About me!

Helen, mother of four, has always been a fan of washable nappies but has now turned that passion into advising others on making the switch too.

She says:

"I have become a Real Nappy Advisor as I am passionate about real nappies. I have used them on my youngest child from birth and with four children I feel extremely satisfied that not only have I saved tonnes of disposable nappies going into a local landfill site but also as a family we have saved hundreds of pounds at the same time.

Reusable nappies have come a long way since the days of terry squares and nappy pins. Modern nappies fasten with Velcro or poppers and use the latest fabrics to offer comfort, ease of use and great absorbency. We are sold the idea that disposables are the only option, but there is a world of choice out there and a reusable nappy to suit every baby".

As well as the obvious financial gains of using real nappies, parents are increasingly attracted by the environmental benefits. A recent government study that compared real nappies with disposables, found that if used correctly real nappies could be up to 40% better for the environment.

Helen, who lives in Burton on Trent, now wants to be able to help other parents save money and the environment at the same time.

My advice is completely impartial and I'm happy to talk for hours about nappies! Why not book a home demonstration to see the nappies yourself before you make a decision?

So what do you need to get started?

How many nappies will I need?
With every child being different and so many different brands and types of cloth nappy, it's very hard to give a precise answer to this question. Dependant on the age of your baby, your washing facilities and how often you want to wash, a general rule of thumb is that you will need 15 - 25 nappies. You will also require 3-6 nappy covers or approximately 1 cover for every 5 nappies.

What happens as my baby grows?
By purchasing a birth-to-potty system (such as the onelife brand) as the name implies, the nappy should last your child from birth right through to potty training. You will need to buy larger sized nappy covers as your baby grows. Obviously as children do not conform to standardised sizes, there are some occasions where additional nappies may have to be purchased.

With other systems such as flat or shaped, you will need to buy nappies and waterproof covers in a larger size as your child grows. The number of sizes varies with the style and brand but range from 2-4 sizes. All Lollipop nappies come in just 2 sizes.

I will be able to offer you recommendations as to the sizing of nappies you require.

Do I need a tumble dryer?
Not at all, if you manage to air dry or line dry your clothes then washable nappies are just as easy. Several of our nappies are quick drying and a air dryer works just fine.

Is it easy to wash the nappies?
Yes, as easy as pressing a button on your washing machine, no need to boil or soak and definitely no need for nappy pins!

Would I be better using a laundry service?
Some parents do choose this option but it usually works out at the same cost as disposables and the type of nappy used is usually a prefold so choice is very limited. Also many parents subscribing to laundry services don't realise that they don't get the same nappies back each week and that they usually still have to wash the waterproof covers themselves.