Cloth nappies

[Babylj2015]

I've got ages yet but have been thinking about cloth nappies . This will be my first and I'm really interested in using them but not completely sold . Has anyone used or is using them . Give me pros and cons? One thing that puts me off is using them out and about ? Carrying dirty nappies around ect. Any advice

[NorahBone]

The grotty poo stage should only last a few days, rather than weeks . The disposable liners are worth using if you need to use nappy cream, as some barrier creams reduce absorbability and liners protect the nappy. They're pretty durable and you can put the wee-soaked ones through the washing machine with no damage. I'd advise against flushing them though, they don't break down easily and can block the pipes.

[honeysucklejasmine]

mrsAtticus wow thank you for such a detailed response! I shall discuss with OH. :-)

I'm glad to hear they aren't smelling, at least at first!

[PurplePidjin]

Darkside so did ds's when he was on just milk, teething screwed that one up good and proper I'm afraid!

[Darksideofthemoon88]

Re what Seb said above, that might depend on the type you use. I've got TotsBots and Little Lamb and they never stink even though DD (not quite ten weeks) can easily go 4-6 hours in one nappy because they're so absorbent. In fact, I find she tends to still smell of laundry liquid when I change her.

[MrsAtticus]

I love them, but must admit to using disposables if we go out for the day. Have a wet bag for nappies so carrying around is no problem, but you do have to be a bit more on the ball about regular changing with washables so I find it easier to use disposables if out all day.
Other pros/cons:
Pros - def cheaper in the long run, less environmental impact, less nappy rash, easier to toilet train as in washables they feel wet so are more aware.
Cons - bigger initial cost, having somewhere to store them (not cons really just things to consider).
I have lots, and second purples point about 2nd hand stuff, good to collect what you can this way. If you are buying I loved bum genius, both the all in ones and the 2 part styles are great. Was also very impressed by mothercare smart nappy wraps, never had one leak!
When buying, remember that all wraps (the waterproof bits) and inners (the wadding) are pretty much interchangeable, so you don't necessarily need the same brand inner as wrap.
I cut up old t-shirts to use as wipes (might as well as they can go into wash with the nappies), and also used these as liners when they had solid poo (you hold then under the flush then put in nappy bin). But found I needed disposable liners when they are just having milk and poo is very runny (found bamboo ones the best).

[honeysucklejasmine]

Thank you for your advice ladies! That's really helpful, and stops my mind spinning!

[PurplePidjin]

I bought a couple each of several different types when pregnant (second hand) then bought more when I had an actual baby to put them on. Cheapies from ebay were dreadful in the early days, I just couldn't get a decent fit and ds was in them for a couple of weeks then he'd be in between poppers for another couple of weeks so I sold all mine and bought more velcro ones - totsbots easyfits and miosolos. Then he got a nasty rash when his molars cut so I went to wool full time (went to it for nights at around 3 months as it's so bombproof and lets more air through than PUL). Now I'm leaning back towards the simplicity of cheapie pockets after he went to stay with a friend for a couple of days while I went away with work and I borrowed a load - which in reality meant I was given a load because a different friend decided she didn't like that brand!

I don't think I've spent more than £150 on nappies in 21 months, and I've had some new ones and a couple of WAHM pretty ones in there too. And I can use them on hypothetical DC2 in the future. So many people are so kind and generous when it comes to cloth nappies, and the cheaper types just don't make enough back to make it worth the hassle of selling, so they get passed on to a Mum You Know. Post on one of the big Facebook groups like Cloth Bum Mums to see if there's anyone in your area, and also look for local Attachment Parenting and Sling groups as reusable nappies often go hand in hand with those other things. Sling meets are a good and friendly way to meet more experienced parents and are accessible to pregnant women - I first went at 7 months because I live in a flat and needed to work out how to get baby, buggy and shopping up the stairs without leaving something in the rain in the car park I ditched the buggy bit completely so that might be a good place to start?

[NotCitrus]

Buy second hand. Makes them way cheaper - can get a couple dozen for £20-40 and you can experiment with fit etc. And look at Freecycle and parents FB groups for freebies I've just offloaded a pile of Motherease nappies that have been through 6 babies and many will manage another baby or two before being recycled.

I think I've spent about £50 on reusables and the same on disposables, over two children. Add costs of washing twice a week for 4 years and it's still a bargain.

[honeysucklejasmine]

I am really looking forward to using cloth nappies after seeing my elder sister do so with her 2 DDs. My only concern is when to buy them. My Sis is lucky enough to have a cloth nappy shop in the next town over, but recommended buying from big events, like the baby show in London/Birmingham.

However, lots of people talk about different nappies having different fits and using a nappy library to see which is best. We do have a local scheme, so that would be easy to do, but this would mean that unless DC is born a few weeks before a show (I'm a planner...still TTC but compulsively plan in advance!), I won't be able to take advantage of show discounts to buy the best fitting nappy, and I tend to suffer from crowd rage, so might have to send in a proxy to such an event. I can't imagine going heavily pregnant OR with a newborn without murdering people around me.

I'm rather in love with TotsBots as it's what my Sis uses and I'm familiar with them, but don't want to buy them assuming that they will fit future DC and they don't, but also don't want to miss out on a show discount if they do! (In a perfect world, I buy them at a good discount and they fit perfectly...I can dream! )

When do people tend to buy their stash? I'm ok with using disposables for the first few weeks of grotty poo, but want to get in to cloth as soon as possible, without missing out on any great deals!

[xfilefan]

Oh yes weaned baby poo is so much easier!

