Cloth diapers and the childminder

You want to start using cloth diapers, but your child will be looked after by a childminder and you are worried she will not go along with your plans. Rest assured — childminders who are firmly opposed to using cloth diapers are actually quite rare. Being very busy during the day, most childminders are really just concerned about an increase in their workload. In practice, it tends to be the opposite — here is everything you need to know!

How do I convince my childminder to use cloth diapers?

If your childminder is firmly opposed to using cloth diapers, there is little point in insisting. She is unlikely to change her mind. If, on the other hand, she is hesitant and has questions about the extra workload, you can put her mind at rest. Using cloth diapers is no more demanding for a childminder than using disposables.

When parents provide cloth diapers, the childminder is not required to wash them. When she changes the child, she simply tips any poo into the toilet, pops the liner in the bin if it is a disposable one, and places the soiled diaper in a wet bag. In the evening, you collect your wet bag and diapers to do the washing at home.

In short, using cloth diapers will be no more of a burden for your childminder than disposables. She will even have fewer bins to empty, which is quite a bonus.

Feel free to reassure your childminder that going back to disposable diapers is always an option if she genuinely cannot get to grips with cloth diapers.

Getting organised for cloth diapers at the childminder's

For a smooth transition to cloth diapers at your childminder's, it is important to keep disruption to her routine to an absolute minimum. For an easy-to-use option that requires very little handling, we recommend providing all-in-one Pocket diapers.

If you do not want to invest in a specific model for the childminder, just make sure you bring the diapers pre-assembled. If you use liners, you can pop those in too. Also make sure the diaper is sized correctly.

Ideally, bring them in a wet bag with two compartments: one for clean diapers and one for soiled ones. If you provide your childminder with washable wipes, she can store those in the same wet bag.

The perfect zero-waste nappy bag for the childminder

• 3 to 6 pre-assembled diapers (insert(s) + liner) ready to use: the number of diapers will vary depending on your baby's age. Always pack one or two extras.
• 1 wet bag with two compartments: one for clean diapers, one for soiled ones.
• 1 nappy cream
• Washable wipes
• 1 dummy and/or 1 comfort toy if the child needs one
• 1 complete change of clothes
• 1 bottle
• The milk
• Meals (lunch and afternoon snack) if not provided by the childminder

To download our zero-waste nappy bag checklist for the childminder, click here

There you have it — we hope you now have everything you need to carry on your cloth diaper journey with your childminder.