Tots Bots Bamboozle - Yes or No

[hedgehog1979]

I have trawled through all the nappy websites, and tried to search on here but get a lot of info and just want some opinions from anyone who has used these.

I am 21weeks with PFB so have no nappy experience other than my own (28 years ago). DH and MIL are convinced I am barmy thinking about reusables but me and my 3 sibs were raised in them. My main queries are below

1. I like the look of the bamboozles because of the extra absorbancy of the bamboo - Is this true?
2. I keep reading about disposable vs reusable liners. Should I have a supply of both? or is one prefereable over the other?
3. Does it matter which wraps I buy? Ie do I need to get Tots Bots ones to work with the nappies or can I buy one of each and then get more when I know which works best for bump?
4. Where does fleece come into all of this? Is it wraps? or liners? or both? and which would be better?

Sorry if there is a lot there I only know one person with a baby and she thinks I am mad for considering reusables as she has a cupboard full of pampers as she has been buying a pack a week since she had her 12 week scan ()

Thank you in advance
Hedgehog

1. Yes. Bamboo is more absorbent.

2. Reusable - better for planet/purse, keep baby's skim dryer. A few babies react to them but it is rare. I would say yes to reusable at least until weaning when poo changes. The first 4-6 months poo is liquid, it just shoots straight through, and you just bung the whole lot on a prewash before the main wash.

3. Motherease are the most reliable wraps.

4. Fleece is reusable liners. It is also a type of wrap - as a wrap it works by the moisture evaporating out, it is NOT waterproof like PUL ones. Being very wet/in something tight will cause the moisture to wick through onto clothes. It is more breathable than PUL though. Personally, I would choose wool over fleece - it absorbs a little bit before evaporating, is slightly waterproof due to the lanolin, and is completely natural.

Cloth is great - it can save you a fortune (if you get addicted to pretty fluff I can't guarantee savings, but you will have a very cute baby ).

It is good for the hips.

It is good for the planet.

And dammit it looks GOOD!

Message withdrawn

Flame what do you mean "it's good for the hips"?
Am confused...

I think flame about covered that one.... they are lovely and big bums are so much nicer now than holding a boney one,,,

Yup, trial pack is good. Also talk to an advisor, they can help work out what type is good for you.

If you want to support MN WAHMs, then there are a few of us on the small business ads that do advice, and I think most of us offer the trial option like babykind

The good for the hips bit - the width is good for hip positioning when they are still developing. Babies with hip issues are often told to wear a couple of disposables or cloth nappies.

The only thing I would add to all the above is that bamboo takes aaaages to dry, and I mean ages, unless you have a tumble dryer. I was all for bamboo, then discovered they took a couple of days at least to dry on a rack. Lots of other quicker drying options out there though if you don't have a tumble dryer (or don't want the added running costs).

i just bought a few extra to cover the drying time

My slightly different opinion.

1. Bamboo is more absorbent but have personally found that bamboozles are a bit less absorbent than the cotton tots bots version, think their may physically be less material in the bamboozles (slightly different design ?), good for day though as less bulky but cotton (or an alternative hemp nappy)for night definitely. Bamboo takes an age to dry, same as cotton to be honest in that respect.

2.Reusable liners are better, keep bum drier and cheaper but disposable good for the first few weeks while you are getting the hang of things and maybe when out and about, Its up to your personal preference really.

3.The thing with wraps is they have to fit your baby,each of the brands have a slightly different fit in the same way that clothes from different stores have a slight variation even though the size labels may be the same. I personally found Nature Babies the best on my dd as she is tall and extremely skinny, found motherease huge in every dimension and tots bots seem best for shorter sprogs (though the new ones are a bit better), however its worth getting a selection in the first size to see what brand fits your baby best. If they don't fit at the leg and waist on your child they will leak no matter what other people have found the best or worst.

