Sustainable Nappies - What do you need to know?
When using cloth nappies, parents or carers should know the following 5 things to make the best decision for them in purchasing and using cloth nappies:
1. Types of Nappies
There are different types of cloth nappies, including prefolds, fitted, pocket, all-in-one, and hybrid nappies. Understanding the different types and choosing the best one for your baby's needs is crucial.
At Botanic Baby we use an All in Two system with the insert being a prefold, so parents and carers have the most choice in how to cloth their baby. This is important as babies grow rapidly and change in three dimensional size. You can choose to put the nappy on the baby then the cover or put the two together as an all in one nappy, ready for your daily changes.
2. Laundry and cleaning
Regular washing and cleaning of cloth nappies is necessary to keep them hygienic and in good condition. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for washing and drying the nappies to avoid any damage.
At Botanic Baby we have designed the nappies to be able to withstand commercial washing. As we operate a nappy wash service, we technically take on the cost of ownership of the nappy. The two parts easily separate so you can wash/treat the fabric according to manufacturing needs vs compromising to the most delicate part of your nappy. The longer nappies last, the better for the environment.
3. Adjusting fit
Different babies have different shapes and sizes, so adjusting the fit of the nappies is important. Consider using inserts or boosters to increase the absorbency of the nappies as needed.
At Botanic Baby we have serviced thousands of different babies who all are unique and have unique needs. Our system provides the most options to adjust for size and we have boosters and additional absorbency for babies growth spurts, long nappers, gushes and flooders.
We now also design and manufacture in Australia using state of the art ondemand knitting machines; our nappy inserts with Australian grown cotton to meet multiple clients demands - any size, thickness and absorbency.
4. Storing dirty nappies
It is important to store dirty nappies properly before washing to minimize odors and prevent any bacterial growth. A wet bag or a diaper pail can be used to store dirty nappies until they are ready to be washed.
The Botanic Baby service we provide Nappy Pail and liners for your convenience. This system is also now available for retail so you can store your nappies ready to push the pail liner contents into the washing machine for hygienic no contact washing loads.
5. Cost-effectiveness
Cloth nappies can be a more cost-effective option than disposable nappies in the long run. However, it is important to consider the initial cost of purchasing the cloth nappies and the ongoing cost of washing and maintaining them.
Calculating the Cost
To calculate the price per use of cloth nappies, you need to consider the following:
- Initial cost: The cost of purchasing the cloth nappies, including the cost of any additional items such as inserts or boosters.
- Laundry and maintenance cost: The cost of washing and maintaining the cloth nappies, including detergents, water, and electricity.
- Life span: The estimated number of uses the cloth nappies will provide before they need to be replaced.
With this information, you can calculate the total cost of using cloth nappies by dividing the total cost (initial cost + laundry and maintenance cost) by the number of uses.
To compare with single-use nappies, you need to calculate the cost of disposable nappies by multiplying the cost per nappy by the number of nappies you would use in the same period.
For example, if you purchased cloth nappies for $400 and estimated that the cost of laundry and maintenance will be $200 for 2 years, the total cost of using cloth nappies would be $600.
If disposable nappies cost $0.35 each and you would use an average of 6 nappies per day, the cost of disposable nappies for 2 years would be approximately $1533 not including any disposal costs.
One of the great things about Botanic Baby commercial grade cloth nappies is the number of uses are greater than 80, making your investment in quality a cost effective one that's...
Better for your Baby and Better for the environment.