to think that some cloth nappies are not good for babies and are more about what the parents want

[Karoliina]

I have recently converted to cloth nappies with my 6m old ds3. I have joined a number of Facebook cloth nappy groups where mums (haven't seen any dads or male posters) post pics about the rash and red marks caused by the nappies and the tight elastics on the fitted nappies. He mums then complain about how upsetting it is that these nappies cause these issues as the nappies are so cute one particular poster said that cloth always gives his baby a rash which clears straight away with disposables, yet she always puts her baby back in cloth when the rash has cleared.

To add, I really love using cloth on my baby but I only use flat nappies (ie muslins and prefolds) which are made of 100% natural materials, with a wool cover to make it waterproof. This means that the nappies are completely fitted around my baby and do not press or pinch him (as opposed to the PUL covers which have elastics and have to be fastened tight around the baby's tummy).

I just have to bite my tongue when I see these posts, but IABU to want to tell these parents that the purpose of using nappies is to keep their baby clean, dry and comfortable (whether with cloth or disposables) and not for the parent to accessorise their baby with 'cause those prints are so darn cute'.

I'm especially hoping to hear from fellow cloth users if they've ever noticed the same!

My nappies are pig ugly Motherease wraps and terries + Sandies. They've been worn by several children before DD2. They do however do the job! We do all of the 'crunchy' shit, but basically because I am lazy and can't be arsed to use a pushchair, wean the youngest or get her into a cot. And my cloth nappies are cheap as chips. I have struggled with elastic marks with this one and her giant fat thighs though. Air flow are good wraps for that, the rikkis do leave marks on her so I try not to use them. Have rediscovered nature babies one size which are great with terry squares and so soft round the openings :)

Btw does fleece really cause rashes? We've had a bit of a rash problem this last month so we're using fleece liners more than normal. Wondering if that might actually be the problem.

I think fleece suits some but not all. Didn't suit DS but he's a 'warm' boy and has sensitive skin so I think it was just too hot for him. Other people swear by it though. We had thickish paper liners which could stand several washes. Don't think we used liners in the early days but memories are fading a bit

Loved using cloth & loved the cute patterns but we did so because my daughter reacted badly to disposables. Her poor wee bum was raw! We never had that problem with cloth nappies at all.

I think there are all sorts of evangelical parents out there desperate to tell others how it should be done. Can't be arsed with competitive parenting

Interesting - DD2 is a warm baby too. Maybe the fleece is too sweaty.

I look at cloth nappy and San pro I find the patterns hideous mostly. I am find bright neon and busy patterns are not for me.

My favourite is people going on about using cloth nappies because "they're better for the environment" - but refusing to use second-hand ones (sorry, 'pre-loved' - vomit...) because they want the newest most fashionable designs...

I was given a stash of beautifully soft Mothereases which have been passed on to baby number seven. I admit I enjoyed buying cute designs but all but one second-hand (especially after a nursery temp chucked away my lovely new one!)

Ds got rash with disposables, which was an incentive - dn got rash with washables probably because his grandma's washing machine was crap.

I found there was a really good range of patterns. My favourite wrap was a Motherease one which was a really nice pale blue/turquoise and had pictures of pandas on it.

That sounds grim with the wee smell needs. I was lucky and didn't encounter that. I did put everything through a hot wash with vinegar in the rinse, but the ones I got were all in pretty good condition.

I loved Motherease NotCitrus, they were so adjustable and dried really well. We had a mix of those and terries (DH preferred Motherease as he never seemed to get the hang of folding).

I only had one bad lot and they didn't smell, were just completely lifeless and limp and absorbed fuck all. Rest have been lovely. Wraps though, unless they say only used once or twice, tend to be fucked and useless.

Maybe the second hand wee nappies are from people who've been washing them at 30 with two granules of powder? Some of ours by the time we'd finished with them were pretty worn and lifeless so I put them in the textile bin. The mothercare terries I got didn't wear well, but the thicker ones I had are still going strong although not as nappies.

