Reusable nappies for a prev. disposible mum!

[staceym11]

Right there are prob lots of threads on this but i am lazy il admit it!!!

Which reusables would people suggest in using with a newborn?? im pg atm and dd is 17 month so shes gunna be potty trained soon anyway, and wanna use reusables for the new one.

but as i only ever used disposibles i have no idea what brands etc are best, and what exactly id need, please could someone help me!!!!

Hi staceym - you'll get loads of good advice here.

Do you have a tumble drier? Depending on where you live nappies dry a bit fluffier and softer if you can tumble them for 10/20 mins before hanging them up. (Or you can tumble them dry ) Some nappies also take ages to dry, some are really quick.

I think the most popular combination is to use a \link{http://www.totsbots.com\Totsbots} nappy with a Motherease cover (wrap), but lots of cloth users mix and match depending on what suits them.

I've got Totsbots cotton nappies which were ds' and I'm now using on dd (saving loads of money!). They're really great and never leak, but some people find them bulky.

I also have a few of the new Totsbots nappies; a Bamboozle which is really thin and silky, but still very absorbant and a Fluffle which is made of fluffy fleece and dries almost instantly.

About 20 nappies and 4 wraps is all you should need, but you might add to that as you go along.

\link{http://www.kittykins.co.uk\Kittykins} are a great independent nappy seller with free P&P. They sell all the most popular types and would be able to advise on what would suit you best.

Good luck - you'll be saving hundreds of pounds - maybe thousands depending on what you choose!

hi there,
I used bambino mio. We bought the birth to potty pack which cost around £200 and included 48 thick cotton squares to fold up in the middle, and 3 of each size of the plastic pants/ wrap (12 in total I think). They have served me brilliantly. My dd is now 2.5 and only uses a nappy at night and we now have the joy of not having to pay a penny for baby 2's nappies when he/she arrives!

oh thankyou thats brill, yeah we will have a tumble dryer by then so that will be cool, will have a look at your links later, baby chooses the best times to wake up!!!

thank you so much!

Hi stacey,

Am a recent convert myself and have never looked back with brilliant combination as Mcmudda suggests of Tots Bots originals, also fluffles and bamboozles, fastened with a Nappy Nippa and a Motherease Airflow(poppered) wrap. No leaks so far @ 5 months old. Also recommend Kittykins. Found it v. good for newborn to use folded muslins as a nappy with the airflow wrap on top.

Stacey, I'm a recent convert too and very impressed so far. My babe was born 10lb 4 and is now 13lb + at 8 weeks, I'm using tots bots (unbleached, rainbows, fluffles and bamboozles) + Motherease/tots bots wraps. I think fluffles are brilliant (don't need tumble drying, are v cute, have an integral fleece liner which I prefer as it covers the whole nappy and can be 'stuffed' for extra absorbancy) - the size 2's are fine for him as you can fold the front down and use a nappi nippa (much better than aplix, honest). I'm starting to use size 2 nippas in bamboozles/rainbows fine now but you may need to use bigger clothes. I love the tots bots fleeces for night to let them breathe. Apparently, you can use a tots bots red fleece wrap just with a booster inside for a newborn, I wish I'd tried it now.

Have a look at the 'babykind.co.uk' website, it is very helpful.

Motherease rikki wraps are the best IMO (as the airflow poppers do my head in and dp cannot get them right!) but tots bots have cuter patterns as 'pants' for the summer and have a lovely soft snug fit. The tots bots wrap has leaked bf poo once from the legs as they lack the Motherease gusset but this can be prevented if you ensure the nappy is totally covered and fits well round the legs. I think you can use a much bigger wrap than suggested by the sizing if you overlap the aplix.

Motherease one-size with Mother-ease rikki(velcro) wraps.
You could also buy the larger wraps and use them on 17m old before baby is born to get used to them. Would use the airflow (popper) wraps on the older child. Probably need the booster liners with the older child. However, that would mean all nappies would be in place for baby until potty trained.

Totsbots are great but you do have to buy different sizes so if cost is a big issue then Mother ease one size which will do from birth to potty will cost less. Terry squares are the cheapest option and quick to dry. Would definitely say mother ease airflow wraps are the best.

Also worth seeing if your council do grants or schemes to help people with the initial costs of converting.

which fastening is best for containing leaks?pooper, nippa or velcro?

thanks everyone you've all been a lot of help, will approach dp with all the info and then see him turn me down!!! lol

Mummy to Toby - I don't think hte type of fastening really matters. People say airflow (poppers) are best, but dp changes ds a lot and he just can't get it to fit properly (big fingers, little poppers, no patience!) but he finds velcro a doddle. I think people say older toddlers can undo the velcro. Only the nappies (inside the wraps) are nippa and they are very good (no prob for dp!) and make size 2 nappies fit small babies and are also more adjustable. I find the aplix(velcro) a bit 'hard' on my baby's waist IYKWIM

oh right. i read on one site that poppers didn't give as good a fit as velcro round the legs so maybe prone to leaks, but then on another one it said poppers or nippas gave a better fit!!

Hi.
I'm planning to use reusables for the first time too (I'm 24wks pg) I've been reading up on all the different types of nappies and am quite taken with the idea of tots bots. what I wanted to ask was - the bamboozles and fluffles look brilliant, so why would anyone use plain tots bots? Is there a downside to fluffles or bamboozles? Also I've got some nippas to have a look at and they look fairly easy to use (dp thinks so too) so are they better than aplix-should I get non aplix - again what are the downsides?
The other thing is whether to go straight for size2 or get size 1 then move up? what do people think?
Oh ..just remembered another thing - how do the fleece wraps work? doesn't wee get through? do they have any pul in them?

