet container.

Prior to placing your nappies in either of these containers, make sure you wipe off any poos in the toilet or rubbish bin and give your nappies a quick rinse in the sink.  Nappies that only have urine on them are able to be placed straight into the container/bucket/basket.

Most brands recommend a dry container which is simply a nappy container or basket that has plenty of holes around the side of it to allow air to flow through it - laundry baskets work well for this. You can simply put your dirty nappies inside the container/basket. You can make use of baking soda in order to help out with and smell but the majority of the time you will find they don’t often smell depending on how regularly you clean them.

The “wet” technique usually consists of a bucket with a mixture of a vinegar and water combination to counterbalance the ammonia. This is completely up to you to find the combination that is perfect for your child as each baby is different.

Should I clean or use fabric softener to keep them soft?

Fabric softener is NOT your friend with cloth nappies as this hinders the capacity of the cloth to soak in moisture.  Read the instructions specific to the nappies you purchase before using and washing.  I personally found very little amount of detergent to be used when washing, choosing a longer wash cycle that has a temperature of max 40 degrees, and using a pre wash to make sure all the “mess” is cleared out before proper washing begins.  Do not use bleach on cloth nappies as this can make the material harsh and not last nearly as long as it should.

Drying wise, most will recommend drying them in the sunshine for a natural bleach.  If it is a rainy day though, most liners for cloth nappies can be placed in a dryer while the shells/covers usually dry very quickly in whatever air is around them.

Do you really save money using Cloth instead of Disposable

In short, yes.  You absolutely do save money using cloth even when you take into account the washing, water usage and drying.  However, it does take a little more time and effort to use them.  You will get the hang of it and some people choose to use cloth nappies only part time (when they are home), with disposable diapers on hand when they are out and about.  This still saves a lot of money.

Hopefully these tips help with making the right decision for your and your child.  If you decide you want to use cloth nappies, we recommend taking a look around for locally made modern cloth nappies to support your local businesses.  There are some lovely patterns and colours out there that you will find yourself falling in love with  (they also look gorgeous in your baby photos).  

A local brand who’s a favourite of ours, who pride themselves on gorgeous modern cloth nappies is Designer Bums if you are stuck on which brand to look at first, check them out on facebook and instagram.