Your council might pay for your cloth nappies. Here's what most parents don't know.

I was pregnant when I decided to look into cloth nappies properly.

That meant I was comparing the upfront cost of a cloth nappy stash against zero. I hadn't bought a single disposable yet. I hadn't felt the weekly drain of the supermarket run, the endless boxes, the bags. I was just looking at a number on a screen and wondering if it was a lot to spend before my baby had even arrived.

It felt significant. And without the context of what disposables actually cost over time, it was hard to know whether I was being sensible or frugal in the wrong direction.

Once I did the calculation properly, including 18 months of disposable nappies alone, not even the wipes, the picture shifted completely. And that was before I factored in using the same nappies for a second baby. Suddenly the upfront investment looked like exactly that: an investment. One I would make once, that would keep going.

I did use disposables for the first week after my c-section. I had given myself permission to ease in, and I needed that at the time. But I switched to cloth quickly, and I never really looked back.

The wipes, though. That took a little longer.

I used disposable wipes for a while, and I found them genuinely frustrating. You'd need so many for one big mess. They were so thin. And it was only later that I learned about the additives in most disposable wipes, and what that means for a baby's skin. When I finally made the switch to cloth wipes, I understood immediately why people loved them. Thicker, more effective, gentler. One cloth wipe did what three or four disposable ones couldn't.

That experience taught me something I come back to often: the full picture of what disposables actually cost, in money, in waste, in what goes against your baby's skin, only becomes clear once you start looking for it.

Which brings me to what I want to share with you this Cloth Nappy Week.

Your local council might already be ready to help cover part of that upfront cost.

Across Australia, local councils are running cloth nappy rebate programs, offering families money back on their purchase of reusable nappies, wet bags, swim nappies, cloth wipes, and more. Some councils offer 50% back, up to $200. The programs vary, but the intent is the same: councils want families to make the switch, and they are putting real money behind it.

Most parents have no idea these programs exist.

When I was starting out, this wasn't an option. There were barely any councils offering rebates in Australia, and none in NSW. So if this exists where you live right now, I really want you to know about it.

Designer Bums has put together a full list of councils currently offering rebate programs across Australia. If your council is on the list, you may be able to claim back a significant portion of your first purchase, sometimes within 60 to 90 days of buying.

A few things worth knowing before you apply. Most rebates require proof of purchase and proof of residency. Keep your invoice, Designer Bums provides one automatically with every order. Most programs are one per household, so if you are planning to claim, do it on your first purchase rather than splitting across smaller ones. Many rebates also cover accessories, not just nappies. Wet bags, cloth wipes, and reusable liners are often included. Check the fine print for your specific council.

If your council is not on the list, it may mean they have not launched a program yet. The Australian Nappy Association has a template letter you can send encouraging your council to introduce a scheme. More are coming on board every year, and resident requests do make a difference.

One more thing I want to say, because I hear this from almost every parent who is on the fence.

The washing.

Before I started, I pictured something overwhelming. The reality was one extra load, every few days. It ran a little longer, with a bit more detergent, and then it was done. I built my stash gradually too. I did not buy everything at once. I started smaller, got comfortable with the routine, and added more over time. Both the cost and the learning curve were more manageable than I had anticipated.

Cloth Nappy Week exists to shine a light on moments like this. The moment a parent realises that what felt complicated is actually just unfamiliar. That what seemed expensive up front is designed to last through multiple children. That one extra load every few days is not the mountain it sounds like.

If you have been curious and have not yet made the move, check whether your council is on the list here. You might be surprised.

Elysia x

Want to learn more? See our Beginner's Guide to Reusable Cloth Nappies starter guide here.

Did you know? Our Wet Bags are the perfect companion for reusable nappies, and beyond! Designed to store cloth nappies, swimwear and organise everyday essentials. See our range here.