To wonder why more people don't use reusable nappies?

[GinGeum]

I know this will be controversial and I know there will always be some circumstances when they are not suitable, but since becoming a parent, I've not come across a single other parent using reusable nappies.

Everyone I know has also said they were never mentioned to them at all by antenatal classes/midwife/anyone. In the hospital, none of the staff we encountered had any idea what our baby was wearing.

Surely now we are all thinking about reducing plastic, disposable nappies should be fairly high on the list of things to cut down on? Programmes like the war on plastic on BBC barely mentioned disposable nappies. Even switching to reusable wipes would make a huge difference.

AIBU to wonder why reusable nappies aren't promoted more?

@Northernlurker I used the Kit&Kin biodegradable disposables while we went on holiday a fortnight ago and they absolutely stunk! Disposables just do stink, they have a weird chemical smell whenever a pee hits them and shit stinks in them- can clear a room in fact. Reusables actually smell way less, it’s a well known fact.

I have reusables and we got a voucher £50 from our council to get started. I also went to a local nappy library. Some of the "trial kits" aren't too expensive. I think Tots Bots have a £30 one and there are newborn ones for £10 from them. Little Lamb does a try them all kit too and if you don't like them, I think they'd be easy to resell. I did purchase some good condition used ones and I spent time before baby to wash and strip them and hang them in the sun. Which wasn't too bad and cut down costs a lot.

We have reusable wipes too too that hasn't been much more work. To be honest as far as poo was concerned I've had a dog and got used to picking up poo for years and when my dog was older there was accidents in the house, so I got a lot less squeamish about that and figured poo would get on clothes anyway and those were going to go in the washer! My SIL had blow outs all the time in disposables and almost all her clothing was stained so I didn't think cloth nappies would be too different. Plus I run my regular wash (not the nappies!) with vinegar and keep my washing machine very clean. The water is very hard in our area so I didn't want excess build up.

I do think cloth involves more research but we have a white board in the kitchen so I just wrote directions for washing on them so I wouldn't forget! I have a big enough stash that when some are drying I still have some others and as long as you clean them properly they really don't smell and you can add lavender oil to the pail. We also have a dehumidifer I run in the winter if I can't get things in the sun. We bought it before baby because otherwise I find most places get incredibly damp in the UK over winter and I just didn't want mold in my house.

As a family we try to be really environmentally friendly. We buy the wonky/loose fruit and veg when possible and use cloths instead of paper towels. We have 1 car we use sparingly but cycle or take public transportation 95% of the time. We also pay a bit more for more reusable energy and we tend to run our house a bit colder in general. I know it's not much and not everyone has the time or energy to convert over but I do find in the long run it's helped us save a lot of money! Cloth nappies were a continuation of this for us and it was hard because I was not eligible for maternity pay from my employer so we did have to be particularly careful.

I tried them, I lived in a flat with no tumble drier and we weren’t allowed to dry laundry on the balcony. It took two days for them to dry when washed in the summer.

There are all sorts of reasons why they aren't good for everyone. Firstly the initial cost, when you don't know if they'll work for you. We've all bought nappies that don't work. Those who say they bought second hand, there is no way I'd do that. I wouldn't buy second hand knickers. There are many studies which suggest that they are not as eco friendly when you consider the extra washing. Lastly, so much more work when you need less work.

I’d be interested to then see those who are very pro reusable because of the environmental impact if you for instance...

Exactly this.

We used disposable nappies because (a) we have enough to do and posters who say 'just' put them in a bucket etc don't understand that some of us are flat out as it is, (b) we'll only have one child so the total emissions, plastic waste etc of our 'children' will be less that those with multiple kids and (c) babies on reusables seem to smell of pee a lot of the time though the parents may not notice it themselves.

However we are generally mindful of not putting plastic into landfill, haven't flown or been abroad in over 15 years, etc.

You have to deal with poo when you have a child full stop and shit will always end up in the washing machine somehow unless you wastefully throw everything they get a tiny bit of poo on away... Likewise snot, vomit and piss. Washing machines can deal with it, it’s called washing on a high temperature.

@Solewindow it’s just nonsense. I use disposables for the first time in years a couple of weeks ago when we went away on holiday and DS stunk constantly of pee. It was like chemicals mixed with piss- rancid. He never smells in reusables, I’d never use a disposable again after that experience.

Frankly I found having babies such hard work that I wasn’t going to do anything that made my life harder. Both babies were prem, both woke incredibly frequently all night, DC1 couldn’t digest formula and DC2 refused bottles, DC1 didn’t nap except in a moving buggy, DC2 got terrible chest infections every winter, DC1 had appalling violent tantrums and turns out to have SN, I had PND with both. So I wasn’t going to “just” add several extra loads of laundry and soaking etc. Yes that’s selfish but for me it was a matter of survival, if I’d had easier babies it would have been different.

Plus I am deeply suspicious of the flushable liner idea and suspect they are a bit like so called flushable wipes which actually clog up the sewage system badly.

We used reusable, didn’t even need a tumble dryer, they dry very quickly.

They were out of nappies and potty trained very early as well.

