thread for reusable/cloth nappy users

helzbelz_57

ok, after doing a wee search i cant find a thread specifically for reusable or cloth/terry nappy users. and as necessity is the mother of all invention i thought it might be an idea to start one (because i need to ask a question and thought this might be as good a place as any)

ok , should i do an introduction to kick things off?

i have 1 baby in reusables at the minute. he is 10 months and have been using them for about 7 months now (so anyone who says they dont because they already use diposables, think again).

we use a combination of terrys, prefolds and the velcro type ones that i cant remember the name for (lollipop, little lamb, bumgenius etc)

i find the prefolds and the terries better at night with a motherease rikki wrap, never have had any leaks with these so far.

and the lollipops etc are better for during the day especially for the childminder as i wouldn't expect her to learn all the different folds for terries, not the way our son wriggles anyway!!

oh yes, all my nappies were bought second hand from ebay so my total outlay was around £100 and i expect them to last him to potty training and hopefully any other LOs that come along.

so does anyone want to join me and hopefully we can share advice and tips on what/where/how and why to use reusables?

hj2

Yes please. My son is 18 months old, we're just starting toilet training now but still in nappies of a night. We have used reusable nappies since he was about 6 weeks old. During the day we used to use velcro ones and of a night we either used shaped bamboo (when tired or out late) or bamboo squares because they're great. We also use motherease rikki wraps and haven't had any problems.
I think I need to change the fold on my squares though because they seem to be getting a bit small for him now, so if anyone can give me a tip that would be great.
I have also tried most types of reusable nappy at the beginning (seems like a long time ago) through a local council scheme, but willing to help if I can.

helzbelz_57

ooh i second that about finding a new fold for the squares because our boy must have a big bum. theyre just reaching all the way round his legs now.

there was a site that showed lots of different folds, i'll try and find a link.

i wonder should we move this thread to moneysaving in families?

helzbelz_57

oops, i cant do links but if you google folds for terry nappies the first site that comes up is quite good for diagrams.

dawn_rose

i used motherease birth to potty pack with my 2 and ill be using it for my third in june. i found for extra boosters rather than pay over the odds for their unique ones get cheap white face flannels and fold in two to boost em also much more absorbant. fleece liners are also good and it means nowt goes to lanfill or any liners getting flushed. cost me about 300 brand new but its gonna be used on a third child so well had my moneys worth.

mm123

hi i too am a big fan of reusable nappies, I bought a complete set from Tommiee Tippie - Cotton Bottom for about 150 quid and have added to it over the years with new outer wraps. I am now using the nappies on my second child. I too used boster pads at night time and liners from boots - disposable ones. I used resuable pull up pants with the wee one when he was toliet training. I must have saved a fortune over the years - i find that a good hang out on the line in the sun keeps them white....

mm123

Oh should have said that Tommiee Tippie no longer sell reusable nappies - were not selling enough of them - need to convert more people....

Margaret54

hi i am 56 now but was a big fan of the terry towelling nappies which i used for all 6 of our children.In those days you could steep the used ones in a big plastic bucket with lid in a solution of a product called Napisan and then rinse through and pop into the twintub washing machine. i loved to see them all blowing in the wind every day lovely and white, when the weather was dry of course.
]They dried indoors on a clothes horse in the wet weather. I don't know how much disposables cost today, but wouldn't it be better to use the terry ones and save a lot of money, plus better for the environment? No matter how busy we may be I would do the same again. Margaret

Cardew

Well having experience of both re-usable and disposable, it is a no contest in favour of the latter as far as I(or rather my wife is concerned)

I have seen a few cost comparisons of 'whole life' costs between the two methods. The trouble is that the proponents and opponents of each method seem to exagerate in favour of their chosen path.

e.g. The re-usable brigade used them for all 12 of their children!!! and ignored washing/drying/liner costs. In addition they changed nappies 20 times a day and took the cost of disposable nappies from Harrod's catalogue instead of Asda.

I wonder what the 'real world' saving will be for the average child; and whatever extra it costs in terms of finance and 'saving the planet' - disposables are worth it!!!

Ste_C

Worth it? To who? Disposables should be taxed. They take up a ridiculous amount of landfill space.

If reusables are inconvenient and expensive to use then tough: inconvenience and expense are just part of bringing a child into the world.

Cardew

Ste_C wrote: »

Worth it? To who? Disposables should be taxed. They take up a ridiculous amount of landfill space.

If reusables are inconvenient and expensive to use then tough: inconvenience and expense are just part of bringing a child into the world.

To who? myself and wife and presumably the millions of others 'selfish' people who want to reduce their workload(possibly to spend more quality time with the children!)

Thank you for informing me that "inconvenience and expense are just part of bringing a child into the world" I had no idea that was the case.;)