resuable nappies, some questions please

[umboo]

hi

i am thinking about reusable nappies for dc2 due in a couple of months. i have a load of terry nappies from my sister and some nappy nippas. i have a few questions about how it will all work:

1. can i use muslin cloths for the newborn days? is this a good idea?
2. what do you do with the liner, does it go in the loo?
3. does the nappy still need a quick wash before going in the washing machine if i use a liner?
4. for seasoned real nappy users, do you recommend dry storage or wet soaking?
5. what detergent do you use to wash the nappies?
6. do i need different sized wraps for different ages? i know the terries can just be folded differently but not sure with the wraps.
7. are there any things you wish someone had told you before you started using reusables? i want to know what i'm really in for!

many thanks in advance :)

1. You can but I never did - disposables until meconium done, then a terry or small shaped nappy.
2. You don't need liners until they are on solids, but assuming paper liners, pooey ones go in the loo, wet ones go in the machine for reuse. Imse Vimse are good.
3. No, I never pre wash.
4. Nor soak. I have 2 lidded buckets, each take ~10 nappies, wash when full.
5. Cheapest non-bio liquid.
6. Yes, sized wraps are needed but size 2 or medium will last from around 6 weeks to a year. So get small ones second hand! Dd is 11 weeks and nearly outgrown size 1.

1. It's not rocket science, it's cloth to mop up wee! Trial and error are needed, some styles will work better depending on the shape of your baby. Make sure no nappy pokes out from the wrap as that will leak.

It gets easier - I used a fair few disposables in the early weeks with ds but then almost none after that. And sunshine will bleach out almost all stains. When we get some, that is...

1. can i use muslin cloths for the newborn days? is this a good idea?

I didn't but I know someone who did - depends what sort of nappy you go for, I used BumGenius pocket nappies and some Closer Pop-Ins in the early days.

1. what do you do with the liner, does it go in the loo?

I used fleece liners as the flushable ones stuck to DD and gave her a rash. Don't really recommend the disposable ones personally, but it's a case of trial and error to see what suits you.

1. does the nappy still need a quick wash before going in the washing machine if i use a liner?

I never pre-washed or soaked mine. Shake/rinse (in the toilet) any poo you can, then in the (dry) bucket.

1. for seasoned real nappy users, do you recommend dry storage or wet soaking?

Most modern washables are unsuitable for soaking so check before you buy. BumGenius must not be soaked. I never ever pre-soaked - looks a messy and grim job to sort a soaking wet bucket full of shit tbh, why would you? Yuk!

1. what detergent do you use to wash the nappies?

I always use bio on everything - I found non-bio left a smell. They are clean as a whistle with bio.

1. do i need different sized wraps for different ages? i know the terries can just be folded differently but not sure with the wraps.

I used pocket nappies that were birth to potty, the wraps presumably can be either sized or with poppers on to change the sizing if you want.

1. are there any things you wish someone had told you before you started using reusables? i want to know what i'm really in for!

They're so easy. And not loads of effort, whatever people (who don't use them) might think or say. I spent less than 10 minutes a day on my nappies, no big effort at all. The most labour intensive part is researching to decide which ones to buy!

12 months ago I posted the exact same thing!

1. can i use muslin cloths for the newborn days? is this a good idea?

I guess you could but frankly I was so ripped apart by the birth that I made life easy with s'posies for the first few weeks. There's enough to get to grips with already!

1. what do you do with the liner, does it go in the loo?

I had paper and fleece liners and preferred the fleece ones. They seemed to hold the gunk better, stopped things spreading! Also looked comfier.

1. does the nappy still need a quick wash before going in the washing machine if i use a liner?

I chucked old nappies and fleece liners in a lidded bucket and did a wash every 3 days. I put them on a quick 15 min cold rinse then washed them with non-bio. It helps to line the bucket with a net bag so you can just chuck the lot in without having to come into direct contact with 3 day old poo. Also keeps the liners from disappearing.

1. for seasoned real nappy users, do you recommend dry storage or wet soaking?

See above

1. what detergent do you use to wash the nappies?

Cheapest non-bio.

1. do i need different sized wraps for different ages? i know the terries can just be folded differently but not sure with the wraps.

Size 1 lasted me til 4 months. Size 2 til... well, I stopped at 7 months because I moved into a flat with no drying space. Still a bit sad about that, especially seeing the mountain of nappy trash we now produce for landfill.

1. are there any things you wish someone had told you before you started using reusables? i want to know what i'm really in for!

