Talk to me about reusable nappies

[Loonaandalf]

So I’m due my first in a few months and have always intended to use reusable nappies (I used them before when I was a nanny and thought they were great).

My main focus now is saving money, and looking at some mumsnet threads, apparently they do save money but of course you need to factor in the upfront cost. So tell me for those who’ve used them, do they actually save you money?

I know there are laundry services, is that worth it? Would that defeat the purpose of trying to save money? I’m not sure how much that would cost and is it a weekly charge?

How much nappies would I need for a newborn to start with? And do I need to change sizes as they grow?

If you don’t use a laundry service, how often do you do a wash? We currently do about 2 washes a week and find our electricity expensive as it is but we know with baby clothes we’ll prob do a wash most days anyway so will be prepared for that. We have a dryer and tend to use it in the winter, we could dry on a rack but worried about adding more damp to an already damp house. I’m willing to do it if we must though.

Of course, environmental benefits are great so that’s a bonus but my main reason is to save money tbh. And I wonder if I would be really helping the environment with all the washing anyway?

I used them but my youngest is 10 so probably 6 years ago (night nappies).

We washed most days as the bucket got full (dry bucket, don't faff with soaking).
We bought second hand from FB and sold on (our DC1 was a massive chunky baby and DC2 a skinny Minnie so also got rid of a few of his and got her some). When we knew what suited we got more new. We also washed poo disaster clothes with the nappies and I know a lot of parents bin those so that was also a saving.

I honestly can't remember how many we had for a newborn (neither was in washable nappies right from the start but the younger one would have been about 8lb with skinny thighs so in a newborn size).

You do change type as they get older but it's easy to sell them on. For newborns you tend to need one size, very small, as they get older you can use adaptable ones, and then when they are only in one night nappy per day those are sized again (unless you are very lucky and have a 3 year old who is dry at night, but it can take a whole year to go up a size).

You can do questionnaires online to find out which size to use or you can buy a selection pack to try.

I have been using reusable nappies since my daughter was ~6 weeks, she is now 19 months.

My favourite website both for buying nappies + accessories and also some really good advice and articles is The Nappy Lady (no association with them, I just think they're fab!).

Cost wise we were able to get some second hand from a family member and then new ones I was able to get mostly on sale/offer so didn't spend more than around £6 per nappy on average. There is a second hand market if you were interested, can find groups on Facebook

Your local area may have a nappy library where you can borrow a set for a period to try them out. Also some councils have schemes where you can get money off when buying cloth nappies so worth researching that.

Environmentally yes they are better than disposables - there was a study done last year by Defra which clearly demonstrates this.

I can't comment on laundry services but imagine this would be costly. We wash nappies every other day (at a push you could stretch to every 3 days but would need more nappies).

Happy to provide more info if you want to message.

I had the same ones from new born up to the end, they have adjustments in sizing. I had two types - tot bots which are cotton and heavier and can go in the dryer and another sort that are fleecy and need to be air dried but dry super quick. I tended to use a combination.

My main tip is get the good quality, big liners rather than the flimsy ones.

Prices for reusable nappies have come down a lot, both new and secondhand – secondhand are incredibly cheap now.

Most people need a newborn size and then 'birth to potty' – only quite chunky babies tend to actually fit 'birth to potty' at birth – or size 1 and then size 2. Some children then need size 3; others don't. We used muslins for newborn (slightly bigger, thicker ones than you might have for general baby use), as they're easy to fold to fit whatever shape baby, cheap (nappies were more expensive when we bought them five years ago), and they dry very quickly. You use a nappy nippa to fasten them, no pins, and then a waterproof wrap over the top. We then used shaped nappies once they were a bit bigger, but plenty of people do shaped from the start.

We washed every day for the first couple of months, then every other day. Dry pail or bag, the nappies and any soiled clothes get a rinse or quick wash by themselves, and then more lightly soiled stuff can go in for a long wash (60C for a young baby, can go down to 40C once older).

Was a while ago, but if you're buying second hand make sure you do a sniff test before handing over any money. Depending on how they're laundered some can need strip washing and never really lose the smell of ammonia/farm yard.

I did it because I didn't want bin sacks of nappies going into land fill but unless you like laundry, it's definitely a commitment. Money wise it's an outlay in lumps rather than over time, but over time I'd say it definitely pays off although not if you charge for your time spent laundering them. Would I do it again? Not sure.

Many of ours we got second hand for a pittance, and that's been over the last 6 years.

Increasingly, there's loads of very high quality / like new bundles on eBay for not much more than the price of a few packs of disposable nappies. Eg some of the like new ones I've purchased have been only £1.50/£2 each. And the price of new has dropped. New they are about £8 each.

We used disposable for the first 2 weeks or so then onto Bambino Mio. Bambino Mio seem to suit chunky babies which ours have been. One of the best things about them is that in 6 years of use over 3 kids we've never had poo leak onto clothes. They seem to really contain poo well.

We bought extra liners which we add to them for nighttime.

