What Will I Need?
Once you’ve decided upon which brands of washable nappies to go for, you’ll need to consider accessories.
The following list acts as a kind of glossary, guiding you through what the accessories are used for and which are the most essential.
If you want to keep things really simple take a look at our Starter Kits; these contain everything you need to get up and running.
16- 20 Nappies (Essential)
In my experience, 18 reusable nappies is sufficient for a newborn in nappies full time. This will be enough to allow you to wash every other day (or every third day once baby is older). If you intend to make use of a tumble dryer you can get away with less (say 16), if you’d prefer to wash less often than every other day go for a few more (say 20).
If you’re buying for an older baby (1 year or more) you can generally get away with 12-14 nappies, as you won’t need to change the baby so often.
3-4 Waterproof Wraps (Essential)
Assuming you’re using shaped nappies (such as those stocked on this site) 4 wraps (nappy covers) should be sufficient. Remember you don’t need to change the wrapper every time you change the nappy; you only change the wrap if it gets poo on it or if it becomes very wet.
Nappi Nippas (Essential)
Unless your washable nappies have poppers or ‘aplix’ (Velcro), you’ll need Nappi Nippas. A pack of 3 should last you right through until potty training (unless you have a tendency for losing things!)
Nappy Bucket (Essential)
You’ll need something to store the dirty nappies in prior to washing. The bucket (or nappy ’pail’) will need to be large enough to hold up to 2 days worth of nappies; a standard 9 litre bucket is generally far too small - you really need to be looking at at least 14 litres. The bucket will need a handle and a lid.
Flushable or washable liners (Recommended)
Nappy liners help removal of poo from the nappy a lot easier.
A pack of 100 flushable liners will last around 1 month (although if they’ve only been ‘wetted’ they can be rinsed, dried, and used again!)
A pack of 20 washable (fleece) liners will last right through to potty training. Don’t forget that fleece liners are also excellent, when damp, for use as baby wipes.
Wet bags (Recommended)
These waterproof bags are used when out and about for bringing home dirty nappies. They’re also ideal for use at nursery.
Mesh bag (Recommended)
Mesh bags are placed inside the nappy bucket, and the nappies placed inside the bag. They allow for easier transfer of nappies from the bucket to the washing machine. Ideal if you’re ’dry pailing’.
Lizzie’s Real Nappies also stocks a wide range of pregnancy products, baby changing bags, potty training items and swim pants.
