Mio Solo reusable nappies advice

[BunnytheFriendlyDragon]

I have a one month old and haven't started using these as they looked huge for a newborn (baby is in size 1 pampers) but I want to start using them and looking for any advice please like what age you started using them, how you manage washing, drying and storage etc.

I think they are to be washed before use and I haven't even done that yet so I really am starting from the beginning!

I have 24 nappies.

I also have cheeky wipes - the microfibre ones for general use (face, bathing) and the white Terry ones for baby bum and thought I'd put these in the machine with the nappies?

I started using them when DS was about 7 weeks, any earlier and they would have been too big. They are so easy to use. I wash every other day. Keep dirty nappies in a nappy bucket. I also use the liners to catch poo. They are great at drying in the sun but in winter they take longer so I would hang them over a radiator. It's a bit tricky getting right about the amount of nappies that you need including having enough while others are drying. I also have the Mio duo and they dry much quicker which helps. If you have a heavier wetter I would recommend Little Lamb busters and for night night Tots Bots Bamboozle nappies with Motherease airflow which are amazingly leak proof. Also Cheeky wipes get washed with the nappies too. DS is nearly 1 and all his nappies still look new.

We started using reusables when Dd was around 3 months, both cheeky wipes and used nappies go into the nappy bin and into the wash. Tots Bots do a mesh bag that goes inside the nappy bin and makes putting it all into the mashing machine mush easier! I thought switching to reusables would be a right faff but we’ve never looked back!

Take a look at the Nappy Lady website for advice in washing, drying etc. Yes they need washing before use! You might also need to look into buying some bamboo or hemp boosters.

They are bigger nappies and likely to fit from 3 months or so, before that baby’s legs are likely to be too skinny.

I don’t use the brand of cloth nappies but If you’re on Facebook there’s a brilliant page - The Nappy Guru Place - which you can post on for advice on fit, wash routines, issues etc. I’ve found them to be really helpful on there.
And yes, I stick my nappy cloth wipes in with the nappies or towels on 60, and the face & hands ones I put in with tea towels or towels too.

Haven't heard if Tots Bots! Will look those up!

So do you soak them before washing? Or just put in the bucket and then put on a wash without fabric conditioner?

I think drying in summer will be easier but I do have a heated drying rack.

Will look up Nappy Guru and Nappy Lady too

Thank you for all the replies BTW. Getting started with them seems a bit daunting and DH thinks I'm already giving up but I think they are too big (baby is only just over 6lb at one month old)

No soaking necessary (thank god!), winter drying is tricky- Lakeland do a peg airer which we hung on the wall above the radiator, not very elegant but got them dry! www.lakeland.co.uk/24284/36-Peg-Laundry-Airer

Thank you. That's good to know.

The website says to wash at 60 before use and then simply wash with non bio detergent and no softener on a lower temp if necessary but it seemed odd to think they might not need soaking!

Haven't seen an airer like that before. I have a heater airer but the website says not to use heat so not sure whether that's suitable. It doesn't get super hot though - less hot than radiators.

We used reusables from 8 weeks to 3 years.

The more you wash the more absorbent they become.

No soaking as it can start to breakdown the waterproof layer.

No fabric conditioner as it can coat the fabric and block absorbancy.

Reusable nappies and wipes were chucked in a Karrimor dry bag hung on the back of the bathroom door and whole load was chucked in a 40 wash every 2nd/3rd day, line dried or hung on airer - heat can melt the waterproofing. Every now and then we'd do a 60 wash with bio to freshen them up, a good dose of rain helps to strip them of excess product/smells and softens them up, UV rays get most stains out.

Careful with nappy creams as some can clog fibres - Weleda Calendula and Coconut oil are both magic and safe to use! Weak chamomile tea (cold!) makes a soothing wipe solution too.

Weak chamomile tea (cold!) makes a soothing wipe solution too.

Never heard this!

Thank you very much.

We use tots bots easy fits which are similar. They fitted Ds from about 6 weeks.

They go in a mesh bag inside nappy bucket, then whole thing into machine. Wash at 60 on cotton wash with bio powder (Ariel or Persia). Don’t use eco wash as it doesn’t use enough water imo. No fabric condition or vanish as both will ruin waterproof layer. No pre soaking. Our are now a year on all white inside still

They can technically be tumble dried but I have had no issue drying on a drying rack in winter or summer. I just put them outside on rack if dry and inside if not. I think tumble drying regularly will shorten life.

