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?

Sorry meant to say, both nursery and childminder were happy to use them. They were sceptical initially my 11mth old would use a potty but agreed to try, and that worked out too.

I didn’t have a tumblr drier so line of radiator dried, I had about 18 nappies so washed every 2-3 days and just put them in with towels and bedding.

@Hithere12 I'm not sure where you heard
that. The nappies I use are to be washed on a 40, and it's not recommended that you tumble dry and cloth nappies as it degraded the elastic. Line drying is best and the sun bleaches and stains.

I used them, my eldest is 18 now.
They worked for my 3 brilliantly.
But I get that some people find the idea grim.

Our nursery was also fine with reuseables. 4 ready to go reuseables handed over with wet bag at the beginning of the day, wet bag picked up at night, spare handful of disposables for emergencies. They would much rather use reuseables than pay to dispose of the thousands of disposable nappies they go through each week!

I also think I used disposables for the newborn stage - meant I could buy 6month + nappies and I had enough to be getting on with when you had a newborn.

We used a mix of disposable and reusable.

They're fab if you have a tumble dryer or a great laundry drying set up. Unfortunately we didn't, so I used them less with each dc because I couldn't cope with the laundry.

For one baby they are very easy though, and once they are out of nappies and potty training there is going to be poo residue and wee in your washing machine anyway while they get the hang of it!

@MRex - that's a premium brand. It's perfectly possible to do it mug cheaper. TNL doesn't stock the cheaper brands.

I used them for my 8 and 6 year old. My 8 year old wore disposables for the first 2 weeks then at night until 8 months while I worked out how they worked. My 6 year old only ever wore reusables. I also used reusable wipes.

No poo in the washing machine! We had a “poo knife” and would scrap a poo nappy into the toilet and flush it.

We have a local cloth nappy library where you can trial nappies and our council promotes it too.

Also, just to add we were very skint when we had our first baby and cloth nappies and breastfeeding really did save us so much money despite the extra costs that come up with both.

I use cloth nappies and get on really well. I used a nappy library kit initially so have tried about 15 different brands - none of them leaked once I'd learned to put them on properly. The washing really isn't much hassle, my energy bills haven't shot up, they don't stink of pee and there certainly isn't 'poo everywhere' as a previous poster suggested! And yes, I do work and still manage to put on an extra couple of loads of washing a week ( although admittedly my husband also puts on the washing machine) I did do a lot of reading before taking the plunge and they are more environmentally friendly. The previously quoted environment agency report uses distinctly sub optimal washing conditions (I wash on 40, never tumble dry), assumes they are purchased new and only used on one child. The landfill benefits are indisputable.

I think they aren't more widely used for a number of reasons, initial outlay/lack of information - but there do seem to be a lot of myths too. I'm shocked by the number of posters who don't use them because they don't like the thought of getting too near their child's poo - that's just a bit pathetic

I’m surprised they aren’t more popular. 4/5 at our NCT group used washables and our nursery actively encourages it by providing reusable wet bags for dirty nappies. Perhaps it varies depending where you live.

I kind of miss the nappies now we are through the potty training stage with my three. There was always something strangely satisfying about a washing line full of cute nappies.

I gave them a go with my second born, but I really couldn't get on with them. I tried a few different brands, all of which leaked after a short amount of time, I couldn't afford to try any others. Also I have a tiny house and it was a nightmare keeping my older toddler away from the bucket of dirty nappies.
Another issue I found was that clothes aren't made to fit cloth nappies (I used my eldest's old clothes for my second so seemed counter productive to by new to use cloth) unless you can afford the likes of Frugi etc.

I don't drive or fly, I will only have two children, so I figured I could afford myself a luxury.

For us it was the initial cost and also I'm absolutely awful at keeping up with the washing on a daily basis, no matter how hard I try!

Thinking about it though, the initial cost isn't a good excuse as you could buy them one by one over time and gradually make the transition that way. My daughter is 15 months and I'm thinking of trying out potty training soon. If I have another I'm going to definitely try so much harder to do cloth nappies. I've been disappointed with myself for not persevering with my first child this time round.

I didnt want to. I was completely overwhelmed by having a baby and if someone had tried to make me change my habits it might have sent me over the edge. And btw our rubbish goes into an incinerator,

This thinking about the environment seems to be another stick for women to beat themselves and each other with whilst conveniently distracting from the fact that the mostly male govt does very little and has done very little for years.

Thanks @Ginandgingers92 I’ve now done the questionnaire

Because people are lazy and neurotic about hygiene and also make assumptions without doing any research. Plus people generally go with whatever makes their life easier rather than thinking about the long term costs for themselves or the environment.

I have three kids and the reusable nappies saved me a fortune because they were passed on. No poo in the washing machine, the poo goes in the loo.

I bought a reusable to try with DC1 and it leaked the few times I tried, so I gave up.

With DC2, the local authority were giving away vouchers towards reusable, so I bought 3. They worked well and i used them regularly, alongside disposables.

I think one of the biggest barriers for me, was the price of reusables. When my children were in nappies 5-10 years ago, they cost £15 each and that was a lot of money on top of everything else you have to get and also coping on a reduced salary.

I did, however use washable wipes. I had lots of muslin face clothes and used them to wipe bums. Or sometimes would just check the children in the sink.

Oh for goodness sake, climate change and concern for the environment is not one big Westminster driven conspiracy designed to degrade women.

Love reusable nappies! Like others say the poo isn't that bad and it is much more important that the babies have a world to enjoy than pristine conditions.

Also wanted to say if you can't face nappies yet at least try reusable wipes!

The initial affordability issue is a shame because they do save money in the long run. I'll donate my full set to someone when the time comes.

Aw @Itsonlytuesdayqwer I'm the biggest lover of cloth nappies, but anyone hating another parent for making the best choices for them isn't worth a thought.

We're all just bumbling along, doing what works for us, easy for me to cloth when I'm home all the time, have a garden to line dry and space for airers inside.

I got a small starter pack with DD1 but they were rubbish compared with Pampers and that was that. With DD2 my friend sent me all the ones her DC had finished with, so I was able to try a few different types and I bought a few more. However, we only used them until DD2 was 9 months old and I went back to work. There was no way I was washing nappies after then.

We are expecting our first in September and after much reading we have decided on reusable nappies and wipes. We purchased Cheeky wipes but will be looking at nappy trials via nappy libraries to find which ones we get on best with. A lot of councils offer incentives if you buy reusable now.
We decided on reusable not only because of the environmental factor but also we read about the sheer amount on chemicals on your babies skin in the disposable ones and thought no way.
Disposables arent recycled widely, in Wales there is a private company used by the councils but you have to register and not sure of the cost. As far as I know, there is no scheme in England or Scotland.

Don't you have to keep buying different sizes though? So you have to keep paying the 'start up' price each time?

But at least all our nappies were then passed onto a third child.

I used reusable nappies but we're going back 14 years now! I didn't use them when we went out though. Found them easy to clean and used biodegradable liners to catch most of the solids!

Menstrual products: @Wiltshirelass2019 please do try a menstrual cup! I find a cheap cup I got on Amazon called Windsleeper much better than a Mooncup. It doesn't leak and it's soft - I found the Mooncup less comfortable and it leaked, but it might depend on individual body shape. With this new cup I don't usually need a panty liner (always did with tampons) but if i do, I use a reusable one. I'm no environmental angel but it does feel good not to have a bin full of used tampons and wrappers every month.