Where to start with re-usable nappies!!

[trixymalixy]

I'm due to have my first baby in january and I'm really keen to use re-usable nappies.

I have been reading through some of the threads and I'm really bamboozled with how complicated they seem to be and how many different brands/types/bits there are.

Is there a definitive guide anywhere that I can look at?

How do you choose which to try when you have no idea and don't want to make expensive mistakes?

Please help!

It really is trial and error. I really like motherease one size but they are expensive. My sister in law really likes terry nappies but I ifnd them too bulky. thenappylady has some good advice.

The best tip I can give you is don't buy a birth to potty set as you may not like the nappies you choose. Ring your councils wase management team as they may have a nappy trial scheme, also you can get a free nappy from littlelambnappies

I really need to get onto writing that book...

Hello, I am due to have my first in March and want to use re-usables.

You could start by looking in the review section of this web site under reusables.

There is also a great site called The Nappy Lady on which you can fill out a questionaire about what sort of thing you're looking for, and they'll advise you on the best nappies accordingly.

Again, there's another one, which I found really helpful, called Lizzies Real Nappies where again you can fill out a form for a personal recommendation. You can ask questions of her as many times as you like with no obligation to buy.

Second-hand reusables may sound a bit icky, but if they've been washed properly they should be okay and they cost a lot less. You can try ebay, also, the nappy lady web site has a classified section.

I am nearly stocked up on all the nappies I need, and by buying second hand will bring it all in, birth to potty, at less than £200 (fingers crossed)!

Good luck!!!

Have a look at www.nappytrialservice.co.uk Also, try and find out about Nappaccino meetings in your area - Google "Nappaccino" and your location.

I must admit we didn't use cloth nappies until DD was 20wks (ish) as when we trialed them at 6 weeks they just seemed so impossibly huge on her. We are now using Wambamboos (www.geobel.co.uk) with Nature Babies wraps and couldn't be happier.

Good luck and remember that you can get lots of great advice from everyone here (particularly Flame) - MN was a Godsend for me!

Hi would agree with everything thats been said so far don't buy a birth to potty pack! - we did and it was a disaster!! as the brand we chose just didn't work for us and I was really put off reusables (luckily we managed to get most of our money back on it by ebaying). Anyway we came across Suffolk Real Nappy Network on a trip to the inlaws and they were brilliant gave us loads of advice and we are now converted and using motherease onesize - there may be a similar network in your area. I'm a reusable novice but came across the Nappylady website a while back and thought it was really good though nothing beats seeing some real nappies and trying a few. At our second attempt at reusables we built up our stock slowly gradually converting from disposables so that we could be sure the brand we chose worked for us before spending too much money. Once you get in the swing of it they are great in many ways easier than disposables - (no trips to the outside bin in the rain, no 3am panics as to whether you need to go and buy more nappies - I have sad thoughts at 3am!!!). Good luck with it.

try a few trial packs.I personally think shaped nappies are pants!go for pre-folds and wraps.and you cant go wrong.most companies do samples,c if u like them first.?I got all mine from a nearly new sale for £40 by n.c.t.check out one near you.A brill outer wrap is not a popular make ,but half the price of others,and they're fab,forgotten name,i'll get back to u on this

we brought lots second hand before finding what suits us best and as lo changes and grows so does are nappy collection!i sell all the ones he outgrows or dont like to make enough for next lot.it doesnt have to be expensive!id also go to nappylady and do the personalised survey but you dont have to buy from them.also in our area we have 'lollipop' which advice you on types etc.

junior-joy,are very cheap wraps ,and they're brill.

Whereabouts are you? We may have a nappy agent in your area who can talk you through all these questions and most importantly let you touch, feel and trial different types.

Or email me - glad to answer any questions - emma at makesachange dot co dot uk

Best wishes,

Emma

I use Wambamboo nappies and terrys and I only swapped afew months ago. I am using them for my DS aged 16 months and plan to use them for my baby due in Jan too. Would def recomend them with motherease airflow wraps and fleece liners. Do agree with everyone though as every baby is dif and worth trying out nappies to see which suits you.

I found that the nappy lady website was really useful too. Def worth a good look. Got some advice from one of their advisors, some of which I followed and some of which I ignored!

I found this website helpful too.

Also this website is helpful

Thanks everybody, have looked at all the sites you mentioned and filled in the nappy lady survey so hopefully she'll be able to help!

Emma, I am in Glasgow, do you have an agent narby as it would be great to see and feel the different types before buying?

Try the nappy finder

My local council did a nappy loan scheme - I had 16 nappies for a month of different types to give a good try out. Think I had 4 stuffies, 4 prefolds, 4 onesize and some Totsbots, and ended up buying Motherease onesize.

I did go to a nappy "show" but was overwhelmed by the choice, much more helpful to try them out properly at home with washing, putting on and off etc. Bear in mind you will be a bit brain dead and may struggle with decisions!

my favourite are the babaloos

that's not the right link. here is the right one .. babaloo

also like these

and these

i had someone come to my house and show me all the differrent nappies availible,

it was great and a lot less daunting in my own home.

the lady was from a company called lollipop.

they have a website and you can find someone in your area.

Thanks.

My SIL has given me some prorap wraps and prefolds and some motherease wraps and someone in my Mum's church has given me some birth works magic nappies and wraps.

So I'll see how I get on with them as they are free!!

Have fun Trixy and well done on scoring some freebies! I started off with freebies for DD1 but DD2 has all sorts of new nappies on the go! Just ordered some 'wacky wraps' merely 'cos they are cute!

I have had quite a few pregnant ladies in my lounge having a nappy demo and am happy to recommend brands and then let them find the best price on the web...I'm sure there is a Glaswegian version of me somewhere!!! I say to spread your money around, use ebay and other second hand nappy sites and look at online shops that are run by WAHMs. I also try to buy british made ones which is an easy way to narrow down your choices and make it all less overwhelming.

Hi Trixy - hope you get on with the ones you've been given. But failing that, I'm a terries girl - they're great. Yes the first couple of times they're a bit awkward, but once you get the hang of them they are really easy. And they wash and dry so easily, unlike some of the expensive reusables. Mothercare does a starter kit for around £30 with 12 nappies, pail, liners, plastic pants (which I wouldn't recommend BTW) and nappy soak. I then just bought one more pack of 6 making 18 in total, with a total outlay of £40. Got some Motherease wraps secondhand from Ebay. I use disposables when we're out and about because I don't want to be carting soiled nappies around - I'd imagine I'd do the same even if I was using shaped nappies.

Meant to say, the lady who did a talk on nappies at my antenatal class recommended terries above all the expensive ones. That's what gave me the confidence to go against the flow.

Please don't buy from Mothercare Trixy when there are so many other options (sorry Twinkle, no offence meant!). Let's keep cloth nappies away from the bloody multi nationals for a little bit longer eh? Pampers will be doing 'em next!

actually i have to say, as much as i love tots bots, i think in the first few weeks/months, i would attempt terries instead of buying small shaped nappies.

Where else could you get terries then from laundrylover (no offence taken BTW). Is Mothercare a multi-national? - I didn't know! I had little success on the internet at the time - it was all the "re-mortgage the house" reusables - and none of the Boots stores near me sell anything that's not disposable! Boyes do them (is that national or just in Yorkshire?) but they're cr*p!

Should have been "where else do you get terries FROM THEN", of course!