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 really meant to use reuseables but never got round to it. My son is now 12 months, is it too late? What would everyone recommend?

12 months is definitely not too late! What sort of shape is your baby? You could either get size twos or birth to potty nappies at that age.

Since he was about that age my son has done enormous wees so I stuff pockets with a layer of microfibre and then a layer of bamboo. At night he has a bamboo nappy with some extra hemp boosters.

We're doing a layer of microfibre on top of a layer of hemp, which is working brilliantly. Nighttime is a bamboozle with wool shorties. Recently stopped night feeds so have been able to stop boosting at night so now his night bum is a little less ridiculously huge, haha!

This is a really stupid question...
Tots bots bamboozle stretchies - is there a difference between the 'brights' range and the current 'stripes' range. Is it just the colour or have the design of the nappies themselves been updated for the stripes range?
Thanks!

I have the new stripey stretchies and about 4 orange pre-loved brights. They seem to have the same labels but IME the new range are trimmer and a smaller fit. May just be because of the elastic in my preloveds but I don't think so. Can't see any brights on the Totsbots website so think they must be discontinued now! But IMO they're much of a muchness.

Hmm... That's useful - thank you!
I was hoping you would say they are identical but different colours. Agree it looks as though they've been discontinued but there are some on sale cheaply online - presumably selling off the end of their stock.
Does the looser fit mean you have more leaks or is it just that they are more bulky?

No, no leaks. There's just a bit more 'pouf' to them IYSWIM. It's really a minimal difference, I probably overstated it! I'd snap them up if you've found some cheap!

How old is your baby? For reference, DS is 10mo and the size 2s (9-35lbs I think?) are fitting him very well. So it's only if your baby is teeny weeny or much older that I'd advise against getting them!

Actually I'd still get them even if he's teeny weeny, babies do grow up after all!

He is only 2 months but the ones I've seen are size 1. I've got a handful of size 2 already but they are pretty bulky on him at the moment. Currently in disposables. Thought the cheap size 1s might fill the gap but wouldn't go for it at full price.
I'm going to go for it! Thank you again

Awesome! Aw a little baby :)

You're welcome, I could talk about cloth nappies til the cows come home haha

Sorry, I forgot I'd posted! Thanks for the ideas, I'm going to get some vest extenders - not doing them up isn't an option I couldn't stand it! I'm aiming for more dungarees type outfits I think, and Tesco seem to come up quite big.

Fab! I've found vest extenders work for most clothes but Gap use weird poppers and some H&M too.

We started using reusables on our twin dds at 3 weeks, they were both about 6lbs. We used little bloom newborns initially, then little lamb size 1 and a few fuzzi bums (we have lots of different brands as ds used them from birth).

The little bloom ones are alright, we stuff with one little bloom filler and one little lamb bamboo boost and use a fluffy lamb nappy liner thing!

Definitely buy extra bamboo boosters - they are fab.

Blueberry wraps mainly newborn but sometimes the larger ones if we run out.

Bum genius are good a bit later on, girls are now approx 10lbs and we haven't used them yet.

We do use prefolds as back ups.

Can anyone recommend a wool wrap to go over a newborn nappy (bimbles) at night?

And anyone know where to get really cute wool wraps? (& no I'm not a knitter and I'm not about to start!)

www.littlepants.co.uk/index.php is a good site, Alison is lovely and runs a trial - she'll either have the size you need in stock, or knit it for you, then send the wrap out to you to try for 10 days. Then you can either return it or pay and keep it. She's full of advice too.

Our first wrap was from her, I also have some disana soakers from eBay and Cambridge Baby, but I definitely recommend Little Pants for the customer care/friendliness/knowledge/value.

Also yay for your newborn 😊 How lovely.

Can anyone advise me on exactly what I need? Ideally I'd like to buy a pack that just contains everything I need but I am completely confused by all the choices and makes of nappy out there. I like the little lambs trial pack to see what we like best but I don't know if I need to buy extra inserts alongside it? My little boy is nearly 9lb now. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Can't really advise exactly what you'll need! 😬 It depends on the shape of your baby as to how each nappy will fit, so that's tricky.

For a 9lb er id get some sized nappies. Little Lamb One Size pocket nappies are notorious for leaking (they're on the big side so can be hard to get a good fit, especially on little babies like yours). I haven't tried Little Lamb sized nappies personally, but if they do a trial pack of sized nappies, go for that. I do love our little lamb pockets.

Get a wetbag instead of a pail, way way simpler. I personally love the Kangacare wetbags (can get them on Amazon)

Cheeky-wipes - maybe a pack of 25 to start with, we still use with just plain water, can't be bothered faffing With a wipes solution.

Couple of small wetbags for your nappy bag

We didn't bother with liners pre-weaning.

About 3 size 1 Totsbots bamboozles and wraps for nighttime.

Trying to think what else... It really is a voyage of discovery and the key is to ignore the overwhelm and just begin! You'll soon develop favourite nappies and find some tips and tricks that make things simple.

When I started out I bought one Milovia, one Wonderoo, one Totsbots v3, one little lamb and one Charlie banana (all 1 size) and just started and soon found the ones I preferred. Now, some of my least favourites from then are now fitting beautifully and have become favourites.

Also, fill out the questionnaire on the Nappy Lady site and she'll give you a personal recommendation of all the kit you need. I went to her house for a consultation, you can do that if you're local, or go to your local nappy library. The nappy lady did recommend me a pail though, bah! Definitely go for the wet bag option ;)

Hope that post isn't too overwhelming!! Am in a bit of a rush! Don't give in to the overwhelm, just make a start! :)

Could do this if you want to do a trial of various brands, fill your pants are great for advice too:

www.fill-your-pants.com/cloth-nappy-trial/nappy-trial.html

Wendy thenappylady.co.uk is marvellous. We went to her house for a trial and bought the nappies she recommended for DS. Worked a treat!!.

We used a pail (with a laundry bag inside as recommended by Wendy) when we had DS. Not sure on space this time round so might try the wet bag suggestion.

The little lambs trial pack (do you mean the try them all kit?) should be fine without any boosters for a 9lb baby! Each nappy will come with one booster that you might not need yet. In time, you'd need more boosters for overnight but not for such a teeny baby, so you can buy some once you know which nappies you like. Equally, ideally you'd have more than one bombproof wrap, but you can get by without for a while.

How do you deal with poo? Is there a hack I'm missing? I usually get the worst of it off with shower head!

Yep, showerhead soraying the poo into a designated poo bowl, then that's tipped down the loo.

Post-weaning, just plop it down the loo. Should do that with disposables anyway! Send poo to be treated with its sewagey friends, not to fester in landfill! :)

Yeah I meant the try them all kit. Still tempted with that but I have also found a website where I can get a bambino miosolo, a tots bots bamboozle stripey nappy and a Charlie banana all in one for a reasonable price. Are the tots bots bamboozles all in one nappies? Do I need a wrap with them?

Your post is great by the way bendydick. Very helpful.