Reusable nappies - yay or nay?

[ShebaShimmyShake]

Hello all. We're thinking of using reusable nappies when our baby is born - specifically the Bambino Mio Miosoft range. This kit is what we have our eye on: www.mothercare.com/Bambino-Mio-Miosoft-Two-Piece-Reusable-Nappy-Premium-Birth-to-Potty-Pack---Unisex/688787,default,pd.html

Looks like it would save a lot of money and be so much less wasteful - hate the thought of all those nappies in landfill. My mother used reusables with me and hated them but I am sure they've come on a long way in 30 years. What are your thoughts and experiences? Thanks.

[cosmicglittergirl]

I would say wait until baby has arrived and see how you feel. I spent a fortune before DD was born then couldn't be bothered with the washing and drying. Plenty of people love them though.

[Shantishanti]

We used them and loved them. Go for it!

[domesticslattern]

It needn't be an all or nothing thing.
We used cloth at home and eco disposables when out and about.

[domesticslattern]

Even if you only use cloth nappies for 1 in 4 changes you will still save ££££.

[bikeandrun]

I used them for my ds, used a disposable at night and sometimes when away from home, worked really well and I think it also helped with potty training as he was trained by 2 years and 2 months which seemed on the early side compared to a lot of other little boys.

[LovesYoungDream]

I would start with disposables until your baby is older. I used approx 186 nappies for our second dc in the first month. Between sleeping broken /feeding every two hours for the first 7 weeks /nappy changes pooh fest!, trying to wash that much additional laundry aswell as doing other housework and other daily stuff, it would have made life a lot tougher and put me at risk of developing post natal depression. Establish your routine and find your feet with getting to know your new baby first. Congratulations.

[ShebaShimmyShake]

Thank you all. Of those of you who liked reusables, what brands did you favour?

[cosmicglittergirl]

Although I'm not a poster girl for reusables, I thought the ones I got were of good quality (used them a bit). I had totsbots easi fit.

[WhatAHooHa]

I also love reusables but started when ds was about 3 months old, when we were over the initial exhausting baby phase. I use a combination of Little Lambs (bought second-hand but in perfect condition) and cheap Dudeybabas from eBay. I know a few people who use the Miosoft who seem very happy with them. If you are on Facebook there are dozens of cloth-bum groups for advice.

[OrnamentalAsAnything]

I'm a big fan of cloth nappies, and I do believe it helped DS potty train early as well.

Re favoured brands, people like different things. Also, some will suit your baby better at different stages. I would recommend you get half a dozen different ones to start with, see what you like, then stock up.
My first baby was a dinky little thing at birth and the cloth nappies I had ready for him were a bit too big, plus wouldn't go under the umbilical stump so I had to use disposables for the first two weeks. This time round, I used terry squares - they aren't as fancy as made nappies, but they did the job.

If you have the funds, bespoke nappies are quite a treat!

And get cloth wipes too - much nicer to wipe up with, and better for their precious skin.

[Candycoco]

I'm currently using Little Lambs bamboo nappies which I love. On eBay right now you can get 5 for £25 brand new and each one comes with a bamboo booster and fleece liner, brilliant value. Im using those with mother ease wraps and I haven't had a single leak.

With my first dd 10 years ago I had a bambino mio birth to potty pack and I really didn't get on with it but they may have improved now.

I sometimes use a disposable over night but I have bought extra thick bamboo boosters from Amazon so I don't really need to.

[ShebaShimmyShake]

Yes, I was thinking of going on eBay to find second hand reusables...disposables just seem so expensive and wasteful, although I can see why they'd be useful when you're out and about or maybe while you're still getting used to having a baby. What was it about Bambino Mio that didn't work for you? (I was under the impression it was the leading brand but obviously I could be wrong.)

[teacupnic]

You might find there is a company near you where you can hire a kit of a bunch of different nappies and see what suits your child. I didn't do this, bought a load of tots bots only to discover they were not the best fit on our tall skinny boy!

However, we still use and now love them. We don't even think about the washing, you just get used to it. Definitely a good money saver though. Most brands of nappy have good resale value and if you look after them, can be used for a second child.

