How many nappies do I need?

The number of nappies you need will depend on the age of your baby, how often you will change your baby, and how often you will be doing the washing.

A cloth nappy usually lasts around 3-4 hours, but if it is dirty then change it as soon as you can. You should wash your nappies every second day at most.

• A full-time stash will usually consist of around 24 cloth nappies.

• A part-time stash (for example, disposable at daycare, cloth at home) will be around 12 cloth nappies.

• If you choose to by sized nappies (instead of OSFM) then you may need to purchase more nappies as your baby outgrows them.

• If you plan on washing less frequently, or live in a cooler climate that will require more drying time, then I would recommend around 36 cloth nappies in a full-time stash.

People also have the option of buying night cloth nappies specifically designed with duration and absorbency in mind. You may choose to buy a couple of these for a truly full-time stash.

The more nappies you have, the longer they will last. This is because ultimately, it is the frequent washing that will wear them out the most. A larger stash means less washes per nappy in the long run.

You might like to purchase two or three nappies to begin with. You can trial which brand you like, and learn how to use them without the pressure of a full time switch.