Toddler hates cloth :-(

[toastee]

Hi all,

I'm regularly called on to babysit my sisters daughter who has just turned 3 and still in nappies full time, her mum uses disposables whereas I'm solely a terry square user.

Fortunately my sister welcomes me using the terries (it saves her money and the hassle of lugging disposables around) and I'd much rather use them also. My son whos slightly older is in them full time so its more convenient for me if I have 2 bums to change to be using the same system for both.

However the niece hates me putting one on her, she'll happily help me change my own son (helping fold them, holding the jar of cream or his waterproof pants etc) but the minute it her turn there's warfare :-(

Kicking and rolling arms being waved etc and the minute shes sees me reach for a nappy pin theres mad panic (I did try her with nippas but they werent very secure at her age and I'm far more at home with pins anyway) Ive tried the usual things, giving her something to hold, talking all the time, altering where i change her etc. I've even let her choose the colour of the pins i use and style of waterproof pant out of desperation ! but nothing seems to make much difference, so its now a case change her on my knee where she cant escape and just get on with it.

The nappy itself doesnt bother her one bit once its on and she certainly isnt showing signs of soreness, so its merely the changing routine that bothers her.

Any other mums got ideas ? Anyone else use terries on a toddler ? how do you cope ?

I'd sooner stick with the terries so any help would be great, thanks

how about using the terries to stuff a pocket nappy?

Or you could try a velcro wrap rather than pants, which will hold the terry on without fastening it? OR checkout ellie pants (Twinkle have been selling some off cheap in the bargain page - they are designed to lay a terry square in the middle but I think they are side poppered - they are supposed to be very easy to use.

Pocket stuffing sounds good - maybe a bumgenius (very disposable shaped so easier for her to get her head round)

Thanks for the ideas, It looks like we'll have to think about buying different wraps to hold the nappy without the need for pins.

It does seem a dreadful waste tho when really a traditionally folded terry works well once its on !!

Anyone else fold and pin them at this late stage or am i the only mum who still does....lol

Hello toastie. You are not the only one using terry nappies, pins and plastic pants! I have always used them and think they are the best system. I do not understand why your niece creates so much. It is better for her bottom! The pinning bit should be the fun part of nappy change time. I would be interested to know what make/type of plastic pants you use? I use the traditional cheap pull on ones you can get from Boots and the like. Despite some critism about "plastic" and sweating etc., I never have any problems. I use a "kite" nappy fold for my three year old, with a second nappy folded on top for night time use, and if I run my figures around the leg holes to make sure all the nappy is inside the plastic pants, I never get any leaks. I say no to disposals all the time!

Hi,

Its reassuring to know I'm not the only mum who uses pins and plastic pants :-)

I also use the cheap Boots or Mothercare pants and can honestly say I've never had any problems with them. Admittedly the do after a while deteriorate but at about £3 for 6 pairs I can live with that.

As for the terries themselves I use a kite fold with 2 pins and for overnight or outside the house I put another pad folded one inside the kite. It does mean a bit of bulk for a daytime nappy but we never get any leaks or soreness.

What's yours like when it comes to pins Boomally ? Luckily my son isnt too bad though we do get fidgets somedays ! However my niece hates the things....lol

Thanks for the feedback. I tend to use nighttime nappy pins a friend gave me. They are much bigger than ordinary nappy pins and more robust. They're great for bulky nappies, less flimsy, and if you stick them in a bar of soap they glide through the fabric easily, making nappy changing quicker. I have 4 of them. I use 2 on the kite fold, and have got into the habit of asking my son to hold the other 2 which are kept closed up while I change his nappy. This keeps him distracted long enough for me to unpin the dirty nappy and repin the clean one! Perhaps you should try this with your niece?

Interested that you put a pad folded nappy inside the kite for daytime outside the house. Do you mean for visiting and going out, or just around the house?

Must confess I'm a bit worried at having a 3 year old still in daytime nappies. I've been a bit laid back really, but everytime I put him on the potty he's not interested. Just sits there and does nothing, but then when I put his nappy back on he invariably fills it later on, but does not tell me. I'll persevere! What are your tactics?

Hi Boomally, nightime nappy pins ? thats a new one on me, are they just bigger pins then ? If they are bigger doesnt he find them uncomortable during the day ?

I wouldnt worry about still using a daytime nappy at 3yrs, mines older than yours and I still put him in one.

What i do is use a single nappy kite folded and fastened with 2 pins for daytime use at home, for overnight use or if we go out and I think I may noy be able to change him straight away i pad fold another nappy inside the kite. It gives great absorbency an we never get an leaks but they can be a bit bulky.

Well, as I said, they're much bigger than normal nappy pins, and are great for doing a nice tighter nappy that will stay up during the day. I think my friend may have got them from Boots, but someone said John Lewis have them.

Have just changed a particularly dirty nappy! I think there is a bug going round. Arhhh.