May 2017 #7....... Final months, rapidly growing bumps

[RasperryInAMelon]

We are a chatty bunch!...

For those newbies who are joining or want to update your details on the spread sheet of EDD's...

May 2017

Also a link to the last thread Thread6

Must admit I had no clue what to buy so bought some cotton nappies with intention to learn about them later!

I might sound like an idiot here... how does the whole reusable nappy thigh work.

I don't fancy the idea of 'emptying' a dirty nappy - where do you 'empty' it to?

Found it!

For a first timer, would I be making more work for myself using reuseables?!

rasperry - you don't empty anything until you start weaning - milky poo (especially if bf only) is actually quite inoffensive and washes straight off in the machine (it's like korma sauce...). If the thought of that freaks you out you can use disposable liners, but remember they (like wipes) aren't 'flushable' even if they say they are, they create huge issues for sewerage. Once weaning starts, you have about 2 weeks of grossness (not quite solid, not quite liquid anymore) - I'd use disposable liners here tbh - then it goes to being solid. If you use fluffy liners, the solids don't stick easily to the liner, so you shake it off into the loo (or flush the loo while holding the top of the liner). Or, if you use disposable liners, bin the liner with the poo in it.

Changing wise, a disposable and a resuable work exactly the same. You take nappy off baby and dump it in the nappy bag/bin, you wipe baby's bum (we used reusable wipes too which I found fantastic) and dump the wipe in the bin too. When you have a full bag / bin, you open the bag up and put the whole thing in the washing machine, or if it's a bin, you take out the inner mesh liner and the same applies.

redblu we used them from the start as a first timer. IMO, no. All you need to do is do an extra load of washing every 2-3 days, and at first if your OH is on paternity leave that can be one of his jobs :)

Teaspoon it was TKMaxx, for the fox hooded towel. Ideal as baby won't grow out of that in a hurry!
MrsJW I wish I had thought of that recording on my 16 week appointment, but I was in a right state that day.
If you ladies have time (doubtful) try to watch 'Call the Midwife' the casebook, presented by Dr Turner. It's just so well presented!
I hope you're all feeling well for the weekend x RedBlu get better soon !

So how many nappies would you need? Say I got them in Size 1 which is newborn to about 9 months? They are expensive upfront but I guess overall they would work out cheaper?

Yes, they're supposed to work out cheaper - and remember they are also reusable on second children / resaleable to others. I'll go count our size 1 stash now (they've been through 3 children now - only one mine!).

Quite sweet how DM/MILs are buying up stuff for you guys but understand you don't want to be inundated with pink (or things with weird slogans!). My mum doesn't want to know the sex but despite that she's really curious! My inlaws didn't want to know either but DH told them anyway. MIL, who only has boys, said she won't know what to do with a girl and I was a bit unimpressed 🙄

I appear to have 15 size 1's. Mix of the cotton and bamboo (cotton slightly less absorbent but dries quicker vs bamboo). You can reuse the wrap and only change the nappy, but I found it easier to change all at the same time, so have the same number of wraps.

Well so far this pregnancy as been tough, so this may be an only child!!

Plus I am so fed up of catching every single virus going because my immune system is weakened, honestly I can't remember the last time I felt well!

Re pink, I can relate. When we found it we are having a girl, we got lots of clothes and to be honest, there is a fair bit of pink!

RedBlu, I do know how it feels! Are you still at work?
My biggest issue with feeling how I feel is that it's not like me to be at home from work this long! Having a stressful job doesn't help or course, but I do feel guilty for being a wuss!
This week I've had something on every day, so today is pj day!

Hate to say it, but that's the decision made for me - disposables it is.

I am the most squeamish person when it comes to bodily fluids - never changed a nappy in my life, cant have a pet because I wouldn't be able to clear up after it - so having a baby is going to be interesting as it is.

In my experience squeamishness with nappy changes lasts all of about a day..... otherwise you won't get through it. The worst bit is wiping the bum IMO, and for those I can honestly say that reusable wipes 'wipe' much better than disposable ones which seem to be better at smearing it about rather than mopping it up. You won't have any more poo contact with reusables than you will with disposables, and some poo contact is inevitable especially after a poonami.

I agree with what savage said - you do just get over it, because if you don't your little one has to sit in all that smell and mess and the thought of that just makes you want to clean them!
I tend to still use warm water and cotton wool (not balls or pads as they are too small) for night time, first mornings and especially messy changes. I know that's a bit PFB treatment, but I wouldn't like cold wipes on my bum in the middle of the night! Plus it's a little wash for her too, so I'm not so bothered if she misses a bath here and there!
I also agree that the disposable wipes seem to smear, but you end up doing it so often you become a pro!

I would love to play the reusable game but I'm to unorganised! With my first I kept forgetting nappy bags!
I do agree though the poonamis are awful and if you don't get one before 3 months god help you by 6 months as the solids will bring them on in waves.

It's when the poo misses the whole nappy but gets the neck. I had it 2x with my LG!

wishIwas with the reusable wipes warm water works too. Or if the tap's taking too long to get warm I've been known to put a cold wet wipe in the microwave for a few seconds

We are using reuseable nappies from as soon as the ones we have fit the baby properly.
I haven't invested in any size ones but I have 4 bambino mio AIO so far and will be buying a bunch from costco in the next few months.
I've always tipped solid poos from disposibles into a loo anyways as they tend to stink everything up if left anyways.

I will probably use a liner in our nappies more for my DH's sake than mine, he hates anything that is too messy!

Rasperry I'm with you. I know I'll get over the clean up (can't be any worse than a puppy poo explosion after eating horse manure) but I'm just not up for reusable nappies. I get the disposable wipes not being that effective so may go down the reusable route there.

RedBlu Couldn't agree with you more on the immune system! If I stand within 10 feet of anyone sneezing or coughing, I catch a cold (having to breath through my scarf on public transport). I got over one cold at the beginning of January, only to have just picked up another. I was hoping all of these pregnancy multivitamins + increased fruit and veg intake would help. No chance!

I hate the thought of soiled nappies or soiled anything going in my washing machine too.

Anything like that is straight in the bin for me I'm afraid...

Laundry service rasperry?
www.nappyeverafter.co.uk/the-cloth-nappy-laundry-service-42-w.asp

Anyone considering reusables, it's also worth checking if your local council offers any cloth nappy incentives, eg London here www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/

You might change your mind when the little one comes raspberry. I remember when mine had gastrointeritis, if I'd had thrown away all the soiled clothes and bedding we'd have had none left! It is completely different when it's your own child.

I'm confused by the range of reusable nappies available but I'm going to a demo on Sunday evening by the local nappy library. Hopefully I'll see how they work and if the lending part of the library is worthwhile. I found it by on Facebook.

My council (south glos) do a discounted reusable nappy scheme too.

Strangely my MIL was a fan of the idea. I had her strongly in the disposables camp.

I'm feeling a bit of a fraud, if it was girls I'd avoid pink but because it's boys most stuff is blue. I always buy neutral or bright as presents for friends etc.

And don't forget the pootastrophies as well as the poonamis!

What's PFB stand for??

Im Gonna check out those incentives thanks savage. Friend gave me some more of her old reusables today. And breast pads too.