Tots Bots - advice please

[soundbites]

Hello all

Apologies if this has all been said before on a previous thread.

I have my first baby due on 1 Feb and am starting to think about nappy options. I really want to go down the washable route. I have found a few reviews and Tots Bots seems to be a favourite. Tots Bots have seconds available on their website so I might look into that.

• Does anyone think these are the ones to choose?
• There are normal / fluffles / bamboozles and I haven't a clue which sort to go for!
• One review said if you went for size two nippas you could get away with the same nappies for new born as you can adjust it to fit tightly and fold down the top, which of course would be less expensive - is this true?
• How many nappies does a baby realistically need? (I plan to sign up to the council nappy scheme so apparently get 5 newborn size and 5 of the next size up that way)
• What other bits do you need - liners (fleece or disposable) / wraps (how many?) / nappy bin?

Thanks in advance. Sorry - long post!

Tots bots are lovely and very very absorbent BUT they are very thick and bulky and unless you tumble dry them go a bit crunchy.
We had a few that we used for nighttime only but we didn't need the absorbency during the day.
You can use size 2 on a newborn but it depends on how big the newborn is!

I used prefolds mainly as they were the cheapest option and also because they were quick to dry and initially I had no tumble dryer. I liked them because they were small and compact under clothing, washed easily and dried fast. They also come in very handy to mop up spills now!

Liners - its up to you. Fleece liners are nice because they are soft, keep babies bottom quite dry and hold poo well. But you can't chuck em away when they're all covered! I only used them when DD was weaned and poo was a bit more solid and easier to 'peel off' liner into toilet. Liquid BF poo would be yuck I think and disposable liner was handy as can throw out. Try both. If you use fleece liners I recommend just buying some thin fleece and cutting your own rather than buying them. They don't need any sewing etc.

For my DD I had 5 wraps and about 15 prefolds, plus about 4 tots bots/tots wraps for night time and a few fuzzi bunz for night time when she was newborn. You need a lot of nappies at first - I had to change DD every couple of hours at first.

I think most people use a combination of several different types of cloth nappy for different purposes, and you can get quite addicted to trying different sorts. Shop around a bit, preferably have a look at some and get the feel of them before you choose.

We used Tots from birth on DS but gradually moved over to pocket nappies around the time he started nursery.

I think Tots, particularly nippa Tots, are really good for newborns
and for containing breastfed poo explosions.

We used mostly regular unbleached nippa Tots as the Fluffles and Bamboozles didn't come out until we'd bought a fairly huge supply already, but I have used Bamboozles and Fluffles too as I couldn't resist trying them. Bamboozles are much slimmer-fitting but take ages to dry. Fluffles are a bit slimmer-fitting and dry really really quickly but not everyone likes the feel of the fleece (I quite like it myself). I would suggest getting a few of each and seeing what suits you best.

You can use size 2 nippa Tots from birth (I know people who have done it) but your baby will look like a Weeble and you'll have trouble getting clothes to fit over the top.

Liners - I use disposable. I have tried fleece "oh, the poo comes off fleece really easily" liners and can only conclude that DS must be eating superglue when I'm not watching, because his doesn't. Again, I'd suggest getting some fleece and a roll of disposable and seeing what suits you.

We had 18 nappies for DS when he was newborn, and we managed, but I really wished I'd gone for 24. For 6 months plus 12-18 would probably be fine. Also I'd suggest 4-5 wraps (and suggest getting the Motherease poppered wraps not the Tots Bots wraps which IMO are not nearly as good).

You need a pail with a tight-fitting lid -- this can be a specialist nappy pail or just something generic from Homebase or B&Q.

Also I'd suggest a couple of waterproof bags for when you're out and about or travelling (or are just changing baby somewhere else in your house from where your nappy pail is).

You can use washable wipes in which case you'd need those too, otherwise can use cotton wool and water or regular wipes.

And probably, if you're using Tots, something to boost them with overnight once your DC gets old enough that you don't need to change him or her overnight (you know, I can't remember when this is -- around 2-3 months, perhaps?).

