Economics of reusable nappies

I'm in a similar position as we'r due in December so would also be interested in other's opinions and experiences.

Just a note to say the NHs website states:

"Young babies need changing as many as 10 or 12 times a day, while older babies need to be changed at least six to eight times."
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/nappies/

The KitanKin subscription gives you 160 per month, assuming this is every 30 days that's only 5.3 nappies per day. Or even if its every 4 weeks (so 28 days) its only 5.7 per day. This won't cover what you need.

Oh and with a new baby you will be increasig your washing wether you want to or not, both for their clothes an your own!

I've been using washables with my little one who is nearly 2 now. I'm now at the stage where I'm getting fed up with doing the extra laundry but hopefully it won't be much longer. I wash the nappies every other day. I usually wash a 40 with a biological liquid, a pre-wash (no laundry liquid, just to get the worst of the wee and pool out) and an extra rinse. Usually you only need half the suggested liquid otherwise there is too much foam left in the fabric. Occasional 60 wash and sometimes I'll soak them in a sanitiser if getting a bit niffy, though I just use Milton solution for that. Keep the dirties in a bucket with a lid.



I tried a nappy trial first (Avon area) so I was able to test a variety and see which I like best for use, leakiness and washing. I went with Little Lamb nappies in a mix of bamboo (slow drying but absorbant) and microfibre (quick drying but not so absorbant, used with a separate booster). Little Lamb covers until she could undo velcro and now on Motherease covers. She went up a size when she was around 10 months and has been on the same size since then. I thought the birth to potty nappies were a bit bulky when babies are very small. I've found that about 18 or 20 is enough when washing every other day though sometimes if the weather is bad and they don't try, you might have to accept that you'll need some disposables too.



I've bought all the nappies via ebay, most have been secondhand. Most have been in good condition even if used, a few were pretty old so not great but those ones were very cheap and I keep them as the backups. You have an advantage that you've got time to look out for good deals. Wraps have been a mixture of secondhand and new - they lose waterproofing after a while so I've had to buy some new replacements.


I then sold on all the first size nappies and wraps, so they probably cost me about £40 in total taking account of the sale. The second size ones have probably cost me around £80 including extra wraps, but with any luck I can sell then for around £40.



I'd suggest using disposable liners to make it easier particularly once baby is onto solids and the poo also becomes more solid, also if he/she goes to a nursery or childminder it helps them a lot; I've recently been using Little Green Eartlet liners which are like thick kitchen roll and can be flushed (poo) or composted (wee); I buy them cheapest from Uber shop (£10 for 3 rolls of 100 though you can get even more in bulk). You can make fabric liners from cut up fleecey fabric which is dirt cheap online or somewhere like Fabricland. I've also made my own washable wipes which are just pieces of brushed cotton cut up with pinking shears; they're not even edged but have lasted nearly 2 years and again were really cheap to make, you could probably do the same with towelling fabric, or just buy some multipacks of cheap flannels (I bought a load from ebay to put under baby's bum when changing to catch the inevitable wee and stop it from wetting her clothes, also useful for drying off bottoms after cleaning).



I do use disposables when out and about, particularly on holiday, as I can't face carrying around lots of mucky nappies and they do take up more space. I tried some ecofriendly ones but the Beaming Baby ones were very very expensive and the Naty ones literally fell apart when she was wearing them (two separate packs of different sizes - took them back for a refund), so I've stuck with standard disposables after that.

I've bought some cloth nappies to try for my first baby (due in november).
I got the following set I think:
http://www.thecottonnappycompany.co.uk/pop-in-big-box-20-nappy-pack.ir
I say I think because I got them from the baby show at the NEC for less money than listed price.

They claim this is enough to wash every other day.

They are 'birth to potty' but realise as a newborn might be too small so may need to use disposables at first. I think the cloth nappies are from about 8lb? I hope I get on with them!

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

TBH I think if you start with disposables you may never feel 'ready' to make the change ...

I used cloth with DS1. Think about where you will keep your bucket. With him, I could keep the bucket in the bathroom which was handily close to the washing machine. They went into soak in the bucket and into the machine every other day. It was a big bucket ...

Then we moved, and it wasn't nearly so convenient to have a bucket anywhere so we moved on to disposables while I worked it out, but I never could, as I either had to lug a bucket downstairs full of mucky nappies, or have a bucket in the kitchen.

I only used square terries btw. Not nearly so much choice in those days.

I was advised by the cotton nappy company not to soak - there was a bin included when i bought them lined with a wash bag - just bung wash bag into machine when ready to wash. We will probably set up a changing area in baby's room.

Shakey I am akso tempted by cheeky wipes but haven't commited yet. I think they are on 20% off this month