When deciding how many reusable nappies you will need, remember that most people will begin to use reusable nappies part-time, building up to full-time use. If you’re planning on using cloth nappies from birth, it’s very cost-effective to hire a newborn kit from a cloth nappy library — Leeds Cloth Nappy Library is our local and I (Katie) went to sessions when I was pregnant with my son. It was invaluable to see demonstrations and get hands-on with cloth nappies.

Sizing varies between brands and styles, but newborn nappies fit approximately 0-4 months / 6lb-18lb. This isn’t a very long time, which is why hiring or buying second hand can be economical until baby fits in ‘BTP’ or ‘One Size’ cloth nappies. Roam one size pocket nappies seem to have a sweet spot of ~10lbs.

How Many Reusable Nappies Will I Need?

For full-time reusable nappy use, we recommend around 20 nappies. This will always be dependent on your baby’s age and your wash routine. Some people may get by with 15-18 nappies, some may prefer to have 25-30. We recommend washing reusable nappies every 2-3 days with a pre-rinse and then a main wash. Air dry or hang out on the line, weather permitting! (Tumble try inserts only.)

For part-time reusable nappy use, we recommend around 10 nappies. This is obviously flexible!

How many reusable nappies needed will depend on a few factors, but there’s no hard or fast rule — it doesn’t need to be ‘all or nothing’ when it comes to making the switch to reusable nappies. Here at Roam, we don’t believe in eco perfection!

Reusable Nappy Week is a fantastic time to bulk out your nappies, as there’s many discounts to be taken advantage of. Until 1st May, take 20% off all Roam nappies and wet bags with code: RNW22