We have replaced some which have torn at the seams a little over the years. Others which we bought second hand 6 years ago are still going strong. We also use reusable cloths (cheeky wipes) which are indestructible and a great investment even if you aren't using reusable nappies.

In terms of washing, we tip/wipe off any poo into the toilet. The nappies then go on a cold rinse & spin cycle first, then they wash at 40 degrees with powder detergent. We hang them up to dry in the cupboard with the water tank, where they dry very quickly as it's warm. From time to time (only one or twice a year?) they've developed an ammonia smell and we've basically rinsed them and washed them at 60, which fixes it.

Works well for us though I think the velcro fastenings getting caught on each other is what has caused some of them to tear at the seams. Some of the very old ones the velcro has lost its potency so they need trousers or we sometimes use potty training pants over the top to hold them on.

I'd definitely use them again and we've saved a fortune on 3 kids. The other massive thing is that so far our kids have potty trained easily before age 3 (one literally just after 2nd birthday) and I think cloth nappies have a lot to do with that.

Have a look at the Clean Cloth Nappies website and Facebook group. It’s really practical and has lots of science-focused members that have worked out electricity and water costs for people that want that kind of detail. It’s also really low-stress, effective washing advice.

I’ve used them for two kids. From birth to potty training.

i used the disana wool nappy system.
https://www.cambridgebaby.co.uk/catalog/organic-merino-cotton-basics/disana-woollen-outer-diaper-cover?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADoU-VGUTOl7kS-IbK1PGTCE7oJPf&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIud3yn4fMiAMVCJdQBh01nQwSEAAYASAAEgKsXfD_BwE

under the wool nappy cover I used muslins and brushed cotton inserts.
I purchased 20 inner nappies and 4 wool nappies, and this was sufficient for at least the fourth trimester, and then I gathered further inserts when I saw them for free etc .
And larger wool covers as my babies grew.

this system worked brilliantly for us, the wool nappy covers are an alternative to trousers,
and combined them with teeshirts ans
cardigans, rather than baby grows.

the way they work is simple.
and choosing the wool and cotton system meant that my washing and drying was quicker, and the nappies were cooler.

at about 2 years I started using a disposable overnight, because my second child was a heavy wetter. I didn’t have to do this with my first. I could have found a night nappy that worked for her I’m sure, but by the she was using the potty during day, and 1 nappy at night seemed easier to me.

My top tip is read the manual for your washing machine. Make sure you understand which programmes will be best for your wash routine. It always surprises me that washing machines dont have a nappy cycle. Also, can you dry them effectively? We were lucky to have a small utility room that I ran a dehumidifier in so drying was easy. The nappy lady website was full of good information. I'd buy a bunch second hand and see what you like. I had a big mix of types which I used at different times for different things. And don't forget your flannels! Forty odd. Mine now are full of holes they've been used so well!

And I'll do a shout out for terry cloths! Big fan!!!!

There is an excellent analysis of the costs on BBC Sounds in the Sliced Bread series.

We use reusable nappies and like them very much, but supermarket disposables are so reasonable now I am not sure we are actually saving money because I have gone for the all in one types (I understand flat/muslin/terry towel nappies and wraps are cheaper). If you are planning on more than one child it probably would save some money.

We wash every two days and hang to dry.

If you do go with them try and get some secondhand, via incentive schemes (Nappy Lady and Little Lovebum offer discounted bundles for new parents for example) and keep an eye out for discount codes.

If you are worried about drying times/damp Little Lovebum Quickdry nappies are good (you may need to add boosters as baby grows).

Reusable wipes are good and will save money, even if you don't go for reusable nappies.

We used Terry's and wrap for nights.. bombproof but so chunky 😍
Daytimes, we used pockets which were stuffed..also sent these to nursery.. it took a while but they got used to them.

I washed every 3 days a pre wash (seperately) and then the main wash.. fairy was our go to powder
Like others you don't need to soak the nappies.

Sold all our nappies on for a couple of pounds each in a big bundle.
But are still using the cloth wipes on.a daily basis for quick hand washes, hankys etc

Chunky terry cloth bums is enough to make me want a third child 😍

Thanks, was there a reason you started at 6 weeks and not from birth?

Oh great, what brand did you use for the adaptable ones?

Yes, we waited until our daughter was big enough to fit in the birth to potty/one size nappies (as a PP said, most babies will not actually fit in this size straight away unless very chunky, they fit better from approx 10lbs).

But if you have a local nappy library you may be able to borrow a set of newborn nappies for relatively low cost.

We called the Terry fitted night nappies plus wrap plus booster "the bum you can see from space".

Great info, as for cheeky wipes, I had a look at the ones that come with a wet box but it said it comes with some sort of soap or ointment and in small print said it can irritate skin, can I just use water in the wet box though?

Also, what washing powder is good for them? I use ecover but thinking that wouldn’t cut it for nappies?