May be worth trying a fleece wrap for overnight too (in contrast to their PUL wraps, the Tots fleece ones are very good although IMO the gold standard in fleece wraps is the Stacinator). But again probably only when you aren't needing to change your DC overnight.

Hi

I've been using Tots Bots Size 2 Bamboozles since my baby was about 7 weeks old. Whilst they were a bit bulky to start with, he has grown into them and it has saved a lot of money. I think they are great.

I have 18 nappies (16 bamboozles and 2 others) & 4 wrpas which works out OK washing them every day. 5 is definitely not enough as I reckon you need 7-8 a day depending on how heavy a wetter you have. With 18 I have 7-8 to use and the other 7-8 in the wash with a couple spare in case of accidents! You could probably get away with 15.

Before my baby was on solids, I found the Tots Bots wraps leaked a bit at the sides but now they seem fine. I have 3 tots bots wraps and 1 Motherease Rikki Airflow wrap. You need to buy Size 1 wraps to start with. I like the Motherease wrap and finds it leaks less.

I have 1 fluffle but find it bulkier than the bamboozles and I don't like the poppers. That said, it is very soft and dries much faster. I also have a one-size Motherease organic nappy but find it gets very wet and again it has poppers.

I use fleece liners and agree with the other comment that before they are on solids it can get messy! That said I found the paper ones stuck to his bottom and much prefer the fleece liners.

My only criticisms are that the bamboozles take a while to dry on the line and sometimes leak at night - especiallt once he started to sleep on his front or side. I use a disposable at night now. Otherwise they are great!

I use a nappy bin with tea tree oil in it.

If you go for the Size 2s from birth you need to buy nappy nippas which are easy to use.

Hope this helps!

I have totsbots normal ones - had a dozen size 2 from birth and found that was enough (though if you don't have a tumble drier you will definitely want more - 16, say). Ds was 8lbs and these nappies were fine on him from birth, though very bulky.

OTher things you need - fleece liners (same number as the nappies) - I used disposable ones to start with and blocked the drain . At least two wraps, preferably three, as they can get a bit pooey. Nappy bin with lid is very useful too. I dry-pail the nappies and sprinkle in some lavender or teatree oil to counteract the niff, then wash when the pail is full (every other day now ds is 1).

You could also use washable wipes - makes life a lot easier, just chuck it all in the pail for washing rather than having to separate the washable from the binnable. I got 10 facecloths from Ikea, cut them into quarters then hemmed them (they fray like crazy otherwise).

HTH!

Miaou's post reminds me -- should clarify that my "had 18, would have liked 24" is based on air drying rather than tumble drying (I only tumble dry if I've mismanaged things and need to get a batch cleaned and dried very quickly, becsuse that way I can feel extra specially smug and tree-huggy ).

Wambamboo!!!

Bamboozles, but a better fit, and cheaper

They can be used from btp and are much less bulky than normal tots.

If you go down the bamboo route, I would say at least 15 - drying takes ages (unless you tumble lots), more like 18-20 for newborn & winter.

Its worth getting some boosters - either basic micro fibre cloths from tesco, or I love the proper mother of eden boosters... a boostered nappy will easily go 12 hours at night.

Wraps - about 5 I would say. For waterproof ones I prefer motherease airflow, but they aren't overly pretty and give a puffy effect.

Fleece is more breathable - the wetness just sort of evaporates, but it can lead to compression dampness if they are in snug trousers/clipped in car seat for a while.

Wacky wraps are a nice alternative - the softness of fleece, but a waterproof layer.

Then there is wool, which is my fave. Works by absorbing the dampness, and then it slowly evaporating. It only needs washing once every week or so (unless its been pooed - happened twice to me in 3 months), and lanolising every now and then.

Normal tots (non bamboo) are great to buy off the nappy lady classified ads because they are so cheap now.

