AIBU to wonder why more people don’t use reusable nappies?

[KatyClaire]

I have a fairly new baby and I’m a little surprised at how few people I’ve encountered are using reusable nappies. I haven’t met anyone using them in my antenatal group / baby classes / local parents group etc. There has been such an explosion in the use of reusable products (sanitary products, straws, cups, make up wipes etc) that I had assumed it would have crossed into nappies as well.

I don’t know whether it’s a perception issue (people thinking they’re messy and hard to clean), the upfront cost, confusing information etc?

If you really cared about the environment then why continue having more than one of two kids?

OP, have you given a thought to giving up on toilet paper for yourself and use a combination of bidet and a collection of reusable cloth wipes? You could wash the wipes on the same cycle as diapers which would offset the environmental cost of the hot washing cycle...

This actually involves less upfront cost than cloth diapers and much less hassle.

After adapting cloth diapers this can open a new sustainability horizon for you. Alas, this is probably not the topic you could as easily virtue signal about to your various friendship cycles...

We use cloth nappies and I like them.
However, it is a big investment. With my first daughter we went for the cheapest well known brand, which was fine to start with but started leaking regularly from around 12 months. I didn't want to try out loads of different ones so then we just went to disposables. It's so hit and miss and each "miss" costs £15+ so it's not worth it for a lot of families.

This time round I had time to do a lot of research and I'm using a more expensive, two part system, which is much better.

Also it takes time. Reading and learning about the different nappy types, brands, washing routines etc. Disposables are so easy.

I dont regret my choice to use cloth nappies but I can absolutely see why it's not popular. If someone could bring out a nappy which fits every child, never leaks and has a straightforward wash/dry routine then I'm sure they would become more popular!

The ones I've used are either crap and leak or look really hefty and uncomfortable on my babies. I also think the culty hoarding of must have prints is a tragic community I don't want to be part of.

I’m due in the summer and weighing up whether to use them, I work in climate and have several friends who have done, but if I’m honest what’s holding me back is:

• Laundry is my least favourite household chore after hoovering
• it’s fine in the summer but in winter I’ll want to tumble dry which negates benefits
• Worried about spending all that money upfront then finding the brand doesn’t work for us
• Worried about when they’re older having leaks or not lasting the night

Mainly it’s the extra laundry I’ll be honest...

Why don’t more people make pasta from scratch or hand wash everything and wring is dry rather than using a washing machine - or get up 2 hours earlier and walk to work instead of driving, why isn’t everyone vegan, why don’t people spend less time scrolling on their phones posting on mumsnet (yes, this also adds to your carbon footprint!) the list is endless.

Yep. Or the ultimate- why don’t people just not have children. It’s the worst thing you can do for the environment. You don’t get to feel even an ounce of smugness about your eco prowess for using cloth nappies when those nappies are bedecking the arse of the worst thing you ever did for the environment.

Seems like the discussion is getting heated! But just wanted to chip in to say that I'm a mum to be (first time) and I've started to look into reusable nappies. But honestly, I just feel overwhelmed! So much info online, different types of nappies... I was also shocked at the upfront cost but I could afford it. Washing them is another thing, I'm not keen on trying to flick/scrape poo off them first (I know, I'm a wuss!) and I wondered about the environmental cost/balance of then having to use my washing machine and tumble dryer more... I'm really torn because I like to try to be as eco friendly as possible but also just think do I need the added pressure of doing this when things are overwhelming as it is... I think I'll use disposables to start with but I would really to give reusables a try! I have heard lots of folks say it's not to bad once you get into the swing of things. Wish someone who just go ahead and create a truly biodegradable disposable nappy!

@notalwaysalondoner

I’m due in the summer and weighing up whether to use them, I work in climate and have several friends who have done, but if I’m honest what’s holding me back is:

• Laundry is my least favourite household chore after hoovering
• it’s fine in the summer but in winter I’ll want to tumble dry which negates benefits
• Worried about spending all that money upfront then finding the brand doesn’t work for us
• Worried about when they’re older having leaks or not lasting the night

Mainly it’s the extra laundry I’ll be honest...

@notalwaysalondoner snap! Totally agree and I'm also due in summer

@notalwaysalondoner

I’m due in the summer and weighing up whether to use them, I work in climate and have several friends who have done, but if I’m honest what’s holding me back is:

• Laundry is my least favourite household chore after hoovering
• it’s fine in the summer but in winter I’ll want to tumble dry which negates benefits
• Worried about spending all that money upfront then finding the brand doesn’t work for us
• Worried about when they’re older having leaks or not lasting the night

Mainly it’s the extra laundry I’ll be honest...

Cost wise, join a FB cloth bum site, you'll get for advice and buy second hand

I use cloth nappies and wipes and it's fine. Washing machine does all the washing so I don't feel it's a extra work really. My little one definitely doesn't stink or smell, nappies are crispy white and clean after wash, they don't smell, I haven't had a leak in 15 months since I started using them.
Making and producing a disposable takes more energy and water then washing reusable overall, they do end up in landfill for around 500 years because of the plastic they contain. But so does every plastic toothbrush too and other plastics we use on every day basis. Being eco friendly it's not just about nappies lots of other swaps can be done and everyone can do a little bit for the planet.