Started using a mixture of Mio solo and tots bots (one and two parters) from ten weeks. You could start cheeky wipes now- I used them from four weeks. They are ace, wish I'd started from day 1. I don't have quite enough nappies for full time use but use reusables up (takes about two days, use disposable for night) then chuck in wash that evening and get out to dry overnight. The two parters might be dry by morning if it's warm. Otherwise use disposables until they are dry. When I wash nappies I chuck in dirty wipes. Wash at 30 with special totsbots powder, or 40 or 60 with normal powder.

With a newborn the extra laundry is a bit of a thought but I've found it easier than I expected. Plus love not having so many disposable nappies in the bin! Also I find reusables better at containing poo.

The washing advice provided by most reusable nappy companies is rubbish, presumably so they can void your warranty if their product falls apart.

Don’t soak them. Store used nappies in a wire basket for good air flow. Pre wash everyday or second daily on 60 degrees with half a dose of BIO detergent and a booster. Wash 3 days worth of nappies on 40 or 60 and ensure the machine is 2/3 full when everything is wet. You might need to ‘bulk’ the load up with small items (nothing bigger than a tea towel).

Please do not think that hanging your nappies in the sunlight is an acceptable way to remove stains. The poo is still in the fabric. Absolutely vile.

cleanclothnappies.com/sunning-nappies-as-a-stain-removal-and-sanitisation-method/

We started using ours from when baby was around 9lb on advice of our local nappy library - this is the weight they suggest for the "birth to potty" nappies, otherwise they say to get specific newborn size ones. Of course if you've got a longer skinnier baby then you might need them to be a bit heavier so their thighs & waists are big enough.

We do the same wash routine as Thatsmydaughter - the separate prewash is critical as modern machines try to save water so a pre-rinse doesn't work as it recycles the same water for the main wash

@Thatsmydaughterinthewater fair enough, that was advice given by the nappy lady and the nappy network when we used them (8 years ago) so maybe that's not recommended anymore.

They were well washed and never smelled or felt like anything was on them so I think calling it "vile" is a bit strong but heyho 🤷‍♀️

Thanks everyone. Baby is about 6 and a half pounds so I think the nappies will still be

So you do a pre wash ASAP and then wash a few together? What do you do after the ore wash? Dry them or put them in bucket wet until next wash? Sorry if I'm being silly!

@Thatsmydaughterinthewater
Why dues the machine need to be 2/3 full? As in so it's not too full? I have a 9 kg machine if that makes a difference.

@DoucheCanoe I thought stain removal in the sun worked too as the nappies had been washed, it was just removal of the marks...

The tots bots look nice but it would be great to be able to just use the miosolo ones ive got.

I would'nt be completely averse to using disposables for going out and about but ideally I'd use the miosolo all the time.

You just need to wash them a few times so the cotton and bamboo fibres become absorbent. I just put in longest cotton wash we had which was about 3hrs. Dried on line and started using fine. Remember they will wee less and changed more when tiny so you can just gain full absorption over the first few weeks of washing and using.

9kg machine here. I wash every other day and it only half fills machine so you won’t have any problems. They just mean don’t ram it full as the nappies need space to move about in machine to wash properly

Sun does help remove any stains. Ours are washed at 60 with bio powder so very few stains, but have had odd stain if Ds ate too many blueberries! And sun gets any last stain out. They are clean from wash.

We used tots bots teenyfits the first few weeks, but Ds was nearly 9lb born so didn’t last long

Thank you

So it's bio, not non bio?

Their site says non bio

No idea what their site says, but non bio is a uk only sales thing. The rest of the world only sells bio.
Ours are clean and no issues using bio only. ( in mainland Europe so all washing instructions based off bio here)

The machine should be full enough (2/3 to 3/4 full) so that there is adequate agitation. If there are too few items in the machine they won’t rub against each other enough to really clean them.
The exception is when you put your nappies through the prewash cycle (every day or every other day). The aim of this quick wash is just to remove the bulk of the soiling rather than get them completely clean so it’s fine to run the machine relatively empty.

Have a look at the link I posted RE sunlight. It’s confusing because stains do appear to fade in the sun but it is not actually removing the material that causes the stain, that is still stuck in the fabric.

I got my wash routine from a website called clean cloth nappies. If you’re on Facebook they also have a group by the same name.

The machine should be full enough (2/3 to 3/4 full) so that there is adequate agitation. If there are too few items in the machine they won’t rub against each other enough to really clean them.

I see. Thank you.

I had a look at the link about stains. I'll look up the Facebook group.