im 5 months pregnant as some of you are aware! and i am determined to use re-usable nappies! when first looking into this idea i thought it was extremely expensive condsidering how many times a day a baby's nappy needs changing!!! but then looking into this further its actually cheaper and better for your baby's bottom if you have re-usables! i think there a great idea and theres some really great designs out now for covers!!!!!!
Hi Emma It's a tricky one when disposables seem so easy, but cost really can make a difference! I've linked this thread to the main article on ThinkBaby about nappies, which also links to other forum chats about them. LL x
Hi emma. I am manager of a nursery (although on mat leave at the moment) The majority of the children use disposable nappies as they are more conveinient but we do have a few which use re-usable nappies. Their are pro's and con's to both. With re-usable nappies do need changing more regularly and often leak, their are a few different types on the market, some of the nappies even when a baby has urinated do have a potent smell (often described as a rabbit hutch. In my experience the nappies that are collected for washing usually do not stay white and often have soil marks left in them. Some of them are really rough on the bebies skin and can lead to a really sore bottom. Don't get me wrong I think that re-usable nappies are a good idea but you should be aware that you need to find a good quality nappy.
I'm trying to decide what nappies to use too. i would love to use re-usables as they are much better for the enviroment but I'm not sure if they are that easy to use. I know most of our parents used them so they couldnt have been that bad but i just dont know anyone that has used them and what they think of them.
I'm using re-usables and have posted on another thread (there are a few on re-usables on the forum). I'd agree with Sabrina that a good quality re-usuable makes all the difference, but when you do use a good one then I really don't think it's that much work. We had disposables from the outset as nappies for when out and about, but I now very rarely use them, as it's just as easy to use some of the re-usables if you don't mind carrying a dirty nappy in your bag (you can rinse most of the poop off in the loo anyway).
I personally find it more of a drag to traipse down to the bins to get rid of the frequently full nappy bin than I do to put the washer on, and I also really hate creating so much waste, whether the nappies are eco disposables or not.
There are so many different re-usables on the market that you should find one to suit your purposes, or maybe combine a couple of different kinds. What I would recommend is that you read plenty of reviews and try nappies out before you invest a lot of money in one kind of re-usable that might not work well for you.
I really wanted to use re-usables and did try them. i bought a trial pack and thought they were ok but rather bulky. My husband refused to use them which didn't help. I was just so worn out breastfeeding, making my own baby food, taking him swimming,going to baby group, the health visitor and going to work that i gave up. I take my hat off to the super mums, what your secret, how do you do it?
Hi Matilda is 2 now and we used reusables from the start and am still using (though we are hoping to potty train before no 2 comes along in jan!!) we use bambino mio napppies with flushable liners though since xmas we have used fleece liners( my huband says i'm single handidly trying to save the planet!!) we have had several makes of wraps to put the inner nappy in bambino's were good for 1st year they have good leg cuffs which stop poo coming out of side of nappy as can with covers that don't have these,but these were velcro and as she became a toddler we prefer to use poppers as she can't undo them as easily and they seem to fit better, at the moment were using nature babies poppered covers and these are great and also have good leg cuffs and they come in some great prints too so look funky! washing is not really a hastle and i have to say apart from the odd couple of nappies all are white and stain free, we have 2 buckets in bathroom one for dry pailing for just the wet nappies and the wraps in and one which we soak the pooy ones in with tea tree oil, we wash every other day and if we dry on the line they are a bit rough but a few shakes as we fold them sofens them nicly and the fleece liners are so soft anyway. i can't deny they are more work than disposibles but with organisation and dedication you can make it work. if you do use disposibles then there are some eco ones on the market which are better for the environment. good luck in your desision though i would say if you decide to go with it i'd get them before baby comes (most need washing few times before using anyway) cause if you think "i'll use disposibles to start then get them" you'll end up sticking with disposables. hope that helps Em xx forgot to say we found that we had to use bigger clothes as baby clothes tend to be cut for disposables so wont fit a clothie in! try cut4clth.co.uk
Your review was good Em (Richards), thanks. (I also didn't think it practical to try-before-you-buy either but then again I have zero experience.)
