“Once you’ve found something that works for you, stay off social media”

In this episode I’m chatting with Grace Phillips, the mum behind the amazing Cloth Nappy Geek website. It’s also a little bit different because it’s the second part of a much longer conversation that I had with Grace. You can listen to part 1 of our chat in which Grace interviews me about all things elimination communication and whether cloth nappies are a minimalist option over on her Cloth Nappy Geek podcast.

Grace uses her website and social channels to share reviews of cloth nappies to help parents choosing cloth understand the different options available in the search for the perfect cloth nappy. Grace started her cloth nappy journey with her second child and therefore has experience of using both reusables and disposables. 

We chat about how Grace got started with cloth and how it was actually her husband’s reluctance to use cloth that was the catalyst for branching out to test different cloth nappies. Grace and I have very similar experiences in starting with cloth and especially feeling like the nappies we were recommended weren’t as beautiful as we had hoped.

If you are thinking of starting cloth nappies then this episode is packed full of advice. And if you are a seasoned cloth bum parent I hope you will enjoy listening to us nattering about the joy of using cloth as well as pick up a few tips and tricks along the way.

We delve into the detail of the technical side of cloth nappies, discussing the different fabrics and absorbency options but also how we shouldn’t overcomplicate this.  Grace also talks about how it can often be difficult to find more detailed information on the technical side of things, with brands referring to use buzzwords over quantifiable information.

Grace also highlights how Instagram is a marketing tool to get us to buy and therefore there can be a lot of temptation to buy more nappies in new prints. We discuss overconsumption, sustainability and minimalism in a lot more detail in part 1 of our conversation over on Grace’s podcast.

Things mentioned in this episode:

• Cloth Nappy Geek podcast – listen or watch to Part 1 of our conversation
• The Nappy Lady cloth nappy questionnaire
• 2-parter systems – where an inner absorbent nappy is covered by a separate waterproof wrap
• Close Pop-in nappies
• Buying something you like the look of to get started
• Blueberry Orion wrap
• Motherease
• How to convert a reluctant partner to using cloth
• Easy Peasy Bumbles
• WAHM – Work At Home Mum
• Designer Bums
• Baby Bare
• Modern Cloth Nappies
• Fiyyah
• Cloth nappy libraries – find your local library
• Night nappies and why we don’t need as much absorbency during the night as we do during the day
• Absorbency and the differences between different fabrics used
• Boosters – to add extra absorbency to your cloth nappies
• Manufacturing of cloth nappies
• Baba & Boo hemp boosters
• Acronyms used in cloth nappies
• Why disposables are designed to make you use more nappies than you need to
• WHO recommendation to change a nappy every 2-3 hours

Let’s carry on the conversation over on Instagram

You can find Grace @clothnappygeek on Instagram and at www.clothnappygeek.co.uk

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theintentionalmum.substack.com