Personalised Nappy advice Questionnaire

Here at The Nappy Gurus, our team can provide you with a personalised reusable nappy advice service, including recommendations, a shopping list, and useage advice- all based on your individual requirements and preferences, and all entirely FREE!

We understand that all the different types and brands of nappies can be confusing, but with our many years of experience we can help to break that down find the best nappy to suit your family and offer some advice on how to care for your nappies too.

Simply complete the form above and one of the Nappy Guru® team will contact you shortly with some recommendations and nappy advice.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1) Why should I use reusable nappies?

During infancy your baby will spend approximately 25,000 hours in nappies and need about 6,000 nappy changes- so your decision to use either reusable or disposable nappies is a significant one. Put simply, by using reusable nappies you are making a positive impact on your babies’ health and well-being, your wallet and your planet too. See this article on the environmental impacts of disposable nappies for more information.

2) How many nappies do I need?

There is no easy answer to this. It depends on the type of nappy you opt for, the age of your child, whether you’ll be using reusables full or part time and how often you intend to do a nappy wash. The general rule of thumb however is that you will need 20-25 nappies, with one cover per every five nappies for two-part nappy systems.

3) How do I wash reusable nappies?

They really are as easy as one, poo, three! There is no need for soaking, boiling or any complicated wash routines! See the Nappy Guru® guide to washing reusable nappies for more information, or by filling out the personalised advice above you will also receive support on how to wash your reusable nappies from one of our experienced Gurus®.

4) Won’t the nappies smell while waiting to be washed?

This is a common concern, but when a disposable nappy is removed it sits in a bin in just the same way, for probably a greater length of time! You will most certainly find that a bucket full of disposable nappies smells far worse than a bucket full of reusable nappies.

5) How do I dry the nappies and do I need a tumble dryer?

The best way to dry cloth nappies is out in the sunshine, however when the great British weather does not permit, a clothes airer or, on occasion, a tumble dryer will do the trick. Some nappies are not recommended for tumble drying so it is always best to check the manufacturers advice. If you do not have a tumble drier there is no reason why you cannot use reusable nappies, a pocket style nappy with separate inserts or a system of flat nappies may work best for you as they have much shorter drying times!

6) Do washable nappies cause nappy rash?

Nappy rash most often occurs when a babies nappy is changed too infrequently, be it a disposable or a reusable nappy. Other factors include teething stages where the pH balance of the urine is altered causing irritation, a change in diet or the use of harsh baby wipes. Our top tips to avoid nappy rash are to change nappies frequently, give the skin as much ‘air time’ as possible, and opt for Washable Wipes.

7) Will reusable nappies restrict my babies movement?

There is no evidence to suggest this whatsoever, or that reusable nappies affect growth. Remember, disposable nappies have only been around for the past 20 years, before their arrival everyone wore beloved reusable nappies- there are generations of people with no issues caused by washable nappies!

8) Why are my reusable nappies leaking?

Usual causes of leaks would be:

• Detergent build up- This can be a fairly common problem causing leaks, and the nappies may also have an ammonia smell when they are soiled. Build up may occur in the inner microfleece layer, the inserts themselves or both.
• Heavy wetting- have you tried using some different fibre inserts in the nappies such as Bamboo or Hemp? If the inserts inside are getting very saturated it may be that the nappies now need extra absorbency as the wee's become larger. Bamboo tends to be a highly absorbent fibre so may be worth trying
• Poor fit- try adjusting the nappy to ensure a neat fit around the legs and waist. However, not all nappies suit all shapes of baby so if you are still struggling with the fit we have a useful guide here.
• Damaged PUL- excessive tumble drying, drying on a high heat, ineffective rinsing or direct placement on a radiator can damage the waterproof qualities of the PUL, which may cause moisture to leak through.

You can take a look at our in depth guide to dealing with nappy leaks here 

9) How can I remove staining?

Whilst many people will never experience any discolouration of their nappies, others may find some staining, particularly with newborn poo or times of teething etc. The very best way to remove stains is to get your nappies out in the sunshine- the sun works wonders at bleaching out any discolouration!

10) What is the best reusable nappy for night times and a heavy wetter?

Natural fibre nappies are always recommended for night time use due to their superior absorbency. A two-part system is also recommended- so a shaped nappy, with a separate waterproof cover over the top. You can also add extra boosters to your nappies should you need them.

Night time nappies can sometimes take a bit of trial and error, but persist and you will find the combination that works for you. You can take a look at our category of night time nappies here

Still unsure? Take a look at our comprehensive digital Guide to Reusable Nappies here or fill out the personalised advice quiz above!