Bum *Geniuses?* Really?

[MsF1t]

I have just changed my daughter's outfit for the second time today: the first time, she was soaking all around one leg, and the second time... well, let's just say it was EVERYWHERE, including on my new skirt.

I am fizzing with rage, and am having dark thoughts of revenge.

They leaked when we first got them, and so I rang the shop we'd bought them from. They advised washing them differently, and this I have done, according to their instructions, ever since. They still leak from time to time, and today was the second time in two days my baby has out-pooed one of the bloody things.

Perhaps my child just has particularly explosive, high-velocity shit?

It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't so bloody expensive, but.. they are. Bloody expensive. We only bought them because my OH is so nappy-phobic he thought they'd be easier than flat nappies when he is looking after her... but he still uses disposables instead, partly because you have to brave the poo up the back of them to remove the insert (yeah, very clever design, that) and fold the velcro flaps over. (All while the baby writhes about, flailing her legs and trying to perform her own variety of poo-sliding interpretive dance moves, seemingly influenced by 1980's break dancing.)

So, is there some magic formula that makes them function properly, or should we have bought some other eye-wateringly expensive brand instead?

Firstly all nappies leak from time to time. disposables and all in ones/pocket nappies have containment rate of about 75% where as a two part system (flat nappies and a wrap) can be up to about 90%

How old is your baby? If she's not eating solids yet runny poo will be a bit of a problem. It does get better when the poo is more solid.

I would suggest not take the insert out when there is poo in the nappy. The insert while come out in the wash.

If you are the only one doing the nappy changing (with cloth) I'd suggest getting something like a Motherease wrap (quite cheap but a bit dull but very very good) with either a bamboo terry toweling nappy or fitted / shaped cotton nappy. Try getting some second hand so you don't have to out lay so much.

We on the whole use terry squares and mother ease but i have some bumgenius also. When DS was under six months I got rid of the Bumgenius as i thought they were rubbish but have ended up buying some and quite like them now he is older!

if you choose to get something else you can sell you BG's so you wont loose all the money.

HTH

Containment rate of 75%? I use Pampered and have never had a leaky nappy.

Sorry, 75% containment would mean at least one leaky nappy every day which I just don't believe. Certainly no-one I know suffers that. Where does that statistic come from?

My son is 2.6 and we've used BGV3s from the time he was 3 months (very tiny baby). I've had about 3 poo leaks in all that time, and they are only just starting to leak now that he is doing bigger wees. I can't really think of any tips as I haven't done anything special really. I use fleece liners and bought some bamboo Little Lamb inserts recently which really soak up anything liquid. Needless to say I've been really impressed with them and they have proved to be excellent value, but I know that not all nappies suit all babies.

BTW - I have never removed an insert before washing. They come out by themselves in the washing machine, so no need for pooey fingers.

it's to do with size and fit as well.
we've got some where the leg elastic is old and not tight enough.
we've also got some where they're too big, so it leaks because there's a gap.
ones with no gap don't leak.

also, agree with putting a wrap round - ones with gussets in the legs.

Nothing beats 2-parters. Motherease onesize with the waterproof inner layer and a motherease airflow wrap is fairly unbeatable .

On the whole cloth does better with explosive poo IME but not so great with very very runny poo because it doesn't absorb as quickly.

Never had a leak with a two parter and maybe three times with BGv4? OTOH plenty in our limited use of sposies as we just can't get the legs tight enough. Or maybe I have an odd shaped baby.

Not waterproof inner ... wrong term... er I mean the layer that wicks the wee away from baby's skin. Stay-dry maybe? It's not fleece, but does the same job.

Ooh- replies! Thanks, people. :)

I have been using bamboo squares since early on (muslins before that). OH hates using them as he can't quite get the knack. Motherease are indeed, the bestest of wraps and I recently got some more on Ebay: tend to reserve them for use at night, with bamboo/fleecy nappies.

I use velboa fleece liners with whatever I happen to be using, in order to ensure she's kept as dry as possible- plus it means I can use a little barrier cream and not contaminate the BumGeniuses with it.

Daughter is 7 months old, and has been on solids since Christmas. She's quite chunky (and getting more so all the time!). Her poo is so not runny any more.

It does sound like her legs might be too thin for them. DS has quite chunky thighs and the only time he's had a wee leak is when nursery had the BG on the biggest setting making them too loose round the leg, other than that they are great for him.

If she doesn't grow into them all may not be lost as when I was looking to try BG for the first time the ones on ebay seemed to be selling really well at a good price.

Oh and agree about not needing to take out the middle pre-washing I pretty much never do and they nearly always come out during the wash and even if they don't they're still clean.

I was thinking about this this morning.
We have some unbranded pocket nappies that I got from ebay, just to try out.
the legs are just elasticated, and fitted really tightly around the waist (even with the rise on the minimum setting), they are loose around the leg. As in, gappy, not necessarily loose elastic.
Now, my Motherease wraps, and my Thirsties wraps and naturebabies wraps all have "gussets" in the legs - little rounded pieces of fabric inside the leg, which make the leg hole that much smaller, and make the leg fit better.
I don't think it's the smallness, I think it's the fit
If there's a gusset, it's more rounded to the leg.
hard to describe, but if you think about how the nappy fits to the body, it sticks out quite a bit, so no amount of elastic can cure that. Put a gusset in, and you've got an extra bit of fabric that can then sit on the leg where the nappy itself can't reach.

If you're able to sew, it might be an idea to add one of those gussets on the inside of the leg to keep the poo in.

here's guide that includes adding a gusset

Humm not sure where i got the 75% from. Havign had a very quick google search i can't see it quoted some where so it appears I've been making it up. Sorry! Although when DS is in disposables we get at least a leak a day!

If you are getting a leak a day, I would suggest you either try a different brand or a different size. There is absolutely no reason why your child should have to put up with that.

Ok, what kind of a leak are we talking about? Are we talking about wet vest edges or a full on clothes change. I think if it's the former then that is wicking, and can be caused if her clothes are too tight around the nappy.

The bumgenius inserts are like a spongue, so can absorb a lot but if pressed they can release moisture. I would suggest that instead of trying a different brand, see if you can get hold of some bamboo or hemp inserts. Your baby may just be a heavy wetter; easy peasy inserts are a popular choice and you can get them off of amazon. Seriously hemp is fantastic and once you get them up to full absorbtion they are brilliant or get hold of some little lamb bamboo inserts. Use these instead of the little newborn booster. The way it works is that the microfibre will absorb the urine, and then the hemp/bamboo stores it. So you shouldn't get compression leaks.

As for the fleece liners, are you using them to cover the whole of her bottom and bits? If so, it may be that you have too much fleece inbetween baby and the inserts. If I use fleece liners, I tend to put them at the back to catch the poo. The lining of the bumgenius should be sufficent to keep your baby dry and comfortable at the front.

As for the fit, she should be ok with the medium setting. But you could try the large to see if that helps. Now before you panic, babies do change shape a lot. Mine has been in and out of the medium and big settings at times.

Does that help?