At Real Nappies for London, we understand that every family’s journey through parenthood is unique. The choices we make — whether it’s how we feed, clothe, or care for our little ones — are deeply personal, and reusables are just one option among many.
Having a baby is a life-changing experience. Along with the joys of parenthood, it’s common for mental health challenges to arise. Perinatal mental health (PMH) problems can occur during pregnancy or in the first year following childbirth. These conditions affect almost a quarter of new and expectant mothers and encompass a wide range of mental health issues (Source: NHS).
In this guest blog post, Katharina, a parent living in Barnet, shares her experience of how reusable nappies became a surprising source of support during a challenging time with perinatal depression and anxiety. While every family’s path will look different, we hope Katharina’s story offers inspiration and encouragement, whatever your journey may hold.
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Motherhood is hard. For me, it brought intense feelings of exhaustion, frustration, and sometimes numbness. Very often, I was wondering if I was doing it all wrong – me, the planner and perfectionist.
I thrive on control, structure, and organisation—but with a newborn, all of that flew out the window. Nights blurred into days, and I lost track of time. Sleepless nights had me pacing the room, listening for every movement my baby made. Learning to deal with reusable nappies was another challenge, but a challenge I could choose to take on myself and let go if I felt it would be too much.
I had heard about reusable nappies when I was pregnant and decided, upon reading a lot about it, that using them aligns most with my values. But thinking that getting extra small newborn nappies and dealing with so much washing at the beginning would be too much to handle, we decided to gradually start cloth nappying from when our girl was seven or eight weeks. As my baby got older, my anxiety, mood swings and general mental health got worse. Seeking help was a turning point. I started therapy, and my counsellor helped me process my feelings. But as I learned to navigate this new chapter, reusable nappies became more than just an eco-friendly choice—they became part of my healing journey, step by step. Reading this, you may find parts of your own experience reflected here, but every family’s reusable nappy journey is unique.
A Stronger Bond with My Baby
Reusables made me more aware of my daughter’s needs. I wasn’t just tossing nappies into the bin—I was paying attention to how often she needed changing, what her patterns were, and how this fit into her daily rhythms. This helped me tune into her cues and bond with her.
A Sense of Routine in the Chaos
Reusables came with their own rhythm: check nappies every few hours, do laundry every three days, fold and organise them. That schedule gave me something tangible to hold onto while figuring out what my crying baby wanted right now. Immediately.
A Meditative Practice
Folding nappies felt oddly therapeutic. I usually try to do this with my daughter (she is playing with the washed, dried and unfolded nappies while I’m doing the folding and stashing). This made me focus on my hands, on my breathing and my daughter’s interest in all the colourful wraps. Preparing a freshly washed stash of nappies felt like doing something purposeful – and I immediately saw the results of my work.
Health Benefits for My Baby
My daughter’s skin stayed healthier with reusables. We rarely dealt with nappy rash, which meant one thing less to worry about for us and one thing less to cry about for her! As we introduced using the potty to her when she was around 10 months old (an approach called baby-led potty training or Elimination Communication), she became less distressed about wet or dirty nappies, simply because there were fewer of them. Knowing I was doing something good for her gave me a sense of accomplishment.
Helping the Environment
An average baby will use at least 4,000 nappies in the first 2.5 years of their life. When using disposables only, all of these nappies will be predominately be Incinerated for ‘Energy from Waste’, contributing significantly to environmental pollution, as reports by like this one from the BBC have shown (“Burning Rubbish Now UK’s Dirtiest Form of Power”). Disposable nappies contribute to a lifestyle that our planet actually cannot sustain. I have always been sensitive to environmental issues, but very often, I felt like my impact was so tiny. Using reusables was one way for me to make a difference.
A Shared Family Effort
My husband was a sceptic at first. But over time, reusable nappies became “our thing”. We worked as a team, from changing to washing to telling others about it. Reusables were not my “weird idea” but a shared commitment to our values and what worked best for our family.
Simplicity and Savings
We only have two sizes and one brand of nappies and generally have been happy with them from the start (though I know that this is not the case with everyone and we had a messy leak or two in the most inconvenient places, too). But we didn’t have to juggle with many different disposable brands, sizes, or inconsistent quality. Reusable nappies are sturdy; there isn’t much that can break them. Plus, the savings compared to disposables were a relief during a doubly financially stressful time – having a baby and living through the (it feels) 11th cost-of-living crisis in 5 years.
A Framework for the Day
Counting used nappies and having set times for offering the potty gave me a basic daily rhythm when everything else felt overwhelming. Reusables brought a small sense of structure, something that I was so craving for in the weeks after having given birth, when everything blurred into one mush.
When Reusables Felt Like Too Much
Of course, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. There were moments when I just could not be bothered doing the laundry (or forgot about it). Sometimes I was stressed about leaks, especially in the early days and when going out. Sometimes, I doubted whether it was worth the extra effort. But as I gained confidence and adjusted, those challenges became manageable.
Reusables as a Form of Self-Care
In hindsight, reusable nappies for me weren’t just about cute designs, a green lifestyle and a more affordable alternative to one-time nappies. They helped me create moments of mindfulness, connection, and routine. They gave me small victories when I felt like I was failing. And, while they didn’t “fix” my PPD / PPA, they were a surprising tool in my journey toward feeling more grounded.
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Whether it’s asking someone for help – family, friends, my GP, counsellors –, getting take-out or indulging in chocolate for a change, getting out of the house or, in my case, using reusables (alongside all these other things!), small anchors can make a big difference. For me, those cloth nappies became a symbol of resilience. When I felt I was the worst mum in the world for reasons that, with hindsight, were spurious (but tell that your PPD / PPA mind!), the reusables (sometimes) kept me going. And they made me feel better. Not always, but most of the time.
And the last and (probably best bit): Reusable nappies made me feel part of something bigger. The Facebook groups, nappy libraries and reusable nappy networks (shoutout to the Barnet Nappy Library and EC Hub!) gave me another tool to get through this hard stage of motherhood: A community of other mothers who try hard, care about similar issues, and share my values.
Guest Blog Post: Katharina, Barnet (Jan 2025)
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If you think you might be experiencing antenatal or postnatal depression, it is important to seek help promptly. Speak to a GP, Midwife, or Health Visitor. We have provided some resources below (not all listed are free). Please note, Real Nappies for London, or our charity organisation Wen, is not affiliated with any of these organisations.
Where to Find Support
To explore mental health services available in your area, visit Hub of Hope. This platform is an excellent resource for finding support nearby (not all services listed are free). Several national charities offer advice and support for perinatal mental health:
Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support (PANDAS)
Helpline: 0808 196 1776 (11am to 10pm every day)
Email: info@pandasfoundation.org.uk
Association for Post-Natal Illness (APNI)
Helpline: 020 7386 0868 (10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday)
Email: info@apni.org
NHS
Website: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-natal-depression/
NCT (National Childbirth Trust)
Helpline: 0300 330 0700 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
NCT has a free helpline and plenty of valuable information online. Courses offered through NCT are for a fee.
Mind, the Mental Health Charity
Info line: 0300 123 3393 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday)
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Additional information about Perinatal Mental Health and local support groups can be found on the Maternal Mental Health Alliance website.
If you need immediate support or are concerned about a loved one, contact:
Samaritans: Dial 116 123 (available 24/7)
Emergency Services: Dial 999 or 111
Seeking help is a sign of strength. Support is available to guide you through this journey.