I used this method for all my babies, both boys and girls, from about 4 weeks of age right up until toilet trained. Strangely, it is not a well known style, but everyone I know who has tried it says they find it fantastic for its simplicity and effectiveness. For extra absorption at night I used double nappies. Just lay two cloths on top and fold exactly the same way. The pinning is the hardest bit through 12 thicknesses!
   When a baby's skin toughens up a bit, after about 6 - 8 months, the use of plastic pilchers over the top of one or two nappies helps greatly to keep clothing dry without creating nappy rash through a "greenhouse effect".

   Pilchers. A newer system is to use a shaped cloth pilcher into which a half-sized nappy is folded, the whole lot held in place by elastic tabs top and bottom (see Figure 55). This style works a little like a giant sanitary pad. To make the inner nappy you just cut one of the usual square varieties in half. The benefits of this system are that you get 2 nappies for the price of one when first buying your supply; only half as much cloth needs changing for the same amount of soiling; they take less water to soak and wash; and are less bulky for baby. The downsides are the added cost of the pilchers because you will need to upgrade them as your baby grows in size and, with only half as much cloth for absorbency, this often necessitates extra washing of nappies, pilchers and sometimes the clothes as well.






       Figure 55 - Pilcher with Half Nappy

   Being ever the maternal traditionalist, I favour the old fashioned nappy pin over the new rubber and plastic "Snappy Clips" to fasten my baby's nappies. And, in all that time I never stabbed them or myself even once! If nappy pins are "sticky" just run them through your hair,

as the natural oil will help them to slide through the cloth more easily. Hold the nappy between your thumb and fingers using your hand to shield your baby from any likelihood of a prick. The main reason why I like pins is that each time you take a nappy off, you can just attach them to your shirt, and they're close by when you need them again. Whilst the "Snappy" is effective and safe, they are more easily misplaced and can come off more easily on an active baby.

   Homemade Pre-Wash Nappy Soaker. Mix 4 bars of grated pure soap, 100g of washing soda, ½ a teaspoon of lavender, eucalyptus or tea tree oil, in 3 litres of water in a large pot on the stove. Heat and stir until it is an even, viscous mass. Transfer into plastic containers with lids to store (when warm - not hot or cooled).
   After removing solids, soak nappies in about 15 litres of hot water, adding ½ a cup of the Soaker Mixture to the bucket. After 6 - 24 hours soaking, all you need to do is to rinse them well. A spin and cold machine rinse is enough. The washing soda in the mix makes the nappies soft, so you don't need any special softeners. This home-made solution makes a great wool wash too.

Toilet Training
   A child's attitude to their excretion, and the ease or difficulty you have in toilet training has much to do with the way in which you handle their earlier nappy matters. Although a child may have no control of their bowels or urination they know from the smells and feelings what has happened. If your comments are always -"Oh no, yucky, yucky, stinky poo" they will gradually get a message that their urine and motions are disgusting matters. On the other hand, if you always dispose of nappies without any kind of inspection or comment, quickly binning it or flushing it away like it just didn't happen, they will also gain the idea that it is something to be avoided and hidden. My kids have often seen the mess they make, seen their nappies soaking in the bucket, and seen the labours of attending to their washing. During such times I remind them that "one day they will use a potty and a toilet like we big people and not need nappies". They look forward to this (so do I). All this helps to prepare them to face the reality of change from the known to the unknown.
   Part of toilet training a child is firstly to let them connect with those parts of their body which are doing the excretion. If a baby is always in a nappy and clothing which hide these areas, they will take far