Washable Nappies

babyboysmommy

Does anyone use washable nappies? I used disposable ones for DS but am thinking about washable ones this time. I know nothing about them, where do you start? I am worried about paying out a lot of money initially only to find out disposables work better for us. Any/all advice welcome.

Many thanks.

galvanizersbaby

babyboysmommy wrote: »

Does anyone use washable nappies? I used disposable ones for DS but am thinking about washable ones this time. I know nothing about them, where do you start? I am worried about paying out a lot of money initially only to find out disposables work better for us. Any/all advice welcome.

Many thanks.

I am in the same boat BBM

Was wondering other than the obvious benefit to the environment why the washables are popular?

Are they money saving over disposables?

Me too any advice

Mar10_W

You can save up to £700 a year using Terry/cloth Nappies. So yes, you will save money and help the enviroment in doing so. Its a question of paying more for convenience...or less for inconvenience! Avoid if you dislike bad smells!

elf06

I used 'real' nappies with DS who is now 4. I found them great. I did use disposables for nursery (started using real ones there but towards the end of nappies I changed to disposables) and when away but when at home/grandparents etc I used bamboo nappies as they are supposed to be more absorbant. There is a huge range out there but I eventually decided on shaped bamboo nappies and used a nappy gripper and then the waterproof pants. Will be happy to answer any other questions if needed

bugsaboo

Mar10_W wrote: »

Avoid if you dislike bad smells!

I used washables with both mine and they don't smell too much as long as you wash every other day, plus the smell is only really when you put in the machine. The disposables are worse when they've been in the bin a while in my opinion, bleurgh.

Reasons I used them:

1) Cheaper
2) They don't smell so chemically - I hate the smell of disposables even when clean
3) I really hated the thought of disposables in landfill for hundreds of years
4) If they fit well they don't leak as easily as disposables

Cons to using them:

1) More washing
2) More explanation of how to use to nursery/childminders (although every child care I've used has been very happy to use them)
3) Sightly more inconvenient - TBH I found this more from the washing aspect than the changing aspect, I don't think theres much of a difference between changing a disposable and a reusable.

The environment agency did a study a couple of years ago and decided that both were equally environmentally costly - http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO0808BOIR-e-e.pdf, but it was based on carbon footprint only. I personally think that the arguments for nappies going to landfill and the chemicals used in nappies are important too which is why I use reusables.

Hope this helps

babyboysmommy

Thank you. I'm thinking of using the old style terry squares as they are by far the cheapest option. I don't mind folding them. What would I need? How many squares etc? I'd plan to wash every other day.

babyboysmommy

Just to add I'm a SAHM so I don't have to worry about nursery's etc. The grandparents are very used to the old terry nappies & the only other person who baby-sits for us has used them in the past as well so I really have no excuse not to use them

bugsaboo

I used terries for both of mine, I had 24 (which was more than enough), then nappy nippas and 3 or 4 wraps - I used the motherease rikki wraps, they were my favourite ones. Also some disposable liners that you chuck down the loo with any solids when you change. You can get the wraps and liners in Waitrose, and I think you can get nappy nippas in boots.
Bucket with a lid to keep dirty nappies in - no need to soak them. And some napisan to put in the wash with the nappies.
See if you can check out some of the terries, you want nice absorbent ones, I thought the boots/ mothercare own seemed a bit threadbare.

annibee

Hello I used bambino mios with ds1 and will be reusing them with ds2 who is due in march lol they were fine although one thing I picked up was they are a lot bigger than dispoasable so you may find you need to put baby in bigger clothes.

I found them fine for being out and about too just took a nappy bag with me and put the old one in there new one on then it went into the wash when I get home.

Never found a problem with the smell tbh We had a plastic bin filled with water and nappy cleanser, laundry bag in there and popped the nappies in there and washed daily or bi daily depending how many.

had them all made up in their covers so they were good to go so not much of an inconvenience either in fact as easy as disposable.

Used disposables for first week or two when your getting to grips with everything and baby is passing through the tar poo! then moved onto the mios which was fine.
Used till about 18 months I think but you can use them longer.

they save a lot of money, thats why I went for them.

hth

bugsaboo

These ones are good

http://www.borndirect.com/P295/Greenbaby/Terry_squares_

and currently on sale

babyboysmommy

Thank everyone. My council offer you £30 refund if you spend £45 on washable nappy items including nappies, bucket, liners, wraps etc. It would make them a very cheap option. I do have a few packs of newborn nappies that were were given so their first 2-3 weeks are taken care of but the more I think about it the more washables in the long term make sense.