Washable Nappies Part 3

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I was going to title this thread Bum Chums - thanks Jasper!!! but i thought it would be too confusing and although we might ensnare people onto the thread... who wondered over completely unknowing that the thread was actually all about naps... we might lose the people who actually do want to know about lovely Kissies, fuzzis, tots, ellas and what's the difference between a rikki and a rikka???!!

so at the behest of Girly... I present the new thread!!!!! .... please please don't let it fizzle out now!!!

and to talk nappies... mine are drying on the line outside and if it rains there will be hell to pay!!!! (dh a meteorologist and claimed it might rain so don't chance it with the naps... me? i ussually ignore what he says and i generally do the opposite... thus they are flapping about in the breeze as i type!!! )

That's interesting Susanmt I've just had a friend in the house who has switched to cloth and was showing her the nappiesbyminki website and she asked if she could stuff a minki with her MEOS and I said I didn't think so. Now you've got me wondering if she could and if I could stuff one with a Tots, it would save me buying terries, hmmm. Let us know how you get on.

Just wanted to say thanks to all you ladies - I've been eavesdropping on your conversations for a few months now, and I was persuaded to make the leap to cloth (ds now 11 weeks). Totsbots / Motherease wraps / dry pail / ceiling airer in the kitchen and it's all been a great success. In fact, I fear I'm starting to sound a bit like the mad nappy lady to other mothers I meet! I was away on holiday recently, and was horrified to see that I generated 4 bags of dispos in 10 days. Also, leaked all up the back a few times, which I never get with Totsbots, even after a whole night.

Chiggles - I calculated that I would spend about £250 in the first year of disposables. So far I've spent about £180 total for 20 nappies and a few wraps (some new, some secondhand), and will probably need to spend another £30 or so in wraps to do me until potty training. Then the cost of washing needs to be added on (I throw in ds's clothes, other whites and towels to make up a full load if need be). But if you look on thenappylady website, you can see what good resale value good nappies have. So cloth will be cheaper than dispos, and you can feel virtuous into the bargain! Anyway, if you check out the Nappy Lady website, you will find all you ever wanted to know about it.

I use Sandys fir DD (9months old) I have just had to order the bigger size. I also have some motherease one size.
We have used them since DD was about 3 weeks old. Saved a fortune in disposables.

It worked really well. In fact, because the minki is hourglass shaped and so is the kissaluv, it fitted inside perfectly (size 2, so probably similar to MEOS or other size 2 e.g tots) and didn't slip or anything. It lasted all night and in fact he slept until 7.30 am both nights he's worn it which is unheard of! I'm delighted.

Thanks Susanmt I am currently in discussions with the Michaela about ordering one, just can't make up my mind whether to be sensible and order a basic one or ask her to make one with an applique on it which will cost £5 more. Glad to hear they are working for you they seem to be a very successful nappy.

I've just been discussing this with my Auntie (mum of 4!) and she used the 'old' kite terries and said that they gave hers sore bottoms and they cried alot. (This was atleast 9 years ago though) Have they changed? Do they still get sore and cry cause they're feeling really wet?

Chiggles, I have never had nappy rash on my children's bottoms when they have been in washables! In fact, the only nasty nappy rash we had was on holiday abroad when I used disposables for a week and ds's bum was a total mess.
I think the nappies are a lot better than they used to be and there is also more understanding of what causes nappy rash. Although I know a lot of people who use ordinary terries and get on fine. If a baby is crying a lot and uncomfy it is probably because it is not being changed often enough. Babies in disposables are supposed to be changed as often as those in cloth, as the bacteria is still there even though the ampness isn't.

An the other thing is that the waterproof covers have change - modern wraps are generally breathable and so allow air into the behind - old fashioned plastic pants trapped all the dampness in and kept the bum too damp, which in turn cause rashes to form.

I have (I meand DD!) had red bottoms using cloth - but I have cut and pasted this from The Nappy Lady's website (sorry if there is copyright issue !)
Debunking myths :
?...wetness causes nappy rash?

• If this were true, all children in cloth nappies would have nappy rash and no children in disposables would do
• Even Kimberley-Clark, makers of Huggies nappies, admit that over 50% of children (presumably mostly in disposables) have nappy rash at any one time
• Parents using cloth nappies are usually evangelical about their benefits - why would they do this if using them gave their children nappy rash?
• Independent university research found that the stay dry layer of disposable nappies offered ?little or no protective effect?, which is effectively an admission that the wetness myth is exactly that

Chiggles - I last used terries 7 years ago. I did not have a problem with nappy rash. I used a one way washable liner inside the nappy which I folded into shape. I was pretty good at the old origami
The biggest cause of nappy rash are 'wet ones'. Good old water does the trick.

Also only had nappy rash when ds was in disposables. read somewhere that it's better for bots to have a certain level of acidity in order to prevent nappy rash - ie slightly wetter bots won't get rash.

I've been out and bought some Kooshi's today to test on ds, 2 in August. I thought they might help him with potty training too. He did get the hang of it but now preferes to just stand and watch it trickle to the floor!! Probably been watching his Dad too much!! (Or is it just my husband who does it on the floor and misses the loo. Another thread I think!)

Right made my descision - don't see the point of eco-disposables if they still fill landfills so definietly going back to washables for no3. Have decided to go for terries this time because:
1)They are cheaper
2)They will dry quickest (big issue before with kooshies)
3) If I do wimp out they will have loads of other uses so no money wasted.

