Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Re-usable nappys, minefield! Help!

45 replies

mimpim · 02/07/2006 13:15

I am six months pregnant with my first baby at mo and trying to weigh up the pros and cons of investing in re-usable nappys.
But the more I read, the more confused I get!
From whether or not I will be able to cope (I don't have a tumble dryer)to which ones to use!
And now I am reading about these wool wraps, I am a reasonable knitter with a knitter extrodinare for a mother, we love making things rather than buying, but do they go over re-usables or throwaways?
And where will I find patterns?
HELP!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

onenicegirl · 03/07/2006 19:42

my dd is nearly 10 mths and i have used flat nappies - terry towels, alongside a few tots bots.

if you are really looking at the cheapest way than foldingyour own nappies is really not much trouble. it takes a bit of getting used to (doesnt everything when your a new mum), and the plus side is that they dry much quicker than any type shaped nappy and are much cheaper, around £2 a nappy compared with £5 - 8 with the shaped. i also have a lot of boosters, though fkat nappies can be doubloed or folded together for night time.

i know hackney council do a subsidy £51 back on proof of purchase.

i have probably spent £100 total so far, 20 flat nappies, 4 shaped (good for reserves and nights, and about 5 wraps) and do a white wash of nappies and other house stuff every 2 days.

anyway, i hope thats helpful..also babykind, the nappy lady, plushpants, real nappies, are all good sites - do a google.

Flamesparrow · 03/07/2006 19:45

here is a list of some of the councils. If yours isn't there, then look up your council website to check.

spugs · 03/07/2006 22:20

i ve tried a few different napppies but so far the one i ve prefered the most is the fuzzi bunz. really easy to use, dry quick and the fleece part keeps bubs dry. plus theres only one bit to put on - no wraps. there a bit more expensive then tots bots etc but well worth it

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

Original poster

mimpim · 06/07/2006 14:24

I have found out that there is an organisation up here that give you loans, in order to encourage you to use them so I will get in contact with them soon.
Cheers for the info though.

OP posts:

squishy · 09/07/2006 17:54

It is daunting, when first looking at all the different types/ranges/sizes! Am determined to give it a go, but as DH is going to be a SAHD when I go back to work (I am hoping to be able to have 3 months off after the birth), he gets to have the final say, so want to get enough to last us through that time!! But all the positive feedback is really reassuring, and so many people saying they love getting back into cloths after disps is really interesting!!

UniSarah · 09/07/2006 18:41

Hes not a SAHD BUT I did let my dh chose which make/model of cloth we got. So he can't complain about useing them :-)
Mind you he needed no convinceing that we should use them. Hes dark enough green and tight enough about money for it to be a given.

squishy · 09/07/2006 18:44

LOL! That's good! DH is not quite dark enough green (plus we have some friends who keep telling him that the eco-benefits are outweighed by the laundering aspect - luckily, I know they are talking guff!) and he doesn't earn or worry about the money, so it doesn't impact on him as much!!

Original poster

mimpim · 09/07/2006 21:05

Yeah, I have just been informed by my brother that the laundering aspect out weighs the eco.
I thought that sounded probably true. Also he said that his wife found that she was laundering every night and that there was always wet nappys drying somewhere. Said it was a lot of hassle on top of the big changes of simply having a new baby.
I have to say I am beginning to agree with him. I don't need extra hassles, or a bucket with pooey nappies lying around waiting to be washed.

OP posts:

Original poster

mimpim · 09/07/2006 21:06

What does SAHD mean?

OP posts:

Waswondering · 09/07/2006 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

expatinscotland · 09/07/2006 21:13

The laundering only outweighs if you tumble dry.

Original poster

mimpim · 09/07/2006 22:02

I don't think I am going to be able to have an answer to this until baby arrives and I just give it a go, by using the local scheme and borrowing some for a while.
Big Sigh
I am awful for just wanting to do things now! But this is something I will just have to wait and see with.
I guess it will be down to how I feel about the hassle of it all on top of everything else.
You know how it is, new mum just wants to do everything the best that they can, and better than that if possible!!:0

OP posts:

UniSarah · 09/07/2006 22:08

SAHD/P/M - stay at home dad/parent/mum

agree that the tumble dryer question is the one that tips real nappy costs either way. We line dry (no tumble dryer) with the airing cupboard as a back up. I wash nappies on average every 2.5 days, so I can adjust it a little to take advantage of a dry afternoon or morning. Harder if your both working and kids in day care.
I can dry 6 Mother ease one size over night in the airing cupboard if I have to.

squishy · 10/07/2006 17:26

I think I've been converted to Motherease and although we have a tumble dryer for emergency use (it's a washing machine/dryer combi), we've used the dryer function once in about 3 years! Would prefer to do line/radiators and will aim to do every 2.5 - 3 days. Will give it a go for the first couple of months and see how it goes - think that's all anyone can do!!

SoupDragon · 10/07/2006 17:30

RE the laundering, I have 15 BumGenius plus 3 extra inserts (so with a wet nappy, I can just rinse the outer and shove a new insert in it.) I'd say I need to wash them every 3 days roughly. They dry super fast just on a clothes airer. With the heating on in winter, I could have them dry in under an hour!

I do have issues with their reliability but I'm working on that They can't be faulted for drying time.

SoupDragon · 10/07/2006 17:31

Ihave been known to stick wet ones (or ligjtly soiled!) in with a normal wash too.

UniSarah · 11/07/2006 18:57

Even tho motherease one size are poppered it can be worth having a nippa or two in the house. While LO is tiny the nippa will get a snugger fit than the poppers will and later if LO is between popper settings it'll come in handy again.

CaptainFlameSparrow · 11/07/2006 19:22

By the time you get addicted to buying every bloody nappy in sight - I could probably go 5 days without needing to wash - except for the giant pile of nappies in a corner

bamboozleslover · 28/07/2006 04:43

these

Peanutgant · 28/07/2006 23:02

I second Senoras post in that I am very lazy and have managed fine - I use Tots Bots with ME airlow and nature Babies wraps which can all be washed at 60 with other washing. Tots Bots do take a while to dry particularily when it is not too warm but too warm to put the heating on! But they are very absorbant and fit nicely.

Incidently I don't have a tumble drier either which is better for the environment any way.

Flip

1 2