Nappy Tips

 

Here are a few tips for making life with washable nappies and ElliePants as easy as possible:

If using washable nappies full time you will probably need to buy 24 nappies and 3-6 covers. As ElliePants do not need washing at every change, you will probably need only 3.

Your nappies will get more absorbent when they have been washed a few times.

To fold your nappy snugly inside ElliePants, lay the nappy flat, take the corners of the nappy into the middle to make a smaller square, and then fold into three. Make the square a little larger as your baby grows. If you want to, you can pull the nappy apart slightly in the middle to fill the ElliePants cover. This can help to prevent leaks, especially when your baby is newborn.

ElliePants are so easy to use:

Fold the four corners
to the centre
Fold into thirds
Tuck under the flaps
in the ElliePants

 

A good quality cotton nappy should only need changing every four hours during the day and 10 - 12 hours at night if your baby sleeps through.

Although it may raise a few eyebrows at the baby clinic, wool makes a fantastic nappy cover. It's natural, soft and breathable and can be worn for 2 weeks or longer if not soiled before needing to be washed. Just air your WoollyPants after wearing. The moisture will evaporate leaving your WoollyPants dry and smelling fresh.

Wash WoollyPants in olive oil soap (see our accessories page) or a special wool washing liquid. Use warm water to wash and rinse in at the same temperature. Turn WoollyPants inside out and rub gently to create a lather. Every few months or so, treat WoollyPants with lanolin which keeps them waterproof. Dissolve the lanolin in hot water, allow it to cool and then soak the WoollyPants for at least a few hours - overnight is best. Do not rinse. Squeeze gently to remove excess water and dry on the line or on an airer near (but not on) a radiator.

Store used nappies in a lidded bucket - you could have one for wet nappies and one for dirty nappies. Hardware shops sell lidded buckets very cheaply. Or one beer brewing bin is ideal! Nappies do not have to be soaked before washing. If you want to soak them, add a few drops of tea tree oil to the water and use a net bag to make lifting them into the washing machine easier.

Wash dirty nappies and ElliePants on 60°C using a non biological washing powder. Don’t use fabric conditioner as this can make nappies less absorbent. 1/2 cup of vinegar in the last rinse cycle will help keep nappies soft. Wet nappies can be washed at a lower temperature and put in with your normal washing to save money and help the environment.

Don't wash ElliePants in any detergent containing ethanol or alcohol (including Ecover liquid) as it can damage the waterproof coating.


To make nappies softer try hanging them out in the rain or frost. Putting them in the tumble drier for 10 minutes before or after hanging them outside will also make them softer.

If nappies get stained, dry them in the sunshine. As a last resort, a very occasional 95°C wash will also get them white again.

For stains on ElliePants, try Karen Logan's recipe for Go Spot Go - mix 1/4 cup of clear washing up liquid (Ecover is great) with 1/4 cup glycerin and 11/2 cups of water and use a spray bottle to apply to the stain. Or try squirting with half distilled clear vinegar and half water. With either recipe, leave for a couple of hours before washing. Check out Karen's book "Clean house, clean planet" for lots of safe and cheap cleaning recipes. My kids love making and using them - a great way to get them to do housework without complaining!

If you use paper liners, wash the wet ones and use them again. Don't put them in your washing machine unless they are in a laundry bag as they can cause a blockage.

Most baby clothes are not designed to fit over real nappies so you may need to buy bigger sizes to accommodate your baby's larger (and cuter) bottom. I have found that trousers and bodysuits tend to wick moisture from inside the nappy and cause leaks. Short vests with dungarees, a pinafore, or a sleepsuit are more practical.

Using washable nappies doesn't mean that your baby will be more likely to get nappy rash. Nappy rash is caused by a reaction between poo and urine. It isn’t related to the type of nappy at all. If your baby does have sensitive skin, give him lots of nappy free time. I have found Earthbound Organic's Baby Cream really effective in clearing up any sensitive patches and I am never without it. It's great for all kinds of bumps and grazes too. And it's made in Wales! (Website details for Earthbound Orhanicscan be found on our' links' page)

For any additional advice on using washable nappies, or if you have any nappy tips to share please contact us at: enquiries@elliepants.co.uk