We also pay a bit more for more reusable energy

Its great that you value renewable energy but you do realise you get exactly the same energy coming down the line as everyone else?

@minipie you don’t have to use disposable liners, reusable liners exist and are pretty great.

He never smells in reusables,

Never? Really? I bet he does, you just can't smell it because you're accustomed to it.

I’m not accustomed to disposables, he reeked constantly in those!

He did a poo the other day when FIL visited and FIL had no idea because it’s hard to smell poo through a reusable. A disposable is a different story, it can clear a room...

Can I ask a few questions? I saw the bambino mio ones in aldi and was tempted.

Does anyone use them and live in a flat? I also have the problem of things taking 2 days to dry.
Does anyone use them with excema-prone DC?
I'm guessing you have to wash at 60? My washing machine is on it's last legs and only works at 30/40 degrees. Whenever I try to do 50 degree fastwash it goes bananas and ruins clothes.

Not using nappies but we use wipes as most brands don't react wlel with daughters skin. And if I knew a place where I could have been educated a bitmore I'd probably have tried cloth nappies.
When my child was a newborn she looked sunburnt from a tesco size 1 so...

Finding the comment about reusables smelling rather amusing!!
Possibly only smell if you haven't washed correctly, but washing is pretty simple....
And omg, disposable babies stink!! A horrible chemical stench.And in baby change etc when there's a bin full of them - rank! Makes me gag! But I guess people get used to it?
Plus I feel sorry for stinky baby who has an increased chances of infertility and certain types of cancer. Seriously ya'll, consider what is actually in them! If you don't care or believe in the climate crisis and plastic pollution... Surely you want to give your child the best start in life?

I found them hard going once I went back to work. It seems to mainly be women caring about this sort of thing and I was the one dealing with them because DH was anti. I didn’t get on with the liners we used but I was probably a bit clueless around that. I think if they were more normalised then they wouldn’t be so daunting. It’s a bit like BFing-if you’re the only one you know doing it you can feel daunted when things get hard.
Also people are “all or nothing”. Oh I can’t do that I won’t even try type mentality. We eventually used them part time. I do similar with cloth san pro, most of the time I use it but for work I can’t lug spares around so use Always.

bucket of hot water dangle poo nappy in it poo will rinse off -pour poo water in loo & place nappy in washing machine - & wash - you don't have to touch poo any more than you do changing nappies (clue that's what we use to do before disposables. ps aldi has had nappies on special. NCT lets you try different nappies out. Some work better for different babies at different stages

Plus I feel sorry for stinky baby who has an increased chances of infertility and certain types of cancer....Surely you want to give your child the best start in life?

Don't start that shit oddsocks123, it's unsubstantiated nonsense, let's not have any parent shaming thanks.

@Camomila Microfibre sucks. You get compression leaks, it doesn't hold much anyway and you have to use a fleece liner as it causes rashes.
My advise would be to buy Little and Bloom pocketsfrom 'yellowbloom' on ebay, don't bother with their inserts as they're naff. Instead buy better quality bamboo ones from Little Lamb and use in cheaper pockets.
I live in a flat,no tumble dryer but use flats which can go on radiator if needed(covers/aios/pockets can't but inserts can).
A 40 is fine most of the time, but 60 is recommended if they're ill etc.

Terry nappies were the norm when i had my children and that was without an automatic washing machine. We could only afford disposables for special occasion.
If I were having my children now, I would do the same.

@Solewindow not unsubstantiated, google dangers of disposable nappies or disposable nappies and infertility/cancers...I've read a few studies and not surprising when you think about what is in them.
Know better, do better!

@Camomila we live in a two
Bed flat with no outdoor space and I use reusables. You can buy specific types that are fast drying - eg two part system using little lamb Microfibre and wraps over the top. They are almost dry when they come out of the washing machine. They are also bomb proof - never had a leak!

Personally I wouldn’t get Bambino mio solos as they are prone to leaks and hard to get a good fit.

You can email the Nappy Lady using her questionnaire on her website and she will recommend a system for your needs taking into account washing facilities/budget etc.

We bought most of ours second hand - outlay of about £200 in all I think which will last until potty training. I think it’s a pretty good deal!

Washing them is super easy- the dirty ones go in a mesh bag lined bucket and I just lift the whole thing into the washing machine. Do a rinse then a long cotton wash at 40c with full dose of powder. We don’t get smells.

If you have any issues there are lots of Facebook groups where you can post for help and people are very happy to advise eg on fit, wash routine, type of nappy for your child and circumstances etc.

I’d never go back now! 7 out of 8 of our NCT group use reusables so there’s definitely a peer effect.

I’m with @minipie

My introduction to motherhood was so hard and so traumatic. I had such severe PND and anxiety I barely wanted to get out of bed each day. I considered reuseables, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t face adding an extra layer of drudgery to what I was already experiencing day to day, so I didn’t.

Plus I feel sorry for stinky baby who has an increased chances of infertility and certain types of cancer.

What a great example of the insufferable, smug, superior nonsense that gets thrown around by crunchy “mamas”. Go give your head a wobble.

google dangers

A Google search will turn up several 'studies' proving the earth is flat.