Cloth nappy friendly daycares in South Africa

We know that finding a daycare, crèche, or playschool that welcomes reusable cloth nappies can be tricky. That’s why we’ve put together this list of childcare facilities around the country to help make your cloth diaper journey as easy as possible. Plus, find out why playschools might be hesitant, and how to convince them to try cloth.

What's on this page

1. Cloth nappy friendly daycares

2. Why might some schools refuse to use cloth nappies?

3. How do I convince a daycare to try out cloth nappies?

4. Add to our list


Province Area School Email Phone
Eastern Cape Lorraine, Gqeberha Tasha's Daycare 072 238 6033
Eastern Cape Nahoon, East London The Learning Tree the.learning.treesa@gmail.com 060 973 1441
Free State Bothaville, Meyerhof Loebi La-la Kleuterskool lomariebothma970523@gmail.com 076 565 6540
Free State Naudeville, Welkom FHL Kids Pre-Primary 066 220 3944
Free State Langenhoven Park, Bloemfontein Die Kleinskooltjie spits@vodamail.co.za 082 413 2705
Gauteng Bryanston, Sandton The Secret Garden Playschool akidson@sgplayschool.co.za 011 463 5923
Gauteng Clubview Little Woodlands Preschool Clubview admin@lwps.co.za 078 907 4730
Gauteng Clubview Orange Blossoms Daycare 084 205 4397
Gauteng Doringkloof Little Woodlands Preschool Doringkloof catharine@littlewoodlands.co.za 082 615 9355
Gauteng Douglasdale Rainbow Babies and Kids Nursery School rainbowkids@mweb.co.za 011 463 4098
Gauteng Dunvegan, Edenvale Stepping Stones Learning Centre info@steppingstoneslearningcentre.co.za 011 453 5902
Gauteng Elardus Park, Pretoria East Kidz @ Collage kidz@collage.org.za 083 845 8262
Gauteng Erasmusrand, Pretoria Bonthuis Crèche bonthuis@bonthuis.co.za 012 347 6069
Gauteng Faerie Glen, Pretoria East Meander Kids Kleuterskool marni@meanderkids.co.za 012 991 2895
Gauteng Fairlands Little Elite Kids Pre-School info@littleelitekids.co.za 074 033 2859
Gauteng Farramere Little Lambs Preschool and Daycare Centre info@littlelambsbenoni.co.za 011 849 6781
Gauteng Florida Park, Roodepoort Hayford Kids kids@hayford.co.za 011 472 6547
Gauteng Fourways, Sandton Merry Days and Little Saints Preschool admin@merrydays.co.za 011 465 7487
Gauteng Garsfontein, Pretoria East Die Kinderdorpie Kleuterskool diekinderdorpie@gmail.com 076 331 8640
Gauteng Kenmare Tilly's Nest Nursery/kleuterskool 072 459 3609
Gauteng Lyttelton Manor, Centurion Babbel & Krabbel info@babenkrab.co.za 012 664 5257
Gauteng Lyttelton Manor, Centurion Tjokkerjol 083 294 8082
Gauteng Moreletapark, Pretoria Moreleta Duifies duifies@moreleta.co.za 012 997 8070
Gauteng Moreletapark, Pretoria Paradigm Kids Montessori info@paradigmkids.co.za 012 100 3038
Gauteng Newlands, Pretoria Thula Thula Babahuis/Babyhouse 082 341 7032
Gauteng Northcliff Let Them Grow marinda@letthemgrow.co.za 082 349 2231
Gauteng Randpark Ridge Baby Steps info@babystepscreche.co.za 082 521 8369
Gauteng Randpark Ridge Kiddie Palace info@kiddiepalace.co.za 082 419 8855
Gauteng Rietondale, Pretoria East Little Einsteins accounts@highpointrentals.co.za 083 647 9093
Gauteng Valhalla, Centurion Dappermuis Kleuterskool dappermuis36@gmail.com 074 785 6557
Gauteng Vanderbijlpark Dorpsjapies Dagsorg dorpsjapiesdag@gmail.com 083 230 5688
Gauteng Waverley Tiptol Speelskool lidadacomb@yahoo.com 082 403 7922
Gauteng Weltevreden Park, Roodepoort Babbels Kleuterskool info@babbels.co.za 010 055 1425
Gauteng Weltevreden Park, Roodepoort Shongololies Daycare info@shongololiesdaycare.co.za 082 822 3642
Gauteng Wierdapark, Centurion Kabouterland Rainbow School info@kabouterlandkleuterskool.co.za 072 327 8594
Gauteng Wonderboom, Pretoria Knikkie Knakkie 012 543 1328
KwaZulu-Natal Durban North Annies Busy Beez anniebusybeez@outlook.com 083 463 7849
KwaZulu-Natal Durban North Oceanview Montessori info@oceanviewmon-tessorischool.co.za 031 564 4609
KwaZulu-Natal Kloof, Durban Ladybird Pre-School info@ladybirdpreschool.co.za 082 711 1882
KwaZulu-Natal Kloof, Durban Small World Pre-Primary 061 764 4765
KwaZulu-Natal Glenwood, Durban Bev's Babes Playcentre 084 510 6202
KwaZulu-Natal Glenwood, Durban Teeny-Tinys Play School 079 899 9410
KwaZulu-Natal Pinetown, Durban Hatton Estate Pre Primary School admin@hepp.co.za 079 492 5511
KwaZulu-Natal Sydenham EMA Daycare Kidz Online Durban Oriel.steyn@gmail.com 072 108-7426
Limpopo Polokwane Buds to Blossoms 076 400 9722
Mpumalanga Sonheuwel Dinkyland Castle 081 819 4290
Mpumalanga Witbank, Emalahleni Tweety Land Kleuterskool/Nursery School info@tweetyland.co.za 066 299 4466
North West Lichtenburg Cvo-Skool Lichtenburg 018 632 1982
Western Cape Durbanville, Cape Town Little Legends Nursery School littlelegends14@gmail.com 082 328 0835
Western Cape Durbanville, Cape Town Unique Playschool hannelize@telkomsa.net 012 975 8646
Western Cape Kuilsrivier, Cape Town Little Earth Pre-School info@littleearth.co.za 021 903 3557
Western Cape Kuilsrivier, Cape Town Kiddo Cave kiddocave@gmail.com 074 811 9535
Western Cape Longacres, Langebaan Seeskulpie Kleuterskool admin@seeskulpie.co.za 022 772 0302
Western Cape Parklands/Table View, Cape Town Big Fish Little Fish Montessori enquiries@bigfishlittlefish.co.za 021 556 3453
Western Cape Table View, Cape Town Little Learners Childcare info@littlelearners.co.za 021 556 1540
Western Cape Table View, Cape Town Pooh Bear and Friends Educare info@poohbeareducare.co.za 076 772 6562
Western Cape Vredehoek, Cape Town Disa Park info@disaparkschool.co.za 021 461 7431
Western Cape Worcester Little Miracles Preschool & Aftercare littlemiracles20@gmail.com 082 840 6987


