To try out a few different nappy styles, choose a trial pack of about one day's supply (6-8 nappies, depending on age) and a couple of waterproof wraps. We always recommend that you try at least one of the flat nappy styles, if you hate the idea of folding, try shaped nappies, or download the instructions on how to fold a prefold nappy from www.bloomingbottoms.org, you may surprise yourself, as well as save money. You will need somewhere to store the used nappies before you wash them: a closing waterproof bag will work fine for just a few nappies.

If you're planning a full-time kit, this gives you an idea of what you'll need:

18 – 24 nappies
Exactly how many nappies you need will depend on the age of your baby, the style of the nappy & how you will be drying them. We don't recommend using your tumble drier for every nappy, so we recommend enough to allow for indoor line drying time (this is Northern Ireland!) and washing every other day. This means you'll need 3 days' supply of nappies, giving you two days to dry. Flat nappies can take a day, and thicker fitted & All-in-One nappies can take 3 or 4! A newborn baby will need 8-12 nappies a day, levelling out to about 8 a day roughly until they are mobile, when it goes down to about 6.

3-6 waterproof wraps (unless using All-in-One nappies)
You'll need more wraps for younger babies, particularly breast-fed ones in pad-folded nappies, fewer for older babies. Some wraps can be washed with the nappies, others need cooler water. If you wash all your wraps with your nappies, then you'll need a few more than if you were washing them as you go along.

Accessories
A few other things can make your real-nappying-life go a bit more smoothly ...

A bucket with a lid – choose a good sized one, those tiny little 9 Litre buckets you can get may look cute, but unless you wash your nappies daily, they'll lose their appeal pretty quickly!

2 net laundry bags or old pillowcases – lining your bucket with a washable bag means you can just throw the whole thing in the washing machine, which will take less time than emptying a bin of disposables!

A waterproof bag – to carry used nappies when out & about. There are plenty of us, normal, sane parents who don't like a lot of hassle, who find it no bother at all using real nappies when out of the house! A larger bag is needed for a full day at nursery or overnight stay.

Liners – you can get flushable and washable liners for catching poo. Flushable liners are probably the best place to start, as they are quick and easy to use. Avoid disposable liners that can't be flushed, as putting poo in the bin is never a good idea! Flushable liners are mostly paper bound with a tiny amount of latex, to hold them together, so wet ones can be washed with the nappies a few times. A roll of 200 liners will last 1-3 months, depending of how many you wash & reuse. Washable liners are normally made of polyester or recycled fleece, most poo will fall off fleece quite easily, they feel dry to the touch, and dry in a few minutes when out of the wash.

Sanitizer – while a 40 degree wash is fine for wet nappies, a 60 degree wash is all that is needed to clean and sterilise any dirty nappy. You can add a few drops of tea tree oil or a spoon of an oxygen-based laundry bleach to the washing powder for extra sanitation and cleaning. If your baby has particularly sensitive skin, avoid adding anything to a mild, biodegradable detergent to prevent a reaction. Avoid nappy cleaners containing bleach (like Napisan) which will shorten the life of your nappies, as well as polluting the water.

Washable Wipes – well, if you're washing nappies, why not wipes? A couple of dozen terry, muslin,ialone. Wipes can be soaked in water or a cooled herbal tea, like chamomile, overnight in a plastic tub (like the ones for disposable wipes) and will be ready to use the next day. Or, you can use a small spray bottle with water or cooled herbal tea with dry wipes.  Using washable wipes means you are in total control of what goes on your baby's delicate skin, and can avoid perfumes, lotions, preservatives and harsh chemicals which can irritate.

Click here for a chart to help you work out which nappy type is right for you.

Click here for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about real nappies.