April 07 - Look out world - hormones flying, it's the 2nd trimester

[Bramshott]

Ta-da!

stressedlady

I'm another one feeling guilty about having used disposables (and still using them) with DS, not to mention hypocritical (being a bit of a knit-your-own-lentils type), so I ought to be investigating the cloth ones as well. The initial outlay does scare me, but it's my own fault for not using them the first time round and so having them to re-use with this one! Not judging anyone else, I hasten to add, just beating myself with a big stick. Well, all right, a weeny stick that doesn't really hurt...

it's one of those, 'wonderful idea, of course i'll do it' things that just never quite happens isn't it!
might be more tempted this time as april gives me 6 months of drying outside weather, september was the last one and the thought of nappies hanging in the house all winter put me off!

Another cloth nappy addict here - Used Terries (yes, Terries!) with both of mine til they got too big (about 18 months) and then switched to Toddle-ease, which are the Toddler equivalent of Motherease One Size - Absolutely fab - Just use with a Motheease wrap and viola!! Have been cloth nappying two for 18 months now and do a wash about every other day - Haven't really found it difficult. I use Moltex disposables at night, which I pop into my compost every morning - they are gone in 6 weeks or less!!

I could harp on about cloth nappies and ways to save money and the environment for hours (proper lentil weaver, me!! ), but you'd prob all be bored to death!!

Recommend eco-balls - haven't used washing powder / liquid in two years - saves me an absolute fortune - and they DO work!!

Good for you MIAM!!

Well - where to start!

If you have a real nappy network - get in touch with them - or visit www.teamlollipop.co.uk and put in a contact request - there are 200 advisors across the country who will come to your house/you go to them and see/touch/feel all the nappies - rather than just doing it online. Some will also have hire/trial kits - your local council may also have trial kits. I'm not a great fan of laundering services simply because it works out just as expensive as disps but can see that if you live in a flat with nowhere to dry then would be good.

There are 3 main types of nappies - flat (terries and prefolds), shaped (sized and birth to potty) - these types need a waterproof wrap and all-in-one (waterproof cover attached).

Flat nappies need folding - terries are very cheap and easy to wash/dry and pretty flexible as you can also stuff them in pocket or stuffable nappies such as minkis, fuzzis, rainbows and wonderoos. I'm not a huge fan of prefolds just inside the wrap - poo just goes everywhere and you need to change the whole thing rather than just the nappy. Better when they are bigger - but again - can be used in stuffables!

Shaped nappies are either sized or birth to potty - sized ones which I think are reliable include totsbots, ellas house bumhuggers and nappy nation. You will need to buy two sizes. Birth to potty nappies fit your baby from birth right up to potty training - they do seem big at first but they are well worth the money. Good ones are onelife, bumbles and motherease - the organic motherease one while great being organic doesn't have elastic in it - so no stretch.

All in ones are regarded as the easiest - but do work out more expensive and take longer to dry - kushies ultra are well known but in my opinion are completely useless - use for one baby only, waterproof is horrible and no elastic in back! Motherease all in one are nice and soft - come in two sizes. Saw a nappy nation one once - didn't like the look of it!

Combining terries with shaped nappies or stuffables brings the cost down alot.

Not all nappies need boosters - depends on how wet your baby gets - but expect to change every 2-3 hours. Most nappies will go through the night - boosters will probably be needed.

Fleece liners are nice for keeping babys bottoms dry.

Good wraps are vital - would only ever recommend motherease, onelife or bambino mio lites. Everyting esle pales into insignificance. Tots ones are huge and have tendency to leak and all the other BM ones just don't cut it. Some people will love them of course! Good small wraps for little ones are eenee tie on snibs - great for small babies/twins and also cheap.

You don;t have to soak nappies - can just put some sanitiser in the machine when you wash.

Nappies generally wash at 40 or 60 degrees - no boiling! And no fabric conditioner.

I would say you need about 20 nappies so not washing everyday - if you are going to combine then get less. I always think the more the better and trying out new ones!

I have found the nappies I want to buy - saw them today at a sustainable festival - called peeweez - cool colours. I have a full set of birth to pottys already - so these are just top ups to satisfy my craving! They are made out of recycled towels.

Lots of people are into bamboo nappies at the moment but I'm not convinced. Wouldn't recommend taking your cloth ones to hosp unless the hosp are used to them - also people nick them!

I am planning to use bamboo disps in hospital.

Phew! You can get nappies really cheap on ebay if you want to buy new or secondhand or if you just want to get a few to try - beware of wraps on ebay - they may no longer be waterproof. Also lots advice online - but would highly recommend a Lollipop advisor - being able to touch/feel is really important and if you run into difficulties you can ring them for advise. Happy to help anyone looking to buy stuff but unsure!

Must go hunt down my children who are free range outside!

oh and some motherease rikki asia wraps - love the new pattern!

MIAM - tots are really hard wearing - make sure you wash them twice before using them to increase absorbency. Do you have velcro ones or nippas? Colours or white? Or did you get fluffles/bamboozles?? Make sure you fold the applix (velcro) back before you wash them. They can seem big on a small newborn - but they are really great nappies.

