Cloth nappies – time to dry

When considering purchasing cloth nappies there are numerous factors to take into account. In a previous article we’ve looked at personal preferences and cost. Now we discuss the time it takes cloth nappies, nappy wraps and nappy inserts to dry.

When you are changing your baby every few hours and using lots of nappies on a daily basis the speed a nappy dries is an important factor. The longer it takes for a nappy to dry, the more nappies you will need to have to hand as the waiting time is longer.

Drying time also impacts on cost. Not in terms of the purchase price of the nappy or insert but rather on the amount of electricity you will need to power the tumble dryer on a winters day!

Most real nappies can be tumble dried, but of course it is cheaper and also ‘greener’ to hang dry. Line drying is best because it is free and leaves nappies smelling fresh. An added advantage is that the sun bleaches out any stains, which has to be a real benefit! However in the absence of sunshine, yes I know it isn’t very often that we don’t have sun in the UK, you can hang-dry somewhere warm in your house. The ideal spot preferably has good air movement, such as in front of a radiator or above your central heating boiler, etc.

Some nappies dry quicker than others, but the good news is that most will be dry within twenty four hours. Whether you intend to tumble dry or hang dry your nappies, two factors influence how long the nappy will take to dry. First is how much they can be ‘unfolded’ to reduce the layers and second is what fibres they are made from.

As you’d expect, the more you can open a nappy out to dry it, the quicker it will dry. Hence single layer terry square nappies dry quickest. Prefolds then shaped nappies are the next best in the speed stakes. Some shaped nappies have a built-in flap that opens out during washing to speed up drying (e.g. Tots Bots).

The length of the drying time is the main disadvantage of the all-in-one nappy. This is because of the waterproof outer layer that increases drying time and they take the longest to dry. As for materials, hemp and bamboo, being very absorbent, tend to take longer than cotton to dry. Synthetic microfibre terry nappies, which absorbs moisture between rather than into the fibre, dries the quickest.

As for pocket nappies and nappy wraps, some wraps and pocket nappies can be tumble dried on a low heat setting but are best hang-dried, as this maintains their condition for longer. Wraps made entirely of synthetic fibres dry quickest, and those with a cotton layer take longer, though will still hang dry in a few hours or overnight. Like wraps, pocket nappies are usually made entirely of synthetic, non-absorbent fibres and hang dry very quickly, in a few hours at most.

So don’t let drying times put you off buying cloth nappies, wraps or inserts as some take only a few hours to dry. And with all the benefits of using real cloth nappies, the pros far outweigh the cons!

Reusable nappies - An introduction

It has been said that the hardest thing about using real nappies is choosing which ones you like best! Unlike with disposable nappies, there’s a vast range of real nappies to choose from, which is great because there are nappies to cover every budget, function, and taste possible.

The downside of all this choice is that it can be a bit overwhelming when you come to choose what nappies will be right for you. Please don’t let this choice put you off using real nappies – the bottom line is that most well known and tried nappies do what they are meant to do, so don’t worry too much about their finer points! Having said that, it can be fun to find out about the variety of real nappies available, trying different types and picking your favourites.

The range of designs and clever features you will find reflects the passion and ingenuity of real nappy designers, usually parents themselves who have been bitten by the cloth nappy ‘bug’! If you look around you will find whole chat rooms and parenting forums dedicated to discussing cloth nappies – I have yet to see one about disposable nappies, which I think reflects how thoroughly rewarding it can be to use cloth nappies.

There are basically three groups of real nappies available: two part systems, all-in-ones and pocket nappies (a cross between two part systems and all-in-ones).

Two part systems comprise of a nappy to absorb wetness and a separate outer wrap to keep everything inside. The absorbent nappy may be flat and folded into the desired shape (e.g. prefold or terry square) or shaped to fit around your baby.

All-in-ones are shaped to fit round your baby and come in one single piece with the outer wrap permanently attached to the absorbent inner nappy. Just one piece to put on.

Pocket nappies have a ‘pouch’ in between a non-absorbent stay-dry inner layer and a waterproof outer wrap. Absorbent material is placed inside the pocket to soak up wetness. Two parts, but just one piece to put on.

Each type of real nappy has different pros and cons, and many people find that having a few different types works best so that they can choose which suits the occasion best at the time.
Other choices you will come across are one-size and multi-sized nappies and wraps, and velcro-type fastenings or poppers. One-sized real nappies are adjustable so that you can adapt the nappy to fit from birth to potty training. With multi-sized nappies you will need to buy several sizes (usually two, sometimes three or rarely four, depending on your babys’ size at birth, build, growth and when he or she potty trains) from birth to potty.

