Washable Nappies

AnnaV

I did with mine and will do with this new one due in May!

I used Tots Bots - you have a cloth nappy that is already cut and folded and can either get them with velcro or use Nappi Nippas which are really easy and mean there is less bulk - like a modern-day pin but without the worry of spiking your baby! You then have a waterproof wrap that goes over the top (you need less of these than the actual nappy as you can reuse until it gets poo on it!).

I used this site a lot http://www.twinkleontheweb.co.uk

I got a nappy bin in the bathroom and it never smelled, except when moving it to the washing machine as has already been said!

Also lots of councils (mine included) will give refund you some money when you buy them - I think I got £50 or £60. I must have saved a load too. Check on your council website.

Oh - also I used reusable wipes, much nicer and easier to clean bottoms with than the disposables, and you can just throw them in with your nappies. And I had a waterproof bag (most reusable nappy sites sell them) which I used when out of the house.

bexta

Hi, we use a mix of different cloth nappies, including Totsbots all in ones, itti bitti, and some preloved nappy nation and preloved bumgenius that arrived on Tuesday. I find the shaped ones easier for us than the terry squares if I'm honest - wriggle bum madam is usually trying to roll after the cat whilst I'm trying to hold her down and wrestle her into them.

http://www.thenappysite.co.uk/ is a great source if you're not against preloved.

We wash every 3 days or so, I just bung them in with her other stuff and it's always been fine. I think the environment agency was looking at 90 degree washes, tumble drying and also ironing them (seriously, why would you iron them?) so it did come out looking like the benefits of cloth weren't as good. Tbh, most companies state that a wash of 40 degrees is fine, and it's really no effort just to stick them in the washing machine. We didn't bother with a special 'nappy bucket' just bought a lidded bin from Wilkos for a couple of pounds, same thing, just more :money:.

alexlyne

We were given a pile of reusable nappies and liners, and used them for a bit when the wife was on maternity leave and they'd be in all day. But as time went on, and more and more time was spent out at baby groups and stuff where using disposables is easier, they became unused.

When we started using the reusables, I looked on the internet, and saw the cost argument (from the reusable brigade). However, the cost of disposable nappies was based on premium RRP nappies... i.e. 13-15p each. When you can get 74 for a fiver in asda (less than 7p), the cost is still higher, but not as much.

Get into a routine, and there's no problem with reusables.

annibee

babyboysmommy wrote: »

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.

Thats good to get some money back - my council didnt offer that last time which was a shame but I think we only paid 200 for the nappies&wraps and about 100 all in all on liners, and wash. probably pay 4 times as much on disposables. Plus they're miles cuter .

The bucket we used was just a plastic kitchen bin from some cheap shop cost about 2 quid but worked perfectly :cool:

annibee

I'll also add that I only used warm water and cotton wool for cleaning bum and my son has never had nappy rash!

londonlass001

Bugsaboo the link didn't work for me but is the report you quoted the one where they looked at the impact based on washing nappies at 90 deg c and ironing them? Not sure how many people launder nappies this way, firstly it would ruin quite a few nappies!

I think there are several reasons why people use reusables - I do primarily because of the moneysaving aspect, because of the chemical content in disposables and because I thought why not just give them a go.

I'm a first time mum and wanted to get as much for the baby as I could whilst I was pregnant and before my maternity pay reduced/stopped. I also hope to have another baby in the future so figured even more money-saving:). It is a bit tricky doing it this way as, of course, you don't know which nappies you and your baby will get on with but I bought a few different ones including sized nappies, birth to potty, muslins and pre-folds and then got some all-in-ones (like disposables), some pockets (you put the absorbent stuffing in a pocket in the nappy) and two parters (the ones where the nappy and wrap are seperate). I truly believe, like most things baby related, that it doesn't have to be expensive if you don't want it to be. There are several websites where you can buy and sell pre-loved nappies; some might have been used but often people buy nappies, wash them and never use them. I have also seen people giving stuff away free so even more money-saving. I would advise to stay away from the online nappy retailers, if you don't want to spend lots on gorgeous nappies cos they have been my downfall!!

As for the actual day-to-day reality of them, my baby is 3 months old and we have been using them almost from birth (he was too little for most of my stash). I do have the washing machine on every day (this includes doing all the family washing) and out of the 7 washes I do, 3/4 of them are nappies. We did have some leaks initially but more to do with my son's skinny legs than the quality of the nappy. I dry pail, so just put them in the nappy bin with nothing else added until they're washed. I do a cold rinse then wash on 60 with a tablespoon of bio powder. Then 1 or 2 rinses afterward to ensure the nappies are free from powder which can affect absorbency. None of my nappies have stained unless I have overfilled the machine, in which case I just rewash. Sunlight is also supposed to be great for stains, not tried this yet due to no sun. There are some great websites and boards out there full of lovely friendly people who are cloth nappy addicts (babycentre and cloth nappy tree) who are only too pleased to welcome a newbie!

Just to finally add after my megapost, I actually enjoy using these nappies but perhaps I'm weird or the novelty hasn't worn off yet!

building_with_lego

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

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

Are they money saving over disposables?

'Cause they're so cute!

bugsaboo wrote: »

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

This study is so much more useful than the 2006 one! Edited highlights: The environmental impacts of using shaped reusable nappies can be higher or lower
than using disposables, depending on how they are laundered. The report shows that,
in contrast to the use of disposable nappies, it is consumers’ behaviour after purchase
that determines most of the impacts from reusable nappies.
Cloth nappy users can reduce their environmental impacts by:
• Line drying outside whenever possible.
• Tumble drying as little as possible.
• When replacing appliances, choosing more energy efficient appliances (A+
rated machines are preferred).
• Not washing above 60°C.
• Washing fuller loads.
• Reusing nappies on other children.

For a first- timer I'd recommend talking to someone like Miranda at http://www.twinkleontheweb.co.uk/- she's great! If I were doing it all again I'd use terries with these wraps: http://www.husha-byebaby.com/gnappies/182/brandproducts.aspx I used them with our prefolds and they're so lovely, plus you can buy plenty of snap- in liners so need fewer wrap outers. The joy of terries is that they're so versatile- you can fold them into something like the little G, or wrap them around babe and cover with a Totswrap or Airflow.

Enjoy!

babyboysmommy

A big thank you to everyone who has replied. I am going to do it! With the council giving me £30 off a £45 spend I really don't have much to lose by trying. I will go with the flat old style terry squares as they are the cheapest. I have the time so I really should do this for a fair few reasons

do_it_today!

QUOTE=babyboysmommy;40661672]A big thank you to everyone who has replied. I am going to do it! With the council giving me £30 off a £45 spend I really don't have much to lose by trying. I will go with the flat old style terry squares as they are the cheapest. I have the time so I really should do this for a fair few reasons [/QUOTE]


Hi :hello:
I used reusables on ds1 and will do on ds2i got 2nd hand tot bots and motherease nappies from freecycle or nearly new sales mostly unused or in really good condtion. i had a 2 bucket system 1x wee 1x poo soak with nappisan. buckets had net bags so not too much hand c6ntact :T g6od luck

Rockinbikergal

I'm going to be using reusables as well BBM so thanks for starting this thread