Lexi, founder of nook NZ, Canterbury’s leading parenting resource, put our cloth nappies to the test — and shared her honest, down-to-earth experience (leaks and all).

I finally gave cloth nappies a go after months of overthinking it — and spoiler alert, it wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought. Here’s what worked, what didn’t, and why you absolutely don’t need to be perfect to get started…

I never thought I’d be someone who talked about nappies. And yet, here we are. 

For months, I flirted with the idea of cloth. You know, the low-key Pinterest scrolling, saving reels of perfectly folded nappies in colour-coded drawers (lol), and wondering if I had the energy to wash anything more than I already was. But between the cost of disposables stacking up and the idea of sending yet another full rubbish bag to landfill, I finally gave in. I ordered a small stash of Bear & Moo nappies and gave it a go.

Spoiler: it wasn’t perfect, but it was totally manageable.

What It’s Really Like to Use Cloth Nappies (From Someone Who Had No Idea):

The Why

Cost, waste, and curiosity. That’s really it. Disposable nappies can cost thousands by the time your child is toilet trained. They also take hundreds of years to break down, and when you’re going through 5–10 nappies a day, it adds up. Fast.

Cloth nappies, on the other hand, felt like a way to save money, reduce waste, and (bonus) not have to do a late-night supermarket dash when I realised we were down to our last nappy. Plus, Bear & Moo’s prints were cute. I know it’s not the point, but still. It helped.

Getting Started: What You Actually Need

This was the bit I found most overwhelming. So here’s the stripped-back version of what I started with: (this is Bear & Moo's Let's Do This Part Time Bundle)

• 10 Bear & Moo one-size-fits-most nappies: these are a great entry point — they come with inserts and adjust with snaps to fit most babies from around 3.5kg to 16kg.
• 5 extra bamboo inserts: handy for extra absorbency or for doubling up overnight.
• 2 large wet bags: for storing used nappies while you’re out and about.

That’s it. You can go bigger if you want, but I found starting small took
the pressure off.

So, How Do You Actually Use Them?

Honestly, once you’ve done it a couple of times, it’s not that different from disposables. Here’s how it goes:

1. Stuff the nappy
   Pocket nappies have an opening where you slide in the absorbent insert
   (think of it like a pillowcase situation). You can do this in advance so they’re ready to go.
   
   
2. Put it on like a disposable
   Line it up just under the belly button, bring the tabs around and snap into place. The fit should be snug but not too tight — no red marks or gaping legs.
   
   
3. When it’s dirty, take out the insert and store both in your wet bag or nappy bucket
   If it’s just a wet nappy, it can go straight in. If it’s got solids, tip the contents into the toilet.
   
   
4. Wash every two to three days
   I do a rinse cycle first, followed by a warm long wash with regular detergent. Line dry when I can, dryer when I can’t. No bleach, no fabric softener, no soaking.

What I Got Wrong (and Then Figured Out)

• Leaks: My first few tries were a bit of a mess. Turns out, I didn’t have the insert sitting flat, and I’d left the leg elastics too loose. Once I sorted the fit, no more leaks.
  
  
• Overthinking it: I thought I needed to go all in straight away. I didn’t. One cloth nappy a day is seven disposables a week that don’t end up in landfill. I started by using them just at home, which felt like a good middle ground.
  
  
• Worrying about the wash: I imagined endless loads and soaking buckets. In reality? I just chuck them in with the towels and move on. It might not be the gold standard, but if they end up in a regular load, so be it — we’re all just doing our best.

Why Bear & Moo?

They made it easy. The nappies arrived with a simple guide, they were soft and well made, and the prints didn’t hurt. I liked that they’re based in New Zealand, and their one-size design means I’ll get good mileage out of them.

Their customer service is also super responsive — great when you’re unsure whether what you’re holding is inside out or just… upside down.

A Few Tips I Wish I’d Known

• Start small. A few cloth nappies is enough to get a feel without committing to a full stash.
• Have a backup. I still use disposables overnight or when we’re out all day. Cloth doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
• Trust the domes. They look fiddly but they’re surprisingly easy, and they help get the fit just right.
• Keep your wash routine simple. No soaking, no fancy detergent. Just rinse and wash.

Final Thoughts

I’m not perfect. I don’t use cloth 100% of the time. But trying reusable nappies felt like one small change I could manage — and once I got over the mental hurdle, it became part of the routine.

So if you’ve been thinking about giving cloth nappies a go, I say try one. Or two. See how it fits your life (and your baby’s bum). Worst case, you’ve got some emergency back-ups or swim nappies. Best case? You’ll save money, reduce waste, and feel a little bit smug every time you skip the nappy aisle. 

And yes — I now have 10 nappies, and I’m eyeing up the Periwinkle Gingham print. This is who I am now.

Shop our range of reusable cloth nappies.


BIO

Lexi Davey
New to Christchurch with two kids and a dog, founder of nook NZ, Lexi, has been hunting for family-friendly activities and unique things to do in the city since moving from Hong Kong in 2022. Finding herself endlessly Googling the same old articles, only to come up empty-handed, Lexi wanted to create a platform where parents across New Zealand could scroll with their morning coffee and be inspired to get out and explore (toddlers in tow).