The Complete Guide to
Cloth Nappies

Five thousand. That is how many disposable nappies the average baby goes through before they are toilet trained. Five thousand nappies, each one sitting in landfill for up to 500 years. For a long time, the alternative was those complicated terry square things your grandmother used that required origami skills and actual safety pins.

Modern cloth nappies are nothing like that. They go on and off just like a disposable. They come in the most adorable prints. And they will save you a genuinely shocking amount of money. Here is everything you need to know.

"Switching to cloth nappies is one of the biggest eco wins available to any family — and the financial savings are extraordinary."

The financial case for cloth nappies

A full set of modern cloth nappies costs around $300 to $600 for 20 to 25 nappies. Disposables cost $2,500 to $4,000 per child. That is not a typo. You are saving thousands. If you use the same nappies for a second child, those savings double. And because babies grow out of nappy sizes quickly, secondhand cloth nappies are everywhere and often barely used — you can build a complete stash for $100 to $200 buying secondhand. The math is almost embarrassingly good.

The environmental case

Beyond the money, the environmental numbers are wild. Disposable nappy manufacturing uses billions of litres of oil and hundreds of thousands of trees every year in the US alone. Each one will be in landfill long after everyone currently alive has died. Cloth nappies do use water and energy to wash, but their lifetime footprint is substantially lower — especially if you line dry and reuse them for more than one child.

Types of modern cloth nappies

All-in-ones (AIOs)

The simplest option and the one most similar to a disposable. Everything is in one piece — you put it on, you take it off, done. Perfect for grandparents and daycare who might be less enthusiastic about learning a new system. The slight downside is they take a bit longer to dry because all the layers are together.

Pocket nappies

A waterproof shell with a pocket you stuff with absorbent inserts. They dry fast because everything comes apart. You can add more inserts for nighttime or heavy wetters. Most cloth nappy families end up using a lot of these. Alva Baby and Sunbaby are excellent budget-friendly brands that hold up really well.

Fitted nappies with covers

A fully absorbent fitted nappy worn under a separate waterproof cover. The most absorbent option available — excellent for heavy wetters, overnight use, and for babies who repeatedly leak through other styles. The cover can be reused between nappy changes (unless soiled), reducing the number of covers you need. The Workhorse by Nicki's Diapers and the Sandy's by Tots Bots are well-regarded options.

Flat and prefold nappies

The most affordable and eco-friendly option. Single-layer fabric that you fold yourself, secured with a snappi fastener or nappy pins, worn under a waterproof cover. Flats and prefolds take a little practice to fold but dry the fastest of any style, are the most durable, and are the most versatile. Many experienced cloth nappy users consider these their favourite system once they've mastered the folding.

How many nappies do you need?

This depends on your baby's age and how frequently you want to wash:

• Newborn (0–3 months): 24–30 nappies if washing every 1–2 days. Newborns wee very frequently.
• 3–6 months: 20–25 nappies washing every 2 days
• 6+ months: 15–20 nappies washing every 2 days

Many families start with a smaller stash (10–15 nappies) to trial the system before committing to a full stash. Some areas have cloth nappy libraries where you can borrow trial kits for free — an excellent way to test different styles before purchasing.

The washing routine

The thought of washing nappies is what puts most families off before they start — but the reality is simple and quick. A reliable two-step wash routine works for most families:

• Pre-wash (short wash): 40–60°C, 45–60 minutes, with a small amount of detergent. This removes the bulk of waste and prevents bacterial build-up.
• Main wash (longer wash): 60°C, 2–3 hours, with a full dose of detergent. This thoroughly cleans and sanitises the nappies.

Dry in the sun whenever possible — UV light naturally sanitises and removes stains with remarkable effectiveness. Machine drying on low heat is fine for most nappies but will reduce their lifespan faster than line drying.

What detergent to use

Use a full-strength mainstream detergent (powder is generally more effective than liquid) at the correct dosage for your water hardness. Avoid fabric softener (it coats the fibres and dramatically reduces absorbency), essential oils in the wash, and strong stain removers that contain bleach or enzymes (which can degrade the waterproofing over time).

Dealing with solid waste

Before your baby starts solids, breastfed poo is water-soluble and can go straight in the washing machine. Formula-fed poo should be rinsed off first. Once your baby is eating solid food, use a biodegradable liner inside the nappy — these can be flushed (check your local regulations) or composted with solid waste. A handheld bidet attachment for the toilet makes rinsing extremely easy and costs around $30 to install.

Getting started — a beginner's guide

The biggest mistake new cloth nappy users make is trying to do too much too soon. Here's a gentler approach:

1. Start part-time — use cloth at home during the day, disposables at night and out of the house
2. Invest in 6–8 nappies to trial before building a full stash
3. Join an online cloth nappy community — the knowledge base is remarkable and members are extremely helpful
4. Give it 2–4 weeks before deciding if it's working — there's a learning curve for fit and routine
5. Go full-time once you feel confident — most families never look back

Common cloth nappy myths — debunked

Despite their many benefits, cloth nappies are still surrounded by myths that put many families off before they start. Here are the most common misconceptions and the truth behind them.

"Cloth nappies leak more than disposables"

This is one of the most persistent myths about cloth nappies — and it's simply not true of modern cloth systems when used correctly. Leaks in cloth nappies are almost always the result of incorrect fit, insufficient absorbency for the baby's output, or nappies that need stripping (cleaning to restore absorbency). Once you find the right system and fit for your baby, cloth nappies are no more leak-prone than disposables — and many parents find they leak less.

"They're too much work"

The washing routine for cloth nappies adds approximately two extra loads of laundry per week — roughly 20-30 minutes of additional work. Whether this feels like "too much work" is a matter of perspective. For most families, the financial savings of thousands of dollars more than compensate for this small additional effort. Many cloth nappy users report that after the first few weeks, the routine becomes completely automatic and they no longer think of it as extra work.

"They smell worse than disposables"

Properly cared for cloth nappies do not smell worse than disposables. Disposable nappies contain chemicals designed to mask odour, which can actually make the smell worse when the nappy is opened. Cloth nappies stored in a dry pail (without water) and washed every 1-2 days have minimal odour. The key is a proper wash routine that fully cleans the nappies rather than just rinsing them.

Cloth nappies and childcare

One practical consideration for working parents is whether their childcare provider will use cloth nappies. Many daycare centres are happy to use cloth nappies if they are easy to use (pocket nappies or all-in-ones are best for this purpose), clearly labelled, and if parents provide a wet bag for storing used nappies. It's worth having this conversation with your childcare provider early — most are more flexible than you might expect.

For childcare settings that won't use cloth, consider a hybrid approach: cloth nappies at home and disposables at daycare. This still significantly reduces your environmental impact and saves money, even if it's not a fully cloth solution.