Cloth Nappies

The Benefits of Cloth Nappies: A Sustainable and Loving Choice for Your Baby

In a world where sustainability is becoming more important, cloth nappies are emerging as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to disposable ones. While the convenience of disposable nappies cannot be denied, cloth nappies offer numerous benefits that not only support the environment but also provide a safer and healthier option for your baby. Let’s explore why cloth nappies might be the right choice for you and your little one.

Cloth nappies

1. Eco-Friendly Choice

One of the most compelling reasons to switch to cloth nappies is their positive impact on the environment. Disposable nappies take hundreds of years to decompose, contributing significantly to landfill waste. In contrast, cloth nappies are reusable, meaning fewer nappies end up in landfills, helping reduce the overall environmental footprint. By opting for them, you’re taking an active step toward reducing the waste produced by your family. They also require fewer resources to manufacture, and their reusability means fewer raw materials are consumed over time.

2. Healthier for Your Baby

When it comes to the health of your baby, cloth nappies may offer significant advantages. Many disposable nappies contain chemicals and synthetic materials that can cause skin irritation or discomfort. On the other hand, reusable nappies are typically made from natural materials like cotton, bamboo, or hemp, which are gentler on your baby’s sensitive skin. This can lead to fewer rashes and irritation, making cloth nappies a better choice for babies with sensitive skin or allergies.

Additionally, cloth nappies allow for better breathability, which can help prevent diaper rashes. The cotton and natural fibers used in cloth nappies allow air to circulate, reducing moisture build-up, which is often a cause of skin irritation.

Cloth Nappies Line
Cloth nappies independent midwife

3. Cost-Effective in the Long Run

While the initial investment may seem higher, they are incredibly cost-effective in the long run. Disposable nappies can add up to hundreds of pounds each year, and with multiple children, the costs continue to climb. Reusable nappies, on the other hand, can be used for multiple children, drastically reducing the total cost over time. In many cases, after using them for the first child, families can reuse the same nappies for subsequent children, providing substantial savings.

Additionally, there are many affordable cloth nappy brands on the market, so it’s easier than ever to find options that suit your budget.

4. Supporting Small Businesses

The cloth nappy industry is growing, and many small businesses and independent brands are offering beautiful, high-quality nappies. By choosing these modern nappies, you support these businesses, many of which are passionate about providing sustainable, well-made products that align with the values of conscious parenting. It’s a way to be part of a community that shares your commitment to environmental responsibility and ethical consumerism. Use my special independent midwife discount code IRENE10 at the Nappy Lady shop to get 10% discount on your purchases. 

5. Stylish and Fun

Cloth nappies are not only practical—they are also cute and fun! They come in a variety of colors, patterns, and designs, so you can pick something that suits your style and your baby’s personality. Whether you love bold patterns or prefer neutral tones, there’s a nappy for every taste. Plus, with modern nappy systems, they are easy to use, often featuring adjustable snaps or Velcro for a perfect fit.

Cloth Nappies Line

Conclusion, do you want to try them?

Cloth nappies are a wonderful choice for parents who want to make an environmentally conscious decision, support their baby’s health, and save money in the long term. They offer a range of benefits, from reducing waste to providing a healthier alternative for your little one. While the initial investment may seem like a commitment, the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs. Plus if you book my independent midwife birth services you get your very own set of cloth nappies!  So, why not embrace the nappy revolution and make a positive change for your family—and the planet?

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Any questions?

Resources For Fetal Heart Monitoring

1.When did we start monitoring babies in labour?

For more high quality evidence around fetal monitoring please visit Kirsten website here, an obstetrician with a PHD in CTGs. https://birthsmalltalk.com/

In this post she discusses intermittent auscultation: https://birthsmalltalk.com/2023/08/23/what-is-intermittent-auscultation/

Hear her talk about the lack of evidence behind CTGs in this podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eXZY973Oxbs1ducavpSAk?si=872f8c4077be4ba5

Post on the history of fetal heart monitoring: https://birthsmalltalk.com/2023/08/09/listening-to-the-fetus-the-history-of-fetal-heart-rate-monitoring/

Cochrane review comparing CTG to intermittent ausculation (CTG increases interventions
): https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006066.pub3/full

Does CTG use improve outcomes for high risk women? https://birthsmalltalk.com/2024/10/16/the-story-behind-our-paper/

2. How should we use intermittent auscultation in labour?

These are the NICE guidelines for fetal monitoring in labour: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng229/chapter/Recommendations

Midwife researcher and lecturer Rachel Reed has a brilliant article and podcast about this where she unpicks the evidence around the recommendations for intermittent auscultation protocols here https://www.rachelreed.website/blog/listening-to-baby-during-labour

and podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sJeIR3xUOr20EBRGilHxl?si=818537594dd04457

The WHO recommendations for intrapartum care: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/260178/9789241550215-eng.pdf?sequence=1

3. How does intermittent auscultation detect fetal distress?

For more on normal and abnormal heart rate monitoring watch this explanatory video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni48bbtiZgs

4. What happens if there are concerns with the fetal heart rate at a homebirth?

NICE guidelines for fetal monitoring in labour: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng229/chapter/Recommendations

5.What is better for fetal monitoring in labour: a Doppler or a Pinard/fetoscope?

To read about the research and the experiences of midwives using a fetoscope/pinard antenatally and in labour check these links out.

Short facebook comments compiled in this magazine here: https://www.midwiferytoday.com/mt-articles/wisdom-of-the-midwives-issue-131/

Midwives perceptions of fetoscope vrs Doppler Tanzania https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-018-1736-y

Midwives experiences of Pinard use Norway https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613822000407

Defense of fetoscope article by American midwives

https://hearthandhomemidwifery.com/blog/fetoscope-a-tool-of-the-midwifery-trade#:~:text=Fetoscope%20uses%20go%20beyond%20just,birthing%20person%20and%20the%20baby.

A Cochrane review that compares Doppler and Pinard use in low income countries: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008680.pub2/full

For a compilation of research that compares the use of Doppler to Pinard check this link: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/content?templateType=related&urlTitle=%2Fcentral%2Fdoi%2F10.1002%2Fcentral%2FCN-01110791&doi=10.1002%2Fcentral%2FCN-01110791&p_p_id=scolariscontentdisplay_WAR_scolariscontentdisplay&_scolariscontentdisplay_WAR_scolariscontentdisplay_action=related-content&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_mode=view&type=central&contentLanguage=

6. What if you decline some or all fetal auscultations?

Is fetal monitoring essential?: https://birthsmalltalk.com/2024/11/06/myth-busting-3-fetal-monitoring-is-essential/

7. What to bear in mind about intermittent auscultation in labour?

Examples of womens experiences of fetal auscultation in labour: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871519224002658#bib14