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Camping

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Original poster

Should I ditch the reusable nappies when camping?

12 replies

mrsdiddlydoo · 13/05/2014 15:16

Yay or nay?

We use cloth nappies about 90% of the time at home and whilst planning our first camping trip with 14m ds I had just assumed we would ditch them and use disposables whilst we're away. I'm now considering the options more closely.

It will only be a short trip, 3 or 4 nights max. I'm guessing the shorter the trip the easier it would be to store them and bring them home.
Do any of you camping folk use reusable nappies when camping? Would you recommend ditching them for the trip?

OP posts:

reallyneedmoresleep · 13/05/2014 16:41

We used cloth nappies for all three of our kids, but camping with small kids creates that much washing that we went for the most eco-friendly disposables for our holidays instead.

MaddAddam · 13/05/2014 17:46

We used cloth nappies for all 3 dc and we did use them camping. We learned the hard way that a very sensible rule is: make sure you have access to a laundrette (or are going home) every 3 days so you can wash them. If you are heading into the wild places without the sort of campsite with laundrettes, give up and take disposables til 3 days before you're heading home.
And get a good bucket with a properly fitted lid. Dry pail them (ie no water in the bucket).
It was fine, except for the time we couldn't find a local laundrette, but that was only once.

My dsis is seriously eco and they tried using washable nappies while camping by train, she hand washed them under the cold tap in the very basic campsite. But that put them off camping for a few years so I don't recommend it.

Tyranasaurus · 13/05/2014 18:13

We have a large zip-up wet bag which is good for storing used nappies and squashes up to pack better in the car than a bucket

Original poster

mrsdiddlydoo · 13/05/2014 20:27

thanks everyone! I was starting to think if we're not going for long (i.e. 2 or 3 days) then we could dry pail and bring them home. Knowing us the car will be crammed (2 adults, ds, 2 dogs, plus our camping stuff) so I was struggling to see how I could fit the bucket in.

Tyranasaurus - I don't have a large wet bag, but will definitely invest in one. Makes so much more sense than a bucket.

Will check dh isn't going to moan about stinky nappies in the car on the way home, but I think we'll give it a go. :D yay!

OP posts:

AmandinePoulain · 13/05/2014 20:42

I don't use reusables when we go away - I'm on holiday and camping creates enough washing! My thinking is that I must have prevented hundreds of nappies going into landfill over 2 children so a few weeks off a year won't hurt

As an aside, we went to France over Easter and 1 wash and 2 dry cycles in the campsite laundrette cost me €12 and my OSFA outers aren't suitable for tumble drying and I don't have space in the camper for 3 days worth.

MaddAddam · 14/05/2014 10:34

Yes the laundrettes aren't cheap. We got a bit manic on the washable nappy thing and didn't really like using disposables ever, but it does make sense to use them for camping trips if you want to. We just quite liked rising to the challenge. and you get very used to washables.

It was not particularly smelly in the car on the way home. Or probably, we were all just smelly by then anyway.

hettie · 14/05/2014 13:32

I've done both, swapped to diposables when no hot watter on site and used washables when hot water (and hot weather) was avaialble... Even on that ocasion I did use a few disp... I think it really depends on what cloth ones you have. I had a few that were all in ones with popper insets that were made of very quick drying microfibre type stuff, because they were so qucik trying (and all the bits unpoppered to dry) they were easy to wash out....

drspouse · 14/05/2014 13:40

We don't take washables when travelling even in the car due to the packing issue. We'd have to take a whole separate suitcase just for the nappies!

Original poster

mrsdiddlydoo · 14/05/2014 17:53

I really don't know how we'd fit in our car with them either drspouse! We have some with quick drying boosters but I'm not sure I'm ready to take the plunge into washing them whilst way. First step is to just use them camping. I think we'll give it a go at least as a test. Maybe just for the last 24 hours for space reasons...

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate your responses! Definitely don't feel mad now at considering it!

OP posts:

drspouse · 14/05/2014 20:13

We take disposables but with a wrap for night time.

CelticPromise · 15/05/2014 13:35

I have done on short trips, we dry pail in a bin bag (high tech...) I haven't washed nappies on a camping trip though, and I did not enjoy the poo rinse in campsite toilets.

poocatcherchampion · 30/05/2014 16:50

we take them. they normally dry quickly in the sun so it doesn't seem a worry.

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