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Original poster

smug with buying reusable nappies...how sad am I

100 replies

Honeybunnie · 29/01/2003 03:37

Just ordered some reusable nappies of the net, tots bots nappies and motherease air rikki wraps. To ecomomise, I have also bought some fleece liners and boosters, what does everyone think of these? Just asking have I bought the some duds or are they ok. What has everyone else bought, and which ones do you recommend?

OP posts:
Demented · 09/02/2003 10:10

Thanks everyone, I'll see how we get on with the Tots Bots. I think I'll change to the Rikki (velcro) wrap as the actual order isn't placed, still need to phone with card details. DS2 is 8 months and staying put for nappy changes is not his speciality so the velcro probably would be better.

I like the idea of the fleece wrap for at night, Susanmt, I don't think I saw anything like that on the NL site.

Joe1 · 09/02/2003 10:48

I too love totsbots with fleece liners, have been using since ds was around 9 months old (from nappy lady) and still do (although sometimes use disposables aswell depending). Dd has also been wearing them and she is now only 19 weeks and I think she has been wearing since she was around 9 weeks. I havnt had any real problems with clothes, George from Asda, next, mothercare, Adams although dh has just bought dd an outfit from Adams and there is no way I would get a totsbots nappy in those trousers, maybe they think all young babies have disposable nappies.

Enid I would love to have that photocopy too if that is ok. My mum bought me a load of terries nappies when ds was born but didnt really know what to do with them, although I suppose I could have asked mum but she isnt always around when I am changing a nappy. I could do with using them sometimes while waiting for washing and drying of my other nappies.

lou33 · 09/02/2003 10:56

They do have them though Demented, my advisor was chatting to me about them, and they have wool wraps too. So ask them anyway.

Enid · 09/02/2003 13:34

contact mumsnet for my email Joe and - when I can find it!! - I'll send it on to you too.

Joe1 · 09/02/2003 14:06

Thanks Enid

elliott · 09/02/2003 17:50

Enid - thanks for the offer - I have some info on nappy folds from when I bought the terries - and the nappy lady also has a lot of tips. I was really wondering how people had found actually using these folds?

Demented · 09/02/2003 21:14

Oh that sounds good lou33, I am planning (if I get on OK with the trial order) to switch completely over to re-usables so I will ask about them when I make my next order. Thanks.

Gem13 · 09/02/2003 21:40

I know everyone is different but I have to recommend the popper wraps over the velcro. My DS is nearly 7 months old and has been in Motherease from week one. He had velcro wraps for the first few months but for some reason we bought the poppers and they are so much better. Once you've done the poppers up (4 in total) you're done whereas we found we were always adjusting the velcro for a better fit (not great with a wriggler) and then there were still the occasional leaks! And... they take a teeny bit longer to dry and can be a bit rough on tummies if not done up just so.

lou33 · 09/02/2003 23:45

I agree about poppers over velcro. Also velcro picks up all sorts of annoying fluff, and imo makes the grip less strong eventually. My popper wraps have never come open.

bloss · 11/02/2003 01:43

Message withdrawn

Girly · 18/02/2003 09:48

Demented, how are you getting on? I am waiting for my trial order from the NL and have gone with Nature baby stuffables and tots bots!
Have you got yours yet?

sprout · 18/02/2003 11:02

Not sure if anyone's asked this already, but would you recommend reusables if you don't have a dryer?
When dd was tiny we had two shaped reusables that we tried out, as dh was very keen on being "green". But we didn't get on with them at all. Apart from the fact that dd was soaked after half an hour, and needed a full change of clothes (we must have been doing something very wrong, I'm sure!), it took nearly a week for the things to dry. We don't have a tumble dryer and the Belgian climate is not great for hanging the washing outdoors. So do you have to compromise on "green-ness" by having to use a dryer?

elliott · 18/02/2003 11:11

sprout I have just started using reusables on ds who is 14 months. I don't have a dryer and have been using terries with wraps. The terries are dry within a couple of hours hanging over the radiator! If money constraints weren't such an issue, I would use stuffable nappies (nature babies) where you put a small terry (or two) inside a pocket in the wrap. They are convenient to use (at least for an older baby without b/f poo to contend with) and dry very quickly.
HTH.

