Thinking of changing to washable nappies

[strawberry]

I know there is loads of info here on reusables but a summary would be useful. I want to use reusable nappies for DS2 who is 4months. I have contacted local council for info pack but wanted to get MNetters views

Which are the best in your opinion?
How much will it cost to get started?
What about laundry service? Are they expensive?

Other useful info much appreciated

What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Thanks

Everyone likes different nappies! Try a site that does trials, like the nappy lady - they will assess your needs and help you choose the perfect nappy Theres also a bit somewhere in mumsnet that has a table of the favourite cloth nappies, and a mumsnetter has her own website - will go find them all in a second.

Prices will obv vary depending on what nappies you use. Personally I had a mix of nappies - AIOs or stuffable nappies for when out and about, or when dd was with carers, as they were very easy to use, and then prefolds, and shaped nappies that required seperate wraps when I was in the house If you have limited drying space, go for a quick drying nappy - most cant be dried on radiators, and not good for them to be tumbledried all the time.

Are you doing it to save money? Using a laundry service can make is as expensive as disposables, and doing it at home is very easy (and more convenient, IMHO)

Anyone else think we should make a definitive guide to cloth nappies?

Advantages - addictive; better for environment; no horrible disposible smell; hold in poo better; poo goes down loo rather than contaminating landfill; can reuse with next baby or flog on ebay.

Disadvantages - addictive ; have to change more frequently; more of a hassle when out & about; friends may laugh at you (but at least you can feel smug in having the moral high ground!).

I use mainly motherease one size - one size fits all, they're nice and soft, absorbant and dry fast. Totsbots are very cute, good overnight but take longer to dry. You may find a local scheme to give you money back if you use cloth nappies - there's one here in Edinburgh.

Good luck!

Thanks lmccrean.

The cost is a factor but not major. It's something I've thought about and not got round to doing. Main reasons are environment and possible toxic chemicals. However dh is not in favour - tough but some of the advantages would be helpful!

try this link -its another mum with a baby the same age as yours.

team lollipop - like the the nappy lady

maisiemogs (MNetters) site

am in exactly the same boat, have trialled some real nappies and thinking of choosing motherease only dh hates them and says he will buy disposables and use them he changes ds....so don't know whether to bother now...men...aagghh

if money isnt too much of a concern, go for the cute and easiness factor to help persuade your dh - minki nappies (stuffable) or totbots (like fairy washing up liquid baby) are very cute and easy. Dunno about the totbots, but the minkis have a high resale value when you are done with them.

I used motherease onesize and dd hated them, saying they were too bulky - even at 24mths! but maybe she is just abnormal - or just wanted her cuter ones on?

My DH took a while to come round, kept finding excuses to pop dd in a disposible when he changed her but now he's fine so it's worth persisting with the menfolk. In fact he's becoming greener by the day and is recycling everything, says having a baby has made him so much more aware of needing to look after the earth's resourses ( & [puke] at the same time!).

the thing with the totsbots is....that was the only one we had wet clothes with...but i think that was more my fault in putting it on
but i would also prefer ones that dry quickly...

What do you do about drying, then? We use a laundry service at present but would like to buy and wash our own, but have no drier and no space for one.

have an airing cupboard and was going to put on the radiators...will wash just after tea and hang out after bed time routines??
do you think that will work?

We use MEOS and dp does all teh washing etc now as hes a SAHD. He has gone from being totally against to doing all the work so it can be done. My mantra was 'think of all the money we are saving. We can go down the pub/go out etc etc because we aren buying nappies'. Worked for me.

On the environment issue read this -Does it make a difference to the environment?

I used totsbots with ME wraps and fleece liners from about 17 months when I switched from disps.

I haven't found it addictive in that I've not bought any more (well one extra wrap) in the 13months I've been using them.

None of my friends laughed at me.

BOttom is big, but very cute and I've never had a problem with clothes fitting.

They do take a while to dry, but I've manangd with 14 tots, washing every 2-3 days and I don't have a tumble drier. Drying is worse in summer - winter you have cenral heating on, summer they dry v quick on the line, but if it's rainy they take ages indoors.

Do other people manage with just the airing cupboard, or do you really need a drier? The times we had to rinse a few nappies through, they went all crispy being left on the radiators and ds complained the next day when we tried to put scratchy stiff nappies on him (prefolds)!

Wish you luck! I'd like to try them, but we also have no drier - or space or money for one - no garden access and no radiators to try nappies on - we have those vile electric storage heaters and this is a rental flat so no chance of changing them.

A laundry service is just as expensive as disposables.

regarding Eaneys post - see here - scrol down to "Environment Agency survey seriously flawed"

I wonder if they Environment Agency took into account the disposable nappies that maintain they are environmentaly friendly e.g. Moltex.

i heard that moltex are only more eco friendly (in terms of biodegrading) if they are put in a worm composter!

i thought moltex were only better becuase they are not bleached? is this not true. the degrading of them is the same, mayb im wrong. i got a free sample of them online, they are ok.