Reusable nappy advice

[MissPepper8]

I'm expecting second DC next March, I've looked at reusable wipes and quite happy with our decision.

I've had a look at reusable nappies and I'm totally out of my depth, to the point I looked and thought I can't do this lol.

So I'm not sure on what brand and even more confused by the liners? And then there's boosters? Fleece, muslin, paper? And then inserts??

I've been on the site fill your pants, the nappy part looks quite straight forward (whatever you get on with I assume) but it's the liner part I don't know what to get.

If it's any help, DS use to constantly wet through his clothes during the night (even when I woke him to feed him and change him at 12am) so I'd like something that would help with that.

Thank you :)

I felt totally confused and out of my depth too! In the end, I bought little lamb nappies for when my baby was tiny. We still use the size 2 version of these as a night time nappy as they’re very absorbent and the wraps are great at preventing leaks.
We’ve switched to Bambino Mio solos in the daytime, and a few Tots Bots that I was given by a friend - they’re basically a nappy with a pre-sewn insert, and you can boost these to make them extra absorbent. All of them we’ve found fit great and don’t leak.

As for liners, fleecy ones came with the little lambs we bought, and they catch the poo. Since we haven’t weaned yet and baby is breastfed poo is still liquid so bung everything in the wash and it comes out clean - line drying in sunshine can help to bleach any stains. But disposable liners probably aren’t crucial until baby starts doing more solid poops that go in the toilet, however this is probably a preference thing too.

It’s a minefield, and I just went with the brand I’d had a recommendation for, then bought a preloved Bambino Mio off eBay and fitted my baby really well so went from there. You could see if there’s a nappy library near you, they might hire out a few different brands once baby is born to test which fit is best on them. Otherwise I’d say go for it, if they’re not right you might have to experiment with others but the good news is the resale value on reusable is good so you will be able to recoup some money back if they are really not working for you.
We’ve been using disposables for a week now as we’re having to stay with family while our house is replastered and I am so looking forward to getting back to using our cloth nappies. The disposables are leaky and smell weird when they’ve got wee in them 😂

Sorry for the long and rambling response... hopefully there is something in there that’s useful for you.

@Browniee Noo you've been really helpful xx I think I have a postal nappy library near me, how do they work?

I think I understand, I don't know what baby will be fed. I'd like to try breastfeeding but I struggled with DS as I didn't know what to do or get much support (sounds stupid).

So formula poo is more thicker, bit like mustard. So you could probably use liners then? And I guess the fleece ones over night to hold more wee or if I wanted to just in general instead of liners then?

So basically little lamb or tot bots when baby is born would you say?

No DS is 2 and in disposibles, they smell even if he's done a little wee now, I'm trying to potty train end of November, and we even double nappied him at night until recently as he use to wee through (or even poo ) during the night. We bulk buy in wholesale but if we get them in shops it's so expensive. I don't mind paying 100 plus on some cloth nappies knowing what we'll save and could possibly make money back on them like you say.

Thank you so much for your help xx

Nappy libraries are a great place to start, they'll let you know what type of nappies and what brands work for you. I used a physical one, but I assume a postal one will just post you out a variety of nappies to try.

If you EBF, then the nappies can go straight into the machine because the poo is water soluable. If you FF, then the poo needs to be scraped off - this is where the liner comes in. Disposable liners can just go in the bin (never the toilet), but they are quite pricey. Fleece liners do not hold wee, in fact they wick it away so that the baby isn't as wet. It just makes it easier to scrape the poo off, I use them in every nappy.

Little lamb and tots bots are my two least favourite brands, but everyone is different! Close pop ins and baba and boo get good reviews for newborns. I got 24 nappies for £150 second hand to start off with, and that was a good enough collection.

Check out Goreal, they have a facebook site, they can give you advice on the different types, may advice on reps in your area. Check out your council they may have incentives or have info on reps, lending kits, libraries. I found different nappies suited different things. i used terries at home. (quick drying when you don't have a drier.) Bamboo shaped at night, (absorbant.) Pockets when out and about. (Easy to put on.)

@sewinginscotland Ahh I'm understanding now, disposible liners generally more for formula poo at first or fleece more for overnight to protect bum (or poos too). And it'll work better if I bf too as I won't need disposible liners.

Yeah i think we need to goto one as we need to try before we buy a brand. I have two in reasonable distance, one that posts and we can visit or the other one. DH isn't convinced lol.. But I want to do this so I'll make him take us to look, sounds like the only way we will be successful with something we get on with too.

Is ebay the best bet? I think that's quite good for 24. Thank you x

@june2007 Ill take a look thank you x, we have plenty of time it's just a case of finding out what suits I think. My mum said to use terries lol, I have memories of my sister in them and her washing them. This is like a mine field what to pick though xx

Disposable and fleece liners do the same thing (except disposable don't wick away the wee). It's just you can throw away the disposable and reuse the fleece.

I got mine off Facebook marketplace, there are loads of second hand cloth nappy groups. Technically nappies are against eBay's rules as you're not supposed to sell used underwear, but I know people sell them. Buying big bundles of nappies (at least 4) saves you money on postage.

Honestly, it seems daunting at first, but it becomes easier when you know what you're doing! Just like everything with a baby.

@sewinginscotland

I understand now, my mum used terries, and said a liner that she flushed so I was a bit confused with all the options but now I know I'm kinda a bit more confident with it.

Ah I see, there are some on there, I don't use fb so I'll get on DH account to look. But we will deffo goto a library near the time, I'm very keen to do this.

Thank you so much, its really helped me as before I just looked and thought I couldn't do it.

Never flush the liners, it's like baby wipes - they don't dissolve. Even if they say they can be flushed, they can't really.

Terries are definitely a viable option, and your mum would be able to help with the folds! You don't need to use a nappy pin anymore, there's something called a nappy nippa that's genius. Then a wrap over the top. They're cheap and easy to dry.

Don't worry if you can't do it from right from birth - I started at 6 months for daytime and 9 months for nighttime.

The nappy lady has a great questionnaire which you can fill in and they'll recommend nappy types.

Washable are brilliant. Even if you don't do 100% reusable, every cloth nappy used is one less disposable.

Fleece liners are the best. They wick away the moisture and can be re used. The "flushable" ones aren't flushable. They're like thick kitchen roll so need binning. Fleece you just hold under the flush for a poo and then dry pail and wash.

Oh no I know you can flush them, ive seen this. I'll probably get a mix of fleece and paper ones.

@sewinginscotland I'll check them all out to see what we get on with, I think the nappy library is the best advice I've had. I just need to try. I think as well I'll get some eco bamboo disposibles until we go there as I've seen some good ones.

@Teachermaths I saw the nappy lady questionnaire tbh I gave up half way through lol as its so long I figured my best bet is to try when babies born. I might get some bamboo disposibles and then get baby into reusables when we goto the nappy library.