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 use them and love them

Just wanted to drop by and say I cannot believe the absolute rudeness from some people on here.

Attacking you for asking a valid question, and thinking it then means you're better than them, or think you are... makes them look, frankly, ridiculous.

We are trying cloth nappies, because I don't see why not. They aren't expensive second hand and knowing the state this world is in thanks to convenience is just too much guilt for me to handle without giving it a go first.

Whatever way you want to look at it, everyone does what is best for them at the time, but there really was no need whatsoever for the vile comments I've read. Get your heads out of your bums and take a chill pill.

Because as a busy working mum I had enough on my plate without washing loads of nappies.

I knew a few people from nct who went down the reusable nappy front...it didn’t last long for any of them.

You can buy biodegradable nappies if you want.

We use reusable wipes and I love them. Planned on using reusable nappies with mine but then I had a couple of friends who used them and it put me off. Unfortunately, they just smelled (not of business but super musty and really strong once baby had done a wee?), and I don't think they noticed it because for them it was normal? But one friend lent me some and I used them for a few days with mine and it was the same and so I decided not to go with them.

They leaked. And I was tired.

What @TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe said sums it up really well for me
“Because they get covered in piss and shit and it's much easier to just throw them away and get a fresh one out.”
Life can be so difficult with a baby, any opportunities to make life easier for myself I will take. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about the environment but in reality I do prioritise my own day to day well-being/convenience/ease etc

@Wowthisisreal

We use reusable wipes and I love them. Planned on using reusable nappies with mine but then I had a couple of friends who used them and it put me off. Unfortunately, they just smelled (not of business but super musty and really strong once baby had done a wee?), and I don't think they noticed it because for them it was normal? But one friend lent me some and I used them for a few days with mine and it was the same and so I decided not to go with them.

Encountered this too and it’s rank. Just didn’t fancy it

My mum used the same reusable nappies for me, my older sister and my cousin she had Terry towelling nappies they fell apart after my cousin used them. My sister bought a load of reusable nappies when she was pregnant with my niece my niece was that tiny as a baby that the nappies never ever fit her until she was 2 and by then she didn’t need them.

@Ilovemaisie

Washing and drying facilities. I live in a flat with no outdoor drying place or space for a tumble dryer. To dry clothes it's a clothes horse in front of a window or draped over a radiator. In spring/autumn when it's not really cold enough to have the heating on but not exactly warm and sunny by the window things like towels or thick clothing can take 3 days to dry.

Point a fan , on cold, at your airer, should dry pretty much overnight. Or get a dehumidifier.

@Bananacakes199

Because as a busy working mum I had enough on my plate without washing loads of nappies.

I knew a few people from nct who went down the reusable nappy front...it didn’t last long for any of them.

You can buy biodegradable nappies if you want.

I had a different problem: matchstick legs. Disposables, every single one just leaked. Couldn't get the length without massive gaping leg holes. I made the stupid mistake at 8 weeks of thinking disposables would be a breeze for a 2 week camping holiday. Spent every available moment in the launderette cursing I'd left the reusables at home as every single nappy leaked onto clothing - babies and ours, leaked onto bedding, leaked onto everything everywhere. Never ever got any leaks with reusables, as you can just tweak the fit so much more easily. .

Tried them but they leaked, were bulky and just completely impractical.
Ironically, I know someone who raves about them and uses them for both her kids. She claims that disposable nappies stink but she literally only changes her kids ones when they leak or do a poo. There really is an unpleasant, musty smell from them. I know enough to realise that they need a strip wash but I suspect that she just can’t get to it. They soak and dry in her kitchen which smells awful too, but I suppose she’s nose blind. Ironically, she has no issues telling me that my son’s nappy stinks when he does a wee.

I bought it all. Then sold it all. Its hard enough as it is. I don't need more work. The same reason I don't make all his food from scratch or knit/sew his clothes.

There's SO much info about them, that it's all a bit overwhelming to understand.
This was the main reason for me. There seemed to be way too much research involved - reading up on different brands, deciding what type and material to get, going to groups to talk about nappies, working out how many to buy, working out wtf a wet bag is, consultations with Nappy Ladies etc. as a first time mum in particular there was enough to be learning about without nappies being thrown into the mix.
With disposables you walk into a shop, locate the size you want, pick them up and buy them. Done. No faffing around.

Additionally I was worried about - upfront cost (especially if I got my research wrong and bought the wrong things!), having to store dirty nappies (when out and about and in the house before washing them), it would be unfair to ask my mum or nursery to faff about with reusables.

I used reusable sometimes with my eldest when I had twins I just couldn’t I had no energy to put into stuff like that.

Had my two children when Terry nappies were the only nappies.Disposables were available but they were very poor quality and only used in emergencies.There were things called Babettes which were like sanitary towels and needed plastic pants to keep them in place.
As a result everyone was washing nappies and the nightmare of drying them in bad weather.When it was sunny they looked lovely hanging on the line outside and were bleached by the sun.
you started everyday by washing a pail all of dirty nappies from the day before which had been steeping in something called nappisan.People who had washing machines put them in boil wash.I used things called nappy liners which were thin tissue fabric and they saved a lot of the soiling as went into the bin, but if were just wet could stand one washing and used again.Plastic pants were essential to prevent sheets and baby clothes being wet, but they tended to make babies skin sore is let in wet nappy too long, but liberal amounts of cream on baby 's bottom prevented the horrible nappy rash.
When you went out, a plastic bag was essential to bring home the used nappy and yes they stunk.
IMO children were toilet trained quicker because they became aware of walking around with a wet rag between their legs and would protest, my DS2 would try and remove his nappy whenever possible.Also we mothers could not wait to get out of the daily washing and drying.They (the nappies)also needed to be safety pinned in place.
When my grandchildren and great grandchildren arrived and were brought up in disposables I thought it was a revelation, I only wish they had been available when I was a young mother and quite honestly cannot think of why people want to use cloth ones, especially when there is two children in them.

I do see your point. Ive been using them for over 4 years now and always recommend them. People usually seem to have issues as they always try and use all-in-ones, whereas 2 part nappies have always worked better for us.
I don't really understand the cost argument either, but then I bought all ours second hand which people seem to be squeamish about.
That being said, we use disposables half the time at the moment as some have bit the dust and we are nearly out the other side of nappies. Yes, it is more convenient to just through them in the bin. BUT we should be trying to reduce things like this if want to leave a decent environment for the kids in them.

People should do whatever works best for them when they have babies. I will say though, that there are other considerations in terms of access to washing machines, places to sun dry, the upfront cost, etc that affect people’s choices.

I have known mothers who were so poor that they used old towels or clothing when they didn’t have enough money to buy disposables for the week, but they never got any credit for saving the planet.

@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?

Fresh and clean and new nappy each time,

ZOMBIE THREAD

I tried but I found that they were very bulky and leaked. Also the clothes that claimed to fit over a cloth nappy were ridiculously expensive.

I bought a stash of littles and bloomz pocket nappies with boosters but unfortunately just didn’t get on with them, they just seem to leak all the time, they were also really bulky on my LO and vest poppers kept bursting open and they were a pain to stuff. I also felt like I was doing a huge amount of washing and drying so gave up really. Also joined the cloth nappy Facebook page and if there’s anything to put you off reusables its that! The discussions on wash routines, pre washes, storage of used nappies before washing etc it’s enough to put anyone off.