Why did you choose/not choose to go down the washable nappies route?

[tellyaddict]

I used disposables on my older two, the thought of 'all that extra washing' put me off reusables and there wasn't the wonderful range we have now. With no.3 I saw an article that said disposables can cost around £800 over 2.5 years whereas terries were £182 and shaped two part/pockets etc £300-£400 - from then on it was a no-brainer.

What I didn't expect was to actually 'enjoy' using washables as I'm Mrs Undomesticated!!! The washing doesn't bother me at all and I love never running out of nappies. There's the added bonus of my baby's bot is lovely - no redness even first thing in the morning, no rashes (and I never use a cream)and then of course our landfills..... I'm a complete convert, totally addicted.

How about everyone else?

I use cloth because of health reasons for my DS:

Scientists believe disposable nappies could be linked to both male infertility and testicular cancer.

Research carried out in Germany suggests that disposable nappies may have an adverse affect on the development of a boy's reproductive system.

The plastic lining in disposables increases the temperature of the scrotum.

The chemicals in disposables are not regulated in the UK. The chemical they use was banned from tampons in the 1980s cos of links to Toxic Shock Syndrome.

We use washables with the odd exeption of disposables in emergencies. Just find them alot cheaper, easy to use, washing isnt really a problem and like the fact less chemicals are around my lo's privates. I know some people say that washables are no better for the environment but just living creates a 'carbon footprint' in one way or another, I am just happier less waste is going into my bin every week and landfill.

Chose washables to save money.

cloth is cuter, i give you that
till they get stained from noxious poos of course

cost was the main factor here

now i'm a "convert" i love the lack of waste

I must say, I was expecting responses to be predominantly from the disposable camp as I believed that a low percentage of mums used washables (I know of only two others that use washables besides me, in person that is). Or is it that all the washable fans are on this forum?

Anyway it seems that, like me, cost was a major deciding factor for most

middle class guilt about landfill, mostly

I wanted to use cloth nappies but when DD was born we were staying with relatives in a cold humid house with no tumble dryer and we struggled just to get the adults washing dried before it started to smell. Then we were in a tiny rented place with no tumble dryer. So I just don't know what we'd have done when it rained (which, let's face it, it does a lot around here!).

The other contributing factor was that I had a difficult pregnancy, a very traumatic birth (with long term problems resulting from it) and a very greedy baby that (literally!) sucked all the energy out of me, and that never slept. I'm not sure that I could have coped with anything else on my plate. My lovely family have told me since that they were amazed that we coped so well with DD and a lot of other "life issues".

I still feel a bit guilty about all the landfill though, especially when DD stays with her grandparents for a couple of days and they comment on how much rubbish she generates.

Pistachio - I think you've hit the nail on the head, us clothies love our cloth nappies, they are after all baby clothing rather than just poo catchers!

Mrs T - sounds like you've done a great job and I certainly wouldn't feel guilty about landfill, there will always be circumstances where using cloth just is absolutely not feasible such as yours .