Most babies potty train in the day earlier than at night and can be in night nappies for a long time after they are dry during the day. You may well need to buy a set of XL nappies for this stage, but you will not need many (maybe 3 nappies and 1 or 2 wraps).There are a number of factors to consider when choosing your real nappy system which we’ll cover in our next article.

Itti Bitti bonkers at Bumfluff

Bumfluff Babies have gone Itti Bitti bonkers recently. The D'Lish All-in-Ones are now back in stock at the great price of only £11.99. Or why not treat your baby to the extra special Itti Bitti Limited Edition at only £12.49.

We also stock the new Bitti Boo. This gorgeous shaped nappy is super absorbent, quick drying and squishably soft! They're Itti Bitti's ultimate absorbent nappy, ideal for overnight or for any heavy wetting baby, offering superior absorbency combined with a super-trim fit, plus they are soft and stay that way after washing even in hard water AND they're quick to dry. Priced at £13.00 each or the equivalent of £11.99 each if you buy 10, the Bitti Boo is a must have nappy!

Also new is the Bitti Tutto. The new One Size SIO from Itti Bitti has been a smash hit in Oz and we are expecting similar excitement over here! Only £17.50 buys this excellent Snap In One nappy that fits babies from birth to potty.

Statutory Maternity Payments

When having a baby for the first time and seeing what types of financial benefits are available, the first and possible only benefit mums to be consider is Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), which we have discussed in a previous article. However there are other benefits available to new mums apart from SMP that are less well publicised. Here we run through the other benefits to look out for and how much they could be worth to you.

In addition to offering SMP, some employers will offer their own maternity pay scheme, which must pay at least the same benefits as SMP. The better schemes will pay 90% of salary for a period of anywhere between 3 and 6 months and possibly 50% of salary thereafter up to a total period of 9 months. If you are wanting to take 12 months off work then the final 3 months must normally be self funded.

If you are thinking of starting a family then it is wise to check your employer’s scheme as you need to be employed for a minimum period before qualifying. Such schemes usually require you to go back to work after being off on maternity, otherwise you may be required to pay an element of the benefits back.

This period might only be 6 weeks or so, in which case it is probably worth returning to work for this time before you focus on the rest of your says out of the rat race! What’s more you needn’t go back to work to your old job and you might be able to instigate working in a less demanding role which will ease you in to your new lifestyle choice.

A Maternity Allowance (MA) is available if you do not meet the criteria for SMP but have been employed or self-employed for a minimum of 26 weeks in the 66 week period ending with the week before your expected birth. You are also eligible if you have earned at least £30 per week over a 13 week period.

MA is paid at the same rate as SMP that is £124.88 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings if less. The good news is that this payment is not taxable. Payment can start up to 11 weeks before the baby is due and the latest you can claim is the day after the birth. To clam complete form MA1 and return to the Jobcentre with your SMP form, proof of earnings and maternity certificate.

If you are not in a position to claim either SMP or MA then you may be eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG). This is a one-off payment of £500 that does not need to be repaid. SSMG is aimed at those families on low incomes. Ask your local Jobcentre for form SF100 to apply.

A Health in Pregnancy Grant is also available without affecting any other benefits. This is a one-off payment of £190 with claim forms being available from your midwife or GP.

This article was brought to you by Bumfluff Babies, the number one site for cloth nappies.

Itti Bitti nappies on special offer

Bumfluff Babies are pleased to announce a very special offer on all our Itti Bitti nappies.

The Itti Bitti D'Lish snap-in-one range is ultra-trim fitting and truly delicious in looks and feel, Itti Bitti's are a must for all nappy wardrobes! These nappies come in a wide range of colours from baby pink to lilac to royal blue. Normal price is £13.99 but Bumfluff are now offering these nappies at only £10.79.

What's more the offer doesn't end there. The Limited Edition Itti Bitti snap-in-one complete with either tiger print or polka dot finish is also only £10.79. Buy now while stocks last.

Eco nappies from Bumfluff

If you're looking for ways to reduce your impact on the environment then take a look at Faringdon Ecoweek. The weeks events start on Saturday 12th June with an Ecofair featuring a whole host of eco-friendly suppliers and organisations.

The event will be bringing together local companies and organisations that have anything to tell or sell relating to reducing your impact on the environment and your carbon footprint.

Bumfluff Babies is proud to be a part of the Ecofair which takes place at the Corn Exchange between 10 and 4 on Saturday. Bumfluff will have a stand to show off our range of reusable cloth nappies and Philippa, the owner of Bumfluff, will be on hand to offer tips and advice on which real nappy type or real nappy system is right for you.

