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?

I tried really hard and spent a small fortune getting set up. The washing didn’t bother me at all. What brought it to a head was having to change them far more frequently.

The colour/pattern argument for reusables always seemed to me a rather spurious as aren’t the babies bottoms covered by, you know, clothes? It just seems a little odd.

Ahh, but you see, these special smug mum nappies aren’t just for wearing under clothes! They’re for hanging on the line so all the neighbours can see and admire. They’re for taking centre stage when you post photos of your toddler trouserless on FB. They’re for showing off your newest purchase in your snug mum nappy group. This aren’t just ordinary shit catching nappies, these are extra special smug mum attention seeking grabbing nappies.

@willFOURbagsbeenough touché 🤣

@Same4Walls

I bought the pack of nappies for £22 from Mothercare and the pins were about £2

That's insanely cheap. See if they were only £20 odd quid to buy initially then people would absolutely be more likely to try them but when the cost is £150 + or upwards of £400 as one poster was quoted then it does nothing to encourage people to try as if it then doesn't work out you've wasted so much money.

I've just Googled (God knows what that's going to do to the data harvesting and my future ads).

A pack of 12 is available for £24.95. With the inflation since I bought them, that's a hell of a lot cheaper than I paid.

I’ve yet to find a brand that prevents leaks besides Pampers. Tried all the main supermarkets plus Aldi and Lidl. Huggies, Naty. All leaked.

I bought loads of beautiful ones. Was really pleased with myself at how savvy I was being at the long term saving. They ALL leaked

@ZazuMoon we spend a fortune on Beaming baby “eco” disposables and they don’t leak. Might be worth a try.

Kit and Kin before they reformulated them were amazing. The new ones are godawful and we had leaks at every change.

@KatyClaire

I didn’t know collecting prints was a thing! The wraps I use are plain white - very dull.

Haha yep and for some it's addictive some go mad on nappy groups for certain ones it's like a hobby!

I was completely overwhelmed and didnt have any bandwith.

That’s so weird! I never even thought about it. It’s a bit odd - buying loads of the wraps undermines the environmentally friendly aspect of them so I don’t think I would do it myself. Especially with a December born baby who has spent his whole life so far in layers anyway!

@willFOURbagsbeenough don't forget, dressing baby in leg warmers rather than normal clothes to ensure fellow smug mummies can see you have procured the must have limited edition super exclusive nappy print.

A pack of 12 is available for £24.95. With the inflation since I bought them, that's a hell of a lot cheaper than I paid.

Really? That surprises me is it just for some terry squares if so I do what the OP got for £120 the liners wraps etc must really bulk up the price.

I think people don't wish to try them because of perception that they smell etc. Actually I find disposables smell way worse if my son has to be in them which hasn't been to often.

The kit hires also really helped mums who wanted to try them out but weren't sure especially with cost of some brands new but due to covid this has stopped.

My son has been in cloth since 6 weeks old (he's now 2) I find it a lot easier and once in a routine it's fine we don't have a tumble drier and live in North Scotland! But we went for quick drying because of this.

I used to get some funny looks in baby groups one mum thought I was a right hippy but actually it saved washing of clothes especially with poonamis never had one with cloth nappies. Quite a few mums I know use cloth it's personal choice it works for us. Can definitely recommend looking at boosting options (we use charcoal boosters) when they get past about 6 months extra absorbing power stops leaks.

My friend always used them. Her baby always smelled of wee.

Because most products we have moved towards using reusable versions of don't get covered in poo and wee, it's a level of personal discomfort less people are willing to put up with.

I agree with others, the products are positive but parents of newborns are not the best people to pressure into it.

Washable nappies are much cheaper than 10yrs ago when I had my first I think. There are also cloth nappy libraries in a few places organising for packs to be lent. Certainly worked for us - no leak, easy to use, no smell, easy to wash, no rash.
Personally I quite like buying different patterns etc but only because the ones I prefer (pocket nappies) come like this anyway and are cheap enough. I have some little lamb plain ones too but they cost quite a bit when I got them 10yrs ago and didn't last as much as some of the much cheaper ones I got. In terms of why get patterns when the babies get dressed - well it's a bit like why buy/wear underwear that are patterned or nice t shirts if it's winter etc I just like it. No particular reason and not for a Photoshoot or to impress Facebook lol
We did do a Photoshoot when my son was 1yrs old and he was in nappies then but had a simple white one then. Not that I cared.

I used them for my 2nd child, now I have 3 I intend to use them in the summer when they can dry outside, but in winter they're totally impractical as we simply can't dry them fast enough. We don't have a dryer, outside is too wet/damp and inside drying rack is totally rammed with all our other laundry.

The initial costs

It’s weird, I’ve always noticed that disposable nappies make babies smell of pee. Maybe all babies are pee-scented and we just stop noticing with our own offspring

@swaziscot

Problems are

• you’re putting pee and bits of poo into your washing machine which is gross - doesn’t it smell bad afterwards?
• you’re using the washing machine and maybe dryer more so that’s not good for the environment
• not everyone has a dryer and if you don’t have much space for an airer either you’ve got nappies drying all over your home
• they’re a faff at a time when you have quite a lot on.

I used them with my first when we lived somewhere bigger but not with my second

• you're putting bit of wee and poo in your washer, because pants exist. Plus babies and toddlers can get wee and poo on clothes...or do you just throw those away?

• the use of the washing machine to wash reusables for 3 years, uses less water than 3 years worth of disposables need to be made.

• drying can be an issue when no outdoor space and/or dryer, agreed.

• they can be a faff, but not always.

@Same4Walls

A pack of 12 is available for £24.95. With the inflation since I bought them, that's a hell of a lot cheaper than I paid.

Really? That surprises me is it just for some terry squares if so I do what the OP got for £120 the liners wraps etc must really bulk up the price.

Yes, that's the bog standard white terry squares.

I was surprised as well, but I suppose the money goes on the fancy colours, patterns and general consumerism. I can't imagine getting excited about something that is literally designed to be shat upon.

But then again, I didn't have the money on £42.25 a week Maternity allowance (and £500 saved from my six grand a year job) to be remotely manipulated by any emotion-based advertising (and both reusable and disposable nappy companies do that ALL the time). I just used the bottom halves of the couple of dress sets I'd been given over the waterproof cover/pants if there was going to be a photo.

Most of the time, I didn't bother with the waterproofs and couldn't be arsed with liners, as all I did was empty the contents into the toilet, pull the flush whilst holding onto the corner tightly, then drop into a lidded bucket until there were enough to shove into the washing machine on a hot wash (5kg machine, the biggest I could afford at the time and the largest expense). As she was BF, there didn't really seem to be any need for anything else.

At some point, I thought about it and decided I was a bit happier about knowing bags of her shit weren't going to still be around in 10,000 years, but it just wasn't a consideration at the time - I needed cheap, not a constant outlay when money was so tight.

Thanks @ReggieKrait. Kit and kin leaked but will give the other a go.

🤔 The set up cost definitely put me off.

I didn't like the thought of having to carry used ones around when out and about.

... and then there is the infamous nappy bucket!

It's really not for everyone while there is an easier alternative!

I must admit I didn’t consider it. The thought of more washing and drying put me off. It sounds like a lot of extra work.

I would liked to have used them when mine was a baby as I care about the environment but there were too many barriers to make it worthwhile. The upfront cost, no space for a tumble dryer so drying them would be a problem for my winter baby, partner not supportive...