Reusable nappies and childcare?
Mr Monkey started nursery this week!
Yes, in lockdown, yes at the height of the pandemic, and yes in a cloth nappy!
As nurseries are not often receptive to reusables, particularly in the current climate, my approach is softly softly catchy monkey (forgive the imperialist reference but it feels relevant because for a lot of parents this can be a battleground).
For the sake of easing them in my current thoughts are to start by sending Mr Monkey in a cloth nappy plus a wet bag in his rucksack and then let them use disposables for the rest of the day. I have no control over what happens to him during the day, and as disposables are provided and we are paying for them I don’t feel guilty about this because we are still using my nappies at home, reducing some landfill and giving his bum a break from chemicals.
Our approach is half and half
Sending him in one means I’m not having to purchase additional disposables at extra cost to me. I know it’s not the most environmentally ideal solution yet, but I don’t want to be that difficult parent whilst he settles, and I hope his nursery will see how easy they are and the benefits and one day we can bring them in full time. Having said they have not come across them before they have been very positive, and already suggested I provide one a day in his bag for going home in, so I think we are onto a slow burning win! I just need to be allowed into the building to show his keyworker how to fit one on him….damn covid.
Communication is key:
Childcare providers should love cloth nappies because it saves them having to provide disposables and therefore money!
Our nursery provides disposables. If you are obliged to provide your own then providing cloth nappies isn’t going to be much different.
Whatever your approach, the key is to talk about it with them in advance.
There are a few things that can make the practicalities easier:
1. Use all in one or pocket nappies ready made up/stuffed as they are easier for most non-cloth nappy users to get used to. Then you can still use your 2 parts/flats at home.
2. Provide 2 reasonably sized wet bags clearly labelled clean and dirty, also with your child’s name on, putting your day’s worth (4 is enough, and 5 should be more than sufficient) in the clean one.
3. This is where biodegradable liners also a godsend. Think of your poor child’s key worker having to change as many nappies daily as they do and make it as easy for them as possible, then they are more likely to agree with your request.
4. Many childcare workers may not have come across a cloth nappy before so use it as a chance to get to know your child’s key worker even better by demonstrating how they work.
And remember:
If you are using real nappies only at home or at weekends on a child in full time childcare (with nappies provided) remember you will also need a smaller stash (10-12 nappies including 3-4 night suitable nappies should be enough), saving you money. Plus you need fewer spare changes of clothes because they get washed every other day. And you can reclaim money from your local council and further reduce the cost.
This photo is my daughter sometime under age 1, not at nursery, but at home and covered in houmous, and is one of my all time fave pics of her.
Help guides
For more straight forward practical tips on how to switch to reusable nappies, have a read of my further blogs:
