Cloth nappy liners - what you need to know
Cloth nappy liners – what you need to know
Many parents (myself included) choose to use liners with cloth nappies to make cleaning easier and reduce staining. That said, liners are entirely optional—there’s no right or wrong choice here, just what works best for you and your baby.
When Should You Use Liners?
When we started cloth nappies on our newborns, I initially used disposable liners as we were changing to many nappies and they seemed the easiest option. But that was when flushing them was not discouraged. We then moved to fleece liners at six months, because I liked the idea of nothing to throw away plus they were actually easier to use than I imagined particurlary once my babies were fully weened.
For babies who are not yet weaned, breast milk and formula poo is water soluble, you may want to but you actually don’t ‘need’ to rinse it off before washing (as long as you’re washing every other day). You can toss the soiled nappies straight into the nappy bin, and the machine’s rinse cycle will take care of the rest with no nasty residue in your machine, honestly !
If you’re using stay-dry topped nappies (like Motherease Wizard Unos, pocket nappies, or many All-in-Ones and Twos), they wick moisture away from baby’s skin—so you might not need liners pre-weaning at all. In contrast, fitted and flat nappies don’t have this feature, so parents often use reusable liners to help keep their baby’s bottom dry.
Liner Types: Reusable vs Disposable
Reusable Liners
- Most Common Material: Fleece
- Doesn’t absorb liquid—helps keep baby dry
- Soft, comfy, and great for sensitive skin
- Easy to clean (most poo rolls off)
- Reusable, eco-friendly, and vegan-friendly
- Alternative: Silk
- Natural and antibacterial—excellent for sensitive skin and nappy rash
- More expensive, needs gentle washing, and can smell when wet
Disposable Liners
- Made From: Paper cellulose, bamboo, or other natural fibres
- Convenient: Just toss solids, then bin the liner
- Note: While once marketed as flushable, they should generally not be flushed anymore due to environmental concerns (like fatbergs). Even “flushable” liners take longer to break down than toilet paper. Paper liners were always considered flushable until the last few years. Most brands are made of 100% natural biodegradable materials and will disintegrate in water after 4- 10 days. In recent years there has been concern from water companies relating to the fatberg. Yes it is ideal to flush only toilet paper but if occasionally you flush a paper liner with solids then please do not worry too much, compared to disposable washable wipes they are considerably better (as long as you are using the natural biodegradable liners which all nappy liners are if they are made by a cloth nappy company as they have no plastics or microfibres and the liners will dissolve within a few days).
- Less Ideal For:
- Sensitive skin
- Keeping baby dry
- Overnight use
Cleaning the Liners
Once weaning begins, poo becomes more solid and must be removed before washing. Even tiny bits of undigested food can block your washing machine filter!
Poo Removal Methods
- Sluicing: Hold one end of the liner and dip into a toilet flush.
- ‘Poo Knife’: A dedicated spatula or spoon for scraping
- Spray Bottle: Use a pressurized bottle to rinse off waste
- Shower Head: Rinse into a bucket or directly in the toilet
- Bidet Attachment: Installed on your toilet for easy rinsing
Final Thoughts
Fleece liners are now generally the preferred option for their comfort, reusability, and stay-dry features—especially helpful for sensitive skin and overnight use. Paper liners are a handy option for easier cleanup of solids but as flushing is now discouraged they are really not that much easier or less time consuming than using fleece.