If you got original white tots - if the terry gets hard - I live in a really hard water area so they can get like bricks! - either give them a buzz in the dryer or rub them together! The smaller sizes have fleece liners built in so always feel soft and dry - when in size 2 - buy some fleece and make your own!

Cornflake - thanks so much for all that information; I know this is the way to go for me this time, so will be using what you have told us. It's the one thing I would absolutely do differently with DS, if I had the chance again. You sound really passionate about the nappies (I probably sound like that about bfing), which is really lovely to read . Oh dear, hormone alert: have come over all love the world!

Well I need help with breastfeeding - had nightmare with ds1, bottle fed ds2 but really want to breastfeed this time - so any info/support would be great!

CD did you have the sandys or all in one toddlerease? I love the sandys too - also a good sized one btw! and have used the all in one toddlerease on ds2 when just in nappies at night - but also easypeasy bumpers!

If you are thinking about using cloth - think about what would be your 'dream nappy' - i.e. if you could design your own what it would be like e.g fast drying/slim/cotton/fleece/very absorbent etc - this will help you narrow down your selection.

My dream nappy would be:
cotton with fleece liner
quick drying
slim
cool pattern
sized (only because have birth to potty already)
poppers not applix (velcro)

The peeweez comes pretty close but no fleece liners - but have made my own anyway so pretty excited about my find!!!

Does anyone else have a dream nappy?

My dream nappy -
Bamboo with fleece liner
Slim but absorbant
Nappy nippa or popper fastening
Fast drying

I love sandy's too, but tooexpensive compared to birth to potty types. might try and get some newborn sized ones second hand.

CD - am really interested to hear you compost your moltex. Is it just an ordinary compost bin? I'd always thought they needed a wormary, would be fab if they don't. I hate throwing anything out - am Queen Recycler!

Ooh dreamy!

Hi all

DH went to Scotland for 8 days for work, came home 2.30pm on Wednesday and by 3pm Thursday he had a phone call to get him back up there
So he should be home again on Tuesday. Lucky I am feeling better

CFK - we had Erin Leigh for a girl when expecting ds, so if there are any girls in there we will use that. Other than that no idea!!

1B3 - due 12 April, have read somewhere and seen on telly about full term for twins being 37 weeks, but don't hold me to it

Scan on 22 Nov - but don't think we are having them sexed, but you never know!!

Take Care to all xx

btw - Scotand is a long way from Cornwall

Miam, it might be worth checking your Council's website, it will be ?.gov.uk or you can google the Council's website. If they support and advertise the service maybe they will have links to it, or you could give them a call and see if they can put you through to the relevant section of the Council via the switchboard. I know there's such a service where I work and I was wondering if there was anything in Haringey. Then again, my local Council told us off for putting bins out on the pavement for collection (even on the day!), and there is limited space for putting things outside between the front door and the pavement!

Luci

Lots of councils have discount schemes - try checking the wen website or like Luci says - or ring your council - some places give nappies away for free, some give vouchers/money back. Also if expecting twins - make sure you negotiate a discount from your seller - many do offer tamba discount - normally about 10%.

Just had a yummy bacon sandwich and cup of tes.

Need to go food shopping, mum coming at some point, fireworks/bonfire tonight - selling toffee apples for playgroup before - so need to get organised!

Hope everyone is well and having a nice weekend.

Cornflake - the first thing to do is to make contact with a breastfeeding counsellor while you are still pregnant, one you like and can talk to before it all gets fraught.

Small practical things (that you probably know already):

1. get some good nipple cream before the event and use it from the word go;
2. swaddle the baby to feed it. This can help soooo much with latch-on problems, and also makes the (rather sickly but useful) formula 'tummies to mummies and noses to nipples' much easier to achieve;
3. the main latch-on problem has to do with the baby not opening its mouth wide enough. In order to unlatch it and get it to open its mouth wider, hook your little finger into the side of its mouth (it will unlatch immediately); NEVER pull, even if you are in pain, as that will really hurt in the long run.

My friend had horribly engorged breasts and terrible bfing probs; her lovely bf counsellor spent a whole evening basically holding her breasts and helping create the flow (!!), and she was then able to feed with no real probs at all.

Finally, don't let anyone talk you into or indeed, out of a top-up bottle; you probably won't need one, at least at first (and it is tempting not to persevere so hard if you have one to hand), but you might find you do need one and that's fine. Most importantly, trust your instincts on this either way, not some crappy night nurse. An awful lot of people agree that 'nipple confusion' is actually crap, and mixed feeding is perfectly possible.

I don't really expect this to help just yet but I thought I'd jump in with some early support.

bugmum - this is great. i really really want to breastfeed but to be honest - am a bit petrified of it. u mention a bf counsellor. do you get them the hospital or do i have to find one myself? i am also thinking of the practicalities as i will have to go back to work after 12 weeks so will need to express. did you do this or did anyone else?

Weeonion - many hospitals have bf training days, and counsellors attached. The NCT also has counsellors. Luckily, you have loads of time to shop around.

