4 Reasons You Should Use Cloth Diapers

Disposable nappies are quick, easy, and it’s completely understandable why most parents default to them. But cloth nappies have come a long way from the terry squares and safety pins your grandmother might remember. Modern cloth nappies use poppers or velcro, come pre-shaped, and are genuinely simple to use once you get the hang of them. If you’ve been curious about switching, here’s an honest look at the real reasons families choose cloth, along with what you should know before you dive in.

1. Less Waste Going to Landfill

This is usually the reason people mention first, and it holds up. A baby who isn’t potty trained until around age two or three can go through several thousand disposable nappies. Every single one of those ends up in landfill, where the plastic components can take centuries to break down.

Cloth nappies don’t solve this problem completely, since washing them uses water, energy and detergent. But most parents find the trade-off worth it, especially if you wash full loads, use an efficient machine, and line dry when you can. If you’re set up for it (with your own washing machine and somewhere to hang nappies to dry), cloth is generally the lower-waste option over the life of one child, and even more so if you reuse the same nappies for a second or third baby.

2. It Can Genuinely Save You Money

The upfront cost of cloth nappies puts a lot of parents off, and it’s a fair concern. A full set of reusable nappies (enough to get you through a couple of days between washes) can cost anywhere from around £200 to £500 or more, depending on the brand and whether you go for all-in-ones, pocket nappies, or flat nappies with separate wraps. That’s a real cost, and it’s paid mostly upfront rather than spread out.

Where the savings come in is over time. A single set of good quality cloth nappies can often be used for one child from birth to potty training, and then reused for younger siblings, or sold on second-hand once you’re done. Compare that to the ongoing weekly spend on disposables, which doesn’t stop until your child is out of nappies, and the maths tends to work in cloth’s favour, especially if you have more than one child or buy second-hand cloth nappies to start with.

If the upfront cost feels like a barrier, a few things can help: buying second-hand (many cloth nappies are barely used before a baby outgrows them), starting with a small trial pack before committing to a full stash, or checking whether your local council offers a cloth nappy incentive scheme, as some do.

3. Better for Sensitive Skin, in Many Cases

Disposable nappies are absorbent because of the gel crystals and materials inside them, and while they’re generally considered safe, some babies do react to the fragrances, dyes or synthetic liners in certain brands. Cloth nappies made from cotton, bamboo or hemp sit against the skin without these additions, which some parents find helps with mild irritation.

That said, cloth isn’t automatically rash-proof. Nappy rash is usually caused by wetness and friction against the skin, so cloth nappies still need changing regularly, roughly every two to three hours for a young baby, and as soon as possible after a dirty nappy. If you notice persistent redness, soreness or a rash that doesn’t clear up within a couple of days, it’s worth checking with your health visitor or GP rather than assuming it’s the nappy type at fault, since it could be a yeast infection or something else that needs treatment.

4. Fun to Use (Yes, Really)

This one is more about parent morale than baby health, but it matters more than people expect. Cloth nappies come in an enormous range of prints and colours, and there’s something satisfying about a well-fitted, good-looking nappy on your baby, especially once they’re old enough to wear them with just a t-shirt during warmer months. It won’t make the 2am changes any more exciting, but it does make the whole process feel a little less like a chore.

Things Worth Knowing Before You Switch

Cloth nappies aren’t the right fit for every family, and that’s fine. A few practical points to weigh up:

• Laundry load: you’ll be doing an extra wash every two to three days. If you don’t have your own washing machine, or space to dry nappies, this can be genuinely difficult to manage.
• Nurseries and childminders: some are happy to use cloth nappies, others prefer disposables. Worth asking before you commit fully.
• Away from home: many parents use disposables for holidays or long days out and cloth at home, which is a perfectly reasonable middle ground rather than an all-or-nothing decision.
• Washing routine: nappies generally need a cold rinse or spin, followed by a hot wash (60 degrees is often recommended by nappy manufacturers) with a non-biological or nappy-specific detergent, no fabric softener. Check the care instructions for your specific nappies, as recommendations vary by brand and fabric.

If full-time cloth feels like too big a leap, some parents start with cloth for daytime changes only, or use a nappy laundry service (available in some areas) that collects and washes them for you, which removes the laundry concern entirely.

Getting Started

If you decide to give cloth a try, it’s worth borrowing or buying a small trial pack of two or three different nappies before spending money on a full stash. Fit varies a surprising amount between brands and between babies, and what works brilliantly for one baby might leak constantly on another. Many local cloth nappy libraries or nappy advisors (often found through your council or local parenting groups) let you try before you buy, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of it.

Whatever you decide, there’s no need to feel like it has to be all cloth or all disposable. Plenty of families use a mix depending on the situation, and that’s a completely reasonable way to get some of the benefits without the pressure of an all-or-nothing switch.