We've just invested in a pack of Bambino Mio as we're hoping to use them from the start (or start + 2 weeks perhaps). The pack contains 24 size ones, 24 size twos, 4 newborn nappy covers + 3 each of the next 4 sizes. We’re advised to wash the nappies three times before use (without softener as softener covers the fibres and makes them less absorbent) and also to buy an extra couple of newborn baby covers: a top tip we’ve been given is have all 6 made up and ready to go, then they should theoretically be no less hassle (keeping the soiled nappy somewhere until washday aside) than a disposable. Hmm… is this a reasonable assumption do you think? Maybe – and I am guessing – if people have found them not so absorbent or a bit leaky it might be because of the fabric softener thing? I don’t know... but one of you will!
Our reasons for trying to use cloth nappies are that we just can’t bear the thought of the damage to the environment of disposables or helping to speed up filling the few land-fill sites that are left. Also, we understand that a baby feeling wet helps them to become potty trained a great deal quicker: disposables are so good at keeping a baby dry why should they bother with the whole potty training thing if they’re comfortable and if Mum or Dad are ‘happy’ to carry on changing nappies for another year or so?! Conversely, we’re not sure, from what we've heard, if cloth nappies are so good at night or perhaps very practical when travelling.
But we know nothing, just doing a bit of research. Also, said he with a slight hint of hypocrisy, we’re probably going to use disposables for the first week or so and perhaps at night, don’t know yet. Any advice appreciated. We figure any time we use a cloth nappy we’re not putting one in the ground...
Anyway, we can return the Bambino Mio pack we've bought! Does anyone know of any better manufacturers or how they rate compared to other cloth nappy manufacturers? Also, I don't know much about fleece liners... can someone direct me to a site that sells them or at least explains how they work and how you re-use them? Good grief it's all so confusing...!
Emma (Watling), I think you're due the same time we are (mid December). Have you bought any cloth nappies? What did you go for in the end and why? (And best of luck!)
>thinking<… I hope I’m not making some terrible faux pas by being a Dad-to-be and writing about nappies on this forum where every other person is a Mum or Mum-to-be... please be gentle with me girls! If I’ve said or done anything wrong I didn’t mean it and I’m very sorry...!
I thought the article was quite fair and had more facts that were correct when comparing disposable vs cloth. The only thing that bothers me was the comment washing the nappies on a hot wash ,40 deg C is usually recommended and also I find nappies smell less if you dry pail which means storing dirty nappies in a dry bucket without soaking. No mention was made of cloth nappy laundry services but these are very useful for those of you who feel you can't manage the washing. Also many councils support parents who chose cloth nappies by giving cash back or trial packs. Cloth nappies shouldn't and don't leak if you get them right there are lots of products available to make cloth nappies very absorbant hemp boosters being my favourite. Please those of you considering cloth nappies don't buy birth to potty packs of nappies , buy a few different brands and once baby arrives decide what suits you and baby best then stock up on them. My favourite brands are tots bots , nappy nation and easy peasy they are all shaped and sized napppies which means , shaped they don't require folding and have elastic at the legs and back to contain poo ( this is very important) and sized which means they go from size 1 ( newborn) up to size 3 ( toddler).Sean Ryan Fleece liners are just rectangles of fleece that you use instead of paper liners fleece does the same job it keeps your babies bum dry and is washable. My advice would also be to take the bambino mio back they are flat nappies similar to traditional terries in that they need folding. I find shaped nappies much easier to use and more reliable. If you want to try the bambino mio get a trial pack with one bambino mio prefold and a wrap in it, but I would honestly buy a few other brands too to try. Buy them second hand either on ebay or www.thenappylady.co.uk classified section. I think the most effective way to use a prefold is to fold it in the poo catcher or boy fold and nippa'ring it closed rather than pad folding it as suggested. Please e-mail me if you want anymore info.Kim
I use reuseable nappies and love them. It is not a hard slog as I own an automatic washing machine I don't beat them against rocks to get them clean y'know! 2 days worth of nappies = 10 /12 nappies which I dry next to my radiators in the winter. I do not use a tumble dryer, I will use the washing line when the sun decides to shine.