It's not hard at all. No nappy rash. They wash easy and any slight stains can be sunshined out on the line. I didn't like terry towel though. Little Lamb were FANTASTIC. Soft, fluffy, easier to put on than a disposible. No origami skills required!

1. can i use muslin cloths for the newborn days? is this a good idea?

Yes, you can and I did. I eased into the reusables- use a couple a day when you feel like it, on rubbish days use disposables. I let myself build confidence and experiment with the reusables on good days, and she was in them full time from 10 days (I found they leaked less and were less bother than disposables)

1. what do you do with the liner, does it go in the loo?

We don't really use liners, but when we do we use fleece ones. You can make them, just cut a fleece blanket into rectangles. Then just throw them in the wash with the nappies. It's actually easier than finding a bin/loo.

1. does the nappy still need a quick wash before going in the washing machine if i use a liner?

No, the machine gets everything out.

1. for seasoned real nappy users, do you recommend dry storage or wet soaking?

Dry storage- wet soaking is gross and ruins the nappies.

1. what detergent do you use to wash the nappies?

We use any old non bio.

1. do i need different sized wraps for different ages? i know the terries can just be folded differently but not sure with the wraps.

I'd recommend Bumgenius Flips- they're birth to potty, spo no diferent sizes and adjust with poppers, and we've never had a leak with them!

1. are there any things you wish someone had told you before you started using reusables? i want to know what i'm really in for!

Cloth wipes! They actually make things easier, and get the poo off in just one wipe. You don't need to bother finding a bin, and organising nappy, liner, wipe- just wrap it all up in the nappy and throw in the bucket. The sun gets stains out. And if the nappies go a bit 'crunchy' from line drying then a quick tumble dry will get them really soft.

thank you so much all of you for your replies, you have all left me feeling quite enthusiastic now about the reusables whereas before i was definitely willing to give them a try but was worried about the hassle, i'm particularly interested in the fact that actually you all find them easier than disposables!

so if i do dry storage, i know this is a silly question...but there won't be any damage to the washing machine with poo being washing out in it? atm we are living with my mum for a few months, and her machine is pretty decent, but it is 10 years old....

also is there definitely no smell from the nappies with dry storage?

i'm reassured you all eased yourself into it too. my sis did cloth nappies after a week to avoid the meconium too, but its helpful to think even after that i shouldn't feel guilty if i do mixed use for a while. actually i was thinking of using disposables while out, is that what you guys do or do you carry the dirty nappies home with you?

soundofherwings i really like the look of the bumgenius flips, they seem very useful and look good too! would they work with terries too? i can't tell from the websites. great idea to make my own fleece liners too- thanks!

so would this sort of fleece be ok for the liner? many thanks

Hi umboo,

DD is only 8 weeks so I'm no expert but this is my experience so far -

1. I used terries to start when DD was too small for the birth-to-potty shaped nappies I had bought. I have cut some up to use as wipes and I'm saving the rest for use as boosters or for emergencies if the others aren't dry (no tumble dryer).
2. I found paper liners rubbish and make DD sore, I have got fleece ones now - I flush the poo off them in the toilet (don't let go!)
3. I do a cold rinse but after reading the other posters I may try without.
4. Dry. I add a couple of drops of lavender oil to the bucket to make it smell nice. Use a net bag.
5. Any non-bio. I think bio ones degrade shaped nappies, fine for terries.
6. Yes the wrap must fit well to stop leaks. DD is nearly too big for the small size already. Motherease are better than tots bots IME.
7. They are easy and not yucky at all -even DH can manage it!

Terries do dry much faster than shaped nappies. Drying time will determine how many and what type of nappy you need.

What sort of poo are you expecting your baby to make that will break the washing machine?

That fleece is probably fine.

I'm kicking myself because I bought nappy liners at 10x the price

Umboo Where I live there is a council Nappy Lady who has loan kits. This can get you started without having to spend loads of money. As it's in the council's interests to encourage you into reusable nappies (landfill costs etc) look out for something like this.

1. Muslins are very good for newborn bottoms. Try the origami fold.
2. Dirty liner in bin, clean ones in string bag to wash
3. I never quick washed or prewashed anything.
4. Dry pailing only, wet pailing means more mess ime.
5. I used any detergent I felt like, including bio
6. Different wraps for different sizes.
7. Just try different things, see what suits you.

Stink: sorry to say this is individual so you may have to see how you go. I discovered that top-loading machines stink out the house whilst washing used nappies, but not usually an issue in the UK. Disp nappies & nappy-sacks honk too. Make sure you have a nappy bin with a lid, sometimes people put drops of lavender oil in to dilute odours; I found banana skins work just as well for odour control (but DO NOT wash them).

