Washables or disposables

Puzzledbubbles

thanks for all the advice,

I really dont know what to do, good job we have until September to decide

I said from the start that i wanted to use washables, but now im not sure the benefits are there to outweigh the negatives.

I guess its back to thinking about it some more

lauren_1

Puzzledbubbles wrote: »

Thanks for the repsonses guys.

We worked out our figures based on the following:

20 washable inners
6 x size 1 outers
6 x size 2 outers
100 x paper liners (which we cannot flush becuase of the victorian drainage out side the house)
£220 online

We were in Asda yesterday and their Size 3 nappies are £10 for 120 - working on 5 nappies a day that is just short of a month - the size 4 and 5 pampers were on offer for £14 for a box of 148 therfore another months usage for £14.

Working on the general Asda ones (which i have seen hold more than Pampers on children in the nursery where i worked an i noticed no difference between any general brand other than pretty pictures and things) we could get 24 months usage for £240 based on me being able to keep little one nappy free at least part of the day and on them being an average wetter.

We already have enough size 1's to last around 3 weeks and size 2's to last around a fortnight based upon an average of 8- 10 nappies a day so and the size 2 nappies seem to be more in a pack than size 3's so cheaper again.

We know that this is all based on generalisation and that this is purely hypathetical but as we discussed last night (OH and I) we have said tha the cost benefits for only one child seem negligable, the main difference would be our personal feelings on the environmental impact and upon our quality of life as a family which comes back down to it being my decision, aaaaaa Lol

What make are these cloth nappies?

There are so many kits on ebay that were bought with good intentions but never used, you can get a whole kit for about £120 max.

little_angel_2

Nicki wrote: »

Not sure how to break this to you gently but even using disposables, you will have all kinds of unsavoury things in your washing machine for the next 3 years at least

When you read in magazines or on websites about explosive poos, it means that the poo squirts out of the disposable nappy, up baby's back and down their legs, covering their vest and trousers in poo, and probably also your clothes too if you are holding them at the time, or their bedding if in their cot. It happens much more frequently in disposables than washables as washables have an outer layer to keep it in. And once toilet training starts, there will be all kinds of unmentionables on pants and trousers until it's cracked. And that's before we start on vomit!

A normal wash at 60 with a good powder is fine to get rid of it, and your machine will come to no harm at all, as everything will be flushed down the pipes with the waste water. If you're really squeamish, you can use a product called nappisan to get the washing extra clean. But unless you plan to bin all clothes when this happens (and it happens a lot in the first 6 months particularly), poo in your machine comes as part and parcel of being a mum!

you're not breaking anything to me, i'm well aware this happens, i just don't like the idea of washables for that reason and all the other reasons i mentioned.

Nicki

little_angel wrote: »

you're not breaking anything to me, i'm well aware this happens, i just don't like the idea of washables for that reason and all the other reasons i mentioned.

If they aren't for you that's fine, but if anyone else is considering them, and is swayed by the poo in the machine issue, just to say that using a liner there is not a lot of poo on the nappy to be washed anyway, and much less than in the explosive poo situation I mentioned.

Even with really loose nappies, the liner gets the worst of it, and is flushed away like loo roll. About every 3 or 4th time with us (and my DS has digestive problems so is much more loose than most babies) we get a little spilling over on the edge of the nappy, which rinses off easily when held under the toilet flush, then the nappy goes into the nappy bin and is washed as normal. It really isn't anything worth taking into consideration when deciding which to use as there is so little if any difference with using disposables, unless you plan to throw away any soiled clothes without trying to wash them.

snugglepet20

The thing that alwasy put me off washables was the initial cost. It is a lot of money to waste if you don't get on with them verses the cost of a pack of disposables. Ultimately I decided I hate laundry too much to be washing anything extra! I do agree with the point about washing yucky clothes though with little kids you are constantly washing assorted poo, wee, sick and mud out of things, there's no escape .

Puzzledbubbles

thanks all, as always

I cant seem to find any sets on ebay - i might be being thick though, but the majority of items i can see seem to be the ones being sold by shops and things and work out way more expensive, the kit that we were looking at is one that OH found online at a good price for the type we like - tots bots.

bylromarha

If you do decide to go for it, don't buy any sets before bubs gets here. All babies are different shapes and, just like disposables, what works for one is rubbish on another. Buy a couple on ebay to see how the fitting works on them.

My skinny legged boy didn't get on well with the first brand I bought, but after a fitting at a nappiccino I found a brand, Motherease, which were brilliant for him and the wraps I used, Natures Babies, were adjustable round the legs when chubby legged girl came along 22 months later.

gizmodo_2

My DD is 7 weeks old and we've been using washables for a week now. The main reason we started so late was because I've opted for birth to potty ones and they've only just started to fit. So far I'm not finding the washing a chore.

pinkclouds

snugglepet20 wrote: »

The thing that alwasy put me off washables was the initial cost. It is a lot of money to waste if you don't get on with them verses the cost of a pack of disposables.

I would certainly deter anyone from reusable nappies because of the sheer hassle involved. However, it would be sad if the only deterrent was cost.

Could I please remind anyone interested in washable nappies that the various regional councils run nappy schemes to promote the use of reusable/real nappies? Typically it is a cheap/free trial kit or some cashback. This should lower the initial costs for the super keen.

If you search on the Real Nappy website, you should be able to find your local council scheme: http://www.goreal.org.uk/finder

Alternatively, just google for your local council name and "real nappies".

aliwali

Just to add that the nursery my ds went to changed to washable nappies so you won't necessarily need to do a combination as one poster said. Also most nurseries will use your washables if you ask.

My dd is 1 this week and I had her in washables early and then stopped as I didn't like the size 2 nappies I bought. Just bought a kit on ebay of the ones I used on ds but sold so very excited to start again.