My advice on reuseables is this: Research, research, research! try before you buy too, never never go out and buy the entire birth to potty range untill you are sure they suit your lifestyle and your child. Also organisation is key.
I find the benefits of reuseables are: If you have just changed a nappy and they pooh, you can just change the liner. They do not smell half as bad as disposeables when full of pooh. Much cheaper than disposeables, especially if used on more than one child. I don't care what anyone says they ARE better for the enviroment. If you have enough you do not have to wash them everyday, once you get past the early poohs theres not so much staining therefore you can wash on 30 sometimes and the odd 60 to 'pep' them up. My babys room does not smell of pooh, I dry pail and put a pad in the top of bucket lid with drops of tea tree oil on, works really well. When out and about I shove the used nappy in a scented (degradeable from boots nappy bag)and deal with it later. Potty training also thought to be easier as a child clearly knows when he/she is wet. My child has yet to have nappy rash either, this is another false claim, some babies may get this whether they wear disposables or cloth.
Disadvantages are: it's costly upfront and some may find it difficult finding the money in one go. Also they are bulkier to carry around. They are massive on a tiny baby. Theres nothing wrong with using disposables in the first few months to get used to being a mum.
Look, disposables are a fabulous invention, thats for sure, soo liberating but do we need to rely on them every single day? They are great for holidays when you don't want to be washing nappies and for back up. they are also great in those early days when you are so tired and busy with other things. But I do not know what the point is with disposeable swim nappies? Might as well throw your money in the bin!
Best nappies are Motherease, tots bots and Easy Peasy. I also agree the best site for info and to steer you in the right direction (and it is a minefield) is The Nappy Lady website.
Beware though, if you like them, you will love them and become obsessed!!!
Kim, you're completely right in your comment about nappy washing. This was quite an old article that we've republished and it should have been corrected, which I've done now. There are other articles on choosing a cloth nappy and caring for cloth nappies, which has more details on wash cycles and pailing choices. I've also addd in your comment about nappy laundering services, not sure how we managed to forget that one! Thanks for your comments.
Personally I dry pail in a nappy bag with lavendar oil and put the nappies through a rinse before I wash them every other day. I use a nappy sanitiser or a hotter wash once a week and keep them soft and smeeling nice with a tablespoon of vinegar and a few drops of lavendar oil in the end rinse cycle.
If anyone's got personal experience comments to add to the cloth nappy care or choosing articles then post away at the bottom.
I use re-useables and find them brilliant - Onelife in our case. It took me a few months to get going but once I did I couldn't understand why I had made such a bit deal about it. IT really isn't that much work - of all the washing that you do with a new babe the nappies is the easiest as you do it totally on autopilot - no thinking needed at all! The other thing that rarely gets mentioned in this debate is wipes. Like many other mums I used cotton wool and water for the first few months until I discovered how much better cloth wipes are. They are so much easier to use and clean the bum much more efficiently and you just bung the wipe in with the nappies. This really makes a difference environmentally too. I can't imagine why people waste their money on bought wipes!
We have used a mixture of reusable and disposable with all three of ours (2 girls and a boy). Disposable at night and, when I returned to work, my husband preferred disposable to reusable. We do use compostable disposables though - and as long as they did not contain poo, we have composted. The change with Baby 3 is that we started on the potty from around 4 months and he now does all his poo and a fair portion of his wee in the potty (he is now just over 6 months). My husband is quite happy to deal with this during the day as he realises that it has reduced our costs and, the time he has to spend changing nappies during the day.
