You may like to use a nappy soak such as Napisan, but it is not imperative to use every time. These products do eat away at the fibres and thus make your nappies wear out faster if you use them daily, but some people find this system easy, and that's fine too. If you are concerned about the use of such products on the environment, you can clean nappies using ordinary washing detergent, but there are some things to remember.

• Too much detergent can cause a build up on nappies (especially microfleece). Some babies have such delicate skin that it reacts to residual detergent. Use a little less rather than more.
• If you get a detergent build up, it might cause your nappies to smell. Ironic I know, but try washing them on hot and see if you get suds. If you do, use less detergent.
• Do an extra rinse at the end. This will help stop build up and remove any residue that may irritate your baby's skin.
• If you have a frontloader be sure that you use the 60 degree water setting (no hotter or you may damage the PUL) on a long cycle. Front loaders use less water than top loaders, so you need to be quite sure your nappies are being cleaned and rinsed thoroughly. (I'm not a fan of frontloaders - always use the special frontloader powder and give your nappies the occasional Napisan soak if they start smelling odd!)
• Soap based products like Lux are notorius for causing build up on nappies, and are no good for covers. Avoid them like the plague!
• Hot water will help sanitise your nappies, as will the hot dryer and sunshine. Sunshine is FANTASTIC for killing bugs and removing stains.
• I would use an antibacterial nappy soak if baby has an upset tummy, and after vaccinations. Hygiene at these times is super important.
• If you use a nappy soak you don't need to wash with a detergent. Read the instructions!! Using too many different cleaners means they can react and causes rashes. Keep your routine simple.
• If your nappies start to get a bit whiffy add a couple of capfuls of Dettol Fresh to the wash cycle once in a while. It will immediately freshen them up. Alternatively you can try a soak in baking soda.
• If you have nappies that are constructed from man-made fibres (aios and pockets with microfibre inserts) you will need to hot wash them to keep them clean.
• Don't use chlorine bleach (like Janola). It is far too harsh and apart from ruining your nappies it will give your baby a very sore bottom!
• Don't use fabric softner!! It will coat the fibres of your nappies and make them less absorbent. It also may cause rashes on a sensitive baby.
• Nappies shouldn't smell when they come out of the dryer, off the line, or get a fresh wee in them. If they do you need to give them a soak for a couple of hours in something with sodium percarbonate as the active ingredient - Napisan, or a similar nappy soak. This is sometimes referred to as oxygen bleach. Older babies' overnight nappies may need this treatment more frequently, otherwise every few weeks should be enough to keep your nappies smelling sweet as a daisy :)

You'll know if your nappies are clean because they whiff if they're not!! If you start to get whiffy nappies give them a soak in oxygen bleach or add some Dettol Fresh once in a while and it should clear right up. Man- made fibres hold smells more than natural fibres, so do hot wash all-in-ones, pockets and microfibre inserts regularly.

Bummis covers should not be soaked in anything, but it is O.K. to wash them in Napisan or your usual detergent. Your covers will last longer if you don't soak them or put them in the dryer, but I must admit, mine often all get chucked in together with the nappies.

Persil Sensitive and eco-friendly powders cause issues for some people. Many nappy sellers recommend eco products, and clearly if you are buying reusable nappies you are interested in looking after the environment, so it can be confusing. However, of the small number of people who experience problems with their nappies I have noticed that almost all of them use Persil Sensitive or an eco-friendly powder. Don't panic - many, many people use these products and have no problem, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

However, if your waterproofing is starting to leak or your pockets are not functioning well, and you are using one of these products, try something new for a while. A good old soak in Napisan and a few hot washes should restore things to perfect working order. I would say take a look at the ingredients - washing soda is REALLY harsh on natural fibres, so steer clear of products containing it (Earthwise is one to avoid!). Eco-friendly powders can cause more wear and tear on natural fibres in my experience. I have tried eco-firendly powders myself, but I do find the nappies (regardless of brand or style) get smelly quite quickly, so I personally stick to ordinary supermarket brands, or oxygen whiteners (sodium percarbonate). Have a go and see what suits you.

