The "no question too stupid" reusable nappy thread

[Hufflepuffin]

I thought it might be nice to have one thread where anyone planning to use reusable nappies can post questions about them. I think most people agree that the amount of information and options out there can be a bit bewildering when you're researching.
I know the whole nappies topic is a bit like this but at least if it's just one thread then the people who love talking about nappies (me ) can keep it 'watched' and always reply!

carrotpuff have you tried a few drops of tea tree oil on a muslin placed on the top of the nappies in the bag?

If you want to shop before baby comes, I suggest you get get wipes wetbags a bucket and reusable breastpads. For nappies speak to your local library and join some Facebook groups is you are willing to consider preloved nappies.

Thanks spots and john, that's really helpful! Sorry if this is obvious but how do nappy libraries work? Do they have lots of choice or is it just one person with a few different things to try?

Every library is different. Most do kits with a variety of styles of nappy. If you Google UK Cloth Nappy libraries there will be a Google map. Also the goreal website lists them all. (although it's under construction at the moment and not all the links are working)

Although two part little lamb size Ones fit pretty much all babies from 7lb until about 18lb and work brilliantly.
They are v cheap second hand as well so a great way to get into cloth.
Motherease xs and small wraps are better than the little lamb ones to start though!

I've just spotted the nappy lady does hire kits, with a variety of types of nappies :)

But worth contacting her (Nappy Lady) asap if you want to reserve one as they are booked up quite far in advance. I'm on her Facebook group and she posted today to say she has put together more kits because of demand. Her existing ones were booked until September, so hopefully you can get there soon enough to reserve one of the new ones for when you need it.

Ooh thanks for the tip, I'll have a look at them!

Congratulations on your pregnancy MrsCW

I second the comment about nappy libraries if you have one near you. Unfortunately I don't so I gradually bought a few of each type of nappy when on offer whilst pregnant. If you are going to buy anything before baby comes, I would recommend only that and not a full set.

I bought Little Lamb and Tots Bots size 1 preloved with wraps but didn't really get on with them and ended up selling them (fortunately for not much less than I paid for them). I also got a preloved close pop-in set and mainly used that together with disposables until she was big enough for AIOs

I bought some Easyfit Stars, Bambino Mio AIO and Wonderoo pockets when on special offer from various places. Since she has come, I have gradually increased my collection and now have around 30 nappies but haven't paid more than £10/nappy for any of them. Some are still in their packets and I open and use them as I need them. I have found both my husband and myself only like AIO and pockets. IMO it is useful to have both types as pockets dry much quicker than AIOs so when we run low, we always have some that will dry within 12 hours. Many also say that different nappies fit better as they grow up so I am glad I have a selection for this.

Follow the companies on their Facebook pages and you will be alerted to their special offers. Tots Bots have done a bargain bucket of 10 Easyfit Stars and a nappy bucket for £99 which was great value and I imagine will come back at some point. Little Lamb do brilliant sales twice a year where all their nappies are heavily discounted and Bambino Mio can be picked up at a reasonable price at Supermarket/Boots baby events or when they make special prints for Aldi baby events. As for other brands, keep an eye on cloth retailer websites and when they are discontinuing certain brands or nappies are updated, they will often be heavily discounted.

Hope that helps

Wow, in love with this thread. Only 21w pregnant but want to use cloth nappies (and cloth wipes) but there's so much choice?!!! I'm definitely going to my next nappy library meet up to learn more and decide.. but my question so far, it looks like few people got the night nappy right, ie most require more frequent changes. Especially for newborns. Anyone got a fool proof option? And secondly, should i always strip a preloved set before using?

Newborns poo so they need their nappy changing regardless!!
Once they stop pooing, it is normal for them to need a change if they are feeding often.
Size 1s little lambs are brilliant especially with motherease wraps.
Once they are sleeping, bamboozles boosted with hemp and extra bamboo work very well with a blueberry or motherease wrap (or wool cover).

