How to Use Cloth Nappies on Holiday

This post is sponsored by Pim Pam.

Pim Pam is an independent small business making the most beautiful cloth nappies, with prints designed by founder Aless Baylis. They’re slim, quick drying and lightweight so would make a great holiday nappy. Pim Pam also recently released reusable swim nappies, which my little ones lived in on our holiday this year! You can get 10% off at Pim Pam with the discount code ABODERIE.

Holidays are a little different now we have children. Once filled with leisurely days and gentle evenings, we find them somewhat more hectic with little people in tow. What little rest you can glean on holiday with babies is precious, so you’d be forgiven for having nappies right at the bottom of your list. But if you’ve come to love cloth nappies at home, then it’s very likely you’ll want to try and bring them on holiday with you.

Naturally this brings with it some logistics and a fair bit of planning. How can you make cloth nappies work on holiday?

Can I use cloth nappies on holiday?

When it comes to using cloth nappies away from home I invariably think back to the days before disposables, when there wouldn’t have been any other option. You can make anything work if you put your mind to it, just as our resourceful mothers and grandmothers would have done for their own trips to the seaside.

That being said, I truly believe that a little convenience from time to time, even at a small expense to the environment, can be worthwhile. Holidays are, after all, intended for relaxation! There is always the option to pack a few cloth nappies and use them part-time. For example, I will usually revert to using disposables overnight when we’re away, to slightly lighten the washing load and to reduce the space we need to pack nappies.

So to put it simply, if you want to do cloth on holiday it is absolutely possible, and if you’d prefer not to then that’s fine too.

How to prepare to travel with cloth nappies

If you do decide to travel with your nappies, a little preparation goes a long way. It begins right back when you book your trip, because without a doubt the most helpful thing you can do to prepare is to choose accommodation with a good washing machine. It is possible to use cloth nappies if you don’t have a washing machine, but you will spend more time on your washing, either at a launderette or washing by hand. In any case, you might like to pack some detergent, especially if you think that you won’t be able to buy a suitable one.

In the days before you head off, it’s worth giving a little thought to logistics so that you don’t need to carry dirty nappies on a long journey, or leave dirty nappies at home for too long. My approach is usually to set aside the nappies I plan to take with us and use only those for the two days before we leave. This way, any used nappies can be rinsed right before we leave and brought with us. We tend not to take night nappies away with us, so will often switch to disposables at night for a couple of nights before we leave.

Swim nappies

If you’re heading for sunnier climes then you absolutely need reusable swim nappies in your case. Unlike normal cloth nappies, they don't need to be fit particularly well, don't have any absorbency, and tend to be easier to clean since they're usually (!) not as dirty. So even if you’re not yet fully committed to cloth on holiday, I promise you will find them a breeze!

You'll only need a couple to get started. Nappies that are wet but not dirty can go in a normal wash cycle (or with other nappies if you have them). If you're unlucky enough to get a dirty one drop any solids into the toilet then run a rinse cycle before putting in a normal white cycle. ⁠They’re also much easier to handwash than normal nappies, so if you don’t have access to a washing machine, they’re still doable.

My favourite swim nappies are the wonderful ones made by Pim Pam. The prints are beautiful, the fit is sublime, and they are super reliable.

How to find space in your suitcase

This might be one of the hardest things about travelling with cloth nappies! Babies already bring quite a bit of extra paraphernalia, so squeezing in a bunch of nappies alongside can be difficult. There are a few ways you can make this work.

Firstly, take slim, minimal nappies with you. The best option here is definitely to use flat nappies, like Bright Bots Cotton Flats, which are really slim and absorbent and also won’t cost you too much. Don’t be put off by the idea of using flat nappies, you can just fold them into a rectangle and lay them inside a waterproof cover. You should also be able to get away with only bringing a few waterproof covers with you, since if they’re only wet you can wipe them down and reuse them several times before washing. If you’re put off by the idea of buying another set of nappies, you might consider hiring them from a cloth nappy shop or nappy library.

If you don’t have the option of buying or hiring a set of ‘holiday nappies’, then another possibility would be to pack enough nappies for a day or so, and wash more regularly. If you’re going somewhere hot then you may well find your little one is wearing swim nappies (or even nothing!) for portions of the day anyway, so you’ll likely get away with using fewer. You may also find that lovely hot weather means your nappies dry quicker.

In a similar way, one of the best ways to cut down on packing is to leave your night nappies at home. Since they’re often the most bulky, it’s an easy way to reduce the amount you’re packing.

How to wash your cloth nappies on holiday

Hopefully, having prepared by checking your stay has a washing machine, you can simply wash your nappies as you would at home. If you aren’t able to use a washing machine, then you have the option of finding a nearby launderette, or washing by hand. Having attempted hand washing once in the past, let me encourage you to do everything you can to avoid it!

Drying your nappies might be easier or harder depending on the climate where you’re headed. If you’re on your way to sun you may find your nappies dry quicker than at home, so you might even be able to get away with packing fewer nappies than you would usually need. If you’re heading somewhere colder, it might be worth seeking out a stay with a tumble dryer, or plenty of drying space (like a utility room).

Some of the nappies featured were gifted for review with no obligation to review positively. This page contains affiliate links, which earn me a little bit of commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!