Disposable versus washable

cyclura

we are 24/7 cloth nappy users in this house. My little girl has prefolds and wraps and it has worked out cheaper for us. I spent very little initially as I purchased second hand from http://www.usednappies.co.uk/ and I just add the nappies to a wash and strip them every now and again. I do not soak them in a wet bucket before they go in either but I do use liners. I could not afford to go disposable tbh with the amount of times she would need to be changed.

angelpye

Thanks emmwri and cyclura. It just so hard to make a decision on it - I suppose its because I have time. I went buggy window shopping yesterday and I couldn't believe all the types on offer - and some of the prices!

I am more keen than ever to try washables - my sister thinks its disgusting! Lol! She told me so at the weekend. And washable wipes almost caused her to faint! "All that poo in your washing machine...you should think how that might effect your elder daughter...." Did make me chuckle!

ktpie

angelpye wrote: »

I am more keen than ever to try washables - my sister thinks its disgusting! Lol! She told me so at the weekend. And washable wipes almost caused her to faint! "All that poo in your washing machine...you should think how that might effect your elder daughter...." Did make me chuckle!

I've had loads of people who think I'm mad, personally I would rather the poo was washed away in the washing machine than sat in my wheely bin festering for 2 weeks. The times we have had him in disposables the build up of horrible stinky nappies has been awful. Never had a problem with poo in the washing machine, it tends to have a lot of hot soapy water swishing about in it!

How did you get on with finding fair trade nappies? Mine are mostly cotton and I'm fairly sure not fair trade. I'd be interested to see what you can find.

I got my pushchair in a kiddicare sale, it had 55% off and a free pram attachment (that should have been £100) as it was last years model!

angelpye

Hi ktpie- dont they make you chuckle?!

I have found fairtrade cotton terries online from a company in Wales www.babipur.co.uk - I spoke to them yesterday and they said everything they stock is to fairtrade standard. I need to keep looking though for shaped fairtrade. What type do you use? All the site links I have found so far don't seem to work?
Quite a few people seem to have got a bargain from kiddicare - must keep an eye or two on the site. Gosh, this money saving in pregnancy could be a full time job - having the baby here should be breeze!

Doh just had another look at the site and they sell shaped nappies too!

DianaMattos

Hi Anglepye,

I use reusables with my 10 month old for the most part, and disposables when we are out so I don't end up carry nasty nappies around in a bag!

We used newborn disposables for the first week, and then never looked back. Our nappies (littlelamb) are shaped like disposables, and have an outer wrap. My MIL bought us the nappies, 20 size 1 and 20 size 2 with 10 wraps for each size. Total cost was about £200, but she was happy to buy them as they would last (doesn't see the point in buying clothes or toys for her granddaughter as she will grow out of them too quickly).

The worst nappy explosions have always always happened in a disposable, the resuables contain everything, whereas in our experience it has been the disposables that leak.

As for washing, we put the nappies in a bucket and do a wash each evening using 1 tablet on 60 degrees. They dry overnight on the airer and are ready for the next day.

It is just so very very easy and no smells either. The bucket contains all the smells.

I am planning to use them for No2 and any other subsequent children. The cost saving really comes into its own when you use the nappies for multiple children!

All the best with your pregnancy and birth etc.:j

Di

angelpye

DianaMattos wrote: »

Hi Anglepye,

I am planning to use them for No2 and any other subsequent children. The cost saving really comes into its own when you use the nappies for multiple children!

Di

I would love to think that we will use these for more children, but one step at a time - my other half will panic if I start talking mulitple!!! Lol!

ktpie

Angelpye - A lot of mine are junior joy which I am sure aren't fairtrade.

Had a quick look at that website and I've heard of bumgenius before, not used them so I don't know how good they are.

Kiddicare are usually pretty good, they are on the cashback sites as well so even cheaper.

angelpye

ktpie wrote: »

Angelpye - A lot of mine are junior joy which I am sure aren't fairtrade.

Had a quick look at that website and I've heard of bumgenius before, not used them so I don't know how good they are.

Kiddicare are usually pretty good, they are on the cashback sites as well so even cheaper.

I have heard great things about junior joy - are yours the terry ones? I am in two minds about shaped or flat - flat are so much cheaper and look like they can be folded to fit perfectly whereas I hear/read mixed views on the shaped.

Oh, and i love cashback - the buggy I realistically dream of is a jane shalom with the matrix cup car seat (goes completely flat so absolutley safe to use for long car journeys and in place of a carry cot). It's pricey but an off roader and with cash back could be even more enticing! Although apparently mothercare give 10% discounts, price match and are known for good replacement policy. Not sure they do the combined set I am after though.

BTW - I managed to pick up two packs of degradable liners today for 50p each! Yohoo! I do love a bargain :T

radiohelen

I'm not sure why you are set on fairtrade? I mean it's a great idea but don't feel guilty if you buy stuff that's not fairtrade.

It's overwhelming how much info gets thrown at you when you are pregnant but let me tell you. When you are elbow deep in s*&^ you will not care if your nappies were woven by pygmies from biodegradable yak hair washed in fairy pee. All you want is for the nappies to contain it all. You are doing a fab thing getting reusables - it's even more fab if you can find fairtrade ones. Don't worry if you can't. It took me months to buy some second hand on auction sites, mostly because I'm rubbish at it, but also because there are hoards of women with OCD buying second hand nappies online. My mum got me a motherease kit and I could have kissed her. She ordered it, it arrived the next day.

Your council will tell you if they offer a cash incentive to turn to reusables (mine only offered a try before you buy bucket of 20 nappies for a two week loan :mad:).

Shop around for your pram. We got our system for half the list price cos it was last year's colours. We also got cashback through quidco.

Ask people around you for stuff too. It's amazing what people have in their lofts. I got a cot, a moses basket, bedding, lots of clothes and toys.

angelpye

Hi radiohelen, thanks for the post.

I am keen on fairtrade as we already buy quite alot of fairtrade products and cotton picking is an awful job in the third world. Obviously not everything we buy is fairtrade as often its not possible to balance it with what you need to purchase or its out of our price range - but where we can we will. I have looked at the second hand nappies auction site but like you said its going to be long haul to be successful for what you want. I am thinking i will pick up the wraps from there and the nappies from babipur - I am also thinking I will use muslins first then terries.
My council give you two sets of nappies, one just prior to the due date of two extra small nappies and two small nappies with a wrap for each then another set just after the birth of two large and two one size. Not bad compared to some - although they try to say its half of what you need?!!!!
I have been lucky enough to get moses basket (will purchase new mattress), bath, blankets, cardigans and possibly a cot given to me - some family and some freecycle. My partner's parents are also purchasing the bouncer and I know we will get plenty of gifts so not going crazy on the clothes shopping - so far just a few purchases in the sales. The buggy and car seat are what I am really looking at as my only big brand new purchase - more of treat to me than a necessity I think but a girl has to have some vices!!
Where did you get your pram in the end? Half price is amazing! Best I have found so far is £55 off the listed price and I am excited at that!