AIBU To be angry that I can't get reusable nappies right.

[daydreamer2020]

So no matter what I do my little one leaks to the point he's drenched every now and then. We use pocket nappies and at the moment I'm using micro fibre and charcoal inserts.

Has anyone got an tips or suggestions it awakes seems to be a pressure leak from his car seat, pushchair or baby carrier.

I'm so angry with myself that I can't get it. When we first started using them and I got upset over it my partner wouldn't let me bin them out of anger because we've spent so much money on them.

I know it's a silly thing to stress over but it honestly upsets me so much that he ends up drenched. And it can be comfortable for him either.

I change him every two hours and sometimes after half an hour he's wet through. I feel like if I add more layers his nappies will be too bulky for him to move....

Are you on Facebook? There are some great groups on there that will sort you out. Cloth Bum Mums is the first that springs to mind

how old is your baby?

Is he leaking through gaps or soaking through nappy?

I found that early on my little boy was a leak machine. As he filled out (6-8 months) he fit the nappies better and didn't leak around the legs. I'd also purchased second hand covers on ebay and when I bought new ones that really helped.

Pocket nappies didn't work so well for us in the early months - used bumboozles for night times.

(and the most absorbent inserts for me were bamboo based rather than micro fibre)

Sorry this isn't as helpful as you need. Don't forget any nappy that you don't put in landfill, is a nappy saved. So even if you do disposables outside to save your sanity, some reusables are better than nothing.

It’s possible that the material the insert is made of isn’t absorbing fast enough, or have a big enough capacity for your LO. So e.g. try bamboo or cotton if it’s not made of these

Also, we use vest extenders so the vest is a little looser and doesn’t sit too snuggly on the nappy (meaning it will get wet)

Remember that disposables leak too!

What brand of nappy? Charcoal are often microfibre as well and don’t absorb well, leading to compression leaks.

I realised that Mt daughter is leaking from reuseables where they are bulkier and make her vest too tight. So vests and leggings need a size up if they are not made with a huge cloth bum in mind. I also change immediately before going in the sling, buggy or car car seat to minimise compression leaks in there

Try little lambs bamboo inserts under the microfiber. We had this issue with miosolos and was recommended these, it hasnt been an issue since!

@MouseLouse he's 10months old now. I've actually looked in to it and was wondering about bamboo so I might give them ago....it's all around his legs that he leaks and sometimes at the top of the nappy around his belly. I think he's just a heavy wetter and seems to do big wee which his nappy just can't hack in one go.

Hmm pocket nappies aren't very good in my opinion. Have you tried old fashioned Terrie's? Mother ease, etc. Sounds like compression leaks.

@cupcake vest extenders?? These maybe a game changer

I used to advise on cloth nappies many years ago. There are lots of possible reasons, some of which have been described above.

Pocket nappies can work really well, but if you have a heavy wetter, you might need something more substantial. 2 part shaped nappies and wraps always worked better. Firstly, are you pointing his penis into the nappy so he's not weeing up into the waistband or least absorbent part? Then, are you adding extra layers at the front? What is the pocket nappy made from? Some of the fleece ones can let the wee run off before the insert can do its job. Bamboo is more absorbent; hemp is the most absorbent I have seen and it takes ages to dry.

How old is your DS? What size is he and what size of nappies are you using? When babies are young, they can have scrawny legs - my DD2 did. Then they fill out so wraps don't fit very well, or can fit better depending on the wrap. Then they get mobile and slim down again and you have the same problem.

In your position, see if you can find a nappy library nearby. They lend out a range of different styles and types. You may find something that fits or suits your LO better.

As Mouse says, every one you use is one out keep out of landfill. So keep on keeping on. The inserts will always come in useful later on. If you have another child, you can use them again.

My knowledge of current styles is really out of date but if you want to PM me, I'm happy to be impartial about it and see if I can help.

@Thriceisnice yes! Stops them having a massive vest on. Plenty on amazon that aren’t expensive, or easy to make

Only works on vests, still need a size up in leggings and sleepsuits sometimes

I meant to add that bulk between a baby's legs is no bad thing. It helps their hips (clicky hips babies are often advised to use cloth) and are much softer & more padded when they start to pull up and toddle.

My experience was that pocket nappies weren't great for absorbency however there are lots of others that make it work. Have you joined any of the real nappy groups on Facebook? There are so many lovely ladies that will offer brilliant fit advice and also advice on optimising your inserts too. I personally find hemp and cotton are my favourite choices of material and would pair this with a microfibre as they absorb so much better.

Where are you based? Lots of local nappy branches 😊

I have a heavy wetter too op! We used AIOs which I boosted with hemp boosters in the day, and bamboozled stretches, which I also boosted, at night.

DC is now a large toddler, so we have had to go up a size.

Have you tried speaking to someone at the Nappy Lady? I've found them helpful in the past.

That sounds like compression leaks due to the microfibre in both inserts, neither of which are very absorbant. Are they cheapish nappies from Amazon/ eBay by any chance?

Good bamboo inserts or a different brand would probably be a game changer.

Make sure you are using vest extenders as well.

I've heard about nappy libraries but at the time lockdown had just happened so I wasn't able to look in to it further. I might try an look in to it again.

I really want to persevere and I feel very stubborn about not giving in. I know it's just finding the right combo and learning more about it.

Thanks for all the advice I'm going to try by some more inserts and maybe look at extra wraps....

From what i have read when I was researching, microfibre is only really suitable for newborn age as its designed to dry fast but therefore doesnt hold much.

Bamboo holds the most.

We have tots bots bamboozles for nighttime, and the tots bots easyfits daytime. The bamboozles easily last 11-12 hrs overnight without leaking so are bomb proof. The easyfits very rarely leak, usually if not been put on correctly at leg but are fine changing every 3hrs on average.

Unlike the disposable we used last week randomly, and poop went all up his back! thats never happened with a reusable.

I got on fine with pocket nappies/2 part nappies (e.g. close pop ins), I always used either bamboo or cotton inserts instead of microfibre. Microfibre absorbs quicker but is more prone to compression leaks than bamboo and cotton. If I ever used a microfibre pad (like if I used the bambino mio AIOs), I’d stick in a little lamb bamboo insert too.

We got a couple of different kinds - totsbots worked bes at first as they were velcro and so adjustable, but the velcro could be taken off by a toddler and eventually wore out. Popper nappies were better as DD got bigger.

You do have to put quite a lot of padding in, particularly for overnight, and they are bulkier than disposables (DD normally wears dresses rather than trousers for this reason).

How many boosters do you use? We have pocket nappies and use bamboo inserts. I found that around 8/9 months I had to add an extra booster so now have three in each nappy and change approximately every 3 hours.

I'm on my second DC in cloth nappies (Tots Bots) and I've come to the conclusion they just leak. I change them pretty much every hour because they can't cope with more than one wee. I don't use poppered vests so that means I don't have to change his vest too, so it's not such a hassle. I don't think cloth nappies are comparable to disposables, which are full of all sorts of nasty stuff to absorb the urine, but I'm happy with that to keep them out of landfill. I do put him in a disposable overnight though!

Although I do wish I'd found a way of getting them not to leak, so good luck! (We're nearly out of the nappy stage)

I couldn't get them to work either, OP. I really really tried everything but she was leaking, sore, smelly, damp...I gave up. I found out that nappies are incinerated, apparently, so the environmental impact wasn't as bad as I feared. I hope you have better luck but if not, don't beat yourself up.

I never got on with pocket nappies with my first as she did power pees!

I stuck with 2 partners using motherease airflow wraps and never looked back. I used easy peasy bimbles I think it was that I could boost with whatever.