*All information is correct to the best of our knowledge. We don’t accept any responsibility for errors in this list.

A baby wearing a cloth nappy with proteas on it

Why might some schools refuse to use cloth nappies? 

Some schools will refuse to use cloth nappies for a number of reasons, but it’s usually based on lack of knowledge or understanding of the law, or misperceptions of how reusables work.

Cloth nappy laws in South Africa 

When childcare facilities state that they can’t accept reusable cloth nappies due to the law, they’re likely unfamiliar with the laws of the Department of Health (DoH), their local by-laws, and early childhood development (ECD) guidelines.

The DoH’s laws are actually outdated, stating that soiled cloth diapers must be soaked and stored in a Steri Nappi bucket. If you’ve used modern cloth nappies, you’ll know that soaking them at all, particularly in strong chemicals, is a no-no!

A graphic stating 'government-approved', 'easy to clean', and 'easy to use'.

Interestingly, the DoH doesn’t make provision for disposable nappies at all, so it really isn’t a legal obstacle for schools to adopt a cloth approach.

Unlike the DoH’s laws, various municipalities have updated their by-laws for childcare providers. Within these, explicit provision is made for handling cloth nappies. For example, here’s what the latest eThekwini Child Care Facilities By-laws document says:

(e) approved facilities for the cleaning of cloth nappies if children in cloth nappies attend the child care facility;
(f) approved separate containers for the storage of clean nappies and soiled nappies and other waste, as well as an approved area for the storage of containers containing soiled nappies and other waste; and
(g) approve
d facilities for the cleaning of cloth nappies.

Misconceptions about modern cloth nappies

The world of modern reusables can be confusing for those new to it, because there are so many types and styles. But for someone who hasn’t explored the ins and outs of today’s diapers, the image of cotton terry squares and giant safety pins is inevitably what comes to mind. And there’s nothing wrong with these. After all, they faithfully got babies and toddlers through their nappy years until the 1950s, when disposables began to be mass produced. Even today, they’re an affordable and widely available option.

But most cloth parents aren’t using this old-fashioned style. Modern reusable nappies are wonderfully versatile. Some are made to mimic the ease of disposables but without the harsh chemicals and environmental impact, while others are an upgrade on the terry squares – trimmer, softer, and more absorbent. They’re entirely different to what our parents and grandparents used and are easier to put on, take off, wash, and care for.

Learn how to care for your cloth nappies

How do I convince a daycare to try out cloth nappies?

You can try to convince a daycare to accept reusable diapers either by educating them on the law and relevant by-laws in their area, or by taking a nappy to the school to show them how it works.

In our experience, most childcare facilities are more than happy to use eco-nappies once their concerns are addressed. When they experience how effortless they are to use and see the visual impact of less environmental waste, you might find that the carers at your child’s playschool become your biggest cloth nappy allies and advocates.

Add to our list

Parents, carers, and business owners – we’re always updating this list and welcome any daycare, crèche, playschool, or nursery school that embraces cloth nappies. Please complete the form and we’ll add the facility to our list.