why are they suddenly leaking?

[Liz79]

I use a variety of tots bots and their wraps, D D is 6mo and been in cloth since she was 24hr old. We have got on great with them and only really leaked with fleece wraps, which I assumed to be inadequate boosting. Now though the plastic wraps have started leaking, the nappies aren't overly sopping. DH reckons he can't get it to fit right round the legs but I can. Still leaks though. I wash at 40 or 60 with a small amount on non-bio, no fabric softener, napisan or other stuff. We dry pail.

Also I have 1 air-flow which I got to see what was so wonderful about it. IT cuts in on the top of her legs but is loose round the back. Same whichever popper I set it to and if I put it on back to front, its a medium and she weighs 14lb 10oz

Are rikki wraps better than tots? Does the velcro overlap? I might sell my size 2 tots and replace with rikki

At some point the PUL wraps lose their waterproof ability. This happened to me with a few of mine. (I used to use Air Flow.) Apparently you can stick them in the tumbledryer for a bit to realign the fibres but I don't have a tumbledryer and even when I used my neighbour's one it didn't really help.

I'm surprised yours are leaking already though, unless they were secondhand so had lots of previous use?

Regarding the fit, I guess each baby is a different size so maybe Air Flow wraps just don't suit your little one?

Sorry if I haven't been much help, I don't have anyone in cloth at the moment so maybe other mums will be along soon to help more.

I bought them new, I used tommee tippee wraps for the first month I think, so they've only been used for 5 months, not even full time as we have a few pockets and when we've been away we've used disposables.

Its like the leg bindings are absorbing the moisture and transferring it to the clothes. Its the front of the leg that gets wet. Do you think that wash in waterproofing stuff would work?

I am not buying anything tots bots again. My bamboozles have gone all flat and crunchy and don't stretch very well and a couple of my fluffles got holes in the seams

Oh shame, how irritating. Part of the point is that you dont' have to keep buying them!

Might be a stupid question but is any of the nappy sticking out of the wrap around the leg and causing the leak? Also the wrap might well be too big, we use medium that are only just getting tight and dd is 13mo and 20lb.

Airflow fit us fine but I was told not to tumble dry the wraps as it wrecks them, so am interested to hear that it can help?

I'm having issues with my happy heinys which i love but they are leaking around the leg too, I can't figure out what it is and they also seem to be upsetting her so i might have to ditch them

I have one lifes (similar to motherease) and they are REALLY old i.e. been through at least two other babies, and are really absorbent and amazing. I'm very impressed with them. My dd is 13mo though.

Oh shame, how irritating. Part of the point is that you dont' have to keep buying them!

Might be a stupid question but is any of the nappy sticking out of the wrap around the leg and causing the leak? Also the airflow wrap might well be too big, we use medium that are only just getting tight and dd is 13mo and 20lb.

I was told not to tumble dry the wraps as it wrecks them, so am interested to hear that it can help?

I'm having issues with my happy heinys which i love but they are leaking around the leg too, I can't figure out what it is and they also seem to be upsetting her so i might have to ditch them

I have one lifes (similar to motherease) and they are REALLY old i.e. been through at least two other babies, and are really absorbent and amazing. I'm very impressed with them. My dd is 13mo though.

I have some tots wraps that leak in exatcly the same place as yours, in fact i thought i'd try them again today but ended up with a soggy legged baby I just use airflows now.

You might find you need the medium - large or large airflow - they can be very 'gapey' around the legs and still not leak but you shouldn't get red marks. If you find one cheap it might be worth a try.

Do you ever put essential oils in your dry pail? That can degrade the PUL pretty badly. I'd give them a tumble dry - if they really aren't working you have nothing to lose.

Rikkis are defintely better than tots IME. My tots leak very regularly but my rikki very rarely does - they have very slightly deeper gussets but I can't see that making such a huge difference. Got some Rikkis from freecycle today so the tots will go in the change bag for emergencies. I'm using Rikkis for prefolds atm with a lot of success and if they work for them then they must have good containment properties

The velcro on the Rikki doesn't overlap at the front like the tots.

Babykind Tots wrap review states "Advantages & disadvantages compared with other waterproof wraps: Stretchy, comfortable fit. The fit is very versatile over different shaped nappies and babies, though perhaps not the ideal shape for covering nappies that are high in the rise like Sandy's. Very lightweight and quick drying. Aplix fastening only. A few people find this wrap will wick at the join of the gussets and body of the wrap when the nappy is sodden. Perhaps not a first choice for night use or for heavy wetters, but a comfy light wrap for daytime use".

Airflow review from same "Advantages & Disadvantages soft, lightweight and quick drying. Very reliable and durable. Poppers positioned at side make it a good wrap for toddlers. Excellent fit over virtually all shaped nappies. Separate adjustability of the legs and waist to customize fit. Sorry, I can't think of any disadvantages except that is has a slight 'puffball' look when on due to it's generous cut and design which might not be to everyone's taste, but is very trim once under clothes. Good breathability. It may not fit babies with very chunky legs, though you could probably go up a size if the fit is tight at the leg. A wrap of quality and design that has yet to be beaten in terms of reliability (in our opinion)!"

I found that once my ds got bigger the tots wraps started wicking on the binding. Like you said the nappy didn't have to be sopping, so I gues it was the position of where the wee was going. I switched to airflows which I loved but then they obviously suited my ds.

I did try a rikki, but I didn't like it. I found it difficult to get it to cover the nappy, and it is not as stretchy and comfortable looking as the tots wrap.

It might be worth you emailing tots with your problem and seeing what they say.

TBH in the end the only wraps that didn't leak for us were the airflows.

ooh hello mummypig i didn't realise it was you!

sorry for hijack!

My local nappy retailer has offered to swop my unused size 2s for some rikkis

I dry pail so they haven't been in direct contact with anything but I have taken to sticking a panty liner inside the lid and putting a few drops of lavender or tea tree on it (an idea from another mumsnetter). Thats the closest we've got. They've never been in the tumble dryer. I've been really careful to look after my nappy stuff as I want them to last for 2 more babies after this one (if I am lucky enough to be blessed with 2 more DCs - failing that eBay)

is the actually nappy fitting round the babys legs properly sorry if dim but i sumtimes do the nappy up and then pull the top bit up at the sided iyswim so it makes the legs smaller and do the same on the wrap

I hope the rikkis work for you Liz79.

fingers crossed! is it possible to leave a wrap on too long?

IME yes, the only ones I can get away with leaving on for ages 6hrs+ are airflows. Rikkis etc leak after being on a long time for us but maybe that is because, being velcro, they move about a bit when the nappy underneath is sodden.

I think totswraps have always had issues with reliability. the ones i've got have always wicked around the legs and the bindings get very wet very quickly, even when the nappy seems to be still quite dry.

rikki or airflow supposed to be much better, but I suppose like nappies, different fits of wrap suit different babies. I used rikkis when DD was a baby and never had any issues with them.

I have a couple of Nature babies wraps as well that I've found to be very reliable.

Agree to give the tumble drier a go and see what happens.

How long in the tumble? Cool heat I assume? We've been using 1 wrap all day and a clean one each evening and morning. I will perhaps try alternating them at each nappy change.

My NatureBabies wraps have started doing the same thing - the material around the legs is getting wet and wicking onto DD. I'm undecided as to whether to buy new or potty train (DD is 25months).

My large (20-35lb)rikki's just arrived and I tried one on DD, she's not yet 15lb but it fits soooo much better than my medium airflow and size 1 tots wraps. Think they're going inthe bag of too small stuff - ready for numero 2 . Although might treat self to small/med rikkis when that time comes!