[xfilefan]

I love them, try www.thenappylady.co.uk/reusable-nappies.html I love these www.thenappylady.co.uk/all-in-one-nappies/easyfit-version-4-nappies-single.html and these www.thenappylady.co.uk/birth-to-potty-nappies/little-lamb-onesize-osfa-v2.html as they are super easy and super soft and comfy looking. I change them about every 2 hours. But overnight and when out and about all day I use naty nappies instead www.naty.com/baby-care/eco-nappies/ as disposable but biodegradable so a good compromise I think.
We have a little bin of nappysan on the go and just put pooey ones in there and every so often put them in a hot wash, so its really no hassle at all.I would defo recommend them. My ds is 10 months now but at the beginning I did use disposable ones too while getting used to the whole palarva, you can always do abit of both and do half and half or anything. They are defo worth trying, even if not at first.

[PurplePidjin]

I found paper liners useless with bf poo tbh, it's soluble so just bung them straight in the machine - if there's lots you can rinse the nappy in the toilet flush - and the sun gets the stains out. Flushable liners aren't really flushable btw, British sewerage systems are a bit antiquated! The occasional one won't hurt but it's best to bin them whenever possible - weaned baby poo generally plops off if you hold the nappy upside down over the loo :)

[Darksideofthemoon88]

I LOVE them. DD is nearly 9 weeks old and has been in them since she was approx 4 days. We use mainly Tots Bots, which fit her right from the start (7lb11 at birth) and Little Lamb (which have just started to fit her in the last couple of weeks - she's now 10lb14). Both makes are really easy to use, dry exceptionally quickly after washing, and wick the moisture away from DD's bottom so she feels dry even when the liners/boosters underneath are so wet you could ring them out. My DP and I find them easier to use than disposables and much more comfortable for DD with less chance of her developing nappy rash as everything is wicked away. They also last far longer if a couple of liners/boosters are used.

If you're breastfeeding, the poo is liquidy and pretty inoffensive, though you can get paper liners to put on the top between the nappy and baby's bottom, and then the poo and liner can just be flushed down the toilet.

[Seb101]

I use disposables on my daughter, but the child I look after has always used cloth.
So to give an alternative view....
I hate them because;
Unless you change them LOADS they stink of urine. So more frequent changing needed.
Cleaning pooh off cloth nappies is yuck!
The house has constantly got dozens of nappies/ wipes drying,hanging all over the place; in winter mostly obviously.
They are huge and bulky on a child. Their bums look enormous! They can't wear certain clothes cause you can't get them over huge nappy! I don't like the way they look under clothes.
So I'm not a fan!
Obviously just my opinion and I'm not intending to offend anyone who uses them. Just offering op an alternative view.:)

[NorahBone]

Oh, reusable wipes: I wasn't going to bother but wet wipes fill me with mad rage because you pull one out and out come half the packet. And cloth wipes can be used with warm water for your delicate little flower's sensitive bottom... When I see the price of chemical-free-gentle-as-water wet wipes I come over all smug.

[PurplePidjin]

dudeybaba brand are great, love mine. i've heard good things about babyland3000 and alva too. little lamb have an excellent reputation and are due a sale in the next couple of days according to Facebook

[NorahBone]

To begin with they always leaked wee out of the legs, but then I discovered I was folding them too wide.
I got one cheapy (Amazon) pocket nappy which is all kinds of useless and I was gutted - it's so pretty!

[PurplePidjin]

Norah I sucked miserably at prefolds in the early days. Then I discovered the joy that is stuffing them in pretty Ebay Cheapy Pocket nappies! All the prettiness of groovy nappies, the ease of an AIO because you can stuff them all in advance and all the quick-drying and cheapness of prefolds :o

I now bikini twist them with a nippa under wool. But I'm a bit more experienced these days and the toddler doesn't like bulk when he's running around!

[NorahBone]

We use Bambino Mio pre-folds (piece of cotton cloth that folds up inside a waterproof cover). These are a fairly cheap option and ideal for us because we live in a tiny flat with no tumble drier - they dry quickly when unfolded. They also can be folded to fit the size and shape of the baby. However they are fiddly and take a while to get right- not great if you might want other people to change them - grandparents, childcare etc.
If you don't want to carry dirty nappies around then you can always use disposables as well, however I don't find it a problem to just pop the nappy into a bag and get rid of it at home. I do use disposables when away for more than a day for obvious reasons!

[BlueChampagne]

Did 2 kids I mean

[BlueChampagne]

They sometimes come up on Freecycle as well; definitely try your local Council. And ask at ante-natal classes?

Mine were mostly 2nd hand, did 2 kits, saved me a fortune, and were Freecycled to save someone else a fortune!

[Bluecarrot]

I'd second going to a cloth nappy library to discuss options and hire a trial set. It'll help you work out which ones fit your baby best.

Also look for Facebook groups. Lots sell preloved nappies. I've bought preloved then resold for pretty much same price a few months later when I upgraded a few.

[stargirl1701]

There are cloth nappy libraries that'll post to you for a deposit. Phone the recycling/waste dept of your LA though - they may run an incentive scheme.

[PurplePidjin]

the nappy lady is a good site to start on, sorry i can't link I'm on my phone and can't remember if its co.UK or .com!

[Babylj2015]

I'm really interested in using them . Where's best to buy ? A trial pack would be good . I don't know if they do that around here . The ones I've seen from company's online are like £50+ which is bit pointless as I may aswell buy a few for that price . I'm not too sure on the wipes I hand rear for RSPCA well did before I was pregnant and always used baby wipes to cloths as found it so much Easier so may need convincing on that one