Reusable/washable/cloth nappies

Saver_Raver

My very kind grandma has bought me a newborn starter pack of bamino mio nappies. I'm intending to use these as well as disposables (for when I'm out and about).

Something I'm not sure of though, it obviously makes more sense to wait until there is a decent amount of nappies to wash in the machine but what do you soak then in, in the meantime?

A friend of mine uses her old sterilising fluid, when she has finished sterilising the bottles (cold water system).

Does this sound like a good idea? If not what else could I use?

Gingham_Ribbon

I liked the kushies but when they started to wear out (with my second) I was happy to move to terries with motherease rikki wraps. There are easy newborn folds and nappy nippas are great - no more pins. For a while we've been using a quick fold that just fits like a pad between his legs - no need even for the nappy nippa.

The only downside of washables I've found is that you have to change them more often.

foreversomeday

You can soak them in water, water with napisan (or any number of alternatives, some eco friendly, some not so much,) or dry-pail them - you don't have to soak them at all.

If you dry-pail they apparently smell less and you don't have to watch the drips as you transfer them to the machine, or worry about the bucket being knocked over if the lid isn't watertight. But they stay cleaner if you soak them and it's probably more antibacterial.

Js_Other_Half

foreversomeday wrote: »

You can soak them in water, water with napisan (or any number of alternatives, some eco friendly, some not so much,) or dry-pail them - you don't have to soak them at all.

If you dry-pail they apparently smell less and you don't have to watch the drips as you transfer them to the machine, or worry about the bucket being knocked over if the lid isn't watertight. But they stay cleaner if you soak them and it's probably more antibacterial.

I soaked for a few months. but it was only a matter of time before I managed to spill dirty water everywhere...lol. I then dry pailed, and did a pre wash with napisan which got everything clean. Now unless I have a dirty nappy (on cloth rather than on disposable liner) I don't both with pre wash.

flea72

honestly, you dont have to soak nappies, and for most brands its now not recommended as it can rot the fabrics. Dry pailing is the cleanest/easiest method, and washing at 40c is sufficient

Wearing cloth nappys, although bulky, will not affect your childs mobility. if that was the case anyone over 30yrs old, would be walking bow legged!

If you get the right nappy for you/your child, you will not have to change them more often than a disposable.

Personally i would never recommend a birth to potty pack. the inital layout is large, the system is usually a basic one, and different nappys suit different children at different times, and although they say they can fit a child til potty training, in theory it doesnt happen. some children are dry at 18m, some at 5yrs, but the same size nappy is supposed to fit both, i think not

Also birth to potty packs are boring. Cloth isnt just about helping the environment, its about your kids having a 'funky' backside too. why stick with plain white, when there are so many patterend/loud products on the market

As for what washing powder to use, its not really necessary to use any - that goes for all washing. Stains can easily be bleached out in the sun, but so what if your nappy has the odd stain, not being funny, but my OHs pants dont stay tighy whity long, but if no-one sees it, whats the big deal

Also to save on the poo getting to the nappy, use a liner, as that will then take the brunt of what is being thrown at it. Not the paper liners though, as it just goes straight through those, i would recommend fleece as its thicker and holds back most of the solid stuff, and if your quick at changing baby, the runny stuff too (TMI?)

As for recommending a nappy, i would say buy one or two of anything and everything you can afford. Try them out, see what you like, buy more of those, and sell on the ones you dont like/get on with

If you want an all in one system, then be prepared to buy double the amount of nappies you think you need, as they take so long to dry - not that a cloth nappy user needs an excuse to buy more, this thing is addictive lol

Stuffable are a midway choice, as they can be ready assembled to go, so great for a novice (take note, most men can dismantle an engine, but cannot assemble a nappy!), they are quick to dry, and can be used easily like a disposable

Then you have the basic shaped nappy. looks like a disposable made out of cloth, but isnt waterproof. So you need to add a waterproof outer (wrap). These can be bulky, but you need lots of inners and few of the waterproof outers, as you only need to change the inner absorbent part (unless the wrap has got covered in poo too)

then the last choice is the prefold/terry square - my personal choice. although the bulkiest nappy you can opt for, they are the cheapest and most versatile. But with this type of nappy, and with the basic shaped nappy, it doesnt matter how great the inner is, unless you get a decent wrap that works, then you will just have leaks

hth Flea

Sarahsaver

http://www.newtoclothdiapers.com/savemore.htm

absolutely LOADS of links to help you make your own nappies.

i have plenty of fleece mum gave me so i am going to try and make some covers :eek:

margaretclare

I am interested in this discussion and I am delighted that reusable nappies are coming back into their own. There have obviously been a lot of new ideas and new developments since I last used reusable nappies (early 1960s)! From memory, I used to use the kite shape with pins, with plastic pants on top. I used to soak the nappies in the Napisan which I'd previously used to sterilise bottles. Nowadays it would be easy-peasy with a modern washing-machine, not the kind of things that were available then.

Our local council has just brought out a new recycling and rubbish collection scheme, trying to reduce the amount of landfill use as far as possible, and in the explanatory leaflet they are also trying to promote the use of cloth nappies. They say: 'The UK throws away nearly 3 billion disposable nappies every year, that's 8 million a day. When these are buried in landfill sites they could take hundreds of years to rot....'

They quote the Real Nappy Campaign: https://www.realnappycampaign.com which might be worth a look.

LilMissEmmylou

you can get great 2nd hand ones on https://www.usednappies.co.uk

tbh i dont rate kushies - bambino mio (and any other prefolds for that matter) are ok if your on a budget, but in all honesty its cheaper to use terries and imo they have better containment.

personal faves are a shaped nappy with a motherease rikki wrap or pocket nappies once baby is on solids

I wash with ecover on a 40 most of the time, but a 60 once a week or so to get rid of any nasties. I tend to just line dry or put them on an airer in front of a radiator in winter. I dont pre soak nappies.

As gingham ribbon said you do have to change more often... but then again who really wants their baby sat in a wee wee filled gel nappy for 6 hours? Much nicer in a pretty cloth bum and changed every 3 hours or so (depending on how heavy a wetter and how well your nappy is boosted)

shirlgirl2004

I agree Kushies and Bambino Mio are rubbish. I work as a cloth nappy advisor and 99% of the time if people have had major problems with cloth and then given up its because they used Bambino Mio.

I recommend washing at 60 until baby is 3 months and then at 40. I only wash at 60 if DD has managed to coat the nappy IYKWIM. You only need 1/3 to 1/2 of your normal detergent but non bio is best for baby's skin. As for fleece irritating baby's botty well half of babies find it irritates and half find it better than paper liners so you really need to try it and see.

bylromarha

Was talking to a friend today who's pregnant and bought Bambino Mios for new baby.

i told her to take them back to the shop and get baby fitted at a Nappaccino when they're born.

She argued that they couldn't be that bad as they'd got so many awards from magazines and they wouldn't be in business if they were that bad.

I told her I don't know one person who's had a good experience with Bambinos...I had a terrible time myself before I switched to Motherease.

So has any one on here got on really well with Bambino Mios? Don't want her wasting a pile of money if I've just got reuseable friends with skinny legged babies!