Reusable Nappies

[Steph1311]

I'm looking for advice, good or bad on reusable nappies, what brands did you use? Was it too much faff? Was your childs skin better? Please let me know!

It's a mine field!! Unfortunately babies are all different and what works for one baby doesn't always work for another. The nappy lady website has a questionnaire you can fill in for free advice and I've heard really good things about it. Look to see if you have a nappy library near you, as I found it involved a lot of trial and error to find the right brands!

Go to thenappylady website it's fab

They're brilliant, no poo explosion has ever managed to escape them, only had a handful of wee leaks and every time it's because I've left a bit of nappy poking out of the wrap. I use little lamb 2 parts mainly in bamboo with either the little lamb wraps or once my first was a bit bigger I switched to motherease airflow wraps as he couldn't undo the poppers. Use some totsbots easyfits all in ones but I don't like them as much as they do leak easier especially I find in car seat, but I have a very heavy wetter.

Skin, ds has vvv sensitive skin can't even use fairy fabric conditioner, he only ever has nappy rash if I've used disposable or he has pooed at night and not woken up. He is also red raw with 2 different brands of disposable (we use disposable if away on holiday or out for a very long day because it does take some carrying with a days worth of reusable)

I now have 2 in reusable I find it no faff at all. I do have lots of nappies because I bought them all cheap on eBay so I have no worries about getting them dry in time.

We use reusables for DD. Didn't get going with them until she was about 12 weeks but now I prefer them and we definitely get less poo explosions than with disposables. I do use a disposable overnight because I don't want to have to change her in the night and I'm not convinced we'd get a reusable to last.

We use Alva baby which is a pocket nappy. I add in a bamboo booster to make them last longer and change DD every 3 hours or so. Alva baby nappies are significantly cheaper. I have single nappies of a couple of more expensive brands too and haven't noticed any major difference. I think as with disposables different brands suit different shaped babies.

I don't find it too much of a faff. I put a nappy wash on every other night, dry them either on the line outside or on an airer and put the nappies back together the following evening.

I found it very confusing when I started looking into it but fortunately I knew a few people who has used reusables which helped. The nappy lady and fill your pants are good websites to look at. The nappy lady has a questionnaire you can fill out and she will then give you a couple of recommendations.

I'm a part time user. I find reusables too much hassle to worry about when out and about, but we use them at home, as it's a great way to save money.
Also I only used disposables in the first 2 weeks with a newborn while we figured out everything else out first without worrying about washing nappies too.

I went with an insert/cover system eg using pre-folds and flats (and some bamboo/microfibre inserts I was given), with waterproof covers made from PUL. The prefolds and flats can also be used as inserts for pocket style nappies (I was given 2 of these).
I have 5 PUL nappy covers and 2 pocket nappy shells, 4 bamboo inserts, 7 prefolds, and a pack of terry towels (which I use as burp cloths more than nappies). I find this is enough for 1 full days worth of cloth nappying, especially if the nappy is only wet, not soiled, as the covers can be reused if not soiled. I have enough inserts for 2 days but not enough covers. Ideally I'd like to have a few more pocket nappies, I've found these surprisingly easy to use.

My brands are as follows:
Seedling Diversifold prefolds (bamboo terry). I quite like these in the padfold in my nappy covers, very absorbent.
Grovia - I have covers and prefolds from Grovia, they fit my bub really well and feel more breathable than some other covers.
JazzyBottoms pocket nappies (an australian small business).
You may be able to find similar home business nappy sellers on your local buy sell swap on facebook, or at local markets.