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?

[Underhisi]

They weren't popular when ds was born.

He is now a teen and still incontinent but I wouldn't use reuseables because the size he would need, would make his incontinence obvious which isn't fair on him.

[JohnLapsleyParlabane]

I'm on my 2nd round of cloth nappies. It's really not that hard. And it doesn't have to be all or nothing, many families combi-nappy. Reusable wipes are a great gateway into reusable options.
There are no single use liners which should be flushed. Not even if they say flushable on the package.
You may have a Nappy Library in your area which could help regarding advice or start up costs.www.uknappynetwork.org/find-a-library.html

[TheGoogleMum]

@Ginandgingers92
We have close pop in birth to potty nappies. I think DD is a heavy wetter so now I use an additional booster to the one provided (plus soaker) we get less leaks but it still happens nearly every day at some point if we spend a day trying it

[apples24]

I use them flexibly, probably 75% reusables and 25% disposables.

Normally try to catch DS's big morning poop in a disposable and then he is in reusables for rest of the day. On holidays & if we're away for the full day (ie would need to take 2 or 3 changes worth of nappies with me) he's in disposables.

Think even this approach means about 1,000 less nappies a year in landfill..

I've had no issues with leaks. Cost was ok as bought everything second hand and washing is ok IMO as well. Would recommend.

[Solihooley]

There’s no way I could possibly dry them quick enough. I don’t have a dryer (I know lots of people who do use them but they all have dryers). The winter months would be a nightmare, it’s bad enough with the washing I have with 2dc now. I supposed if I had tons of the things I could turn them around but I’m not actually convinced that would have made enough of a difference to my overall carbon emissions to better there with making my domestic work 100x harder.

[ThomasinaandSeptimus]

I think for me it was a lack of clear information. We were given a sack of reusable that another family had tried and failed with. DD arrived early and in my sleep addled and anxious state I just had no idea how these massive nappies with multiple parts corresponded to my tiny baby. Like others I was in a post emergency c section, struggling to bf nightmare and just didn’t have the brain space to work it all out.

I really wish (like combination feeding!) someone had said it didn’t have to be all or nothing as I should have got them back out when things settled down a few months later and I think I probably could have used them at least part time. Instead I filed them away as one of those things I wasn’t a good enough mum to cope with and then passed them onto someone else.

If the government funded an antenatal session on them that might help, and provided more nappy libraries etc. My nearest one was in the next county so not easily accessible.

[legalseagull]

I like the idea but the practicality puts me off. Especially when out and about. I don't want to carry a shitty nappy around with me all day. That said, I'd be happy to try them at home and keep the disposables for going out.

[Zippetydoodahzippetyay]

I didn't use them with DD1 because my husband had just lost his job and we had just bought a house so didn't have the spare $500 (AUS) it would have cost us initially. $16!per week on disposables was an easier cost to manage at the time.

When I had DD 2 I did 2 days a week in reusable Nappies. I bought 6 and used them Monday and Friday and washed/dried them during the week and again on weekend.

I found I had to change them much more frequently in reusable nappies because they don't absorb the moisture in the same way. But that has also helped my DD2 become more aware of her toileting and will most likely be toilet trained at a younger age than her sister.

For those worried about poo, I used bamboo liners with mine to collect the worst of it. Then if badly soiled I would wash it off in the laundry sink and presoak in napisan before putting into a normal wash. Never had any problems with stains or getting poo in the machine.

[allthegins]

I like how people are getting lectured on not using cloth nappies because it helps the environment. Not having kids in the first place would be even better. Some people even said they kept them for their 2nd and 3rd child. Really? Hypocrisy. Don’t bang on about the environment while having 3 children. It’s laughable.

[bellinisurge]

My sister only used terry nappies 30 years ago. Not because she was a cutting edge eco warrior but because it's what she could afford. Old fashioned rectangular towels held together with a nappy pin. I only used disposables 20 years later because I hated all the faff and there were no real alternative options - I was also very poorly and it was one less thing.
If it were now (and I was well enough) I would probably do a mix. I hate the idea of being dependent on the shops and stuck with a disaster if I can't get them.
My dd now 12 insists on reusable sanpro. Cute styles and materials.

