Help Needed with Home Made Toddler Nappies!

Elle00

Can anyone help? I'm desperately trying to cut back on nappies as we're broke at the minute and my 2.5yr old refuses to toilet train. I'm using Tesco Value disposables during the day and Tesco own at night but that's still expensive over time when you add it all up (£12 - £15 a month).

So, I just won 6 large nappy wraps off ebay this morning and already have 12 home sewn booster liners. But then I also need something soft and nappy shaped to cover the whole area as the wraps are plasticky and terrible for leaking without a layer that covers the whole area (I've done "proper" reusables before). So I cut some nappy shapes from terry cloth (okay, a Tesco value towel) and gave them an economy wash to see what would happen.

Not good...

Now I have a pile of disintegrated rags basically. I had thought about backing them with an old flannel sheet I've got but that would take hours to do all of them, as I'm not the world's greatest seamstress, plus it would bulk the already bulky nappy out even further.

I don't have anywhere locally that sells terry squares so that's a no go really as postage costs make them really expensive to buy online.

I bought some cheap Tesco pants along with the value towel this morning so should I just use those with the booster pads then put the outer wrap over the top?

Any other suggestions I should consider?

Elle00

Hopeful nudge...

arkonite_babe

Elle, why don't you ask on the real nappies discussion thread on the green and ethical board? You might have better luck there.

HTH

Elle00

arkonite_babe wrote: »

Elle, why don't you ask on the real nappies discussion thread on the green and ethical board? You might have better luck there.

HTH

Thanks, it's a great suggestion. I often find moneysaving and environmental reasons get confused over the real nappy issue though so I don't get involved in those kinds of threads. I just want ideas specifically for making use of the things I have (or could get cheaply) for my specific situation rather than general advice about real nappies.

People must have managed somehow with these things in the days before £9.50 each Motherease AIO breath easy wraps and the like?!

pigpen

Ooooh... now yu post!!!

Yesterday I sent 3 used and discoloured btut perfectly functional wraps to charity shop!!!

I've got a few boosters if you want them for freebies... PM your address and I'll send them.. there might only be 3 or 4 but everything helps!

I may have a few terry squares as well if you are interested.. and if I dig deep enough I may have a couple of toddler wraps still.. these were what my son used up to being 6 so they will fit!!!

And what you need is an overlocker.. whizz straight round all the edges and they'd be usable in no time!

Tell you what I've used in the past as boosters.. a microfibre cloth folded into 3 and stitched along the 4 sides..

Also TRY HERE they have a resale page for cloth nappies.. if you spend the £12-£15 on a few nappies you might not need to buy the night time nappies and then can stock up on ones to use during the day.

And.. a hand towel hemmed on one side to make it a square is fab.. and cheap! the charity shops always have loads of hand towel.. and if they are a bit of a manky colour.. they dye really well!! Funky nappies!

sallyrsm

What a shame I have some pairs of rubber elasticated over-pants from when my son used terries. I used those over normal terry squares (no shaped outers - did it old style) and he never leaked out of the legs once. I realise you don't know me from Adam but if you wanted to pm me I am sure I can post some to you. They wash on a normal 40deg wash and although some people believe they can make the baby "sweat" I have found that to be false... a nappy is a damp environment anyway and as long as you don't leave them for hours in a wet nappy there isn't a problem. Think about it. what do I want with rubber pants?

rhubarbs

Cheap fleece blankets make great liners. You can cut them to any shape you like with no sewing involved. They are lovely and soft and very easy to wash and dry.

raffe

if i've read your post correctly you have wraps and boosters just nothing in the middle, have you tried some 'flat nappies' some junior joy or little ewe terry nappy squares they are really cheap for what they are to buy them individually is approx £2.25/£2.10 each however you should be able to get them bulk on ebay cheaper they are just the old fashioned terry squares. Maybe have a look at kittykins website (£1.50 delivery per order) or try totnes nappy company (Free Delivery) £1.85 for a nature babies terry square

anguk

My niece bought some Junior Joy terry squares off Ebay, £6.94 including delivery for 6.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-X-BRAND-NEW-JUNIOR-JOY-TERRY-TOWELLING-BABY-NAPPIES_W0QQitemZ280222287559QQihZ018QQcategoryZ26269QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If you fancy trying to make your own shaped nappies there's lots of patterns here:
http://www.zany-zebra.com/free-cloth-diaper-patterns.shtml

Elle00

Thanks everyone, that was all the info and suggestions I needed.

The terry squares I'd looked at were a lot more expensive than the ones you lot have suggested so I'll be able to get a pack next week when something I'm selling is sold.

Also, a bit thanks to Pigpen for her kind offer - I've PMed you. Thank you to Sally for the offer too though I won't put you to the trouble because I've got those outer wraps coming shortly.

LilacPixie

Might be a silly question but have you tried your local council?? MInes gives away a real nappy 'trial pack' 5 complete real nappies for nowt.