Cotton Bottoms - advice from users

[fenny1]

Does anyone use these?
We have been given masses of them, which seems like too good an offer to refuse, although they wouldn't have been the system of my choice.
Can't work out how you do them up. Do they just sit inside th wrap? I have bought nippas as I was going to go for TotsBots but they don't seem to grab the cotton.
Any positive advice appreciated.
Please don't tell me they are rubbish as DP will not swing for a change now we have literally dozens of these!

OK...

If my old little charge had them, She was a girl and we folden in 3 and just put inside the wrap. that was it.

Also they were by far the worst reusable nappy ive ever used and would never choose to use them again (except as boosters for other much better nappies)

We found poo leaked (onto wrap)nearly every time and they could barley be on 2 hours without leaking. We even had them leaking within 45 minutes once... ie clothes saoking wet, complete change needed that was the record i think!

That NEVER happened with any of the shaped nappies

Perhaps you could get some stuffable nappies and use the inserts to stuff them?
Trying to be positive as well.... they didnt take THAT long to dry compared to come nappies.

You should be able to use nippas, you could try tumble drying one and see if that fluffs the cotton up abit.

American's seem to love prefolds so it may be worth checking out US sites for hints and tips on their uses. You can also pin them so that maybe worth a try.

As to DP you could buy maybe 3-4 Tots or similar (you can use the same wrap), insist on using only cloth and then see which ones he gravitates towards using! If you find he only uses the tots or finds he prefers them then see if you can pick some up 2nd hand

I'd call that a fair trial

Thing is I had done loads of research and decided on Tots or something similar and then these were given to us. The prev owners said they have had no probs and used them for two children.
I have got a couple of Tots that I had ebay'd to look at so will just have to see I suppose.

I've got a few - not had problems with leaking but do find them more of a faff to put on than shaped (particularly as ds is a moving target now!). I've got quite a good leaflet on the different folds you can use. Depended if boy or girl you fold it so the extra padding is where they wee. I got the leaflet from the nappy person working with the local council - you could try your local recycling officer as they might have some.

It must also be on line - I'll see if I can find it.

I would also buy a couple of tots or other ones that you like and get dh to see them (he'll be likely to go with the easiest - mine did!). I like applix nappies best now as they are the quickes to get on!

\link{http://www.thenappylady.co.uk/Advice/Instructions.asp?InstructionID=4&index=1/howto.htm\try here for boy fold} or \link{http://www.thenappylady.co.uk/Advice/Instructions.asp?InstructionID=4&index=2\here for girl fold}

this is worth a look for good cheap second hand \link{http://pub9.bravenet.com/classified/show.php?usernum=753868980&category=1902\nappies}

I have some cotton bottoms which I used when ds was first born, but quickly found they leaked and needed changing to often. I just use them now to boost his totsbots at night (he looks like a wee football with legs - hehehe - but it works!)

Thanks for the links!
Will have a go and see how we got on I suppose.

i know quite a few people who didn't get on with cotton bottoms... they don't have a great reputation...

BUT... i do know 2 people who use them as our local council uses them in it's incentive scheme and they both get on with them really well.

it partly depends on your baby.. all nappies suit some babies better than others

I used Cotton Bottoms laundry service for my twin girls and I found them ok. I'd agree with being more likely to get poo on the wraps but I didn't really have a problem with leaking. I use shaped nappies now and I do prefer them but I do have a few flat nappies that I use occasionally. The one advantage they have is that they dry quicker than shaped. They also come in useful as change mats and for mopping up :)

I used Cotton Bottoms with both mine, and didn't have problems with leaking or anything. Think my two were not heavy wetters though, so maybe that's why. Poo does sometimes go on the wraps - depends how squidgy it is I suppose!! Agree with catj - they are v. useful for other things too. Have recently discovered motherease wraps and prefer them to the velcro CB ones we had (esp as nursery used to do them up soooo tight), as the velcro wore out on the others.

I used Cotton Bottoms on my newborn pretty successfully, I did use a nappi nippa from the start, and didn't get on with the padfolded prefold just held in place by the wrap.
Using a nappi nippa also makes for a much neater fit on the bum, as it is only one layer thick rather than a great big wodge of cloth.
I used a fold that seems to have many names so I've included some links to the sites \link{http://diaperpages.com/pf_folds.php/\here} and \link{http://www.thediaperhyena.com/newspaperfold.htm\here}
They are a good addition to a nappy system, even if you use tots, prefolds are a lot slimmer for days and do dry in half the time.
Folding prefolds is a doddle IMO, so don't let that put you off. I am rubbish at terry folding, but even I can manage prefolds.
I think most people that use cloth use at least two types of nappy, so don't worry about choosing one type, there's no need.
There's a lady selling new nappies called clwt twt on Ebay, which I recommend as well, they are very absorbent, but more compact than tots and only cost about £4.99 new.
Good luck with it.
Oh and \link{http://clothnappyreview.blogspot.com/\ here's} a link to my nappy review site where you can see a photo of my long-suffering son in his nappy nippa'd prefold

Thanks for the info maisiemog! Feeling a bit more positive now. Would like to give them a try but was just wondering how I would know if it was us doing it wrong or just the nappies being rubbish.
We will give them a go!

we've used them from the first week (now up to 20 months) and they're fine. You do get the odd leakage, but nothing too bad - but then we do when we (sometimes) use pampers etc. We do use Lollipop Rainbows at night though - with a couple of cotton bottoms stuffed in - cotton bottoms obviously can't last 13 hours...

We got the birth to potty pack - and I'm guessing it's saved us hundreds over disposables. No complaints at all. And now we can use them for the second baby as well.

I've been using cotton bottoms with newborn ds2 for a few weeks now and have found them fine. Folding is easy once you've got the hang of it and no leaks onto clothes at all just poo in the wraps occasionally. To be honest I think I will try shaped nappies when he grows out of these though - hoping they'll be quicker and can't imagine usingg these once they wriggle.

Amelie and anchovy, do you pin or just fold and use the wrap?
Gald ot hear some more cheerful news about these nappies, I've got literally dozens and dozens of them!

I just fold and use the wrap - as I said no probs as yet!