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!

I've never even though about spinning less than maximum!

Some mother-ease nappies have a stay stay dry layer for next to the skin, do yours have that or more like a normal terry? i think disposable liners are meant to keep the skin dry but for overnight I use a fleece liner as well as a disposable (helps with poo removal too, as my DC always does a poo first thing in the morning).

You can definitely get through the night with just one nappy! You can either buy extra boosters for your current nappies (hemp or bamboo, put it between nappy and wrap to reduce bulk), or you could get some bamboo nappies (which will still need some boosting). I have the tots bots bamboozles, there's also bamboo little lambs and I think you can get bamboo motherease too if you like them except for the night time absorbency. My DC's bum is ginormous overnight but it doesn't seem to bother him and we only ever get a leak if something's gone awry with the velcro or leg holes.

Huffle excellent thread, thank you so much. Trying DS (2 weeks old and about 9lb) in AIO birth to potty and it leaked all over his vest but if they are not actually recommended until 12lbs then that explains a lot! I will try my bamboo little lambs size 1s instead and see if that is less leaky.

I bet the little lambs would be lovely, you could also try this trick fluffbumbabies.com/2014/01/06/make-os-diaper-newborn-size/ (I've never tried this myself and might depend how wriggly your baby is!)

I have some microfibre nappies. If I put a bamboo booster in to reduce chance of compression leaks and offer the potential extra hour between changes, is it best to put against baby's bum, between liner and soaker or between soaker and original to booster. Or will this not make a difference to the absorbency or comfort properties of the nappy?

If your baby does large wees, you may find its best to keep the microfibre closest to the baby and the bamboo between the nappy and the wrap - microfibre is better at "catching" fast flowing wees whereas bamboo is a slower absorber so large fast wees can flow right off the sides.

In practice with a fitted nappy it probably wouldn't make a difference but I got leaks in my bamboo pockets around the one year mark until I added a microfibre layer.

So I left on the bamboo nappy for just under 3 hours until I realised it had leaked through the outer... I think tomorrow I might try adding an extra pad thing to it to see if it helps reduce the overflow otherwise I will try again when he's bigger- however I'd be sad to go back to disposables as his boys have been so lovely and dry today and normally they look more like he's been in the bath too long

I know you need to do a cold rinse before the proper wash to lift stains etc. Just checked and my pre wash setting is 30 rather than cold. Is 30 cold enough or should I use the additional rinse function instead? The pre wash would lead straight into the 60 wash whereas the rinse would require me to go back and reset the machine 20-30 mins later.

I do a 6 minute rinse at 30 not to lift stains but because modern washing machines put in less water unless they think it's a really heavy load because you put extra water in. An alternative is to add a sopping wet towel to loads.

I do go back and start it again but 6 minutes (that's a standard rinse + spin with the "no spin" option selected) is about right to grab the powder and sanitiser, fill the dishwasher/empty the nursery bag/do a quick job in the kitchen. So it's not too much of a pain.

When my DD was in nappies (up to 6 months ago) I just put all her nappies on a 40 degree 'cotton wash' with a prewash - it never occurred to me to do a rinse and then reset the machine. I used to put the load of nappies in the machine overnight, so they were ready to go on the airer the next morning.

I tend to just rely on the prewash as my cold rinse. Sometimes I'll do a hand wash as my rinse instead (in the machine, my hand wash cycle is cold, lots of water, not much energy).

Thanks. Hadn't thought of stopping it part way through the rinse when convenient to restart it!

The problem with modern washing machines and a prewash is the amount of water in the overall wash (including the prewash) is set by the weight of the clothes at the start of the cycle, so it may not be enough for nappies. That's why it's good to make them heavier before the full cycle starts, rather than just doing a prewash, which is part of the cycle.

Hi,

I'm currently looking into using all-in-one reusable nappies, both my huband and I understand that if you use disposable liner his can be flushed in the toilet with any solids on. However , practically how do you do this? I imagine changing a nappy in the nursery or living room, how do you then move the liner/poo to the bathroom? Any tips / advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi lydke! I don't know how others do this but I have a nappy bucket in the bedroom and one next to the loo. Any pooey nappies get wrapped up in themselves (so the dirty bit is all contained and then carried down to the loo, dealt with and then put in that bin. I can usually carry DC in one arm and pooey nappy in the other. (And plonk DC in the living room while dealing with nappy).

