Washable Nappies

[Lisa]

Hi everyone,

I have just bought some washable nappies and think they are excellent, but for one thing. They are so bulky that my daughter cannot bring her legs together. My husband is worried that she might grow to be bow-legged!

Did anyone else have this problem? If so, were your children ok? I really want to continue using them, but am worried that I might be damaging her growing legs. Please someone tell me that my worries are unjustified!

I used washable nappies for all 4 of my children. I used Kooshies initially, for ease of use but soon started putting in towelling inserts which I had sewn myself to increase the absorbancy. I used washable liners which I boiled with the nappies (I think I bought them in Mothercare). When the darlings were a little larger I resorted to using the plastic nappy-pants (The ones with poppers and pockets on the inside) and folding the most absorbant terry nappies I could find into neat pads which fitted into the pockets at each end of the plastic pants.

I did have to wash them every 2 days- in the mean time I kept the soiled nappies in a large airtight bucket. The smell wasn't too bad if you got rid of the poo first.

When the stains got too unsightly, I dyed the nappies bright colours and am still using them as cleaning cloths!

I should also add that soaking the nappies makes the bucket very smelly... I am all for NOT soaking now ! (just thought I'd share my views on this).

Bloss - size wise I am most concerned that the velcros are JUST fitting, hence I am using a nappy nippa !

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Joe, thanks for the info. Can't wait to start using mine! The washing machine will be fixed by the end of the week. Of course, that's what they said last week.

Pupuce, are you using Tushies wipes? They aggravated my baby's nappy rash. It helped to switch to cotton balls (probably not practical for your three year old!) and water. Also, a layer of Metanium over a layer of Sudocrem has been remarkably effective in clearing it up completely.

I am using the nippa with the Velcro no problem. The nippa is attached to the bit where the tapes are on a disposable (know what I mean???) so that's terry so the velcro is never in the way.

I called my nappy lady advisor yesterday, she told me that her 3 1/2 year old is still in TB size 2 and that my son should be fine as he probably won't get any larger in that area.

For the redness she has suggested that it might be the washing powder I use, so I am now experimenting with less powder, longer cycle, etc I never use wipe (unless travelling).

I can also "report" that the nappies have indeed increased in absorbancy and improved on drying time after less than a week... so it probably takes about a week for the system to start feeling normal to the mummy!!!!!

I only use reusable nappies at the weekend during the day, so am not an expert, but I think people overestimate how much of a faff they are. I just use squares that I bought from Boots while I was pregnant (though they're not as good as others, I've been told), which cost about £20 for 5, nappy nippas, paper liners and I have a couple of wraps. I find the best one is one that has velcro fastenings as it keeps nice and snug around the legs without being too tight. If the nappy is just wet, I sling it straight in the washing machine, and if it's dirty rinse it in the sink beforehand. I don't soak them, and wash them on a 40 wash with the rest of the laundry, and they never have stains.

There's lots of good advice on the dedicated thread about reusables, one of which is don't even think about using them for the first three months, as you'll have enough to get used to. But I think I'll try and use them all the time on my second. By the way, there's a fantastic site called twinkleontheweb which does mail order of all the kit.

Rosy
Twinkle and the Nappylady (www.nappylady.co.uk I think) are both very good sites. They are the same price (I thoroughly checked) and sell just about the same brands. I bought from the Nappy Lady because she has a questionnaire on her site which you can fill in and she will then make a recommendation. So I found the service more personal. What I also found was that the recommendation was for 310 GBP of nappies (the whole system) for 2 kids but when I actually called and discussed the recommendation I bought less (there was no pushing) and only spent 192 GBP !
You can also buy direct from Tots bots at www.totsbots.co.uk
So there are plenty of choices.
As you already have some experience it will be easier for you... do try the fleece liners : they are amazing ! (and washable)

Sorry, here is the URL for the nappy lady : www.thenappylady.co.uk/

I use washable nappies for my toddler and am now considering using them for my new baby (due in 2 months). You can get muslins or very small terries. I don't know what muslins are like - has anyone used them and if so how long would I be able to use them for? With tiny babies growing so quickly I obviously want to get the longest life out of the nappies/wraps I buy. Thanks.

