Reusable/washable/cloth nappies

moo842

hi there

i have one life nappies for my 8lb daughter, we are using the newborn wraps which cover upto 12lb. we have washed all the nappies once at 60 degrees with no fabric conditioner, but they are leaking around the leg cuffs, the edging on the wraps seems to be drawing the wee out of the nappies onto her clothes, what am i doing wrong?

Js_Other_Half

Are the wraps actually too big for her? I believe different wraps suit different body shapes?

I have to be honest and say we used disposables for a while after he was born - the nappies were just too big on him.
We use motherease nappies and airflow wraps, and rarely leak. Having said that, I didn't realise until this week that the small size wraps are only supposed to go up to 12lbs...the poor lad has been in them for at least 2lbs too long!


This link gives the standard info on your nappy system, with a customer care line number.

http://www.onelifeworld.co.uk/CottonNappies/erol.html#284x0&&http%3A%252F%252Fwww.onelifeworld.co.uk%252F

hth

Madmel

Are you using the popper wraps or the velcro ones? Sometimes, I found the popper ones were too roomy on a newborn, but they grow into them very quickly.

You should have been told to prewash your nappies at least 3 times to build up their absorbency. Once will work, but more washing will help. Definitely don't use fabric conditioner - if the nappies are a little stiff, try some white vinegar in the rinse cycle of the machine.

I hope I don't offend you by stating this, but some of my customers (I used to sell/advise on cloth nappies) didn't always use a wrap, then wondered why their children were sopping wet. Make sure the nappy is on reasonably snugly and that all the nappy is tucked inside the wrap. Any bits sticking out will cause wicking, where wee comes out.

What sort of liner are you using (if any)? Some people find that paper liners let wee run off them too quickly for the nappy to absorb properly, but this was not normally a problem with OneLife or with newborns. You could try polyester fleece liners; the best thing to do is buy some offcuts and make your own. The OneLife boosters are a good template.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask again, or PM me if you need more help.
Melanie

fesdufun

Well done for using reusables and finding the time to post with a newborn.

I find running my finger around the wrap to pull it away from the nappy helps. The nappies also become more absorbent after a few washes so you may find the problem resolves itself. I had a few teething problems in the first few weeks but then so did my friends using disposables. Don't worry I'm sure you will get to the bottom (no pun intended) of the problem.

Good luck.

demonicangel

moo842 wrote: »

hi there

i have one life nappies for my 8lb daughter, we are using the newborn wraps which cover upto 12lb. we have washed all the nappies once at 60 degrees with no fabric conditioner, but they are leaking around the leg cuffs, the edging on the wraps seems to be drawing the wee out of the nappies onto her clothes, what am i doing wrong?

It sounds as if the wraps are wicking not leaking.

I have this when the wraps arent a snug enough fit or if I use certain brands of wraps.

Maybe try a applix wrap if your not already or invest in some Motherease wraps. They are good but some babies have a reaction to the binding on them.

anonymousie

demonicangel wrote: »

It sounds as if the wraps are wicking not leaking.

I have this when the wraps arent a snug enough fit or if I use certain brands of wraps.

Maybe try a applix wrap if your not already or invest in some Motherease wraps. They are good but some babies have a reaction to the binding on them.

Agree wicking mostl ikely- are the wraps cotton covered, they are pretty but do wick if the nappy gets very wet. (they wouldn't, by any chance be bambino mio wraps are they? THey arer notorious for wicking...).

The nappies themselves need a few more washes to get really absorbent too.

Are you pad folding or pinning? Pad folds are easy, but more likely to leak, a a "power wee" can sort ofbounce off the top before it soaks in IYSWIM!

try a motherease velcro wrap- they are bril (used them a lot with pinned terries, which, after trying all the fancy stuff was really my fave overall!).

Don't worry about having to pay for new wraps in the same size- you may well be able to get them 2nd hand, or sell them on for a good price after- if you don't know where to sell/buy 2nd hand pm me as I know ebay arer removing washable nappys now..

moo842

thanks for the replies.
i am using the onelife wraps, and they seem to fit pretty snuggly on her. i have checked that the nappy is not coming out of the wrap. i am using fleece liners as i don't like the way the paper sticks to her skin. the wraps are velcro as this is the only one they do in newborn.

why are ebay removing reusable nappies?

Madmel

Are you using the boosters in them too?

It may be that you have a very heavy wetter - it happens! - and the nappy isn't coping. Having said that, my daughter used to go all night in a OneLife with just the booster pad in it, and a OneLife popper wrap. But children are all different, so this might be the problem, but it would be unusual in such a young child.

I thought about this after your first posting and would recommend the following:

1. Do all your velcro wraps leak, or is it just one of them? One could be faulty.

2. Try a size 1 popper wrap. It is almost identical to the Motherease Airflow wrap that another poster has recommended. The air can flow between the poppers to help evaporate some of the wee, which can help with heavy wetters. A word of warning - the size 1 popper wraps are huge, but it won't do your baby any harm. Aesthetically, most people like the velcro wraps on a newborn as they look neater, but I have had plenty of customers who went straight onto size 1 poppers, which lasted them upto 9 months in some cases.

3. If the wraps are still leaking, try boosting the nappy further. A good bet would be to try a microfibre cloth, but not next to your baby's skin. Lidl & Tesco do them pretty cheaply (microfibre dishcloths or cleaning cloths). Just fold the cloth in with the OneLife booster pad where your baby wees.

I hope this helps. Feel free to get back to me if you want any more help.
Melanie

moo842

will size one popper wraps not be too big? they seem large around the legs.

moo842

why do i have to use non bio?