There is lots of excellent advice here. I am a practical soul and I make my own terry nappies. They are shaped to fit me, have a layer of terry, a brushed cotton layer that sits next to the skin with a soaker strip of terry down the middle. I make a few every year as they typically last about three/four years. I have made extra strips of terry that I can put inside if the nappy is getting a bit thin.
I change them probably 3/4 times a day (Ic only) and wear them with Suprima 1312 pants or 1205. I find them much cooler in the summer, only slightly bulkier than disposables and super comfortable. I use velcro as the closing tabs.
I have a sewing machine and an overlocking machine (I think it is called a surger in the US). They take little time to make and are not nearly as expensive as disposables. I buy a whole roll of cotton terry towelling (about 25/30 metres) which lasts ages, always buy the heaviest grade as they last longer and are more absorbent. If you cannot make your own I suppose you could always find a local seamstress to do it for you. They get rinsed in the shower every morning and the washing machine is on every three days. I add a little ‘Napisan’ to the washing powder. A quick run in the dryer then hang them up in my boiler room or outside if the weather is good. The sun is very good at neutralising any odours, but I wash at 60degrees Celcius and every so often I wash them at 90 degrees (I think it is called ‘stripping’) just to make sure they are clean.
Yes, they are less convenient than disposables which I do wear often, but I know that I am saving a whole bunch of money as well as feeling smug with my ‘green’ credentials.
