Day 21 #100DaysOfOldDays

Today’s post also forms part of Linda G Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday #SoCS and the prompt this week is ‘way to go‘.

Disposable nappies were invented in the 40’s but they weren’t used very much until the late 60’s. My man never used them. We all got the Terry nappy bum treatment—and the youngest in our family was born in 1972.

I used Terry nappies in 1994.

It took me a while to get used to them. Learning how to do a nappy fold and finding the right technique to suit me. A nappy liner was used to catch the solids, so changing was less messy and easier.

Over the nappy went a pair of plastic pants to prevent leaks (they weren’t always reliable though). They were called plastics or rubbers.

Used nappies were soaked in a bucket of Napisan before being washed. Napisan is a germicide and it also helped to keep the nappies white and stain free.

If you’re familiar with the Irish mammy, you’ll know that nothing pleases her more than a good dry windy day. “Great day for the drying.” You’ll hear her say. And a line full of white cloth nappies was a satisfying sight back in the old days!

Reusable nappies are still the way to go for eco-conscious mothers of today. They come in all sorts of fancy shapes and styles. Special nappy buckets are available too. Bambino Mio for example, are very easy to use—no nappy folding techniques to learn—and they come in really snazzy designs.

Here’s Lucy’s drawings of cloth nappies and the rubber pants drying on the clothes line.