I went back to work p/t when DS was three months old, and expressed one bottle's worth a day for those afternoon feeds (three afternoons a week). I did, however, make the mistake of getting a handpump, which is great for some but I was never an 'overflowing with milk' type and will be getting an electric pump this time (reviews on Mumsnet!), despite the 'unnecessary' expense.

Two friends of mine expressed much more than I did, as they went back to work f/t, and were fine with it, having established it at around four-five weeks (earlier isn't a great idea, tbh, as your body needs to know how much milk to produce). Also, at around the time of going back to work, they introduced one-two formula feeds a day, but both managed to keep bfing for months.

I did a year, no formula at all, and for six months no other food but breastmilk. I loved it because I am the laziest woman in the world, and could NOT be doing with getting up to get bottles in the middle of the night! Much easier, I thought, to reach over to the crib and grab the baby. The thing is not to panic, I think. Some people have problems, but I absolutely believe that the VAST majority of these are down to bad/no advice and help

brill BM - thansk for that. i have been given a handpump already but whatever i need i will get! (apart from the handsfree vest advertised in teh nct catalogue. i really am not sure about that! anyone else seen it / used it??)

NCT breast-feeding counsellors are great in my experience! Good for you guys wanting to give it go - esp you Cornflake! I breastfed my DD1 for 6 months exclusively, she never had a bottle or any formula at all - she was quite a contented wee thing and breast-fed easily. DD2 was a completely different story - I just assumed it would be as easy peesy - She was a bit prem and I think she just couldn't cope with the fact my huge boobies were bigger than her head!!!! I managed to feed her exclusively for 2-ish months and then cup fed her formula til she was 6/7 months - was hard work, would have much preferred to just be able to whip my boobies out like I did with DD2.....

I think what I am trying to say is "go with the flow, some babies are easier to feed than others, don't stress about it and don't beat yourself up cos it can be tough..."

...and keep that counsellors tel number close to hand, they are v.good!

Oh, for whoever asked about composting Moltex - yes, I just stick em in my normal compost (scrape BIG poos out 1st) - the packaging can also be composted!! Hoping to get a wormery when we move house .....

Ooooh, and thoroughly recommend an electric pump like Medela for expressing - handpump kills your hands!!

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. I've been keeping up with, and enjoying, all the posts - just haven't had time to write much.

Not sure if anyone mentioned this yet, but if you would like more information about alternatives to disposable nappies, check out:

nappies

I started doing a bit of research and this is one of the better sites - but there are lots if you keep looking around. This site sells some products but is mainly a source of information and you can contact them to get your specific questions answered.

I think we are going the route of cloth nappies but with a laundering service. Not as cheap as washing your own (cost wise, I'm told that a laundering service is more or less equivalent to buying disposables) but, apparently the greenest option. I just don't think our teeny tiny combo washer dryer could handle all the nappies - and I'm not sure I could! We'll see what we end up doing but that is the tentative Plan A for now.

Also a huge supporter of breastfeeding - but am aware that it can be quite hard at the beginning so I'm hoping not to go into it with unrealistic expectations. I'm told it is covered quite thoroughly in the various antenatal classes we are signed up for so I'm sure I'll learn a lot!

Have a great week - hope everyone is feeling okay and the bunnies/beans/bumps are thriving! I'm 17+3 so am looking forward to feeling movement sometime soon!

Oh Thank you SO much CFK and CD and EllieK and everyone else for all the nappy info.

My head is stilla bit swimming with it all at the moment but I found the info from the local council as well and I am eagerly awaiting my totsbots trialpack (I am a born Scot too Laith so hurray for that!!).

I think it's the liners and boosters and things that I'm getting all confused over. The nappy I have ordered is a ...goes to check....

Size 2 bamboo aqua Aplix 1 Trial pack 2 bamboo Aplix aqua Size 2 white 1 Wrap PUL 2 white with 100 liners....phew!

There are so many different types to choose from tho! I think I've decided to give it a whirl.. unless I really don't get on with it and I was telling my Mum and she was very supportive of it all.

Ahh Breastfeeding...I honestly don't know what to do - half of me wants to really give it a good go this time (lasted 8 weeks with DS) and the ther half thinks...the bottle is so much easier and then I feel bad putting that as a big consideration....

I think I will just have to see how I feel nearer the time and also be guided by the baby as CD put it so well....they differ so much and I could find that with this one the baby takes to it like a duck to water (whereas DS was like Woody Woodpecker getting himself into a tizz as he wasn't getting enough quick enough!)

I honestly think that there is too much pressure to BF so that if you don't you feel like a failure. I think as long as Mother and baby are happy with whatever choice has been made then that is the main thing.

Had a terrible time getting DS to bed tonight - he is terrified of the fireworks. Just gone off after an hour and a half of screaming (he is normally and angel and goes to bed at 7pm and doesn't make a peep so it was big shock to the system tonight!)

Hope everyone is well - I just feel like a big fat spotty heifer today off to catch the rest of Planet Earth with DH

Night all

MIAM 16+2xx

Bit disappointed tho with totsbots as just received an e-mail saying that it may take up to 4 weeks for the trial pack to come!
grrr