We have more babies in family and they all use disposable nappies and wipes, I never felt I have to turn them to use reusables they know I use cloth, never shown any interest in them and said that they just can't be bothered and it's too much. It's fine it's their choice. I will happily use mine as they really work for us and will resell after we potty train.

@willFOURbagsbeenough

Why don’t more people make pasta from scratch or hand wash everything and wring is dry rather than using a washing machine - or get up 2 hours earlier and walk to work instead of driving, why isn’t everyone vegan, why don’t people spend less time scrolling on their phones posting on mumsnet (yes, this also adds to your carbon footprint!) the list is endless.

Yep. Or the ultimate- why don’t people just not have children. It’s the worst thing you can do for the environment. You don’t get to feel even an ounce of smugness about your eco prowess for using cloth nappies when those nappies are bedecking the arse of the worst thing you ever did for the environment.

I had that conversation once with someone. They were terribly offended that I had a car and they sort of spiralled and went off on one huge rant for ages).

I had to walk away laughing when they said "I wish my parents had never had children. I'd rather I wasn't alive than impacting the earth in anyway."

In my head I was thinking "me too love, me too."

I used them with my first. Loved them. They did the same job, the cost of it all was less than I'd have spent on throwaway nappies, and I felt good about reducing waste. Tried to reuse them for my second baby and did so for about 2 months before I just gave up. The constant washing and drying of toddler clothes AND baby clothes while running around after them both on 4 hours sleep was bad enough, and then with cloth nappies on top of that, it just became too much for me.

@Kishkashta I have a bidet. Have always found it strange that they’re not more common in this country. They’re so much more hygienic and pleasant than loo paper! I always think that if you got shit on another part of your body you wouldn’t be happy to just wipe it off with paper!

We used reusables for our first baby then swopped to disposables for our second, as some were wearing out and we would have needed to buy more. Disposables are so much easier!

I'm not even sure that it's more environmentally friendly to be soaking them in chemicals (even ones that claim to be greener) then washing at 60 degrees, drying in the tumble dryer (dried outside they weren't soft) , plus there's all the unpleasantness and potential risk of having buckets of pooey water around.

Older relatives who had had to use terry nappies were aghast that we weren't just using the newer much more convenient disposables and I can completely understand why!

Unless you exclusively use washable sanitary pads and fabric handkerchiefs then you probably can work out why reusable nappies are too much for many people.

[quote KatyClaire]@Kishkashta I have a bidet. Have always found it strange that they’re not more common in this country. They’re so much more hygienic and pleasant than loo paper! I always think that if you got shit on another part of your body you wouldn’t be happy to just wipe it off with paper![/quote]
Do you drive or do you go everywhere by horse and cart?

The upfront cost is a bit of a bummer but honestly, I'd never go back.

I did disposable with DS. I still got covered in piss and shit. They leaked far more. I couldn't mould the nappies to his frame so had to find the right brands. Running out meant popping to the shops. The cost is astronomical.

Reusables have been awesome with DD. I've never run out. I've never had any leaks. They're just as much hassle as disposables. I like not feeling guilty for using them. I just wash them every other day and they dry super quick.

I have a mix of terries and totsbots pop ins for night time. They're amazing. They come out perfectly after each wash and they're going to last until she's potty trained.
You can even sell them on.

What is there not to love about reusables?

The cost is astronomical.

Why do you think the cost of disposables is astronomical? Again no children here, but most on the thread have said the opposite and it's the resusables that can be seriously expensive.

I used reusables for my first child, though did use a disposable at night otherwise remained wetter at night than needed to. The reusables are bulkier than disposables, but 'babies are not fashion accessories'!
Leaks only occurred with those true explosions (I defy any nappy to keep those in!) There were no nasty niffs as washing occurred daily and my washing machine survived.
However i did use disposables only on my 2nd born. Somehow the appear of the reusables was not there for the 2nd time around!

@Littlelapwing I do actually have a pair of ponies and a cart 🤣 but I confess I use it for leisure not travel! I’m not sure they would park up and wait for me outside Tesco very patiently.

Lived on a boat. Barely had room for the baby, let alone the stuff you needed for reusable nappies to be hygienic etc.

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe

Because they get covered in piss and shit and it's much easier to just throw them away and get a fresh one out.

Think about the reason single-use products became popular in the first place: they're easy, they're cheap, they're just as good or better than the reusable ones for less work.

Your first para made me laugh 😂

More guilting, just what we were all missing. Rack off.

I used reusables for mine. I had the funds to buy them up front and the space to dry them without using a tumble drier. I wouldn’t say I had a lot of time - went back full at 6m with them, but it’s only a couple of extra loads a week. And I found them better from a leak point of view too.

But I totally get why people can’t/don’t want to use them. The biggest gripe I have, is why have the big disposable companies not been forced into make them more eco-friendly? The technology is out there and if they were all doing it, the cost would come down. We really need govt intervention on that one I think.

I did try them and DS instantly got horrendous nappy rash, which put me off.