If you choose to use reusable nappies aside from traditional terry towelling nappies, there are lots of great products on the market. They usually involve a nappy cloth which fits inside a waterproof cover with a velcro system for fastening at the front.

If you do use reusable nappies you can either launder them at home, soaking them first in the appropriate recommended sanitising product, or some companies operate a delivery and collect laundering service.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as with most things, different styles suit different people. We recommend talking to someone who has experience of using different types of nappy to help you choose the right system for you and your family, and you can also try to find a trial kit to test out the different styles available before you buy.

Reusable Nappies are available on the high street, online and from local agents and advisors. Visit Go Real to find retailers in the UK near you.

There has been a revolution in the designs of reusable nappies, with many improvements made to the simple terry nappy. Most reusable nappies have shaped pants that allow the nappy cloth to sit inside. They come in lots of shapes, colours, and designs and generally have effective Velcro or press stud fastenings to secure the nappy in place.

Baby nappies need to be changed frequently and reusable nappies can be used with a nappy liner which catches most of your baby’s poo.

Take the soiled liner to the toilet and simply drop the poo straight into it and flush it away. This is one of the benefits of reusable nappies, no poo goes into your family bins. Dirty then nappies need to be stored in a bucket with a lid until they are washed.

Most manufacturers recommend a 60-degree wash with non-biological washing detergent, however, some of the nappy covers can be washed at 40 degrees.

From birth, your baby will produce 10 dirty nappies a day. This slows down to around 4 dirty nappies a day when your baby is a bit older, however, you will need enough nappies to be available in between washing.

Reusable nappies are cheaper to use in the long run. Go Real (The Real Nappy Information Service) calculates that disposable nappies cost over £5 per week. The average baby will need to wear nappies for two and a half years so you could end up spending over £650 in total. A complete set of reusable nappies to use from birth to potty training costs around £200.

Washing reusable nappies at 60 degrees costs around £1 or $1-2 per week. Tumble drying adds to the cost but if nappies are air dried you need to have sufficient space to dry them on a line or inside in the winter.