Where am I going wrong?

[owlface]

I've been trying to use cloth nappies with DD but just end up with leaks, the laundry they create is huge (her clothes and mine) and I just feel they are making my life unnecessarily harder than with disposables.

She is 8 weeks and 13 lbs so should be big enough. We have several different nappies but they all leak - all in ones are Bumgenius and Tots Bots and we also have Little Lambs and Tots Bots Fluffles using both kinds with Tots Bots wraps. Everything looks well fitting except the wraps which seem big even though they are size 1 the same as the nappies.

I'm confused as I read that cloth nappies are more reliable than disposables so where am I going wrong? Any tips or pointers would be great as I really want to use cloth at least during the day, but at the moment it is sadly just more trouble than it is worth!

I started using cloth when dd was 6-7 mo & use the Teddy nappies for daytime & the Bimble for nighttime. Sorry to ask a stupid question but you are using boosters aren't you? What wraps are you using?

Also have you tried completing the advice questionnaire from thenappylady.co.uk - you get personalised advice telling you which nappies are best for you.

I've not had any problems with leaks - dd goes 4hrly during day & 12 at night (she is still fed through the night).

Sorry to not be of more help - I really would try that questionnaire though

Thanks for your reply, I use boosters in the Bumgenius as they have a pocket for them, but I don't use them on any of the others - should I be? I use Tots Bots wraps on both Little Lambs and Tots Bots Fluffles.
I did do the Nappy Lady survey but in the end went for what nappies were available at the time as we got them second hand (they look brand new so I would call them "tested" rather than "used" so I don't think they are worn out).

Yes you do need a booster - you can lay them ontop inside the nappy if that makes sense. You may find the wraps are also an issue - I use motherease & they're fab (can get them from eBay). Also make sure you're changing the nappy frequently - about every 2 hrs for that age.

Hth

Thank you, I will try again with the boosters. DD really hates being wet so usually lets me know right away. The Tots Bots wraps look the same as Mother ease but I've read that Mother ease are better - I may have to invest in some.

Thanks again for pointing out my newbie mistake with the boosters!

Hi owlface - my DS is 6 weeks- we're using little lambs- so far so good- the occasional leak, but generally it's probably us not fitting wrap correctly. We don't use boosters- I thought they were for when baby got bigger. --am sure forgetful frog knows far more than me about these things, I'm still finding my feet with it, still using disposables at night)

Ah wishful you may well be right about that

Owl - are your nappies birth to potty ones? If so, they should be able to be folded for young babies & then unfolded & booster put in for older babies. Hang on let me check this...

Hi wishful, yes we use disposables at night too, I think that is a good compromise. Which wraps do you use? I think the Little Lambs nappies fit really neatly, I do like them.

The all in ones are birth to potty and have poppers on so you can change the length, but the ones with wraps are size 1, forgetful.

Yes I think you can use a booster at that age - it's only newborns you shouldn't need to because of the extra folds. this might be of help

Are you using softener? Because that will reduce absorbency. And are your baby's vests getting a bit small? I've heard that tight clothes can cause leaks too. I've used little lambs bamboos and OSFAs, the OSFAs have never leaked and the bamboos leaked at night when dd1 was older, but not at that stage. I used little lamb wraps.

I did use boosters inside the nappy too with the bamboos. And now I put them in the OSFAs but only need to at night.

I don't use softener Amandine. Interesting about the vests, yes DD is growing out of 0-3 now, in fact I tried her in a 3-6 vest this afternoon but still got a leak! Maybe I should be fastening the nappy tighter?

I would try a booster - they're the cheapest thing to try - & see if that makes a difference.

Thank you for the suggestion mog, I will give it a go, I really want to be successful with cloth!

Are you using a diaper cream? If so, which one?

You might be on to something with the tightness I think that's where I was going wrong initially - I could have written your op at one point. I was not putting the nappies on tightly enough. You need to be able to push a finger in between baby and the nappy but it shouldn't slide in easily you should have to push if in. Use a booster and a nappy liner and change the nappies very frequently - no more than 2 hourly. At first I thought that was a bind but then I realised how much DS enjoys his nappy change (lots of conversation and singing involved!) so I stepped it up and got into a routine of more regular changes. Finally I realised that the nappies I was taking off were often very wet on the outside (between the outer shell and the wrap) but pretty dry on the inside beside DS's skin. I have both Tots Bots nappies and outer wraps and Little Lamb; I find the Little Lamb wraps better and use them for both.

Do you use Nappy Nippas? I found out about these only by accident when I used the prefold type of nappy with my DS (couldn't afford the fancy cloth nappy combos). They pin the cloth part together and worked fantastically, I couldn't believe the cloth nappy lady hadn't recommended them to me in the first place.

I don't use cream Moose.
Amanda thanks for explaining about the tightness. Good idea to think of nappy changes as play time, DD enjoys it too.
Seventies all of the styles I have use Velcro or poppers. I thought getting several brands would mean at least one would be perfect, oh well!

Try doing up the wraps more snugly - with my babies if you can get a finger under the wrap around the leg, it's not snug enough.
But it gets better around 8-10 week when they get a bit bigger - and for small babies disposables aren't much better, more for absorbing most of the wee and poo rather than stopping some getting on clothes.

In this warm weather make use of your garden and bathroom etc for nappy-off time.

It is hard to do the wraps up tighter, I had to hitch it right up but no leaks so far today, hurrah!
Thanks for giving me some hope notcitrus, I will stick it out and hope everything fits better in a few weeks.

Agree with the points so far, might also be worth considering a strip wash if the nappies are preloved? Are there many bubbles when you rinse them? May affect absorbency?

Oh I'm not sure Kel, I will have a look during the next wash, thanks for the idea.

I find Gen-Y wraps very reliable, have you tried one of those? They popper at the sides, so are nice and smooth under clothes too.

You will see all sorts of quite daunting sounding advice about strip washing, washing in vinegar, putting dishwasher tablets in the washing machine, wash at 90 degrees three times with no soap etc. Make sure the solution is not simply putting them on more tightly before you embark down that road with a 8 week old in tow!