Love my mother ease one size nappies. They are stand up to so much abuse and you can boil wash them and soak them because they are Terry nappies. So even if the stain/smell you can soak overnight and boil wash - bliss

Two whole granules OOAOML?

I know MrsReiver I was such a lazy mummy I couldn't be bothered to chant the poo stains out.

I did know someone who used to break washing powder tablets in half, I did think about suggesting she just buy a box of powder.

You'll find fanatics everywhere; you'll also find people who are just a bit of a twat about things.

50ml of powder and a 60 wash have my bamboo fitteds coming up lovely if a bit bald after 2 years of constant use - most are on their 3rd or 4th Bum and I'll be offering them to my local library or the Cloth Bank once we're through.

Love my woollies, no leaks (I don't count tummy bugs) and no fit issues.

I think the posts you describe are unique to cloth nappies. Sposie users just slap a layer of cream on and hope it goes away, no need to post on the internet because you can simply buy a solution in the supermarket. I have seen posts on general parenting groups asking for Sposie recommendations though and there's always a few who insist x type is best - so that's not confined to the reusable community by any means!

I used them with DS - never, ever had a problem. Like PP I still use them as floorcloths!! Amazing money saver.

I'm hoping to use cloth with DC2 when they arrive.

Managed to get a whole set of little lambs for £20 on ebay. I joined a fb group to see what was what, some lovely patterns but they seems to have a serious budget to work with.

I loved cloth on my two and miss it, I'm weird

Agree that people aren't using sufficient detergent, the misinformation is staggering. I found an essay by a guy who's an expert on laundering which suggested that the dreaded 'detergent build up' that people are so busy stripping off is actually a build up of faecal oils caused by not using enough detergent. I used a full dose on my nappy washes, and never had to 'strip' them. Funny that.

Don't get me started on bio dodgers, or those who will swear blind the mere sight of a tumble dryer will 'kill' their PUL...you know, the medical grade fabric designed to be autoclaved....

Mewling - bumgenius do pull ups, I have some but I can't remember their name. The nappy lady sells them. Grovia do some too.

DD appears to be a bit chunky for them atm, hopefully she will slim down by the time she's ready for potty training!

I must admit, DD2 gets the red marks from tight elastic - but it's the only way to stop leaks. So I tend to alternate cloth and disposable, or switch between types of cloth.

Nappies by Minki make great pull ups called Yoyos.

www.minkinappies.co.uk/pull-onnappies-c-34-1.php

Oh gosh YES. I've thought this a few times but not ever had an appropriate place to share the thought.

We used disposables on the first, and cloth on the second for 3=4 months before switching back. We were fairly attachment parenty so would browse boards I guess with similar people, had some similar friends.

The double-think. We didn't have poo leaks with disposables. We did with cloth. However when people complain about poo leaks with cloth there's always a reason/explanation, couldn't possibly be because they are using cloth.... One of my friends I think has had to do a whole clothes change every time she's been here. WHich is fine,and theres great reasons for using cloth - just dont pretend that not leaking is one of them!

Bum rash. One friend had hideous urine burn type thing but they are so evangelical about cloth being better that she couldnt try disposable as "cloth is better". Yet in our case the final factor moving to disposable was that my daughter was getting nappy rash with cloth and didnt with disposable (Im sure some could change washing powder etc.)

Even worse - out at a park and one mums child was pooey - I offered her a disposable as I had on. "Oh no, shes never had a disposable I dont want chemicals near her bottom. She stayed at least another 20mins and then a drive home, surely a disposable is better than that!

It does seem to be that once youre sucked in to cloth its like a badge of honour and its hard to come out. I found it hard to break that even after just 3-4 months!

So much depends on the shape of your baby - with ds, I never once had a poo escape a cloth nappy, and he didn't puke, which meant he could wear the same babygro for a few days - until he started weaning, anyway! Friends with vomming babies and exploding backsides figured they did more laundry than me despite them using disposables.

Dd leaked from both ends rather more...