This is one of the most common questions I get asked – and it’s not surprising! Starting with cloth nappies is a fantastic thing for the environment, your wallet, and your baby's skin, but it can feel a bit complicated at first. So, let's clear things up:
How many nappies do you need if you want to go full-time?
If you plan to use cloth nappies full-time, you will need around 25–30 nappies. It might sound like a lot, but here's the logic behind the figure:
On average, a child uses approximately 8 nappies a day. If you wash Every third day, So, you'll need a 3-day supply – that is, 3 x 8 = 24 nappies. Add a few extra in reserve for days with poor drying weather, illness, or if you just can't be bothered to do laundry that day – and then we're safely at 25–30 nappies.
Absolutely! You don't have to go full-time straight away. Many people choose to start with a smaller set – perhaps 5–10 nappies – to ease themselves in. That way, you can test what works best for you before building up your cloth nappy stash.
When the baby has stopped pooping at night (which often happens after the first few months), it can be nice to have a few night-time shaped nappies. They have high absorbency and remain leak-proof for longer. They are best combined with a cover or woollen trousers.
SIO stands for Snap-in-One, which means you fasten the insert nappies into a separate cover rather than tucking them into a pocket. A common approach is to use two inserts per nappy change – for example, doubling up inserts inside a bamboo terry with press studs. If you want to use this solution full-time, you’ll need to allow for approximately 50 insert and 3–5 should. The covers can be used several times before they need washing, whereas the inläggen is changed at every nappy change.
Can you save money by using cloth nappies? Yes! If you use cloth nappies full-time from when your child is born until they’re potty-trained, you can save over 20,000 kronors! Read more here on how to save money with cloth nappies.
– Inserts often dries faster than the nappy covers, so it might be a good idea to have more insert than shells.
– Drying time and washing routine can affect how many nappies you need. If you can only wash every fourth day, you'll need a few extra.
– Combine with disposable nappies sometimes, for example on trips or during sickness at home with the children, that's completely fine. Cloth nappies are not all or nothing.
Still unsure about how cloth nappies work? Feel free to take a look at our YouTube series where we go into depth about how cloth nappies work! You can also find short tips and clips on our Social media.
Green Poppy is run by entrepreneur and midwife Emma Kajmo, entirely from home in Eskilstuna.
Founded in 2023 during parental leave, born from a love of reusable and sustainable alternatives, Green Poppy came to life. After a few evening courses and a million Google searches (“how to start your own business”), we were up and running.
Read more about Green Poppy here
