thread for reusable/cloth nappy users

sharonr

Hi there. Interesting thread. I have a 4 yr old and one on the way. I used Kushies Ultra all in one as I didn't want the hassle of folding nappies, getting the nappy on and slipping on an outer as I was really daunted about how long this would take with my first. They were great, but took a long time to dry and I used them until she was one when the outer top edge started to crack. I also used Moltex Oko eco nappies at night, when away from home, or if we were ill, like when we had the flu one time and could not face anything more physical than absolutely necessary. I had 15-20 and used to wash 2-3 times per week, so wasn't much hassle.

This time around, however, I will definitely use something with a separate outer, so am looking at what's out there now as it's completely changed since I last was in the market!

I use reusables bacause I can't bear the thought of landfill and was sick of seeing dirty nappy bags falling out of bins, stuffed in hedges, etc. It seems quite a few parents don't care where they dispose of their waste!

lallysmum

I have an extremely lazy (aka slow to potty train) 3.5 year old and have used cloth exclusively since birth with him.

I'm afraid I don't understand the extra "work" involved in using cloth.. I have a separate nappy bucket and when it's full I put them in the machine, I think I do an extra two loads of laundry a week. 5 mins putting them out on the line/over an airer, and 5 mins putting them together when they are dry - I usually do it in front of the tv.

I started using them as I didn't like the thought of people 200 years from now being able to see what my son had had for lunch, landfill issues and the yucky yuckness of having soiled nappies hanging around in my kitchen/bathroom bins. (vomit smilie)

I went a bit mad so spent WAY over the £250 I was aiming to spend, by buying fancy nappies from America and expensive homemade ones, but it is possible to do it on a shoestring. Cloth nappies (the good ones) tend to hold their value so can also be resold/bought preloved on a few nappy forums (https://www.clothnappytree.co.uk)

The best I found were:

Little Lamb - fantastic customer service and real bargains for a work horse nappy for a smaller baby. The wrap wasn't the best though, so used;

Motherease wraps: Great fit and great waterproofness.

Bumgenius: Outstanding pocket nappies. Comes with 2 microfibre inserts, once your lo starts heavier wetting it's best to get a hemp/bamboo insert to pop behind the mf one. (Still use these three years on, and nursery will use them as well as they are basically like a disposable, no wrap. be quick getting them though as they have been phased out by their makers for a new version.

I prefer nappies that need wraps, hate one life and all the ones you can buy in the shops, but there are some excellent online retailers (https://www.thenappygarden.co.uk) that offer try before you buy services.

The last link also makes woollen nappy covers, trousers, shorts etc, which sound ridiculous but are actually wonderful as covers, completely waterproof and somehow nice and cool in the hot weather. My son is currently wearing a pair of hand knitted woolly shorts over a fancy American Goodmamas nappy.

I'd say try it to anyone who is even considering using cloth.. I would never use a sposie now.

flugellover

hi all - interesting thread!

Having done 5 weeks on disposable nappies, we have just moved onto resuables with our new twin girls!

I am using lollipop popngrow nappies in the day - which seem to be good so far, but the lollipop bamboo nappies overnight (with the outer cover) are making us a bit concerned - they seem to get absolutely sodden wet! Although - yes that is the principle that they absorb the moisture - is this not uncomfortable for the baby? We are using a home made fleece liner to try and wick away the moisture from the skin - but that is just the strip down the middle....

any thoughts?

mummy2mygirls

We now use cloth nappies for my 2 little ones and for me i think it really is saving me money! I have brought a lot of different ones to try but i use mainly pocket nappies at the moe and they are so easy to use! I do have to wash a few times a week as i have two in nappies but it doesnt take long to shove them in the washer and then hang them up in the morning. When dry i make them all up ready to use and then its just like a disposible to put on - DH was really against the whole cloth nappies but he is fine using them now (wouldnt trust him to make them up though lol) Also i found a few that just havent worked for us (itti's) so i sold them on and made a £1 less on each nappy - so they have a good resale price.
I also brought some pocket nappies from ebay (from china) which were about £3.50 a nappy including postage. They are birth to potty ones so will fit right till i potty train - so will make there money back sooo quick!! They fit both my DS who is 3 mths and DD who is 16mth.
I love using cloth nappies and wouldnt want to go back to disposibles any time soon.
I also use bamboo little lamb boosters in my nappies to help them last longer without any leaks. We use a fleece liner to help get the wee away from their skin nice and quick so no sore bums.
I would say anyone that is interested to look into it and really consider using cloth nappies. They will save you money, less nappies going into landfils and the added bonus of they look so much nicer then a disposible

flugellover

Hi again all - reusable nappies are going really well with our twin girls. The girls are now 10 weeks old and we have been using the reusables for about 6 weeks now, and have only gone back to disposables one weekend when we were visiting the inlaws and were spending hours in the car

My question this time is about the washing powder. We have been advised to use a non bio detergent with no dyes, enzymes, perfumes, brighteners or optical enhancers, as these can affect the absorbancy of the nappy. When we first looked the only one we could find that fitted the bill was Ecover. All the others seem to have these properties/chemicals to <5 %. Are there any cheaper alternatives to Ecover or are we being over cautious to use it? Any thoughts?

Thanks

mummy2mygirls

I only have heard its fine to use any non bio apart from fairy as it contains some softener. i just use a table spoon full of tesco non bio. if you use to much of any washing powder you can get a build up. I had to do a strip on my nappies (washed on 60 with tablespoon of washing up liq - then keep rinsing till no bublles are left) as i was using to much to start with but now ive lowered the amount its fine. hth

knithappens

ooh i got given a lovely little booklet with different fold etc, and also differnet types of nappy etc, really helpful, dong PM me yet, but i will try to find it and photocpy the pages on folds if anyone needs them, wil get back to you in the am

flugellover

Thanks Mummy2mygirls....I think I am being over cautious and will probably switch to a basic non-bio, just thought I would start doing things to the letter and then start seeing what I could get away with :cool:

andi2

I have 3 in cloth nappies, due number 4 in October. Have never used disposables (apart from the week number 2 spent in SCBU). I use Motherease Onesize (Toddlease on my 4 year old as she's quite big for her age).

Trying to get my 2 year old to potty train at the moment lol - we'll get there in the end!!

helzbelz_57

wrt washing powder. i just use a small amount of non bio. i have a friend who uses clothand washed hers with soap nuts and has no problems. it is what i intend to do once this box of powder is done.

i had a bit of a break from reusables there. my partner left and things got a bit on top of me, the washing built up a bit so i decided to buy a packet of disposables to give myself as much of a break as possible to try and catch up with everything. now back onto resuables and happy to be doing it but glad that disposables were there when i needed the break in washing.