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Disposable or reusable nappies - Which is cheaper??
Comments
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How things come full circle! When my eldest was born, 21 years ago, I was the only Mum at the clinic using washables (real terry squares), and the health vistor commented on it every visit in a way that was almost ridiculing me. Not like me to be at the forefront of things at all.0
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rainbowrisin wrote:I'll buck the trend here - I started my eldest littlie on re-usables and they were a complete nightmare from start of finish TBH. They leaked, the washing was a complete nightmare - I went down the hand washing white vinegar and sunshine route, which was fine until February. My hands ended up shredded, I was up all night changing leaking nappies and I hated the nappy bucket in the corner of the kitchen.
At 10 months eldest littlie had the most revolting bout of gastro entritis which took (literally) weeks to clear up. After THREE weeks of hand washing the most disgusting nappies in Christendom I cracked and bought disposables - it was the best thing I ever did w.r.t the whole nappy issue. They didn't leak, they were easy to put on, they didn't need soaking, washing, drying, folding or other messing about with and best of all they were disposable - into the bin and out, out, out. No more heaving over the latest offering as I flushed the toilet over it or used the showerhead to get the worst out (sorry TMI I know, but that's how it was). I would never, ever go back to re-usuables.
I remain fairly neutral about which method is best ecologically - if purse and conscience permit you can get disposables which break down completely, so no landfill. I am ecologically conscious, and in some ways it grieved me to admit "failure" with the re-usables, but they were horrific in my experience and I would never recommend them.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
now onder they were horrific if you were soaking them, hand washing etc, did you have a moment of madness when you chose that route or what?
I also used to be a cloth nappy agent, My main recommendations would be wee wonder pockets (thenaturalbabyresource.co.uk sell great microfibre inserts) or tots bots fluffles in size 2 nippa stlye. Neither need to be soaked or tumbled dried (to stay soft) and will dry quickly meaning you need fewer nappies, buy second hand wraps and you are off!0 -
Purely from a convenience and cost point of view we use disposables, regardless of upfront and washing costs I still think it's negligible how much we'd save. If one of us didn't work we may have considered it but factoring in the extra time etc. with washing etc. we chose not to. But that's our choice.
As per the Op comment that the bigger packs contain less nappies, also bear in mind that the bigger/older a child gets, the less they use (they learn how to have a regular motion just like their oldies...)0 -
When I had my 2 children (which was 12 and 9 years ago) I used to use disposables on alternate days and when we were out or on holiday. I found it really difficult to get the whole batch of nappies washed and dried in a reasonable time that I found it easier to use them on alternate days. It still saved me a bit of money.2008 Comping ChallengeWon so far - £3010 Needed - £230Debt free since Oct 20040
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I am a user of Motherease nappies and I love them.
I was given 8 of them when I was pregnant and to be honest forgot about them. When she was 8 weeks old I thought I really ought to have a go with them otherwise they will just sit in the cupboard. I thoroughly expected to use them for 2 days and then say no way too much hassle.
They weren't. We loved them, her bum was better and it was so much cheaper. We then bought loads more on ebay. 1 year on we still love them. We still use disposables at night, but am planning on changing to reusable then too next week.
To make them work. We found that you need to use 1/4 of the washing powder you would normally use for a wash and put them on a super rinse cycle. If you don't do this it can cause nappy rash.
We don't soak, we just chuck them in a swing top bin until we have enough for a load.
We then normally line dry after 5 mins in the tumble drier. Without that 5 mins the nappies are quite hard when dry.
Motherease fit young babies right through to when they are potty trained so you only need one set of nappies.
For us the nappies (22) cost £5 each (second hand on ebay), we use reusable fleece liners (cut up from a fleece blanket £2). Our washing powder consumption hasn't noticeably gone us as we hadly use any. Our electricity bill must have gone up because of it, but I can't tell you how much, I am afraid.
Good luck with it. I would try to borrow some second hand ones to see if you get on with it.
Vikki
P.S Our daughter went to nursery for 6 months ( we have just taken her out of it) and they did use reusable nappies after a little bit of persausion. All the staff have commented on how easy it is and how they wish they haad know it was so easy when they had their children. We do need to buy flushable liners for them as they don't do poo!!0 -
I'm a trend bucker too:o I put Spud in various different types of washables from 5 weeks old & got on OK with some of them, the usual leaks & oozes (yuck:p) during the early months but I think these happen with ANY type of nappy, eventually by 6 months old we decided on all-in-one washables. Well, I perservered with them, had a month off from them over Christmas in year one as I just couldn't cope with the moutnain of washing, drying & frequent changing, not to mention the nappy rash, went back to them & continued perservering. Last month I realized I was killing myself over a principal. Spud is much happier in disposables, he gets NO nappy rash with disposables unlike washables when he constantly had it (this varies enormously baby to baby so don't use this as a decision maker please), he learn't how to undo them & TAKE THEM OFF under his clothing which he can't do with disposables (yet)!! Plus with washables I found he constantly needed changing, he needs changing much much less with disposables & as he is now at the play all the time stage this results in fewer interruptions (and fewer tears). He used to scratch & pull at washables all the time, he really doesn't seem to notice he is wearing a disposable. Plus half of todays clothes won't fit over a washable (stupid stupid manafactures:mad:)
It isn't great with my conscience, I am still conscious of the rubbish we are creating but we have a much much happier Spud & Mum so I am doing it anyway. Cost wise I am using Boots own brand nappies & it's working out to about £5 a week, given the £1.75 a week I used to spend on nappisan plus more for vinegar, it isn't a huge cost, although I admit one I would do without if I could.
