If you have a baby, chances are you have some terry nappies lying around. They are reusable for many things not to mention subsequent children so they are a great way to help save the planet. Even if you didn’t buy some new ones (there are some lovely bamboo terry nappies available now – by the way) you probably got given some, as they are the kind of thing that stays around for ever. I got given several stacks of them! One stack was almost threadbare (they still mop up spills nicely), one stack was so-so – I use them for change mats or do impromptu bibs – and the other stack was still thick and useful for nappying.
The way that I use terry nappies on my baby is that I use a Snappi and sometimes a cover. You can use all sorts of covers for terry nappies, there are no rules regarding this, although some things work better than others. A nice thick wool cover will make it easy for you to just lay the terry nappy in a pad in the middle of the cover or nappy wrap; other nappy covers will still require you to use the Snappi and fold the nappy arund the baby in one of the terry nappy folds.
Terry nappy folds sound difficult or complicated but they really aren’t. If you can tie a tie (yes men I’m talking to you hehehe) or fold a clean towel up in the wardrobe, you won’t have a problem folding terry nappies for your baby. You fold them before you lay baby down, so you don’t have to fight with a wriggly baby. Then you bring the corners up – the folds that you do to the terry flat will make a roughly triangular shape that you bring one piece up between baby’s legs, and the other two sides will come up around baby’s hips over the top of the legs. Then you pull it quite firmly together in the middle – don’t make it too tight, but keep in mind that it will loosen as baby starts to move around – and fasten with a Snappi or Nappy Nippa. There is no need to use pins anymore in this day and age so it’s best to avoid them because pins can hurt you or baby if one of you slips or moves in the wrong moment.
Terry nappy folds can be found by Googling “terry nappy folds” and is is nice to know one or two folds before baby is born, but don’t worry you can always learn more after he or she arrives! Congratulations you have just done something good for the environment by learning to use a reusable nappy instead of just automatically buying disposables. Good on you.