Yes strip preloved ones :)

Brill, thanks. Also - yes I'm quite aware that newborns poo :) what I came across was simply that kiddos might wake up more frequently due to feeling wet, or it might be worse for their skin than using reusables if the nappy leaks too much, which might happen especially overnight. Hence my question :)

Bah, I mean that if the reusables leak then it might be worse... bear with me, trying to multitask...

Hello! I isedcloth with my dd and am preparing to do so with my next baby (currently 23w) just saying Hi and placemarking

natienka We used cloth at night up to about 3 or 4 months - but dd then started waking frequently. We wondered if she was feeling cold from wet cloth, so tried disposables overnight which seemed to solve the problem. I do think that we could have found a cloth solution to improve night times (ie boosters etc) but we were pretty sleep-deprived at the time!
We used cloth up to potty training and we were surprised how easy it was. We found we had fewer leaks (esp poo) with cloth than disposables.

Hoping someone on this thread can offer some advice...

My 3 year old has been potty-trained for about 6 months now and has been "dry" at night since then. However, when I've tried him overnight without a nappy, I realised he isn't completely dry. It's the disposable nappy that is so absorbent it seems empty/dry in the morning when in fact he's probably done a medium sized wee... I'm not sure if this is every night or just occasionally.

I would like to stop wasting a disposable nappy every night but we've never used cloth nappies before. I'm just wondering if I should try training pants, or a proper cloth nappy? If so, what sort shall I try? Just for catching night time accidents! I've got a new baby on the way any time now, so I don't want to try and do any kind of training at this point, I'm happy to keep him in night nappies for a while longer.

Fleece liners keep the moisture away.

So, soon(ish) to be FTM here and looking to get cloth nappies from around 6-12w depending on how big LO is. I've been in touch with The Nappy Lady (thank you for the recommendation) and have my list of bits...

So, I'm going for the Totsbots bamboozle and love the differently colours. However, I seem to remember you have to wash them at 40 not 60 where the plain ones you wash at 60. Is this the case? Does it matter? Should I care as I will have colourful wraps?! (Motherease Rikki)

I have tons of time as only 14w pregnant, but looking to get what I can get in order sooner rather than later. Thank you!

Hi everyone,
Sorry if this has been asked before....

I have been given a load of pre-loved motherease washable nappies by a friend, but they don't feel like they will be very soft and comfy next to baby's skin (he's due in August). I have some bamboo and some cotton terry nappies and a few of the more waterproof seeimg outers.

What can I wash them with to make them softer? If I use Ecover fabric conditioner will this make them less absorbent? My friend never used the nappies so I can't ask her (she got them from a relative so they are 3rd hand to me).

Also, can anyone point me in the direction of an idiot's guide to re-useable nappies? I'm a ftm so no idea how they work or what I need in the way of liners etc. Unfortunately we don't have a nappy library nearby.

Thanks very much :)

@GingerHanna I've never heard of washing patterned Bamboozles on a lower temp, if you check their website they have a page on care guide on how to wash their nappies and I'm sure 60 is fine.

@luckycat2 Nooo never use conditioner on nappies, they coat the fibres and they'll end up not as absorbent and will leak! Also don't use any ecover products on nappies, I can't remember the reason but most nappy brands and advice websites say ecover is bad for nappies. To soften nappies you can put them in the tumble drawer on low heat for 10 minutes or so, or if you don't have/want to use a tumble dryer you can rub the nappies on themselves when dry to soften up the fibers.

@luckycat2 forgot to say in regards to softness agains baby's skin you need to put a microfleece (not microfibre they're two different things, microfibre will cause a rash directly next to baby's skin) liner in the nappy, this will also stop your baby's skin form being wet when they wee. Most of mine I made by cutting up a polar fleece blanket - apparently Ikea have a cheap one that works well.

I'll second fleece liners. They keep the moisture away and it's much easier to get the poo off a fleece liner than a nappy once they are on solids!

@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter thanks very much - good job I haven't got round to washing them yet! I googled why not to use Ecover and apparently it can build up on the fabric.

Also thanks for the tip about the fleecy liner @CarrotPuff too.

:)

No worries 😉