1. Liner fleece is normally very thin fleece like micro fleece or thin normal fleece, not thick enough to be waterproof but acts well as a barrier as liquid passes through it but it doesn't soak up the wee back against the skin as polyester isn't absorbent. Wrap fleece is usually thick fleece like performance outdoor wear would be made of. usually over 200 weight or a couple of layers. It seems to work by being water repellent more than waterproof and also by allowing air to pass through it and evaporate away the liquid-it doesn't put up with heavy wetters. Agree with flame that wool is nicer.

Hope that helps

Interesting point about the hips...

Thanks all that was really quick.

Flame have checked out the site and will def get DH to actually look at this one. He only wants to be involved in gadget decisions (travel system, car seat and baby monitor at the moment)

Think will have to print off all your advice and make a more informed decision now

Tell him to think of nappies as a work of engineering and design and the ongoing development of performance fabrics. I know one dad who was a navy engineer who really got fascinated by the fabrics and design in fuzzi bunz.

I taught my DH by explaining them in terms of games consoles

Hello hedgehog just had a nose at your profile we have a bit in common - esp the advice you received about getting pregnant. I'm due in May .

Cloth has loads of advantages - not least that you make lots of other 'barmy cloth-using' friends. Hope you decide to go ahead.

All your Qs have been answered here, just wanted to add that when your babby is very young you might not want to bother with a liner at all as everything washes away very easily usually.

If you're looking to save money, don't forget you can use reusable wipes too. Hope your friend has put away packs of wipes too -most tend to move away from cotton wool and water at some point and disposable wipes are really horrid (IME) and certainly very expensive!

btw - for what it's worth, I think bamboozles might be a little over-rated

I would choose bambinex or bambeasy over bamboozle.

That sounds like gibberish When did my life start revolving around my knowledge of bamboo nappies???

Hello Hedgehog

My DD is 10 months and I have been using a mixture of Bamboozles and Fluffles. I like them both to be honest but they are quite different. Bamboozles are a lovely slim fit and not nearly so bulky as Fluffles. When they are wet though, they are very wet but fleece liner means the wet isn't all against baby's skin. They do take a while to dry and mine dry a bit crispy if line dried or dried on the radiator but they fluff up a treat if given a quick tumble dry. I could be defeating the environmental object of them of course but it's only once in a while.

I have just replaced my Size Ones with a friend's Size 2 Bamboozles so I have 6 Size Ones that I would like to sell on if you wanted a couple cheaply to try out.

kikidee hello sorry hijack have u gto a orange bamboozle by any chance for sale got a thing about orange at the moment and looking for one

Hi

Whats MN WAHMs?

WAHM = Work At Home Mum. You can get some nice nappies on Ebay. I bought a WAHM nappy which is half hemp and half bamboo for a night nappy on Ebay last week. It's very cute and well made.
We used to use Bamboozles, they were alright. I think they were quite absorbent. I haven't tried the other one.

I too have found the bamboozles take forever to dry (no tumble dryer) and get very stiff in hard water. I haven't tried any other bamboo nappies though.

I much prefer fluffles - yes, they're quite a bit more bulky, but they dry in no time at all compared to all other nappies I've tried, and they stay wonderfully soft even in hard water.

DH was very taken by nappy nippas in a gadgety way...

Agree that bamboozles take forever to dry. In your position I'd try a few different sorts of nappy to find out what suits you.

Re earlier posts on rock hard nappies if in hard water area. I have heard that adding vinegar in place of fabric softener in final rinse will soften them and not smell. Also, DH ironed DD's cottonbottoms nappies (!!!!!) which transformed them from boards to soft, smooth cloth once again.

I personally didnt get on with Bamboozles. I found they were absolutely saturated -despite changing my son very frequently.

I think cotton is far more absorbant & I use Diddy Diapers by Nature Babies - lovely fit. They are jersey lined so no issues with nappy going rock hard in hard water areas.

Personally I would try out a few different nappies initially, even if it means using disposables for a bit.

I bought quite a few bamboo nappies, didnt get on with them, despite reading loads of excellent reviews. Ended up wasting quite a bit of money....