Cloth nappies can be great but it is easy to get sucked into prints especially if you go down the all in one route which then has an impact on the cost effectiveness

Cloth nappies have 4 components. An outer shell which is waterproof and stops the clothes getting wet. You want one that has a double gusset (two sets of elastic) around the legs to get a really good fit. They are sensitive to heat so shouldn't be tumbled dried. You need an absorbent layer, these come in a few materials some with better absorbance but come at the cost of being slower to dry, the fast drying maternity often are less absorbance. Then you have a fleece liner which wicks the wee away from the bottom to reduce nappy rash and a booster which is a pad that gets add to the nappy to improve absorbance. Like the absorbent layer it comes in various materials. For a newborn you are unlikely to need boosters and liners are a personal choice.

The different nappy types combine these layers all in ones has the outer shell and absorbent layer sewed together in one nappy. You can get separate wraps waterproof bits and use separate absorbent layers. You reuse the wraps for a few nappies typically 2-3 in 24h. The absorbent layer can be shaped like a disposable nappy, be a flat nappy that you fold into a nappy or a pad that goes into a pocket in an appropriate wrap.

We decided to start with muslins as they can be great for the newborn period but fell in love with flats. They are so versatile, just by changing the fold you get a brand new nappy. We used Terry's at night once she was not needing a change in the night. We used muslinZ nappies and they lasted us from birth until potty training! She was small and not a particularly heavy wetter. At 1y we doubled up the muslins and at 2y we did double muslins and a booster. We potty trained at 2.5! We used lots of different wraps, the Bambino Mio were good for quick changes and the rumparooz newborn's were great when my daughter was small. She was a 6lb and their weight range was 4-15lb from recollection.

The nappy lady has a questionnaire that was very useful and there is a parents Facebook group which has some very knowledgeable parents on there!

I don't pack them wet or keep them in a box at all. I think that's just a marketing gimmick to be honest. We keep them dry stuffed in some pocket / wherever they'll fit (!) and then use the tap (or if no tap, drinking water from one of our bottles) to wet them immediately before use. Just plain water works fine, better than a wet wipe.

We use ecover powder, incidentally. For years we use special nappy powder then switched (I think we ran out or something) and noticed no difference.

We use them about half the time, and find it very easy. We were lucky to be given a load of hand me down reusable nappies so that eliminated the upfront cost. I put used nappies in a bucket without water, and wash every 2-3 days using Aldi bio powder. We have a heated drying rack which really helps, it's good just for baby clothes anyway! And I find the reusables leak/explode very rarely so we wash fewer baby clothes. Worth seeing if there is anywhere locally you could rent a newborn set of nappies. Or look on Facebook market place, I always see people selling reusable nappies. I'd also recommend the Cheeky Wipes reusable wipes set, it has definitely saved us money and they clean so much better than single use wipes. We just use water, but I do put some of the essential oils mix in the 'dirty' box, to eliminate the smell.

And maybe worth shopping around for a different electricity provider? We're with Octopus, their prices are good. or if possible, do laundry overnight if you can get a tariff with cheaper overnight prices?

I just stuck flannels in water in a tuppaware box - ready to grab on changing table. If I had time, I'd make a solution of olive oil, tea tree oil, lavendar oil, camomile tea and a squirt of soap. Sort of thing that's only possible with one child 😂

do they actually save you money?
If you want to save money, terry nappies are an excellent option, as are pocket nappies, but they don't have infinite adjustment for a perfect fit each time the same way a terry does. Also, get or make some reusable wipes - it's no extra washing, no harmful chemicals, no plastic packaging and saves money.

Around 20 small and 15 larger terry nappies, cheap fleece cut into liners, a few nappy nippas and a few sizes of wraps will likely save money on disposables, even if bought new, used for only one child and not sold on at the end (yes, there is a market in pre-loved reusables). Use the smaller terries as boosters with a larger one as an overnight combo for an older baby / toddler. It's an effective, workable, cheap set up.

laundry services, is that worth it? Would that defeat the purpose of trying to save money? I’m not sure how much that would cost and is it a weekly charge?
Not sure, but washing and drying at home is fine. Use bio powder unless you've a reason not to. Terries dry in a single (unfolded) layer so dry quickly, compared to shaped nappies with multiple layers of fabric.

How much nappies would I need for a newborn to start with? And do I need to change sizes as they grow?
IIRC, we started with a few muslins over the newborn days, then 20 x 50cm bamboo terries, and I think we may have used some small prefolds as well, moving onto 60cm cotton terries, and boosting with the smaller ones / prefolds for overnight. You can put a 60cm nappy onto a newborn, but it's bulky!

If you don’t use a laundry service, how often do you do a wash?
This depends on how many nappies you have. If you have more nappies, you can wash less frequently, but will spend more upfront buying the nappies, and need more space to dry the larger load (unless tumbling).

And I wonder if I would be really helping the environment with all the washing anyway?
There are various articles covering this. Check out who has funded the research, and whether they are really assessing 'cradle to grave' impacts when judging the outcomes ;-)