Lots of people have this fear of how they will use cloth nappies when they are outside the home. I must admit I was one of them however I soon learnt there was nothing to be scared of.
When I had my first child I used to leave the house with him wearing a cloth nappy but if he needed a change I’d put a disposable on him as it was “easier.” I soon realised though that this was a complete waste of a nappy wrap (I was using 2 part nappies – Totsbots nappy and Motherease wrap), as only the inner nappy needed changing. The outer wrap had been perfectly fine to continue using however I’d end up putting both the nappy and wrap in the wet nappy bag for washing. I then began to take my cloth nappies out with me and when he needed a change I just put a new nappy on and used the same wrap again.
Now six years on and baby number 3 is here, I don’t even question taking cloth nappies with me and I proudly change her into her lovely fluffy nappies. Nappies have moved on a lot in this time and there are now some fantastically reliable all in ones and pocket nappies which are as near as you can get to disposables. If you are worried about changing cloth when out or having to put a wrap on as well (takes seconds though) then you could use one layer nappies as your changing bag nappies.
I frequently get asked is what to do with the poo when you’re out and if you end up with a really smelly bag.
Even if you use disposables you often get told at playgroups to take your disposable nappies away with you (if I do your tour of the Farnham Toy Library you’ll definitely get a reminder about this). Many halls used for playgroups only have the bins changed weekly and they don’t want smelly disposables left sitting there. If I have to change a pooey nappy when I’m out and I have access to a toilet, I flush away the pooey paper liner so the poo has gone and all I’m left with is a wet nappy. If I don’t have access to a toilet, then I seal the nappy back up and store it in my wet nappy bag. I will then flush away the pooey paper liner at home.
I store all my soiled nappies in a wet nappy bag. This secures with a drawstring and keeps smells inside but also allows a little air to circulate so the nappies can breathe. If I only have a couple of nappies in the wet nappy bag, when I get home I tip them into my nappy bucket. If the nappy bag is full (i.e. been away for a weekend), then I open the nappy bag and tip all the nappies into my washing machine and do a normal nappy wash (adding any nappies in that might be in my bucket too).
You should also remember than a good cloth nappy is less likely to leak than a disposable. I’d much rather change a pooey cloth nappy, than apooey disposable nappy and pooey clothes!
Wendy Richards