And yes, I am a stay at home mum so in theory I have all the time in the world to change & wash nappies (Yeah, right). Actually the washing wasn't a huge problem even without a tumble dryer except over Christmas when we tend to have lots of guests, just there are better things to do with my time!
So flay me for being a disposabel nappy user, I tried washables for 15 months so I think I have given them a fair wack, but they were just not for us:o (Please just don't tell them on Old Style!:o)Post Natal Depression is the worst part of giving birth:p
In England we have Mothering Sunday & Father Christmas, Mothers day & Santa Clause are American merchandising tricks:mad: Demonstrate pride in your heirtage by getting it right please people!0 -
Lillibet wrote:I'm a trend bucker too:o I put Spud in various different types of washables from 5 weeks old & got on OK with some of them, the usual leaks & oozes (yuck:p) during the early months but I think these happen with ANY type of nappy, eventually by 6 months old we decided on all-in-one washables. Well, I perservered with them, had a month off from them over Christmas in year one as I just couldn't cope with the moutnain of washing, drying & frequent changing, not to mention the nappy rash, went back to them & continued perservering. Last month I realized I was killing myself over a principal. Spud is much happier in disposables, he gets NO nappy rash with disposables unlike washables when he constantly had it (this varies enormously baby to baby so don't use this as a decision maker please), he learn't how to undo them & TAKE THEM OFF under his clothing which he can't do with disposables (yet)!! Plus with washables I found he constantly needed changing, he needs changing much much less with disposables & as he is now at the play all the time stage this results in fewer interruptions (and fewer tears). He used to scratch & pull at washables all the time, he really doesn't seem to notice he is wearing a disposable. Plus half of todays clothes won't fit over a washable (stupid stupid manafactures:mad:)
It isn't great with my conscience, I am still conscious of the rubbish we are creating but we have a much much happier Spud & Mum so I am doing it anyway. Cost wise I am using Boots own brand nappies & it's working out to about £5 a week, given the £1.75 a week I used to spend on nappisan plus more for vinegar, it isn't a huge cost, although I admit one I would do without if I could.
And yes, I am a stay at home mum so in theory I have all the time in the world to change & wash nappies (Yeah, right). Actually the washing wasn't a huge problem even without a tumble dryer except over Christmas when we tend to have lots of guests, just there are better things to do with my time!
So flay me for being a disposabel nappy user, I tried washables for 15 months so I think I have given them a fair wack, but they were just not for us:o (Please just don't tell them on Old Style!:o)
I find now with most things if it suits, i do it..if it doesn't, pretty much i don't. As for being cheaper - I find all in all disposables work out much cheaper, particularly when I cost in my time (when I work I charge an hourly rate, and nappy tending in the bad old days costed getting on for £60 a week if I used my work rate!!)0 -
mum26 wrote:now onder they were horrific if you were soaking them, hand washing etc, did you have a moment of madness when you chose that route or what?
I also used to be a cloth nappy agent, My main recommendations would be wee wonder pockets (thenaturalbabyresource.co.uk sell great microfibre inserts) or tots bots fluffles in size 2 nippa stlye. Neither need to be soaked or tumbled dried (to stay soft) and will dry quickly meaning you need fewer nappies, buy second hand wraps and you are off!
We lived in a poor area:o and i'd never heard of a nappy agent - I think they only visited the smart bits of town.0 -
I live in a poor area myself (right next to a sure start centre
) and I used to do most of my advice online to multiple birth parents!
Are you sure putting them through a washing machine used less water than soaking and hand washing, risnsing etc? (and i'm not sure on the eco bit but I found soda crystals to be the best thing to wash mine with)
Anyway i'm not about to have a go at anyone, I use a mixture of disposies and cloth and advocate doing what you can to make life easier as a parent, to give you an idea of how much I mean this - I chose to use cloth as I thought they were ultra cute and wanted to give them a try - I had three children under 7 and used cloth for the first time with newborn twins(still do!) I think if you are lucky enough to find the right cloth nappy for your baby, have a newish efficient washer and fall into a workable routine with them then they are fab, if it gets too much or they are leaking too much somethings not right somewhere along the line and it's time to either have a break, rake back some cash by selling on the nappies, try some different ones or give up but you don't know til you try hey?
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Hi
My OH and I are expecting our first in May, so really interested to see what everyone's opinions are.
Like the OP said, there are second hand ones available. My Mum has just bought 23 re-usable for £40 (inc delivery). They vary in type/make and include all in one's and separate nappy's and outers. They are all in good condition from a company that hires them. They have second hand sales all the time to get rid of stock.
My Mum figured that it would give us a chance to try different ones out, before we committed ourselves to spending a large amount of money.
Wish i had her brains!!! Think the pregnancy hormones have wilted mine!! :rotfl:
We are hoping to have another baby in a few years time, so hopefully if we get on with the re-useables we wont have to buy any for that baby at all.What's he building in there???
Debt at highest £30,450 (Dec 05)
Debt at lowest £9, 113 (Jul 07)
How much did we over spend whilst on maternity leave :mad:0
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