Cotton bottoms - nappy questions!

[anchovies]

Bought a load of cotton bottoms nappies and wraps in boots for half price (24 nappies and 6 wraps for £28) but have now read that not many people like them. Was just wondering whether I should keep them and give them a go or whether I could use the wraps with some different nappies (the shaped kind?) and take the nappies back.

Also do I need anything else other than a bucket and some liners to get started? And do I wash the wraps and nappies separately (ie at different temperatures)?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1800&threadid=154481&stamp=060312190318

see this thread for other info - also i know people who use CB very successfully and if you didn't want to keep using them you could sell them 2nd han d and make back some money

I have used Cotton Bottoms for both my ds and dd (dd still using one at night). The only problem I had was that the velcro on the wraps wore out after being washed about 5000 times so bought some new Motherease wraps to last till dd drops the night-time nappy. I used to wash the wraps with the nappies at 60 although they can go in the normal washing at 40 too. I did read it is best not to soak them which I did a lot, so now I only soak them if they get dirty rather than just wet. Oh, and definitely soak in Napisan or similar before washing otherwise they stink your house out and need to be washed twice (discovered this last week as we are only on 1 nappy per day now - won't save up nappies before soaking again!!) HTH.

I used cotton bottoms for ds with no problems - but I admit that when dd came along I got some tots bots which I like better.
I put the nappies and wraps in the wash together, 60 degrees with napisan and no conditioner.
I think people don't like the hassle of folding them - and you can get poo on the wrap pretty easily - whereas the fitted nappies look easier to put on, and the poo stays in the nappy.
If you have a breastfed baby I wouldn't bother with flushable liners (fleece ones are good though, keep bottoms really dry), as they just spread bfed poo about, better just to use unlined nappy. Liners come into use when you've started weaning and the poo is more solid.
Good luck, I'm sure they'll be great (and if not they have re-sale value :) )

Thank you so much for the info, didn't think I could wash the wraps and the nappies together so that is really good news! Have got to say have been using them for 2 days now and so far so good! Dh is still a bit traumatised by them but no leaks or anything yet. And no worries about them hanging around and being stinky, I used all 24 nappies in less than 2 days!

pleased to hear you got on okay with them - to be honest I kinda wish I had got them for dd as they seem much slimmer fitting than the shaped nappies.

LOL at 24 nappies in 2 days - I know the feeling!

My DH is still not fully converted and tries to run up the shop for disps whenever dd gets nappy rash, but even he had to admit they looked cute the other day all hung out on the line think he is slowly coming round - til I buy yet another wrap or more nappies! Can't resist them

We used to use cotton bottoms on our newborn and continued until he was around 6 months. I used to love them, as you say they are really slim fitting.
I now mainly used fitted nappies on him, although I still use the odd prefold - I've too many nappies to be honest.
If you use them with a nappi nippa they work the best, you use the fan fold/ or poo fold as they so eloquently put it on the cotton bottoms website.
I dry pail my nappies with no major smell problem. the bucket is in the chilly bathroom with teatrea oil in it. I use ecoballs to wash as ds has a senstitivity to soap powder on his nappies.
Definately don't use napisan or anything similar on your wraps, it destroys the waterproofing.
I wash my wraps at a lower temp to preserve the waterproofing (I use Cotton Bottoms wraps), normally bung them in with a regular light 40 degree wash. Fabric conditioner is OK on wraps, but definately not good for nappies, stops them being absorbent.
If you use soap powder use half the manufacturers recommended amount. I used to do a pre-rinse a prewash and wash on mine, but now with the ecoballs I do an hours 50 degree wash and an extra rinse with vinegar and they are totally clean.
It's a good idea not to worry too much about stains too much though, it will make the whole thing too much hard work.
Let us know how you get on.