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Eulalia, go to UKparents.co.uk they have a forum on washable and reuseable nappies, they also buy and sell them second hand.

I only have the Tots Bots experience and the size 2 fits a 6 weeks old baby without any trouble at all. It also fits my 2 yo as well (they told me it even fits 3yo!). So I have 16 Tots bots size 2 and I have 2 wraps in 2 sizes.
Don't know if this is helpful to you Eulalia.

Eulalia-ds has used Kooshies since 6weeks. They come in 2sizes. newborn up to approx 1yr (10kg-12kg) and then 1-3yr, although can't swear to this as ds is only 15months old. Technically he should still fit into the small size being only 9.9kgs but we switched to the bigger size as I found the smaller ones leaked more especially at nap times. They just seemed to ride down him leaving his "bits" uncovered!! Not very helpful. I recently bought a few extra to reduce washing and thought I'd go with the mumsnetter reviews - motherease and totsbots, but despite buying the larger sizes I find they ride down a lot too. We had 15 small and 15large size kooshies. (5 ultras -with waterproofing attached and 10classics-all cotton requiring wrap) I had one small and 1 large size wrap. You can choose plain white or funky designs for your nappies, they cost the same. Its worth buying in bulk to reduce costs.
One final point, the ultras tend to perish with repeated washing much quicker than the classics, although for the wriggley toddler they are easier as no wrap is needed. Perhaps if I'd gone for 20 smalls, the number of washes would have been less and they would have lasted longer, but I'm going to need some new nappies for my next baby, due in 11weeks.

Sorry, missed that you were already using washables for your toddler, so I expect you didn't need half of that info. Still, I don't think you necessarily need "newborn" sizes for your new baby. My cousin used terries from birth (well 24hours, ie once out of hospital) and had no problems with XS cloth. I think you just fold them differently to reduce the size, or am I stating the obvious again?!

Thanks for the advice. The Totbots look lovely but I already have the Snugglenaps system for my boy and intend to reuse them for the baby. I was really looking for something fairly cheap (I have a miserly streak too!) to use in the interim till baby is big enough.

I think I'll probably go for the small terries as you can get them for only £1.60 each (grasp grasp!!)

hi all

i am new here - just seeing how busy this site
is

lucasmum

Pupuce, did you ever get the stains out of your nappies?? We are having the same problem, washing on 60 with a prewash, even soaking (yuk!) doesn't shift the yellow stains. Any ideas? I am using totsbots.

We don't like using powder/tablets in the machine as it blocks our septic tank, so we stick to liquids - currently using persil non-bio. Is there a liquid bleach that is safe to use with washables?

Enid, there is a liquid non-chlorine bleach, can't remember the name, but it comes in a pink bottle! We have a septic tank, too, and have had no problem with blockages- we use Surcare liquid, but add a tablespoon of Oxyclean powder (peroxide-based), or a tablespoon of Ecover laundry bleach (similar)- they don't leave any residue, so should be completely safe.

tissy, do you add the bleach at every wash? And does it irritate their skin (no, clearly otherwise you wouldnt be doing it).

I like the idea of a pink bottle so I'll scour Tescos shelves for it.

I always used Napisan - is it still available? Beautiful white nappies. Ahh.

mears, it is still available, I currently use Nappy Soak, but HATE soaking so I'd like to find a way around it if poss.

Yes, I add the bleach at every wash(but not sure if dh does!) and no- skin irritation- beacause its not chlorine -based it degrades into water and oxygen. O-level chemistry lesson coming up:

2H202->2H20+O2 I think the peroxide "fizzes", whilst it's changing into oxygen and water, and the fizzing action loosens dirt. The peroxide itself also acts as a bleach, maybe another more chemically minded mumsnetter will put me right- it was 25 years ago!!

Just looked on Tesco.com- it's called Ace Gentle Bleach

Enid - if you don't want to use bleach I find that you need to rinse pooey nappies out thoroughly when they're fresh - then they don't stain.

If they do come out of the machine still yellow, rub some liquid onto the yellow bits and then bung them back in with the next wash.

My nappies are all sparkling white! Actually they're a bit grey as I've taken to using the non-phosphate gloop as recommended by PamT on www.gaia-exchange.sunmaia.net (forgotten how to do links, sorry. Still.