Are cloth nappies really all they are cracked up to be?

happytails

We use cloth on DD successfully and will be using cloth on our 2nd baby due in december :j

There is a good article here - http://www.clothnappytree.com/info.php?article=6

They also have a fabulous forum (of which i am a frequent visitor) and a fab classifieds for great bargains :T - https://www.clothnappytree.com/forum
So even if you buy a new load of nappies, use them on all your kids you can still sell them on and recoup some of the costs

We have 2 or 3 nappy loads per week, we dry pail, rinse then wash at 40c with eco balls (no powder so no need to rinse after) and air dry. We have never had any major issues and we have dedicated night nappies as DD drinks ALOT before bed.

Wanted to point out (i may be repeating though as i skimmed through replies ) that if you by Eco disposables, unless you compost them (ie no nappy sack, no bin liner etc etc) they will take just as long to decompose as a normal disposable. And seeing as they havent been around for long enough, no one knows how long that will be. :eek: Makes me to think the disposables i once wore are still trying to decompose somewhere. Urgh!

Sarah x

Money_maker

I tried and failed with cloth nappies on DS1. DS2 went straight into disposables.

10 years or so later, I had worked for one of the reusable nappy companies and made up the special packs for local councils. I had also worked with the elderly - I often wonder why no one ever mentions how many environmentally unfriendly pads/nappies are used by the older generation. Each one must equate to at least 2 babies nappies.

DD was in disposables. Even as an environmentally aware family I felt no guilt and neither should anyone who chooses disposables over reusables.

bylromarha

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

I tried washables (actually terry squares) and then Cotton Bottoms. I got sick of not being able to get clothes to fit properly so I am afraid I went for disposables <hangs head in shame>

You hold your head high girl.

Who cares if you used disposables? Baby had a clean bottom, you didn't get into debt by your nappy choice. That's the important thing, not the type of nappy you used

Gingham_Ribbon

Our youngest used terry squares that had been passed down for the 5th time.

Can't do that with disposables! lol

He went into disposables when his persistent 'digestion problems' made cleaning them difficult, but I loved seeing a washing line full of clean, white nappies flapping in the breeze. Not so pleasant seeing the bin full of disposables.

lauren_1

Cloth nappies WERE cheaper until they became fashionable.

The is one nappy that can cost up to £18 each! and a basic like totbots or motherease would be around £7 each, you would need around 20 btp size minimum or 15 first size, 10 size 2 and 10 size 3 plus wraps if they are not all in one. (around 4 wraps)

If you bought them new now the savings wouldn't be that much as its a pricey outlay.

HOWEVER, if you are not too fussed about buying used ones then scour ebay (some slip though the net) local NCT sales and private ad's on nappy forums. I bought a huge set where only 5 had been used and the rest on pre-washed.

Its worth trying and you can mix nappy your baby too, i still use disposbles for long journeys.

fernliebee

lauren_1 wrote: »

Cloth nappies WERE cheaper until they became fashionable.

The is one nappy that can cost up to £18 each! and a basic like totbots or motherease would be around £7 each, you would need around 20 btp size minimum or 15 first size, 10 size 2 and 10 size 3 plus wraps if they are not all in one. (around 4 wraps)

If you bought them new now the savings wouldn't be that much as its a pricey outlay.

HOWEVER, if you are not too fussed about buying used ones then scour ebay (some slip though the net) local NCT sales and private ad's on nappy forums. I bought a huge set where only 5 had been used and the rest on pre-washed.

Its worth trying and you can mix nappy your baby too, i still use disposbles for long journeys.

I *think* would still be marginally cheaper to buy the £18 ones but not by much, the real saving would be if you were to use them again for a 2nd or 3rd child. Also not sure about the figures myself either, but has anyone needed 20 nappies? I have some onesize nappies but use them when DD's are a bit bigger as they are quite bulky, and I have 14 smaller motherease (all second hand) that has always been more than enough for me, but then again when they are tiny the nappies just go in with the clothes so are washed every day.

Ultimately it is a 'how long is a piece of string' question, as like anything you can spend as little or as much as you like. Yes there are some people where cost is not their motivator and they willingly spend huge amounts on nappies, but that doesn't mean cloth nappies aren't cheaper than using disposables. The simple fact is that even with all the most expensive costs factored in they are still marginally cheaper, but of course are way more effort and after all time is money. Like anything with parenting we shouldn't be feeling guilty or having to justify our choices. Like Bylmohara(sp?) said as long as our babies have clean bums whats the problem. It is still the norm to use disposables so whats to worry about. If cloth works for you, great, if not then don't sweat it!

bylromarha

£18 for 1 nappy? :eek:

I MUST get round to selling my used nappies - 30 Motherease onesize anyone?! :rotfl:

AbFab

Can someone please tell me which the less expensive brands of reusables are please, with links of where to buy, if possible! Or are you simply talking about the terry towelling ones that my mum used on me? Thanks!

Annoyingly, my council offer no cashback incentive. Rascals! But I am still planning on using reusables.

Glad to hear the EcoBalls do a good job on nappies, happytails, as that's what I currently use.

**kym**

We are using cloth with our DD (nearly 8 weeks old now). We looked at a lot of different types but are using bambino mio - flat nappies and covers. We bought second hand but unused nappies from ebay and total outlay inc. bucket, laundry bags, sanitiser, wetbag, etc has been in the region of £120. This is without cashback as my council do not offer an incentive scheme. What we have bought will last her until she is potty trained.

We are definitely saving a fortune by not using disposables even if you factor in the cost of washing (2 extra washes a week on 60 degrees and line/air drying - who the hell would IRON nappies?!). Also the cloth is so kind to our daughter's skin, we will be able to sell/pass them on when we're done, and every cloth nappy we put on her is one less in landfill.

My partner was very skeptical at first and would have just gone with disposables, but now we're 2 months in, he loves Megan's cloth-covered bum, and is a great advocate of cloth nappies! We are the only parents I know using cloth nappies, but now my childless friends have seen how easy cloth is these days, they have all said they will be using them themselves when the time comes. Of course, it all comes down to personal choice, but I for one cannot think of any downsides to using cloth.

Isksta

One thing no one has mentioned yet is , disposibles dont have a re sell value like clothe nappies do.

The £18 ones some one has mentioned might sound a bit much BUT when your done with it or just fancy a change you can sell it for something like £10-£15.

You dont have to spend so much on cloth nappies as people make out , iv probably only spent about £40 on nappies. I dont mean plain boring ones. Iv got a couple of weenotions kicking around and some very pretty wraps. Iv had some very pretty nappies come over the door step and iv sold some too. My stash is ALWAYS changing to match outfits.

Also you dont have to go out and by them all at once like nappy companies suggest , you can spend a couple of pounds once a week or something which is what i did.

Natural mamas and cloth nappy tree are pretty good for buying and selling.