Wrong! Firstly, your own baby's poo is pretty much the least offensive poo in the world, and secondly, even if you use disposables you still have to clean up the poo on the baby, and that's about as close as you get to it! The superabsorbers in disposables can suck the moisture right out of the poo, so if you miss it when it first happens it get really crusted on the baby's bottom, making an even harder job.

The WHO (World Health Organisation) recommends emptying soiled disposables into the toilet anyway (otherwise you are throwing raw sewage into landfills that can leach into drinking water or be transferred by vermin…yuck) so either way you are going to get well acquainted with poo.

The use of modern fabrics in nappies make this much less of a problem. The fleece/suedecloth inner in our fitteds, pockets and all-in-ones is really resistant to stains, and best of all poo just falls off from it. Really! Well, there's a bit more to it, but be warned, there's no way of explaining this without being graphic.

By the time they become toddlers, most babies' poo really will just plop off into the toilet leaving almost no mess. During those beginning solids days the poo will probably have a peanut butter type consistency. (Yup, that's why I don't eat peanut butter.) You can just hold the nappy by a clean corner in the toilet and flush, but I prefer the spray method.

I bought a shower attachment thingy that fits on the taps (about $12 from Mitre 10), reinvented it so it fits on one tap, and when I need it I simply carry the dirty nappy on the upturned bucket lid, attach the spray to the cold tap, and rinse into the toilet. Never touch a thing. I think someone called it "the Princess Method" which I kinda like.

When my second baby came along in 2006 I decided that I really deserved one of the flash nappy cleaning systems. I knew now that I really could do cloth for the whole time in nappies, so I treated myself (yes, isn't it tragic when a nappy sprayer becomes an exciting treat?). A nappy sprayer really makes life so much easier when your little one first starts solids. Oh yes indeedy. Get Dad to do his DIY bit - all you need is an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver to attach it to your toilet. Alternatively, hand him the BABY and you do the DIY bit with the wrench. Probably the easier job of the two. ;) You can now find nappy sprayers on our shopping page under accessories - yay!

Now exclusively breast fed babies' poo is a whole different story, but each baby is different, so what works for some doesn't for others. Some people don't even bother to rinse it, but begin the wash with a rinse and spin cycle to remove the poopy water. It's up to you!

If it really bothers you, you can add a flushable liner to whichever nappy system you choose. We now stock biodegradable, flushable liners for the faint of heart. We also sell microfleece liners which help the clean up and add the stay-dry layer to prefolds, or any cotton nappy system. (Our fitted nappies, pocket nappies, and all-in-ones don't need a separate microfleece liner as this layer is already built in.)

The great thing about both the prefold/cover system and the fitted/cover system is that there is two layers to protect your baby's clothes and you from the explosive poo blowouts. They will happen to everyone, but disposable blowouts can be really bad (I'm talking poo in the baby's HAIR!!) as there is no protection once it has escaped!

Some lucky mothers do not have any problems with night nappies, so if you are reading this when pregnant don't panic - yet. (You don't get much 'night' with most newborns anyway!) If you have a super soaker little guy like me, then there are some things you can try. Prefolds and wraps or pocket nappies are fine for some people, but for me they just didn't cut it for nights. Bummis pull on pants (whisper pants) over a Snazzipants fitted (with a booster) work for me. If you have a really heavy night time wetter you may need to use more than one booster, or a hemp fitted nappy with a hemp flat in it, which is about as absorbent as nappies come! Generally as babies get older and drink less at night this becomes less of a problem. The right cover is essential, and it must fit well. I like wool covers for their breathable yet leakproof qualities, although they are more expensive and require a bit more care. Fleece covers are the modern, easy care alternative to wool, and make a great snuggly night cover. They are totally breathable, water resistant, and able to be machine washed and tumble dried. What more could you ask for?

Now Luka is growing up I find that a pocket nappy does the job reliably at night too. I had all but given up on pockets at night, so I don't know whether it's becuase he is older and wets less, or his legs have finally fattened up! Many people like a combination of fast absorbing microfibre and a hemp insert together in a night nappy to do the job. Whatever you stuff them with, it's trial and error, coupled with a good fit to get through a night.

Try a wool soaker over your nappy cover for heavy wetters at night. It will stop any leaks.