[Ginandgingers92]

@TheGoogleMum oh that's a shame, I've heard a lot of good things about pop-ins. Apparently the night time ones are amazing! I tend to find when we get leaks it's just compression leaks, could it be that? I size up in vests or use best extenders which I find helps.
I think the leaks go a long way to putting people off, understandably x

[Ginandgingers92]

@allthegins morning! Have a lovely Sunday! 🤗🤗

[MRex]

Regarding the cost, I'm not sure that people are adding everything up correctly when they say £100. These are the costs I got from the Nappy Lady:

1st Option

Full Order RecommendationTeddys

This is based on using nappies full time and washing alternate days. For daily washing halve the nappy and wrap quantities.

Bucket @ 9.99
Nappy Mesh twin pack @8.75
Nappies 15Teddyssize 1 (8-22lbs)Aplix@ 9.34
Night Time Nappies 5 Bumble poppers @ 9.85
Optional (not included in price) but needed if starting cloth from birth Wraps 5MothereaseRikki Small 7- 12lbs @11.99
Wraps 5MothereaseRikki Mediums @ 11.99
Boosters 6 Triple layer boosters @ 10.00
Not included in the total price Liners Ultra liners 100 a roll (flushable) pack of [email protected]
Optional and not included in the total price-Washable Wipes 40 (full time use) @33.00
Optional and not included in the total price-Vest Extenders 3 @ 6.49
Subtotal 279

Needed Later
Nappies 10Teddyssize 2 (12-35lbs)Aplix@ 9.34
Wraps 4MothereaseAirflow Large @ 12.99
Subtotal 146

Total cost of systemapprox: 425

[queenofkale]

Can I ask - my DD is 9 months now and I'm
Thinking of switching to reusables (she's DD2 and it never even occurred to me with DD1)

My only concern is drying over the winter - how long to the all in ones take to dry? I have a tumble and a line but obviously lots of rain in the winter and tumbling isn't advised all the time.

I'm trying to work out how many I would need everyone I've spoken to says the 15 in the starter pack hasn't been enough.

[WanderingTrolley1]

Because disposable nappies are quicker and easier to deal with.

[Ginandgingers92]

@queenofkale
I have 30+ and that's more than enough to go 2/3 days between washes.
In terms of drying indoors, have a look at a heated dryer.
Also, I can't recommend going to a nappy library to hire a kit first, enough. You'll find which brand works for you :)

[MoltoAgitato]

Agree totally OP. I also hate the way people leave potty training so late these days. There no real reason for most children and it’s horrific how many extra nappies wind up in landfill. Used mostly cloth for both of mine, nappies were sold on so have done more children since!

[Ginandgingers92]

@queenofkale just air drying indoors in the winter, it does differ depending on the booster material; microfibre is very quick for example, but some can take a few days.

[GrouchoMrx]

Reusable nappies are worse than disposable nappies in terms of carbon emissions.

The Environment Agency, in 2008, estimated that over the two and a half years it reckoned a typical child would wear nappies, disposables would create 550kg of carbon emissions. And reusables would create 570kg of carbon emissions.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-45732371

[Sjl479]

I’d like to switch to reusables but am not sure how to get started. Any quick-start guides anyone can recommend which will explain what I need and how to use?

@SpoooyGhost I just switched to reusable sanitary towels and loving them.... £15ish for 5 on Amazon so not a huge outlay (though I’d say you need 10). Also good for mild post-childbirth incontinence 😳

[LifeBeginsNow]

At my antenatal class I was given a leaflet about an offer on the reusable nappies and it was a bargain so I bought a set (the nappies had lovely designs too). Unfortunately I was in just too much pain after the birth (and for years later) to contemplate bending down to use the washing machine so much. It was a shame as I had good intentions but I sold them on to someone else so at least they were used.
We do use cheeky wipes for face and hands and I think they are amazing. I still take wet wipes with us out and about but the muslin wipes just make so much sense at home.

[MoltoAgitato]

Also, you don’t need to do all or nothing. You can use disposables out and about, or on holidays and then cloth whenever it’s easier at home.

[StripeySocks29]

Because they’re expensive, they leak, you have to change them more often, they’re a lot more effort than just chucking away a disposable and disposables can be as cheap as 4 or 5p per nappy if you don’t get the branded ones, so I don’t even really notice the cost of nappies to be honest.

[hidinginthenightgarden]

I tried to switch recently but they leaked and DD smelled of piss. I researched for ages, asked for advice on here and ended up with a brand that weren't suitable for us.
I cannot afford to keep trying to find the right ones.

[Ginandgingers92]

@Sjl479 www.thenappylady.co.uk/