to think you don't give this as a present?

[user1482802649]

I'm honestly not being ungrateful, I really appreciate the thought, but I'm just a bit confused.

Baby boy is 2 weeks old and one of my work colleagues (so it was nice of her to even do this tbh) got him a gift. It was an IKEA type tub with reusable nappies, I was thankful and then she went on to explain how they were her son's. I'm not asking out if nastiest I just don't know if you really gift reusable nappies that have been used by your child, to a friend's child?

Thank you.

The clue is in the name. They're reusable.

When my eldest was born a neighbour passed their reusable nappy set to us. It had been used by both their girls (and by others before them for all I know). I used the nappies on my three children, and then passed them on to someone else.

if they have been properly washed, these nappies will have fewer micro-organisms on them than 'new' ones which will have been handled by a multitude of people, hence why they need washing before use.

OP, can I just ask, we're they given as a 'gift' ie. All wrapped up with a bow or were they just 'given'? And did colleague say anything else when they were given?

We use washables so I won't comment on the rights and wrongs of it as I will almost certainly be biased (all of ours are second hand, pre-washed but not used. They're about £15 each new!)

I can easily see a scenario where a friend had a baby and we said 'look, here are these, they were dcs. Give them a go and see what you think'. As it's quite a big initial outlay if you're not sure.

I'm also going to flip it on its head and (Controversially, no doubt) say that we only use disposables in an emergency. Partly due to DS getting the most horrendous nappy rash if we do, but also for sustainability reasons. We've been given nappies by others in the past and have always accepted them graciously then passed them on to those who do use them. I accept that reusable us our choice as much as disposables is theirs and everyone does things for their own reasons.

Given the generosity of the gift, I'd maybe try them for a bit and give it a go or sit on it for a couple of months before passing them back saying you didn't get on with them and wonder if she knows someone who could make better use if them.

PS. Congratulations on your newborn squishy!

I think she is mad and trying to impose her weird standards on you. With people like this - they tend to take offence that you are not as weird as them and you are forced to apologise for..er...not being as weird as them. Don't use them.

Also - I agree with the person who says 'You should ask' about something like this.

Perhaps she is trying to make herself feel better for making such a labour intensive/forthright decision.

My parents generation have told me that disposable nappies have made parenting easier than anything else. Not good for the environment - but good for you. Also - how much water/washing liquid are you going to need to get those clean? That can't be good for the environment either.

^^ that makes you sound very weird Lesmacarons

Nothing wrong with second-hand re-useable nappies. Mine wore them and didn't die.

They are MUCH better for the planet than disposables. You can always use disposables when you go on holiday if you don't want the faff of washing when you're away.

I'd love to use reusable nappies but am in a 'captain Vimes and boots' situation for any Sir TP fans- can't afford initial outlay so stuck on disposables at £3.45 a box. Never thought about ebay so will head over!

No offence taken Sheldon - is that from 'Big Bang Theory'? Anyway - it is just my point of view - not weird. I'd live in hell rather than put another persons shitrags on my newborn child. THAT is weird.

The more reuseables are used the more absorbent they are - just remember not to use fabric conditioner with them (saved me a fortune!)

YNBU. Your colleague is obviously being generous in giving you these when they have a high resale value, but I agree I would think it's a little strange to wrap them up as a Christmas present and not just gift them to you as something she no longer uses.
Also if you hadn't said you were using reusables I'd feel a bit like she was putting her choices upon you- a bit like giving you a second hand breast pump when actually you were going to bottle feed!

Yes it's a scene where they are playing a card game and Sheldon produces a home made Infinite Sheldon card which trumps all other cards. Very apt for mumsnet and I agree it's something she could just have asked if you'd be interested in.

IS: I live with two Sheldons - so I am very familiar with the 'InfiniteSheldon' scenario you describe :)

Whilst it was generous of her, I don't think it should have been a Christmas gift, more a "Hey User my DC has outgrown these reusable nappies, would you like them, won't be offended if you don't".

It's fine to use someone else's reusable nappies. The whole point of them is that you reuse them! That wouldn't bother me at all.

It's a weird gift though if you hadn't discussed the idea. I can only imagine your friend feels strongly about it and wants to encourage you.

It's not as weird as the present I got from a colleague when I was pregnant. 3 pull up nappies in a gift bag. She said they were her son's. I guess they were for a 2 year old. I chucked them!

People who use reuse able nappies are a bit more open minded about it than people who don't, therefore wouldn't think it strange. When you use washables, you are in a routine of washing, sterilising etc so they are clean and ready to wear.
I bought reusables from new, then reused them with subsequent children. It only makes sense if you do- binning perfectly good useable nappies because the child has potty trained is weird.

Weird is thinking it's ok to leave thousands of plastic and chemical filled bags of wee and poo per child to fossilise in landfill.

It is an odd Christmas gift, I would probably have just dropped them around when you had the baby with an explanation of what they were and the offer that you try them but should you not get on with them just give them back to me, then gift a small £5 box of chocolates for Christmas. It's deffinately a very kind gesture, just sometimes these things go differently in our heads.

I always had reusable nappies and the ones my children had were about 4th hand. They were better than the new ones we bought as they took months to get to the correct texture for those precious bottoms! I love a baby in a terry nappy, try them but was in a non biological first! She has saved you a fortune. Congratulations on the birth of your baby btw.

It's odd if you hadn't discussed using reusables and she should have asked. As she didn't I think it's ok to let het know you are using dispisables because that's what you prefer and ask if she'd like them returned or passed onto someone else.

I've used both washables and disposables. I can honestly say that I found washables far less work than disposables. There was no trotting out to the bin on a wet night after a nappy change. No running out of nappies. And dd never got nappy rash unless we put a disposable on her.

It's true that washable nappies were a thing of drudgery in the days before automatic washing machines, but these days there is no drudgery involved at all.

However, that's not to say that I think everyone should use them, it's up to each individual what they want to do. But if you have an automatic washing machine in your home, as most people do these days, it is just not true that they are a labour intensive option.

When I used washables I used to get gifts of disposables from someone who thought that we were using washables because we couldn't afford 'proper' nappies. . I used to just thank them for their kindness but give the nappies back and ask them to give them to someone else who could use them, because I didn't use those nappies. They stopped in the end. It's fine to say 'thanks for the thought, but we aren't using those nappies'.

I think it is odd and presumptious unless you had been discussing considering using reusable nappies

It is bizarre. It is imposing her judgement that reusable nappies are the best, on you. Why is she seeking to have you mirror

Have neither of you ever experanced that 'bugger I forgot to get nappies and I'm either broke/ill/not wanting to go back out/really short of time' moments?

Minging. First, who knows how effectively they were cleaned - we've seen in other threads people have very different standards as to what 'clean' means to them! - so basically you really need to have a chat with the recipient to see if they want used nappies. Some people do, some people understandably don't.

Second, it's totally presumptuous you're even into reusable nappies. I did my research and decided it was not for me, I used paper-based biodegradable disposables instead. If someone had started giving me reusable, I'd have considered it preaching, akin to foisting breast-feeding or sleep-training or early-weaning. It's one of those subjects you keep to yourself unless the person asks.

queenbee, they are worth a fortune!! Throwing them away would be criminal