My first questions has got to be how often do you want to wash? Overseas websites always seem to recommend huge numbers based on the fact that many people think washing a load of nappies every day is a pain. Personally, I'd rather wash every day so that I don't have problems with smelly buckets or dried on stains. Also this way it becomes a routine very quickly. Honestly, in these days of efficient washers and driers, I just don't see what's such a big deal. My mum used to boil nappies up in a metal pail on the stove…now that's a labour of love! Some websites say you can get away with a very small number of nappies, but take this with a grain of salt too. What about those days when the baby has an upset tum?? I hate to think.

If you are going to use fitted nappies exclusively, I reckon you will need at least 15. That's half to two thirds in the wash, and some for the next day. As your baby grows up, you will need to change less often as they 'save it up' more. You need at least 4-6 covers in my opinion. If your baby is exclusively breast fed you may need more as covers tend to cop it a lot more with runny breastfeed poo! Covers don't need to be changed every nappy change. If they are not dirty, just alternate between two covers to allow 'airing' time in between uses. You will probably use more covers if you are using prefolds, especially in those early months of frequent runny poo and perfecting your snappi technique! Hang in there…it will very quickly get better. Fitted nappies are better at keeping covers clean in those early days, so you won't need so many with that system.

• You are a new mum!! Congratulations!! At this amazing time you are no doubt tired, emotional and very busy gazing at your beautiful newborn. You are learning to feed and care for your baby and basking in his/her wonder. It is not a time to be working out washing routines or justifying your decision to people who know less about cloth than you. Chill out and go with the disposable generation. It'll also reinforce your decision to use cloth when you see how much money you are throwing away and how much waste you are generating. 6 weeks of stinky overflowing rubbish bags was enough to convince me that this was not a sensible option for two or three years! Not to mention the revolting warm squishy feel of a disposable full of urine and chemical gel…

• New babies are REALLY small!! Our fitted nappies fit from around 3.5kgs to around 10 kgs. That is a big increase in weight, so they are bulky on small babies. Over the first 6 weeks your baby will grow enormously quickly, and we think it's best to move to cloth gradually over that 4-6 week period.
• Newborn disposables are really small and flimsy and avoid rubbing the cord stump.
• Meconium is a terrible stainer, and it would be awful to ruin all those lovely cloth nappies in the first week!

Here's some troubleshooting tips for leaks:

• Is the nappy sticking out of the cover?

The most common reason for a leak is the absorbent part of the nappy sticking out of the cover and wicking onto clothes. Pull on pants make this easy (that's why I recommend them over fitted nappies), but with a wrap you'll need to be vigilant that the nappy isn't protruding from the wrap around the legs.

• Is there enough absorbency?

A nappy can only hold so much! Even the small size Snazzipants fitted nappies hold over half a litre with the booster, while a traditional flannel square will only hold around 230mls. Nights may be the time when cloth nappies are not holding enough, especially for older children. Try using more than one booster, or read up the suggestions for night time.

• Does the fleece have build up?

If you are using fitted nappies or pockets with the stay-dry fleece/suedecloth you may have a build up of detergent on the fleece preventing the moisture from wicking through to the absorbent body of the nappy. To remove the build up try doing a few hot washes with no detergent and check if you have suds coming out of the nappies. You may also want to try washing with baking soda or a cup of vinegar to remove buildup, or a good hot soak in Napisan. Prevention is always easier than cure, so make sure that you use less washing powder rather than more, and rinse nappies really well. Pockets are very prone to this problem, so be extra vigilant about how you wash them.

• Does the cover fit well?

Covers need to fit snugly around the legs to stop moisture seeping onto clothing. All babies are different shapes, so you may have to experiment with a few covers to get this right. If you are having trouble getting a good fit, never fear…next week your baby will be a different size!

• Does the pocket nappy/all-in-one fit well?

Like covers, single layer nappies such as pockets or all-in-ones need to fit snugly around the legs to stop moisture seeping onto clothing. If a pocket nappy is gaping around the legs, either think about downsizing a sized system, or waiting a couple of weeks for your baby to fill out into a single sized system. With all-in-ones that gape on a skinny- legged baby, a good trick is to add a booster which will bulk out the nappy and help it fit better around the legs until your baby grows into it a bit better.