[longestlurkerever]

I like them a lot. I would say as long as you have somewhere to dry them they really aren't much extra hassle and I like the way they feel. I had bum genius with the popper fastenings and am reusing them for dd2 now. I got a voucher towards them from our council and used the one I got for dd2 to buy some extra inserts. I double up the inserts at night and do use them out and about - I have a drawstring waterproof bag for this purpose. I only use disposables if away somewhere for more than a night without easy access to a washing machine. and I use disposables for dd1 at night as she is still not night trained but finally grew out of the reusables at 3.5.

[longestlurkerever]

I also had a couple of tots bots that I didn't get on with. somehow they seemed to feel wetter and dd didn't seem to settle in them. they do good flushable liners though

[longestlurkerever]

Ps I am a lazy mum in many ways but honestly haven't found them difficult even with newborns. I used disposables in the hospital but reusables as soon as we got home. I like not having to remember to buy nappies and you soon get into a rhythm with the washing

[WomanScorned]

I've used just about every brand.
I have to say that the Bambino Moo were my least favourite. The cloth nappy groups are full of users who invested in a bit kit but didn't get on with them.

I loved using Itti Bitti, Weenotions and bamboo 'terries'.

Tiny Nippers stock loads of 'cheapies', which made up most of our 'stash'. Good customer service, too.

It's been a few years now, so there may be ones I don't know about.

I was on my own from the start and my son didnt/still doesn't sleep, at 5, but I never found the washing a problem, and I used them from day 1.

I would advise a bit more research, online. There are much nicer nappies out there; they just tend not to be in High St shops :)

[bikeandrun]

I used mother ease nappies and wraps, they were great rarely leaked, had booster inserts for the greater volume of wee from older babies and toddlers. BUT I didn't bother in the first six weeks when ds was producing multiple poos a day.

[Lovepancakes]

We used them in conjunction with 'elimination communication' (you basically learn an instinct for when babies need to wee/ poo eg every time they wake. Sounds radical and odd to many but it felt lovely being so in tune and made potty training or night time wetting almost non-existent.
I'd say go for a few washable nappies and see if you get on with them

[trilbydoll]

Close Parent Pop Ins are my recommendation, but I agree - get a selection off eBay and see what fits. Or use the nappy lady questionnaire to get an idea.

And we have only ever used them part time but I'm astonished how many disposables we are getting through atm (dd2 is 5w, it isn't the time to generate extra washing!) so it is worth trying I think.

[Candycoco]

I just found that the bambino mio's leaked a lot. They were flat nappies you had to fold in 3 and put a wrap over, not sure if they are different now.

I prefer the little lambs I have now, as they are all in one, they are very absorbent but they do take ages to dry. Plus they are very inexpensive

I also have a stack of flat terries which are not that absorbent but dry very quickly and are handy as a back up.

[ShebaShimmyShake]

I guess you can only really know what suits you once you try it out on your baby, but I'm loathe to spend loads of money on a huge, shiny new kit and then find the product is poor!

[longestlurkerever]

the drying quickly is why I like the bum genius ones. they absorb a lot but dry very quickly. much quicker than babygros etc. I don't have dryer and hate washing cluttering up the radiators for days but if I hang out the nappies when I go to bed they are dry by morning. on the washing line they are dry in about an hour

[aprilshowersbringmayflowers]

cloth nappies are fab, but I echo others - not bambino mio.
We used motherease birth to potty; I also got a bundle of newborn sized totsbots secondhand, which we used for the first 3/4 months.
With council vouchers (£50/child) I don't think I spent more than £100 on nappies - LOTS of them, so I just washed once a week - for THREE children. Incredible saving over disposables (which we did use too, always when away, and often at night).
Get them secondhand: there are lots of Facebook groups selling them (cheap cloth nappies is one, I think), and links to other second hand sites via the reusable nappies for london website.

[babyiwantabump]

Another cloth bum mum here - love love love my reusables and wish I had used them with DD .

Not keen on bambino mio - the mio solo are good but the two partners not so much .

I use little lamb and tots boys mostly .

Bamboozles and wrap for night time and easy fits for day.
The little lamb birth to potty and bamboo are fab too and really cheap!

Use washable wipes too- much better than disposables that slide around and don't seem to actually clean anything !