Jimjams · 18/02/2003 11:15

sprout I used washables with ds1 and now ds2. When ds1 was samll we didn't have a drier- and it wasn't really a problem. We had an airing cupboard with room for an airer and I used to hang them there. Now I do use a drier- although I also use the radiator. Drier's make the nappies lovely and soft- but they do tend to decrease their life- I'm using the same nappies with ds2 as I did with ds1- the lack of drier will have kept them in better condition.

KeepingMum · 18/02/2003 11:20

I agree with elliott, we don't have a dryer, no room and no inclination to buy one. Our terries dry out really quickly on the radiators in the winter, or on the line in the summer, they are dry within a day just hanging on the line in our utility (a bit of a grandiose description) room when its raining and the heating isn't on. We had Mothercare shaped terries at the beginning which weren't very absorbent at all compared to the Tots Bots we are using now. Not sure if I will use them again this time round or go straight into the Tots Bots (size 2). (Mind you have to get ds out of them first)

Demented · 18/02/2003 14:04

Girly thanks for asking, my order came today and I am sadly very excited! Only problem is that I now have to go out and buy non-bio powder as this is recommended for washing them and they need washed and dried twice before we can try them out. However they look very cute!

Sprout we don't have a dryer and according to the Nappy Lady this shouldn't be too much of a problem, between radiators, hi-drys and outside drying we should manage.

Girly · 18/02/2003 14:11

Demented, don't worry about being sad, i can hardly contain my excitement. Now on to serious business, are you a wet or a dry pail girl?!!!! decisions, decisions!

bea · 18/02/2003 14:30

ooo! sorry to jump in here but i'm definitely a dry pail girl! i put a few drops og lavender oil in bottom of nappy net and bobs your uncle! Just hoick out the net when time for washing and all is done!!!

Girly · 18/02/2003 14:37

Bea, can I pick your brain? Do you use washable wipes?

Can you just use norml lavender oil (i got some from boots when pregnant) Is this good for stopping nasty niffs?

Anyone up for a nappy discussion, i've got the bug!!!

Amaryllis · 18/02/2003 15:42

I love my washable nappies - we dry pail with no problems. I like fuzzibunz and tots bots the best at the moment, with good old prefolds as a back up and for nursery

KeepingMum · 18/02/2003 16:18

What are the pro's and con's of wet pailing against dry pailing? We've only ever done wet pailing (only because I thought it would get the stains out easier to soak them a bit first) but would be interested to know what the advantages are of dry pailing.

forest · 18/02/2003 16:57

Not sure of pros and cons but I now dry pail as dd isn't doing bf poos anymore. Because of this, there aren't as many poos and the liner collects most of it so there aren't the stains to contend with. I haven't had many problems with stains - plan to stick them out on the washing line as soon as the weather is better as the sun acts as a natural bleach. If I remember I stick tea tree oil in the bottom of the bucket to make it smell nicer but I often forget and I think I have got used to the smell of wet and dirty nappies that I don't notice them smelling much. I suppose the advantage of dry pailing is laziness - you don't have to fill a bucket with water

Demented · 18/02/2003 17:42

Girly, dry pailing, wet pailing, I haven't even got a pail!!!

I am perhaps totally deluded but I thought I would trying dry pailing them in my old sangenic machine (bought when living in a flat to control the niffs from the disposables). Otherwise I thought I might try one of the Nappy Lady's nappy bags rather than a pail.

Are you a late starter to cloth as well Girly or do you have a newborn? My DS2 is 8 months and I thought I had left it too late.

Girly · 18/02/2003 17:55

My ds is 9 months, so I am a late starter too!

I am just going to get a large bucket with a clip on lid from one of the asian shops in wembley/southall and go with dry pailing as dh (who is very sceptical) and I do not fancy lugging buckets of smelly water around!

My dh is an accountant so you would think he would be all for saving money but thinks it will be too much hassle, so I will have to prove him wrong, won't I, gulp! I am even going to try washable wipes, i'm turning into a real clothie!
If the ww work then i'll save a fortune on wipes too.

zebra · 18/02/2003 18:17

I tried wet pailing (soaking) but never found a fool-proof hygienic way to transfer naps dripping poopy water to washing machine. Plus I found they get just as clean without soaking. Can't see the point.