Tots bots Vs Ebay Cheapies

[Ecgwynn]

I'm a cheapskate. What's the difference between bamboo totsbots nappies and the bamboo new washable nappies you can get on ebay, apart from price (16 pounds vs 2.50)?

With totsbots are you just paying for a label?

Can you post a link for the eBay ones please, so I can give an opinion?

I am too. Ive seen loads of non branded ones on Ebay that look the part and the feedback was good. Ive seen 15 AIO from Shanghai that have good feedback and they're under £30 ish.

I'm an Ebay cheapie Mama! I prefer them to the Tots Bots Easy Fit and Bambino Mio we have.

I have a mixture of unbranded ones from China and Alva Baby ones. The only difference is that the Alva baby ones have a suede-cloth inner rather than fleece. I prefer this as it doesn't pile and the poo doesn't stick.

They wash great & dry quickly. Plus I've seen them rebranded and sold for much more.

Im watching some Alva baby ones and waiting for pay day! Ive seen some animal print minky ones from the USA that look ok. I cant link cos im on my phone.

trix I would really appreciate it if you could perhaps recommend a seller, or at least identify a seller that sells similar to what you like. I am looking for more tots bots easyfit type nappies so that would be ideal for me thanking you in anticipation.

Well, I've used both and they aren't really comparable in my opinion. The internet cheapies were fine for up to an hour (maybe between bath and bed?) and you could't stuff them too much without huge gape issues (my lo was tall and super skinny).

The TB ones are much more absorbant, even without stuffing. If you mean the bamboozles, obviously they aren't stuffed as they're two-parters.

For me, it also comes down to the ethos. We used cloth to reduce our carbon footprint, and I'd rather buy nappies from Scotland than China any day. Tots Bots fabrics are all oeko-tex certified and I can be sure of good standards of working and pay for the staff. I like the fact I'm supporting a small family run business and if I had any questions or issues the customer service in the office is fab.

They do a great scheme whereby you pay a little a month whilst pregnant and then it all arrives just in time for the baby - I think that's great!

Plus, they last well and have a good re-sale value, so if money is an issue, think about how much you'll get back for each when you sell it on.

I got my unbranded ones from yellowbloom & I actually bought my Alvas directly from the factory. I originally purchased 15 from a seller called 520kissbaby but they never arrived. So I bought 50 of them at a wholesale price and I have the extras on ebay at moment (under the same user name).

The thing that made me regret buying my ebay cheapies was when someone mentioned ethics. Ask yourself do you know WHO has made those nappies? Can you honestly rule out child labour? Can you guarantee they get paid? What are the working conditions like?

I remember watching a programme on telly where they sent some teens over to india to work in factories over there, one good factory, one bad, and one squalid. The squalid one they were working 20 hours a day 7 days a week, no holiday, and earning just enough money to send home to feed their family. Just existing, no life. There was also evidence that children worked there.

So you're happy saving a bob or two to make your own child's life comfortable. Are you still happy knowing a child living in poverty could have made that nappy?

Sorry, I'm just telling it like it is.

I don't want to get into some argument over ethics but china does actually have a minimum working age of 16 & a minimum wage. Granted it may not be as generous as the UK or as strictly enforced but it is there. I imagine our baby clothes are produced in worse conditions & I don't see many people arguing that we should buy our onsies from a cottage industry.
For many people the cost of cloth nappies is prohibitive - especially those who decide after baby arrives and have reduced or no income.

Just purchased an Alva baby cow print nappy from china. Sadly I do not have the funds to be overly concerned about ethics. My biggest concern is my own family. I do buy free range eggs though.

I shall report back my findings in about a month to allow for postage

Good point about the ethics. I am re-thinking.

Why are you willing to pay more for the comfort of chickens but not for developing world children?

Because of my DH to be honest. I am a cruel bitch!

I am a nurse and a mother, so I feel I am doing my bit for making the world a better place.

My thinking is that you are keeping a person in employment in China and if they didnt have that job what other work would they be doing?

Sure, they have laws against it. It doesn't mean they are enforced or even enforcable (just think of speeding in this country, loads of people do it on a regular basis and don't get caught). The kids want to work, and people want to employ them. Also, as it's illegal they'll hardly appear on any payrolls, so I doubt a legal minimum wage will have any effect on their earnings. Just google child labour in China, it comes up with loads of information on it.

So you can't afford ethics, but you're ok with a child most likely forced to live away from their family, barely able to afford to feed or clothe themselves, sleeping on a concrete floor, forced to work long hours with no chance to play, probably beaten, no healthcare, all for a pittance. And if they didn't have that job, what other work would they be doing??!

For baby clothes you're probably better off sticking to well known clothes brands over here, such as M&S or Next, as they employ the "good" factories to make their clothing, rather than the "squalid" ones.

I'm not claiming to be squeaky clean myself, far from it, but at least acknowledging this sort of thing does go on, and trying to do a little about it, is much better than burying your head in the sand and pretending it doesn't happen at all.

And I think a lot of people do make decisions about baby clothes based on ethics. I will never buy anything for myself or my daughter from primark or similar stores, because there is a reason that stuff is so cheap. I would rather go to a charity shop.

I think people who decide to use cloth late in the game would be better off buying one or two tots bots each week with the weekly shop from tescos until they had their stash, or buying pre-loved, rather than getting ebay cheapies.

I've got stash of Ebay (UK) cheapies, DP finds pocket nappies easier and I could buy just the outer quite cheaply which is all I needed as I had a pile of Mothercare smart nappy inners from DD1.

I bought the ones which said they were a UK seller. The first set I bought, the inner PUL has separated so it looks like a thin plastic bag inside. It looks like it will tear but hasn't - yet. The second batch from the same seller look much sturdier, have a label called Dudeybaba and the PUL hasn't separated - yet.

I did email the seller a few times with my problem (I'd hardly used them when this problem occurred) but surprise surprise, they didn't get back to me. I don't think you would have this problem with a branded name.

Ebay ought to have a process where you can feedback on items after use!

I can't see these lasting that long and I've heard pocket nappies generally rarely last to a second child so if you are thinking about having cloth on two, I'd invest in a two part system, plus you are more likely to be able to sell them on.

I'll check if i can find the seller I used as would not recommend them.

I've got a problem with leaking now, but that may be as I've used cream on DD2 or my washing process - will post on that separately!

Off to find name of seller.

Babyworld3000 is the seller, avoid!!

Ive had a few other bits off them like corner bumpers and that. What've they done Cereal?

Sorry, just read further. I got some night time boosters with the Dudeybaba tag on and so far seem ok but thanks for letting us know about the nappies.

Im watching some minkies too that are US made by what look like a family run business. I love the animal prints they've got on them.

Bububibi they're called.

I haven't tried the Chinese nappies, but personally think that it's a false economy getting the cheapest nappy. My Tots Bots have lasted through 3 children, as opposed to a cheaper brand (not off Ebay) that fell apart after a few months.

So, my vote for Tots Bots every time...

I do get the issues people have with imports and sweat shops etc. But as we have a minimal manufacturing industry in this country I think we are all kidding ourselves if we think buying locally made products are truly ethical.
Yes the person making the final product might be better paid, but the fabrics and materials and sewing machines and packaging is all made in the same types of factories in India, the far east & China.
People will buy what they like, I like my cheap nappies, I prefer them to some other brands that I have.
I type this on my mobile phone which was probably put together by a six year old in Indonesia.

Not if the fabrics and materials are oeko-tex certified, trix, as Tots Bots all are.

And be careful thinking that the business is a us based family business, it's very easy for chinese companies to say that, and ebay won't check if it's true...