Leaking nappies, clothes don't fit - I try to be good!

[LizziePizzie]

I know the answers to this grumble but need to grumble anyway!

I have a 17 month old DD and have been flitting between real nappies and disposables (eco ones) since she was born. The real nappies I have used in the past are Totsbots Bamboozles and Flexitots with Totsbots wraps. Now I have a Totsbots Easyfit and Bitti Tutti snap ons (using the liners from the Flexitots as boosters).

My experience of using the real nappies hasn't been too good. She wees so much at night that I have to wash the nappy, her baby grow and the sleeping bag! I even boost the nappy with 3 liners and she still leaks everywhere. During the day if I don't change her every 2 hours she leaks and then requires a change of clothes every time. (Also if she has leaked in the car seat or pram I have to wash those covers!)

Then I just can't be bothered with all the additional washing and think that I am not actually saving myself any more money or helping the environment any with all this extra use of the washing machine. So I revert to the disposables. Then I feel guilty as I have spent the money on the real nappies and here I am buying disposables again, and return to the real nappies! This cycle has continued for 17 months!

Also there is an additional aspect that when she is in the real nappies none of her clothes fit! She is a small girl and the amount I have to boost the nappies makes all trousers too tight around the bottom or if they fit in the bottom, too long and baggy in the leg!

Oh grumble and help? would love to know if I am the only one who has this problem and what other people do to solve it!

For a start, an ordinary day nappy definitely won't be sufficient at night, and you'll need fitted nappies and a wrap overnight. I actually just use 2 bamboo nappies, one on top of the other, and a knitted wool soaker instead of a PUL wrap overnight. That's never failed me, but most people seem to use one nappy with lots of extra boosting, and covered with a PUL wrap. Or you can get special night nappies, but IMO they are expensive and take absolutely AGES to dry, so you need at least 4 of them!
I wouldn't expect easyfits or snap ons to do overnight.

You may find that a fitted nappy and separate wrap works better in the daytime as well. If not, try boosting the nappies a bit during the day. that will make them last longer ;)

Thanks for your advice...

Why not put her in disposables at night? Then at least you are still using your reusables the rest of the time, but saving on washing. And have you thought about putting her on a potty after meals? I'm not suggesting fully potty training so early, but if you know when she has a pee, and catch it in time, you could save yourself from changing her quite so often, and have the benefit of getting her used to the pot early.