I've tried a lot of different types of nappies for selling, and I still stand by WBB with a fleece liner, and a wool or fleece wrap.

I found with liners - fleece and breastfed poo just put in the machine on a rince cycle before washing... you only need to start actually dealing with the poo when you wean.

I just wash my babywipes and pick em out clean

lemonaid, I live on the very wet west coast of Scotland, so I'm afraid I can't be smug and air-dry them - would take weeks!!!

Certainly wasn't knocking you Miaou. I have to admit when I look at my lovely living room festooned with drying nappies hung from every available surface (our lease doesn't let us dry anything outside) I am often tempted to have a quick tumble myself, and I don't live anywhere near the wet west coast of Scotland!

Fabulous - thank you very much for your responses, they are much appreciated. Have a lot to think about now!

Flame, I have to disaggree with you on the fit issue, I'm afraid. The fit will depend entirely on your baby. All babies are different. Infact, this was demonstrated perfectly with the bumgenius nappies - they are a fabulous fit on ds but you couldn't get on with them at all.

Soundbites - I wouldn't buy any nappies befroe the baby is born, as I've said so much depends on your baby.
What is more, you may be so shattered with your new baby disposables are easier to start with and you are less likely to be put off reusable.
I am using reusable on my second baby, like Flamesparrow but I am finding I want to use completely different nappies this time.
However, the one nappy that has suited both children is the totsbots. So obviously I am a firm believer!
When the time comes, treat yourself to a couple of size 1 tots (I would always recommend starting with size 1 tots) and see how you get on. I have been through loads and come back, tots really are the cutest most practical nappy. Try with aplix (velcro) to start, to make it super easy.

I have recently helped the childrens nursery to move over to reusable nappies. Of the different types I gave them (I gave them my pink tots!), the staff like the totsbots the best.
Definitely, definitely a good place to start.
But remember only a couple (or do a trial) incase they don't fit

Mind you, if you buy secondhand Tots it won't matter if they don't fit as you'll be able to sell them for the same as you paid for them.

We used disposables with DS in hospital (which turned out to be four days as I had a c/s) and it was actually a relief and seemed easier somehow when we got home and put him in Tots (which I know is counterintuitive, but hey...). Trying to use disposables I kept getting tangled up and getting the wrong bits stuck to each other and pulling off the sticky tabs altogether so that I wasted the nappy (yes, I know, I'm a klutz, but I was very sleep-deprived -- and I can't be the only one because I remember the midwife in our antenatal class saying that when she did that she just duct-taped the nappy closed instead), while with cloth if I messed up putting it on I just took it off and put it on again until I got it right. In fact, next time I'd use cloth from the very first nappy and not bother with disposables even in hospital.

I bought mine before dd was born - that way I knew I'd use them. We used the hospitals disposable nappies when we were there and came straight home and into washables. If I'd bought a pack of disposables I think the convenience would have got to me in those first few days...

I don't know who did this (it was about 3 yrs ago now) but I found a nappy company who sent me a massive trial box with loads of different types in to have a look at and a play with before I bought anything. If you can find similar it really was brilliant, also they are all used and washed so you can get an idea of how well they last too.

Happy shopping!

Good point MrsD - I didn't say that right - of the babies that I have tried them on, the WBBs are the better fit as btp .

I do think that any tots style nappy is a pretty safe bet...mainly because they are so adjustable round the waist and legs.

Many thanks again - will get thinking / shopping ?

I've got 6 size 2 tots bots (nippa) for sale if you're interested (bought far too many - am using a mixture of tots/fluffles) they're virtually unworn & still fluffy & white.

Soundbites - just remembered - I've got a size 1 too(with a tots wrap)

Hello Iris - yes, I'd be interested. What sort of price were you thinking of for the lot? You could e-mail me if you prefer: [email protected]. Thanks very much,

Yorkiegirl is selling some Tots at the moment as well (she mentioned it in passing on another thread).

Thanks Lemonaid - I'll try to CAT her.

soundbites - I've e-mailed you