If it is really minging, I have a waterproof backed travel changing mat next to the actual changing mat and I will put the whole nappy on that, put DC somewhere safe (eg. In the cot) and then deal with the nappy with both hands.

My dh puts the poo/liner in a nappy bag and then tips that into the loo and the bag in the bin. He's less concerned about the environment than me though!

I have a nappy bucket next to the change station, if the nappy is pooey I put it on top of the bucket, wrapped up as you say, deal with the DC and put new nappy on, put DC in cot/behind stairgate/let roam free depending on mood/age, then walk into the bathroom (also next to bedroom with change station) and wave nappy over loo for liner to fall in.

Thank you, that gives us a couple of options x

I have used wonderoos birth to potty since DD was a few weeks old. They did seem massive to begin with, especially as she has always been a heavy wetter so needed the thicker inserts quite soon. Something I found helpful when I was struggling with leaks early on was discovering that although bamboo absorbs more, it absorbs slower so it is better to put the microfibre/fleece layer nearest the baby to absorb, then wick away wees.

Has anyone used zorb inserts, I was very tempted to get some to make her nappies a bit more streamlined but never got round to it as too many other things to spend money on.

Yes! We had to add a layer of microfibre on top of our bamboo too! I've never tried zorb but would be interested to know how you get on.

I am pregnant with my first (due in may) and love the idea of reusable, the problem is i can not get my head around what i actually need and what goes with what etc.... thers so many choices and they are not clear what you use each option with, i think my head is going to explode with all the googling. Can either someone please give me a simple dumb down explaination or point me int he directionof a really simple blog.... with pictures haha

It is confusing I agree!

Here's a fairly clear guide.

All in Ones or Pockets are the kinds that look and work (for the end user i.e. whoever is putting the nappy on) most like disposables. They are often touted as dad/granny/childminder friendly. We use this type for our two and with a few mixups Granny, a childminder, and lots of nursery staff have coped fine (as have we!)

Both flat and fitted nappies need a cover (called a "wrap") and a lot of people find they are mostly helpful a) when the baby is tiny because they come in more sizes and flat nappies are better for teeny babies who wee every five minutes and b) at night time when you need something that will absorb a bucket full of wee. We used flat nappies with a cover briefly to start with and now use fitted nappies with a cover.

For small babies you'll get away with all in ones at night because you'll need to change them at night anyway. Once they are bigger and wetting through/sleeping through you can either just use disposables at night (if we do this we still use a wrap, they are great!) or get some fitteds.

Ooh, this is a great thread! No questions from me currently but I have been using cloth on DS for almost 2 years (he's 2.5y) so I may be able to help someone else plus I just really like talking about nappies

Clothes! Have just started using my cloth nappies, and none of her clothes fit! Especially onesies, which are my favourite thing to put her in. I've gone up a size in some things, but even then they're tight. The Frugi clothes cost a fortune more than I'm prepared to pay really.
Can I make my own? Are continental clothes more generously cut in the bum?

By onesies do you mean like a baby gro or a vest? You can get beat extenders. I've heard h&m vests are cut generously in the bum and I never had any trouble with their babygros. I think most babygros fit my son's bum but he was tall and skinny so his bum wasn't super enormous compared to a chubby baby!

Hello! Just found this thread, popping in to say hi :) been using cloth for 8/9 months since DS was 8 weeks. He's just got to the stage where he's doing fewer, bigger wees so half the time I go to change him and his nappies are dry, half the time they're saturated 😄😇 I'm starting filming a series of cloth nappy videos for my YouTube channel, I am obsessed with cloth!! Can't wait to have another babe so I can try newborn cloth nappy-ing 😄

Clutter - just don't do up vests if you can't be bothered with extenders, that's what we do. Babygros - going up a size has always worked for us. Joggers and leggings in a size up. Frugi on eBay!!