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Reusable nappy advice needed

26 replies

PicadillyCircus · 24/09/2004 20:18

DS is 10 months and I've never used resuable nappies for which I feel

Was thinking about maybe using at least a few and wanted some advice from people who are good and use them.

He is about 20lb and skinny (trousers fall down!) and is VERY wriggly when having his nappy changed so something that cold cope with that would be good. I'd probably like to get things in trial packs as I'm not sure whether I want to go for resuable all the time.

I know that his nursery are OK with resuables though, which is good.

Any suggestions are welcomed!

OP posts:
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zebra · 24/09/2004 20:30

Tots Bots Size 2 for the nappy
disposable liners (Boots or Mothercare do them) for any mucky contents, &
Motherease wraps for the waterproof outer, either Popper or Aplix (like velcro) fastening.

There are plenty of good alternatives but these are probably the most popular options, relatively easy to use, with good resale value if it doesn't work for you. Only negative is initial price, and the Tots Bots take a while to airdry.

I really like Kim at Cuddlebabes , but I'm sure other Mumsnutters will have their own recommendations on where to buy.

TracyK · 24/09/2004 20:34

where do you live?
we have a laundry service that provides everything for you for £38 a month and they do all the washings. You just have to buy the liners at £1.99 for 200.
ds is 6.5 mo and we have used them since birth. he is also very skinny and the first few weeks of moving from one size to the next are a bit leaky - but that was when it was all milk and poos were v runny. Now he's on solids its much easier.
Just think of the landfill space you wouldn't be using up by swapping

Tissy · 24/09/2004 20:39

PC, there are loads of different types of reusable nappy and it might take a bit of trial and error before you hit on the one that is right for you. One thing I would suggest, though is to AVOID spending a lot of money on birth to potty systems, such as Cotton Bottoms, unless you are sure that you have the right nappy.

types of nappy:

flat terries- cheapest, easiest to dry, lots of other uses, can be made to fit any shape of baby!

prefolds- cheap and easy to dry, have to sit inside a waterproof wrap

shaped nappies- lots of different types- can be made of cotton terry, hemp, other materials, can be fastened with pins/ nippas/ velcro/ poppers; may be lined with fleece or unlined

the above nappies will all need a waterproof cover and they come in all different shapes sizes and colours too.

Pocket nappies (sometimes called All-in-Ones, though they mostly aren't!)- essentially a waterproof outer layer, with a fleece (or similar) inner layer. You stuff the gap between them with padding of your choice (a terry or prefold, usually). Tend to cost more, but can be very funky, and as easy to put on as a disposable.

I suggest you have a look at The Nappy Lady , she has an online questionnaire and will give you good suggestions based on what you need.

FWIW, we used Totsbots , and found them excellent for absorbency and containment! The aplix variety would be easy to put on a wriggler, and their wraps are good too.

Good luck, and have fun trying them all out- it can be addictive!

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PicadillyCircus · 24/09/2004 20:43

TraceyK - I am thinking about the landfill - and wondering how much DS has used up already .

And we do intend to have more DS/DD one day so could hopefully keep reusing.

We don't have a tumble drier so drying could be a bit of an issue.

Thank you all who have replied so far...I keep telling myself I will look into this more so you can all feel free to nag me!

OP posts:
TracyK · 24/09/2004 20:45

or my friend uses Moltex disposables which don't have as much gel in them - i think she said you get them from naturebots.
i just like the ease of putting a bag of dirty nappies out on a wed. morning and getting a bag of fresh clean ones left. v. lazy I know!

frogs · 24/09/2004 20:46

I use a very cheap and cheerful non-system, consisting of terries or muslins folded into pads and held in place with a waterproof outer. I do use flushable liners, but wash them if they're only wet rather than dirty.

I have some motherease wraps, but am moving over to Nature Babies wraps, which I buy from kittykins for £6.95 a go, and no postage costs. They come in lots of funky designs, and the poppers mean you don't get problems with the velcro rubbing.

XenaWP · 24/09/2004 20:53

I use some a nice neighbour gave me called SamIAm, & they're really good, shaped cotten inner, waterproof pants, dd is only 3 months so no solid poos to cope with yet, but so far so good!

Demented · 24/09/2004 21:14

Tots Bots with Motherease wraps and fleece liners for us, they are fantastic whatever other nappies I try I still come back to them for the best fit, best absorabancy and reliability. We didn't change over to cloth until DS2 was 8 months but still think it has been worth it. If your DS is skinny then the cloth nappies will be a bonus in keeping his trousers up!

PicadillyCircus · 24/09/2004 21:19

Demented that is a very good point.

I will keep thinking about it - was realising today that disposables do not smell nice.

I have used the Nappy Lady questionnaire twice - maybe it will be third time lucky!

OP posts:
Socci · 24/09/2004 21:27

Message withdrawn

JuA · 24/09/2004 21:30

We also use totsbots, fleece liners and motherease wraps. We changed to these at about 5 months - we had used prefolds and bambino mio wraps which were OK but they did use to leak. I don't think we have had one leak with the tots bots - they are great and fleece liners keep her really dry.