Again all babies are different, some are prone to rashes and some aren't. We don't recommend the everyday use of nappy rash creams as these oily creams can be hard to wash out and leave a residue on your nappies, making them less absorbent. Curash powder has healing and drying ingredients and makes a great every day alternative.

If your baby does get a rash, obviously it is a good idea to use a cream as a barrier to moisture, and to prevent further irritation. Yeast rashes may need a doctor's attention, and it is especially important to sanitise your nappies well if your baby has a yeast rash. If you need to use lots of oily creams for a baby prone to rahes or eczema you might want to use flushable liners to prevent the creams building up on your nappies.

It is hard not to feel guilty about a rash when you are a mum. Remember, it is not your decision to use cloth that is causing the rash! In fact, many doctors and nurses recommend cloth to avoid nappy rash. Here is a New Zealand information guide on the subject. It is easy to get the idea that disposables keep your baby rash free, but remember, most of that is marketing talk!

Regular changing and lots of no-nappy time are the best ways to prevent and cure rashes.

Yes. As with all material, your Snazzipants nappies will have an oily residue on them which needs to be removed to make them more absorbent. (Just like a new tea towel which needs to be washed before you can dry the dishes with it!) This will also shrink your fitted nappies down to the correct size, and allow your pocket nappy linings to wick moisture through properly.

Prefolds will arrive awfully stiff like linen until you wash and dry them once or twice. The dryer will make them especially soft and quilted looking, and they will just get softer and more absorbent over time.

We have been around a few years now, and this is my favourite question of all - one I totally didn't expect when I first wrote the website, but one of the most persistent. Are cloth nappies bulkier than a disposable? Yup. But only a clean one...

All new mums are fastidious about changing their babies, but the more I look around the more toddlers I notice lugging around disposables swelled to the brim with a cocktail of chemicals and urine, and practically hanging around their kneees. A disposable holds an awful lot of wee thanks to the chemicals that turn it to gel - so while a new disposable is very trim, one that has been on a toddler for a few hours is most certainly not. A cloth nappy is a little bulkier when you put it on, but stays the same no matter how wet it gets. While ALL cloth nappies are a little bulkier than a disposable on a newborn, modern cloth nappies are significantly trimmer than the traditional flannel square nappies. A couple of months down the track you won't even notice it.

We stock each of the four different nappy systems at Snazzipants. In a nutshell they are:

*Prefolds and covers

OR

*Fitted nappies and covers

OR

*Pocket nappies with inserts

OR

*All-In-Ones

It can be frustrating when a child is toilet trained in the day, but you can't seem to get through the night. Most importantly, remember it is very common, and almost all children grow out of it. Be patient! A quick internet search shows that 15 per cent of five-year-olds five per cent of ten-year-olds still wet the bed, and it is not considered by 'experts' to be a problem until around 7 years of age. Easy to say when they aren't the ones washing the sheets, or paying for disposable nappies. It seems to be becoming more of a problem as children don't feel wetness because of the efficient gel in disposables, so if you have used cloth nappies, hopefully you won't be dealing with this for too long. From about 3 most children don't like to be in nappies at night anymore, which is probably why Pull Ups are so popular despite their price. I recommend giving Happy Heiny pocket trainers a try. (You'll find them under the accessories page.) They work like a pocket nappy in that they have a stay-dry inner and a waterproof outer, creating a pocket that you fill with absorbent material. I recommend microfibre inserts for your pocket trainers as they are light and very absorbent, and they dry fast so you only need 1 or 2 for a nighttime nappy if you wash frequently. Happy Heiny's trainers come in sizes to fit up to 27kg+ so they are great for bigger kids. They will look kinda bulky at first, but children like the fact that they can be pulled up (not like nappies) and down again if they need to do a nighttime wee. Come in bright colours, and will save you the frustration of wet sheets night after night. Hang in there - it will end!

Confused?

Have I totally confused you? Don't worry, these are all the tips I've picked up in years of being a nappy nutter. If you are overwhelmed, confused or downright put off, please don't give up, it's actually really easy. Please e-mail me your questions, or pop into our Milford store if you are in Auckland, and I'll try to help. Remember, I'm passionate about cloth being the healthy choice for your baby so I'm always happy to talk nappy!