When you're starting out using cloth there are always a lot of questions. Below are a couple of our frequently asked questions (FAQ) to get you started.

We also have an amazing cloth using community in New Zealand who are more than happy to answer any questions - heck, we even contact them when we're stumped for expertise!

Do I need to wash my nappy before I wear it?

Kekoa recommends washing your brand new nappy(ies) on their own in a warm wash before wearing. This helps remove any manufacturing residues such as sewing machine oils, additional colour, pattern marks etc. A 40-60 degree Celsius wash is suitable with mainstream detergent.

Your inserts also do not need to be soaked. Just pop through the wash as usual and if possible drier. They will gain more absorbency the more washes they have as fibre rough up against each other.

How Many do I need?

There's no fixed number as such as it will depend on how many nappies your baby uses and how often you wash. BUT as a rough guide usually 12-15 for part-time use and 24-30 for full time use is a great starting place. Once you find your grove you'll know whether you need more or less.

We also created a handy guide showing how often you main wash your nappies vs how old your baby is. Given New Zealand is a damp climate, the estimate takes into consideration two more days worth of nappies at each stage to allow for washing and drying days (you need nappies to wear whilst the first lot are drying). The numbers can seem a bit scary so you can start with less shells and get more inserts (shells dry quickly) or adjust once you know how long your wash is taking.

To see our handy guide check out "How many do I need?" in our journal!

Cost of reusables?

The short answer is...they work out much cheaper than disposables even when you factor in washing costs and detergent! They are cheaper than the cheapest disposables on the market and you can bring the cost down even more significantly by buying only what you need. They also have a resale value so once you're finished or a style doesn't suit, you can on sell easily.

Here is a great comparison chart "Cost of Nappies" to give you an idea of what's available in New Zealand. 

Likewise our journal article of "How many nappies end up in Landfill" might also be of interest.

Inserts

What happened to the microfibre inserts?

As part of our commitment to reducing plastic waste we have opted to no longer offer microfibre inserts as a common option. We may look to bring a small number back for people to purchase separately if they are in demand.

Each nappy will now come with your choice of either a small insert or a standard size insert (or both) and they can be paired together as baby grows for 12 layers of absorbency where you need it.

Like all polyester based fabrics, they shed microplastics when washed. Our shells need to be made of polyester with a laminate to keep them waterproof but we can do better by offering natural fibre inserts.

No only do our bamboo inserts absorb more, they are less prone to compression leaks - very common with babies! 

We've also increased the end size of our bamboo terry inserts so you get more absorbency where it matters!

Leaks

I am getting leaks, what's going on?

Leaks can be cause by multiple different things. Below are a few hints that might help, otherwise feel free to email us or pop onto Facebook/Instagram with some photos so we can help.

First, check that clothing hasn't gotten caught up in the underwear line. This is a common cause as bodysuits are great at wicking.

Second, check the fit of the nappy. There should be no gaps around the legs with the elastics snuggly hugging, but not too tight. Often the waist is done up too tight, and legs are too loose (not enough rise snaps done up).

Thirdly, microfiber can compress like a wet sponge when fully soaked. Microfiber wicks pee away quickly and the bamboo insert behind is designed to hold the extra. However, if both are fully soaked front to back within 1-2hrs, this indicates baby is likely to need to use more bamboo. You can either swap out your microfiber for a bamboo booster, or get additional bamboo inserts (small or standard size). If you purchased both inserts, combine the small and standard size bamboo for 12 layers of absorbency!

Fourthly, are inserts soaking wet? If they are soaked within 1-2 hours you will likely need more absorbency or different absorbency i.e. only natural fibres, no microfibre or charcoal bamboo. Once fully soaked you will find pee likes to leak out of the sides of the nappy through places like stitching lines making the outside of the nappy shell wet (leg elastic seam, stitched in logos etc).

If inserts aren't soaking wet then it could be baby is flooding i.e. holding onto their pee and letting a lot more out quickly in one go. Flooding takes some playing around as they may need bamboo terry on top (to absorb quickly) and bamboo cotton/hemp cotton underneath to hold the excess. Most babies go through flooding stages and they usually don't last too long, so don't be discouraged.

Lastly, how old are your nappies? The older your nappy the more likely it has some damage to the PUL or laminate water-resistant lining. If there is no damage but leg elastics have broken (gone) then this means you cannot get a good enough leg seal and so leaking occurs. Nappies are designed to last approximately 300 washes (roughly 3 years, main washing every three days) and anything beyond this is a bonus!

If you have any other burning questions, chances are you're not alone. Email me, PM on Facebook/Instagram and I'll pop them up.