However have come to conclusion that the key to washables is getting the right wrap. I'm thinking of buying 3 different ones in the small size to start off with and then see which one works best.
Am planning to get the bright bots terries as they look gorgeous and presumably won't stain as easily as white or unbleached. Feel that these will look best with a plain but brightly coloured wrap so having spent days reading reviews etc have decided to get Totbots redwrap, stacinator and a fuzzi. Looks like the popper ones get the vote in general but the totbots one is so much cheaper and like the sound of the fleece.

Anyway what does everyone think of my choices? Any counter-advice welcomed.

Couple of questions though:
Do people use barrier cream? Was thinking of trying the green baby version but not sure if necessary unless bum goes red.
Was thinking of getting flushable liners (septic tank) but lots of you see to use washable ones. As this is cheaper would consider it. Whats the verdict?
Finally it occurred to me that wipes are just as bad for environment. Nappy lady gives recipies for homemade lotions but is it OK just to cut up sme old terries and use water?

I've been lurking are reading for a while now so time to declare myself as a clothie and get some tips.

PS Planning to buy from Twinkle Twinkle who seem to do the biggest range thus saving on postage costs. Looks like a really good site.

The Redrap is great, will fit over anything! Try lots of different folds with terries to get the one which suits you (and be prepared for the right fold to change as baby changes, too!). Nappy Nippas are much easier than pins.

We do use barrier cream, but not much... dh slaps it on, and I'm rather more conservative- only at night or if I'm expecting a poo and may not be able to change immediately, e.g.shopping or car journey.

Flushable liners are kinder on nursery nurses or grannies, as they don't have to handle the poo, but we use fleece liners at home, as its much cheaper and keeps the bum dryer.

We use water and clothwipes for dd's bum, with a tiny bit of soap in the bath of an evening. Cut up anything you like to use as wipes- they'll last longer if you hem/ overlock the edges!

Good luck!

I am so pleased to see so many other washable nappy fanatics here. I feel as though I am the only one in 'normal' life. And I am nothing if not evangelical about them!

FWIW I use Sam I Am nappies and pants. We even use them on holiday. I found them when ds1 was about 8 months (four years ago)and since that time have used about 10 disposables in all, when ds2 was in hospital when he was born.

Katherine - we have a septic tank so I only use flushable liners when we are out - at home we always use fleece. It does seem to keep the bum dryer and the poo (usually) flicks off OK. I'm a meanie and dont want to get the tank emptied too often!

I've been thinking about this issue recently, and picked up a leaflet from ante natal clinic. It contains information on a few types of nappy. My favourite at the moment, (yet to be tried, not due until 1st September) is the 'Weenees'. It can be flushed down the toilet or composted in the garden, and 'apparently' decomposes within 150 days!

Anyway, here's the website - www.teamlollipop.co.uk

I don't know whether I am posting on the right thread, is this the current cloth nappy thread?

Anyway don't suppose it matters as I have nothing important to say anyway!

I ordered a couple of Minkis about 10 days ago and am currently trying to patiently wait for them. I know she said 14 days but I can't wait!

If we get on OK with them I would then like to order a couple of Bear Behinds but don't tell my DH!

bear behinds are lovely, didn't realise dd would be a d and we have a pornstar leopard skin one! also a football minki

have you seen the little chicks aios (stuffable) - some lovely material.

while this thread is up and running - i seem to have all kinds of problems with stuffables - they seem to leak quite fast and anything with a me wrap hasn't - any advice?

also my dd loves kicking her legs around when she has her nappy off and i've been worrying that such big cloth bottoms don't allow them the same leg movement when they're so little (dd is 1 month) - i'm persevering 'cos i'm sure i'm doing her good, hope so

Aw ninja, does she look like pebbles from the flintstones in her leopard one? I have a wonderful vision of this massive bottom on a tiny gorgeous baby, cooing away, now.

Absolutely - I have her photo on all my thank you cards. it also gave me something to talk about in labour! honestly

ninja, I don't know because I don't have my stuffables yet but is there room in the pocket to put some more stuffing in or do you have too much stuffing which could be making the nappy too bulky and interfering with the fit at the legs?

Also I didn't have my DS2 in cloth so young but I wouldn't imagine you are doing your DD any harm by putting her in a big cloth nappy, afterall most of us must have been in cloth as babies, also is cloth not beneficial for some hip problems etc. I found when I first put my DS2 in cloth (he had just turned 8 months) it interfered with his crawling slightly and he found it difficult to sit up but within a day or so he had adjusted his style and was managing fine. I personally don't believe that having a big cloth bum does them any harm at all, only good. I just wish I had discovered Tots Bots etc when DS1 was a baby!

Feeling a bit fed up as I have not been terribly organised this weekend and DS2 might be in disps tomorrow unless his nappies hurry up and dry! Grrrrrr!

The cards sound lovely BTW!

Didn't hospitals use big fat nappies like that for children with hip problems years ago? From my pov ds has cp and his physio is always going on about keeping his legs widely and evenly spaced, knees as far apart as hips, so it can't be bad for her. She'll probably have great posture!

I would not worry about it - one of the reasons we used disp was to keep her legs together. Dd has quite a turn out in her hips due to Down's syndrome. I had terries and they just seemed to encourage it. Now that she is bigger and I have found some others that are not so bulky between her legs - no problem... she just likes haveing her legs tuck up in the air wide apart hanging onto one foot - no matter where she is - buggy, bed, seat, high chair.

I also posted on another thread - my SIL is also sending me a idea for creating your own washable wipes with a natural solution to put them in. ( I think it makes about 80 and you store them in the rectangular dispenser ( ala pampers/ johnsons) You use them like Huggies wipes but the beauty is you can wash them and start over again. Will let you know what they are and the solution when it arrives from Australia.