Sorry so many questions

Did I ask too many questions? Should I have started my own thread? :(
Perhaps I'm just impatient it's only been an hour since my post...am very excited about getting some nappies tho'...wonder how many people say that about disposables

Aggiepanther...

i dont know if you relaise that tots fluffles and bamboozles are VERY new.... only been out for a few months.... which is why so many people sue them cause just a few months ago "tots were tots"!!!

also probably why there are hardly any on ebay cause no one with them has finished with them yet!

I havnt tried bamboozles or fluffles but agree they sound better than tots and only seem the tiniest bit more expensive!

i meant why so many people use "normal" tots!

Ahhh thanks - I knew they were newish but not how new. That explains it a bit then.

Does anybody here who uses them have any comments about them? Any downsides?

Can anyone answer my other questions too

Mummy to Toby - To be honest, only one nappy has leaked on me so far (in only six weeks of use :) and that was a poo explosion on a saturated nappy - he'd been asleep for ages) as long as the wrap covers the nappy completely and you change frequently you should be fine! Do recommend Motherease rikki as the best tho IME

Aggie - I am a new user myself, my ds is only 2 months but I am feeling very evangelical about it! I'm sure more experienced users will be along soon with the benefit of their experience. However, for what is worth...

Tots bots - I think that both fluffles and bamboozles are fairly new so original and rainbow tots still around and being used. They are both more expensive so that must also be a factor, they may also be less absorbant but I'm not sure myself yet - they can both be boosted for night if necessary. The cons as far as I can see: Bamboozles are very slim and natural however I slightly prefer fluffles as they stay very very soft even when wet and have a (large) integral fleece liner which keeps all of the nappy area dry (not just the middle bit - bamboozles need liners - I have bought my own fleece and cut it up into bigger than normal liners). Fluffles can also be boosted within the liner (unlike bamboozles). Bamboozles take longer to dry. Fluffles don't even need to be tumbled. Fluffles are slightly more bulky but this is sooo cute! Some people don't like them because they not a natural fibre and they do snag somehow on rough hands (reminds me to slap on some hand cream!)

Nippas are great, they allow you to adjust a bigger nappy (ie a size 2 to fit a small baby by folding the front flap down) and also adjust the leg fit a bit. Aplix is 'easier' but my dp copes fine with nippas. I suppose as they get bigger, they will wriggle more but by then you will be expert! My ds was big (10'4) and size 2's would have been fairly massive on him then but are fine now. NB: you can't use size 2 aplix on a baby because the velcro would be too hard/bulky.

Fleece wraps are fab! In a liner fleece keeps their bum dry, the wee only goes one way. As a wrap it lets the nappy breathe (especially if on for ages as at night) -when you take them off they are dry (bums and wraps). I do find the outside of his babygro may be a little 'sweaty' feeling in the morning around the bum area but he can't feel this inside his nappy. I have only just realised that tots bots fleece wraps come in 3 thicknesses - red (thickest) dotty and stripy (thinnest).

Hope this helps!

Hi AggiePanther!

A possible downside to fluffles at least may be that they are made of synthetic material, therefore the skin of some babies may not get on with it. I've heard that some babies react to fleece against their skin - same principle.

I've never used a nippa myself, but I've heard it gives you the ability for a better fit as you can scrunch up the nappy where you need it. IMHO applix can be useful if leaving your child with someone who is used to disposables (nursery for example), often it's good to make it as easy as possible for other folks to use cloth.

No idea about tots sizing as don't use them. But I bought birth to potty nappies and found my six-pounder newborn too small for them - so I'd wonder if that might be the case if you go straight for size 2? I used disposables for a couple of months. Next time round will buy second hand nappies in small size (ebay or ukparents are good places). Or some folks use muslins on newborns.

Fleece wraps often don't have pul in. Kittykins has a good description of how they work. But yes they are not totally waterproof.

Aggiepanther - if I were you I'd buy a variety to try out before you commit to buying loads. If you give me a couple of weeks, I'll sell you mine! Personally for the rest of my size 2s I will be buying fluffles (fewer than people suggest because they dry so quickly after a fast spin) + a few bamboozles to go under any tight outfits! I think the fleece wraps will be nice for teh summer with t-shirts too. Also, fluffles are only nippa (some have poppers - I don't know where you buy them though?) Bamboozles come in nippa and aplix but aplix works slightly better with them because they sag a bit when wet (I have observed this on an older toddler).

Thanks Rach - that's a great help :)
I think I'm fairly sold on the fluffles - still not sure about the sizing though. You said size 2 would have been massive on your ds - would that have been the same if you'd done the nippa thing and tucked the front over or were you just referring to the aplix nappies?
I didn't know about the 3 thickness wraps either - thanks for that too:)

Thanks rach and cacaboo - think we crossed posts there :)
I've been looking on ebay and have got one nappy and some nippas to have a play about with. I am happy to buy 'pre loved' :) nappies but dp not too keen ...I reckon he can be persuaded though - especially after he saw this one was is such good nick

I do fold down the front and nippa the size 2's now and he is 13lb+ - they would have been massive on him as a newborn, even as a ten pounder - his bum would have been a couple of inches higher than his head lying down! Do you know any small babies you could practise on?!

Mine are all from ebay and in excellent condition whether pre-loved or new - my dp wasn't keen either on 2nd hand nappies so I didn't tell him!