Gem13 · 24/09/2004 21:57

Well done for making the move!

Check out eBay for some of the ideas on here. A lot of people buy them pre-baby and then don't bother so sell them on. You could try a few out that way and decide which one you like.

I invested in Motherease for DS and am now using the same for DD so can't warrant the expense of checking out Tots Bots, etc. Shouldn't complain as it's saving us money.

The Nappy Lady was really helpful when I had a couple of queries.

BTW - once you make the move that will probably be the end to using disposables. It feels (to me!) like the baby is being short changed when we've had to use Moltex (foreign holidays). I feel like I'm putting them in kitchen roll!

upandatim · 24/09/2004 22:11

My dd is 9.5 months and we have just completed our first week with totsbots and motherease wrap. I am so sorry I didn't do it from birth. They are the bees knees.

kiwicath · 25/09/2004 11:43

I'll put my vote in for Mother Ease One Size (MEOS) for the day (less bulky) and tot's #2 for night (bulky but mega absorbant). Have only ever used Mother Ease wraps but very pleased with them. Well done by the way for moving to cloth naps. Even now, I get a little flush of satisfaction when putting on the laundry, knowing that they'll be back on his bum the next day rather than in land fill. Have never once regretted it

eldestgirl · 27/09/2004 13:59

I use Bambino Mio prefolds and Bumpy wraps with fleece liners for my skinny wriggly boys. Endless washes and they are still going strong. I also have some Tot bots size 2, but they tended to give the boys nappy rash around the sides (very sensitive skin). I make up nappies, fleece and liners in advance and it's just as fast changing them as if you are using a disposable, people have commented on my speed! Twinkle on the web is a great website for choice. Good luck!

MrsDoolittle · 27/09/2004 14:57

How can you resist these PicadillyCircus?

these
I'm a big, big fan. I would never go back

MrsDoolittle · 27/09/2004 14:59

I'm like you Gem13, I hate putting dd into disposables now!

3rdtimemum · 04/11/2004 14:40

After researching every available internet site re. nappies and doing loads of sums, I finally purchased a kit from www.littlelamb.co.uk and I am really impressed! The kit comes in 2 sizes, birth to 9 mnths or 9mnths to potty.It consists of 20 terry shaped nappies with strong velcro fastening (they open out for quicker drying), 4 waterproof, breathable outer wraps, 4 boosters for night, 200 biodegradable liners and a large nappy bucket - all for sale at only £99.00!! If you are lucky, the owner also occasionally places a kit for sale on Ebay, so I actually got mine for only £80 inc. P&P!! I have had no probs with mine, even at night and would thoroughly recommend them!! Good Luck!

polkadot · 05/11/2004 09:36

I'd recommend at having a least some terries for Mums without a tumble dryer as they unfold and are much quicker to dry than shaped or prefold nappies. Also, relatively inexpensive initial outlay. I have used them with Kushie wraps and am very pleased with them.

Tickle · 05/11/2004 09:49

Yup - rainbow tots size 2 here (slightly less bulky than tots), then tots bots size 2 at night, with fleece liners and motherease wraps Nappy lady has good advice re sizing wraps when your ds is that age...

You need to have enough to get cracking, to get into the swing of it. So grin & bear the initial outlay - just think of the amount you spend on diposables each time you go to the supermarket! I didn't manage it with my first two (tried lots of types of reusable, but never really committed!), so know how you feel re guilt trip

Interestingly, less nappy rash here with reusables - if we have to use disposables for a few changes (cos I forgot to put the wash on ) - she gets a sore bot. Anyone else find that??

muddaofsuburbia · 05/11/2004 09:51

Tickle - I'm glad it's not just me who gets caught out with the nappy wash! I've got a pack of Moltex disposables - the nicer biodegradable ones - on hand for emergencies and although not as absorbant as Totsbots, they don't have any weird chemicals in them so no irritation.

Tickle · 05/11/2004 10:49

good advice mudda - i'll look for some. am in denmark, but we use so few that it would probably be worthwhile getting some shipped. do you buy them online?

muddaofsuburbia · 05/11/2004 11:27

I get them from Naturebotts - they seem to be the cheapest around - they also do biodegradable nappy sacks which are useful to have around too.

Naturebotts

They don't have online ordering yet unfortunately, but I still get next day delivery from them. I can't see any shipping information on the site - might be worth a phone call to see if they'd deliver. If not then Spirit of Nature might be a possibility too?

MrsDoolittle · 05/11/2004 11:36

Tickle, I haven't been able to put dd in disposabales either since I started using cloth!!

acnebride · 05/11/2004 12:08

DS is just coming up to 10 mo. I have used cloth from day 3 but tended always to have a packet of Moltex for emergencies. However, I find that if I have them, somehow I tend to run out of cloth ones, whereas if I have no 'backup', somehow I manage to get the cloth nappies done

he is so wriggly that sometimes i put the nappies on while he is standing up (flushable liners, MotherEase nappies and wrap with pop-in liners for night).