Saving money on nappies

Eva1

The biggest way to save money with nappies is to use cotton washable ones rather than disposables.  

Washables save on average £600 per child.

Modern ones are either velcro or popper fastening and have breathable waterproof covers so are just as convenient to use as disposables.  Pins are a thing of the distant past. You can also buy flushable liners so that they are much easier to deal with.  

They are washable at 60 degrees and do not need any special attention - except a prewash cycle - it is the same as washing any other item of cotton clothing.

There is also the feel good factor of knowing that you are not contributing to an ever growing landfill site somewhere and that your baby only has cotton next to it's skin and not plastics or chemicals.

I am involved in a shop and internet business that sells amongt other things a wide range of modern cotton nappies and you can find out more here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Referrers;action=display;num=1076613529

System

Save even more money by getting fleece nappy liners which wash at 60 like all the rest of it with no special treatment (after a good rinse in the loo). They last the lifetime of the nappies and you can economise even more by getting the fleece material from a market and cutting to size yourself - this can save half again on the cost of getting liners from a nappy trader. Remember to make sure the fleece is safe for washing at 60 and get a reasonable quality one. Cheap stuff does pack up after a couple of months and go hard and bobbly.

System

;D

I'm so glad we're in agreement on this I use cloth, it's great, no hassle, and soooo much cheaper...come on everyone, give it a go!

PhiL_P_3

For loads of useful and unbiased info on re-usable nappies check out:-

http://www.theclothresource.co.uk

Should point out that it's run by my wife, but doesn't sell anything and is non-profit (dammit!)  :)

Oh and you can see my special little guy on the front page

susieb

HI
Well I made my own from old towels and some old fleece and they work really well too. Get a decent wrap and your away
Sue

System

hi from a completely new user, I have gotta point out that of course washables are even more cost effective when they get used for subsequent babies and then, can be sold on so reducing the cost on resources too. Second time around I don't need to soak or buy degradable liners, and found the best bleach is sunshine! How cheap is that?

System

;D I love my nappies, even my husband is a convert!!
The cloth resorce is a fab site, and my fav. nappies are Minkis Nappiesbyminki.co.uk
Another tip is to check your local council, some do free starter kits, or even cashback on nappy purchases. Martin might feel like finding out which locality does what .

Tricky_Ricky

::)
We have used washables on our 18mth old since birth and even take them on holiday! They are so easy to use and no hassle to wash once you get in the routine. It took me 3 weeks to really get used to them initially but they are no different than dispos to put on. I worked out that we have spent £200 in total which includes wraps, prefolds, biodegradable liners (which you can wash at 40 deg several times if they are only wet), and tea tree oil for soaking. The average cost of a pack of nappies is about £5 so that's the equivilent of 40 packs which would probably last about 9 months (1 pack a week??). And as someone else mentioned, you have them then for the next one and the next one.......

System

I know that disposable nappies are a financial rip off,but I can tell you definitively, based on 17 years experience as a consultant dermatologist that the risk of nappy rash is much much greater with towelling nappies than with disposables, and that anyone who has ever seen a baby screaming in pain through a severe nappy rash would never use them again.
Disposables have solved what used to be a common and very distressing problem

Sorry to be negative, but I am afraid that it is true.
By the way disposables are much cheaper in the French hypermarkets, so next time you are on a booze cruise, buy some padding to stop the bottles rattling

System

Washsables do not cause nappy rash - my baby has severe eczema and had the worst nappy rash you have ever seen but disposables did not help (the doctor confirmed this). We now have the rash under control and always use washables. You have to change baby more often and use a liner.
Disposables contain chemicals that are absorbed into baby's skin. They then sit around on landfill sites for hundreds of years infecting the environment around them - disgusting.
We got our nappies, wraps and bucket free from the council as part of a trial and now use them on our second - bargain!
Cheaper and better for the environment, what more can you ask for?!!

tomek_2

I live in Suffolk, where the council is trying to encourage people to use washable nappies and they will refund £30 of set up !!!

Check with your local council, or suggest to their environmental department to start up a similar scheme.