I used rags for the meconium stage, btw, nicely caught it all & the rags were just rubbish otherwise, anyway.

Outings: I used to take one shaped cloth nappy with liner+wrap, & 2 disps; only rarely had to use disps whilst out. Cut down on bulk of stuff to carry.

Poo never clogged up my washing machine but liners+baby sox (and other small items) sometimes clogged it, so do use a string bag for those kinds of things.

fundus lol, i do remember some major poo explosions with ds1 but i guess they were thankfully not so often!

does anyone know of any funky wraps that are suitable with terry nappies?

or am i just making more work for myself with the terries, shall i just invest in some shaped nappies?

what do you think of these ones? i was thinking of getting one and trying it out on ds1. having entered the sling jungle with ds1 i ended up concluding that many of the branded products were just as good as a good old simple piece of cloth- and i'm wondering whether its teh same with the new burgeoning cloth nappy market, ie the branded nappies are overpriced and others are just as good?

I'd use a string bag for all of it. So much easier to chuck in the machine then.

Stink... yes it does if you like to festoon dirty nappies around the bedroom, but a lidded bin does the job brilliantly. I just wiped out the bin with a Dettol wipe every wash. Baby poo isn't that awful for the first 6 months. Just smells like old yoghurt.

Terries dry fast but fleece nappies are almost dry coming out of the machine. Which is why Little Lambs are brilliant.

Oh, just a thought - if you do go for shaped nappies, stick the velcro tabs together before you drop the nappy in the bucket. Otherwise you'll be unsticking a large Super Nappy.

I bought my Little Lambs for 100 quid (11 size 1, 9 size 2, plus 20 fleece liners and 5 wraps). I sold them on for 75 quid. So it's not a big waste if you have a decent make.

Forgot to say, mine were secondhand.

1. Personally I used disposables for the first two weeks as could not face meconium nappies post birth!
2. I flushed dirty liners but put wet liners with wipes in nappy sack/bin
3. No. the Washing machine does it all for you!
4. I couldn't face a wash everyday so i stored in water and did a wash every third day
5. just regular detergent fine.
6. yes you do need different sized wraps. Small medium and large. you will use the large more than the other sizes
7. your child will toilet train quicker than childrne who are used to disposables. it was the thought of this that kept me going!

HTH

I've been using muslins since day 3, onto terries a few weeks ago, did is now 6 weeks. Re wraps currently my favs are nature babies and rumparooz which are both adjustable- poppers to alter the size and make them smaller etc. I got medium size, which are a bit baggy but no leakjs. Dd is 10lb now. With the muslins I had smaller wraps - maybe totsbots I think!

I think the Flips would work with terrys- we used them with shaped nappies but they were a bit big at first, so there'd be room for a bulkier terry. I think it's crucial to experiment a bit with wraps- we got them all second hand so have lots of brands, but different ones work with different nappies. The flips are good- they have quite a bit of stretch in the fabric.
That's the fleece I used, and I got a metre of some patterned stuff from a fabric shop.

Those ebay nappies- I have a couple. They are lovely and soft and the patterns are nice. The bamboo ones take ages to dry though! And they are quite big- we were still on the smallest size at 4 months. But lots of room for extra boosters and they've not leaked.

thank you for your replies, especially the feedback on the ebay nappies! im slowly moving to the idea of shaped pocket nappies as i think dh will get on better with them. its important he's on board or i end up doing more nappy changes!! ive started another thread to get recommendations and have now arranged a trial with a company which is going to send me 8 different nappies to hire for £10 for three weeks!!! but i am still going to include the terry nappies in our testing out period so i can properly compare.

i had another question for you all, if you don't mind...everyone said it doesn't really smell so bad when storing nappies in the nappy bin for washing- but when you open the nappy bin to put them in the wash- doesn't it pong a bit then?

ive learnt loads from this thread, thank you everybody, especially for making me get excited about it all!

Yes, it pongs a little, depending on how long they've been there (we wash every 2-3 days usually). It's no worse than dealing changing a bad nappy is anyway IMO.

We use Close Parent Dream Dri, which are a godsend if you don't have much drying space because they dry overnight. We use disposable liners but make sure you buy flushable liners. Most aren't but Waitrose sell them.

Used nappies go in a dry bucket with a lid and from there into the washing machine on a regular 40 degree wash. The bin can smell if the nappies at the bottom have been there for a few days. It's an ammonia smell, rather than poo smell.