Washable nappies - I need your recommendations

[snackattack]

What brand would you recommend and why? Am keen to try them but concerned they are too much hassle. Have searched internet and too many choices! Advice please. Many thanks.

I use totsbots ones because they were a present, never used anything else. They are really easy to use, I prefer the velcro ones to the ones with the nippa fastener thingy. The totsbots wraps are rubbish though, I was given some motherease ones which are much better.

There's a survey thingy here that might help you choose.

I also use totsbots as I got them on freecycle, they're great - never had a leak with them, but we had loads with disposables, and he's not had any nappyrash since using them either.

Thanks for the recommendation. I know I'm being dense about this but I just checked out the totsbots website. For a newborn, how many would I need to buy? Do you go for the Bamboozle, the Easyfit 2010 or the flexi tot or teeny tot? - although I'm not sure what the difference is. And do you wash the whole thing or just the middle bit (which I presume you buy separately). Really sorry to be thick about this but just can't make out what I need and how many!

Snackattack - I think I had 16 size 1s and then around 12 size 2s....
I went for the original ones - not sure of the new versions.

There are basically three main parts to a washable Tots Bot - the liner (you can choose flushable or fleece ones, which you wash), the nappy & the wrap - both of which you have to wash.
Have a look at the nappy lady's website as she has loads of useful information.

we use pop-ins, along with some fleece liners we bought separately. They are OK, though we´ve sometimes had issues with leaking at night.

The nappy Lady web site is really helpful - I found it great to look at to see what all the different options are and how they all work. Personally I use old fashioned terry towling squares. I find these perfectly easy and don't find folding them takes any time really, plus they are much easier to dry because you are only drying one thickness. I've tried a few types as got some odds and ends passed on but have found the terry squares easiest, most absorbent and least leaky. I use them with boots liners and motherease wraps (the Velcro ones, as I find these give a better fit). I do have some Fuzzibunz nappies too which are a waterproof outer and fleece inner in one - the fleece acts as a liner so you don't have to use another liner and you then put an absorbent pad inside (there is a 'pocket' to put it in). You can buy microfiber pads but I have used a folded terry nappy, boosters that pop off from some shaped nappies I have or even just cheap microfiber cloths/dusters folded up! I like the fuzzibunz pocket nappies but they are more expensive and take more washing. With the terries I use the same wrap all day (unless it gets poo on it), with the fuzzibunz you have to change the outer bit (the actual fuzzibunz nappy) and whatever you put inside it each time. I have some shaped motherease towling nappies for my changing bag to use when out and although they are OK I find they need changing sooner then the terry squares and take much longer to dry.

Sounds like I have loads of nappies (probably do) but it's because anything that isn't a terry square I've been given as hand me downs. How many nappies you need depends on how often you want to wash. I don't mind nappies hanging around in the bucket a few days so wash about every three days and have 24 terry nappies which is ample (20 would be fine, but they came in packs of 6!) and about 8 wraps. Obviously if you prefer to wash more often you don't need so many. Other advantage of terries is they are the ultimate birth to potty nappy - you just change the way it's folded as your baby grows. They are pretty bulky on little babies though - I put my little boy into them at about 5 weeks I think but used disposables until then.

We use Nature Babies Bamboo Lovables and I love them. The wraps are excellent and both nappy and wrap wash and dry really well. I've been given some One Life birth to potty nappies and they are good too, our DS is 15lbs at 11 weeks, so the bigger nappies are ideal.

Check out Nature Babies own website, but also Twinkle Twinkle (twinkle on the web) are very good to talk to.

We have 28 nappies now, so washing is much less frequent.

I use bumgenius v3 pocket nappies during the day and eccobots fleece and bamboo nappies at night with a lollipop wrap. I found the bumgenius were leaking and I was having to change dd at night which is okay with a new born but was reinforcing waking when she was older. I have 21 bumgenius and 4 night nappies and do a wash every other day.

Does your local council have a real nappy project? I borrowed a multipack for a month for £50 returnable deposit to see what I got on with best once dd was born. The lady I get my kit from also runs a nappuccino once a month. It's a poncy name but essentially it's a real nappy coffee morning with free advice. You could see if there's one local to you