When getting started with cloth diapers, there’s one question on everyone’s mind. What do you do with the poo? We’ve got plenty of tips on how to deal poo and your modern cloth nappy. It’s easier than you think!
You bet your baby is going to poop, and whether you choose disposable diapers or cloth diapers, you’ll be dealing with it! Even with single-use diapers, solids need to be disposed of into the toilet, but many people overlook this information and toss it in the bin anyway.
Here’s what to expect when dealing with poo and modern cloth diapers.
Have a system
Your change station is where you’ll spend a lot of time interacting with your little one over a diaper change. Make sure you have everything within arms reach that you will need to deal with poo.
We recommend having nappy covers, diaper inserts, a dirty diaper bin and biodegradable or cloth wipes on hand at all times. You might also like to keep hand sanitiser, nappy cream and some mess-free liners nearby too.
Disposing of the poo
Newborn poo
Newborn poo, especially for breastfed babies, is very runny. It’s also water-soluble so can go straight into the washing machine. Really that’s it! Have a formula-fed baby? You still don’t have to do anything. If it’s pasty, you can easily rinse the insert before popping the diaper in your dirty diaper basket to wait for the next load of washing. Our cloth diaper mamas and papas say that cloth nappies are really easy to use on a newborn because you don’t have to do anything with the poo.
Solid poo
Once your baby starts solids from 4-6 months onwards, the consistency of their poo will change and become more solid. When you find a solid poo you will need to flush it down the loo. We recommend popping the entire diaper in a bucket or wipeable surface near your change station so that once bub is safely off the changing table you can nip to the loo to shake off the poo. The used diaper can then sit in a dry pail (or laundry basket with airflow) until it’s time for the next washing load.
If you encounter an extra sticky poo, you’ll want to keep something near the toilet to help scrape it off. If you have a bidet at home you can use that. You can install a diaper sprayer to your toilet for a low cost (it works like a bidet). We’ve heard some parents simply use the force of the water flushing in the toilet to help lift off poop (hold onto your diaper tight). Or you can keep a dedicated spatula or utensil near the toilet to help scrape off the poo.
An easy way to avoid touching solid poo is to use a mess-free liner. Simply place a liner onto your cloth diaper to catch the poo, then shake the poo into the toilet. This means you don’t need to take the whole diaper with you. When done simply place the liner in the bin. Our EcoNaps liners are made of 100% bamboo and break down in around two weeks.
When out and about
You won’t have everything you have at your change station at home, so you’ll need to carry a few essentials with you to make pooey diaper changes a breeze.
We recommend carrying a travel change mat, wet bag (we use a two-pocket wet bag so you can put the dirty diaper in one section and keep a clean diaper in the other). And of course a clean cloth diaper or two. You can prepare the inserts inside the cover before leaving home so it’s ready to go. You might also like to carry a change of clothes for bubs just in case you get an explosive poo experience.
Bonus tip
If you sense a poo happening (you’ll know their poo face), change the nappy right away. This will save you from dealing with a smushed up mess later on.
We hope that gives you the confidence you need to deal with poo and your modern cloth diaper. It’s no messier or smellier than dealing with disposables, and it’s so much better for the planet. If you have a tip to share or a question to ask, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.