And what's more, should you choose to buy any products from us at the fair on Saturday, Philippa will be more than happy to offer you a discount!

Statutory Maternity and Paternity Benefits

If you are employed and are expecting a baby then it is important to understand what you are entitled to, from both a financial and non-financial perspective.

Health and Safety whilst still at work is of paramount importance and employers have a legal obligation to ensure your wellbeing is put at risk. If you are in a role whereby there could be a risk to you and your baby, for example if your job involves lifting, then inform your employer as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed.

During your pregnancy you are entitled to time off work to attend antenatal appointments. Of course f you can arrange these for the start or the end of the working day, your employer will no doubt appreciate this and is likely to be more understanding and flexible to meet any other requests you may have.

When it comes time to finish work to have your baby you are entitled to fifty-two weeks statutory maternity leave, which is split 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave and 26 weeks additional maternity leave. This applies to everyone whether full-time, part-time or fixed term contractor. Statutory maternity leave can start up to eleven weeks before your due date. If you choose not to stay off work for the full fifty-two weeks, then you must inform your employer of your intention to return to work at least 28 days before the date of return. This must be in writing.

The father is also entitled to some time off, though sadly not twelve months! Paternity leave allows you to take two consecutive weeks off work within fifty-six days of the baby’s birth. Some employers are flexible and will allow you to break up the time off over a number of weeks.

In terms of financials, Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is available if you have been employed by your current employer for at least twenty-six weeks by the time you reach the fourteenth week before the baby is due. SMP is paid for up to thirty-nine weeks. SMP can be claimed when you stop work and you can only start receiving SMP from eleven weeks before the baby is born and at the latest one day after the baby is born. To claim you need to provide 28 days written notice to your employer stating when you intend to stop work, together with a signed MATB1 form.

In the first six weeks you will receive 90% of your weekly earnings. The good news is that there is no upper limit applied to earnings. For the remaining thirty-three weeks the amount of SMP payable in the financial year 2010/11 is £124.88, though this is subject to income tax and national insurance. If your weekly earnings are less than £124.88 then you will receive 90% of your average weekly wage.

If you don’t meet the SMP entitlement criteria then there are other financial benefits available to you and these will be covered in a later article.

If the father is entitled to paternity leave, the Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) may be available. This is also at the rate of £124.88 per week for 2010/11, or 90% of weekly earnings if lower.

Reusable Real Cloth Nappies

Having weighed up the pros and cons of real cloth nappies versus disposable nappies and opted to go for the real nappy option, the next question is which type of real nappy to choose? Long gone are the days of the only option being the plain, terry nappy. Now there is a choice of all-in-ones, flat, pocket, shaped nappies and many more. But what are the main features of each type of nappy?

All-in-one nappies are the simplest of nappies to use - even cloth nappy novices will find them easy, making them an ideal choice for your first baby! In terms of washing all-in-ones they have slightly longer drying times than other nappies as the pieces aren't taken apart for washing and drying.

Snap-in-one nappies are similar to All-in-One nappies however the inners can be removed to speed up drying times and to increase the amount of time that the nappy can be used - if it is wet a new inner can be snapped in rather than washing the entire nappy.

For an economical, not to mention fast drying approach to real nappies, then try the flat nappy. Fold to fit, and fasten with a nippa. Folding the nappy can take practice, but is easy when you know how. As for using flat nappies, Either use full time as a budget system, or have a couple spare for those times when you've run out of other types.

Pocket nappies have many of the best features of other cloth nappy systems without some of the drawbacks, making them a very versatile system. They are easy to put on as there is just one piece, but quick to dry as they come apart for washing. Even if you don’t choose them as your main nappy system it is handy to have a few for quick changes when you’re out, for childcare providers or for travelling nappies.

Shaped nappies come in either cotton, microfibre or bamboo varieties. Bamboo shaped nappies are more absorbent than cotton or microfibre nappies so may be suitable for heavy wetters or for use at night. They take longer to dry so you may want to consider having a few more in your collection, or to have some microfibre or cotton nappies as well. Microfibre shaped nappies are fast drying and super soft.

And finally night nappies – nappies for use at night! They are more absorbent than day time nappies but tend to be more bulky. They are easy to use but due to their bulkiness drying times are on the slow side.

Of course there are several features for each type of nappy and there will be differences between brands so it is worth investigating further before making your final choice. Remember though that you don’t have to restrict yourself to one type of nappy and as seen for the brief overview above, you could opt for mainly flat nappies to keep the costs down, add a couple of snap-in-ones to ensure you’ve got some quick drying nappies in the wardrobe and finish off with a night nappy or two to complete your collection. Whichever real nappy you choose, you’ll be glad you didn’t take the disposable option!