cloth nappies - help!!

[Shelly679]

I need help, advice anything please. I have been using cloth nappies for about 6 months but then my dd broke out in a really bad case of thrush so on advice of doctor switched to disposables for a few weeks till it cleared up. I put all of her nappies through a 60 wash a couple of times with a little bit of washing powder and napisan then through with nothing. Everything was cleared up and I put on a reusable, by the next nappy change it was a bit red but then next one it nappy rash had broke out. Put all nappies through another couple of washes and went back to disposables. Yesterday I put cloth nappies on again and same thing happened.
I really dont know what to do as I really like using the cloth and don't want to give up. Any advice would be gratefully received.

I'm actually just getting to that section in the study so maybe I'll not be quite so happy when I read it all... Just liked the overall conclusion.

I have to say though, I'm using the tumble dryer with every wash for the last few weeks as the rain just hasn't stopped long enough to get washing out. Everytime I switch it on, I wonder if I'm better with disposables... Plus there is a bit of laziness in me which makes disposables tempting. But then washables are so pretty... So many pros and cons.

Good point about the polyester in fleece liners - hadn't thought about that. Although I did try silk liners but didn't help.

Yes, that study is very flawed - and now very out of date. There will be a new study out soon.

To get rid of the napisan residue in your nappies wash them several times at 60 degrees with no other powder etc (you could use soap nuts though).

How old is your machine, do you use powder in it? If you but powder/liquid in the drawer then over time the washing detergent clogs up the feeder tubes so you will be rinsing clothes/nappies etc in detergenty water IYSWIM

It is very likely to be a reaction to the napisan and/or powder.

My machine is 4 years old. Have done a 95 degree wash with nothing in the machine and in the middle of washing all the nappies a few times so fingers crossed I can start using them again.

Where do you buy soap nuts? I have looked around tesco, chemists and local shops but nowhere seems to have them. Is soda crystals the same?

I also have tried the silk liners but they didn't make any difference.

Thanks for all the great advice I was feeling like such a failure with them but I will succeed (hopefully )

buy soapnuts from Lakeland shops or off the internet. I think their is one called

www.inasoapnutshell.com and they will send you out a sample.

Shelly, I notice all the nappies you use have fleece inners. I have come across a few babies who have reacted to fleece liners and were OK without. I wonder if it would be worth trying a nappy with no fleece liner and then of course there would be no problem with using a nappy cream, or vaseline because you wouldn't have to worry about blocking the fleece.
We had some trouble with our baby's skin using cloth and ended up stripping the nappies, using no powder and washing at 60 degrees until there were no bubbles in the rinse water - it took a few washes to get the powder out. After that we only used eco balls with a vinegar rinse. We used burt's bees diaper paste and or vaseline.
I have thought of another thing, wool is much more breathable than PUL, have you tried a wool wrap at all, they are really cute.
Also are you using microfibre, again, I have come across babies reacting to microfibre and having red skin.
I have read that you can put a cotton nappy into the microwave to sterilise it, I wonder if this would help? Mind you, I would do a bit of research before risking a huuge explosion.
I hope your LO recovers from his red bum and can start to wear his cloth again.
Other options might be something like g-diapers or the new mothercare smart nappy, where at least only the inner is disposable.

yes definitely try a non fleece nappy, preferably one with no polyester at all such as a 100% cotton quick flip or packer (used inside out so the fleece is outtside). They're only £5.99 at littlekiwi.co.uk so not really too much to outlay to trial? Otherwise a plain terry square would do but a lot more fiddly.
And a good nappy cream is tesco own label, or sudocrem. Both wash out of fleece.

I notice that one of the nappies you use is Bumbles - you could just try putting these on inside out, so the fleece layer is outside, rather than next to the skin. A free way of trying a non-fleece lined nappy. Although you'd have to use a nippa even if you have Aplix fastening ones, I guess. Might be worth a try?

sorry to gatecrush your converstion but i can't work out how to start a new thread . i read all the comments with interest. i also use cloth nappies with my 8 m o (one disposable at night) and she just developed an awful nappy rash (second time ever - 1st only mild with teething), which happened at the same time as starting nursery and getting diarrhoea (usual nursery bug i think). it seems that they change her nappy every 2 hours in nursery, so i can't blame them for the nappy rush. I have done everything you ment to do: switched to disposables, used sudocream then changed to metanium, not really use any nappies while she's awake, cleaning up a mess as soon as she makes it (spend the whole day today cleaning up poo...), went to see hv yesterday and got some canesten in case it's thrush.it's not an allergy cause she didn't have/worn anything out of the ordinary lately.she's not teething. the bottom still looks awful 5 days in, and in fact worse then 2 days ago. am i missing anything? she has to go back to nursery tom for 3 days in a row and she can't really have nappy off time there, i'm really worried. i went to see gp, but he just thought i was a neurotic mother...and told me to give her precels for her diarrhoea.
any ideas anyone?

kuta - theres a link to add a new thread to this topic at the top of the page just under the title of this thread.

Sorry about the nappy rash, metanium has always cleared it up for us. When you have to use a nappy could you use Vaseline as a barrier? I'd also suggest using water and not wipes for now.

i can see it now - thanks!

and yes, you right about the wipes - they're evil. we only use cotton clothes with water but today i went back to newborn tricks and used cotton wool (very enviromently unfriendly...). i can olny hope tom she'll wake up with fresh bottom and in better mood...

thanks for the advice anyway

cut and paste your post into a new thread - I'm sure you'll get some better advice than my feeble offering

i'll do that, thanks again. just writting about it made me feel better. maybe i am a neurotic mother after all...

Hi Shelly,

now i have sorted out my new thread i thought i just mention couple of things.

your little one is unlikely to be allergic to fleece if you used it many times before and it was fine.

also if the nappies were still harbouring the yeast in them the rash wouldn't clear without medication.

chances are that the skin on the little bottom is hypersensative after the nappy rash experience, which should hopefully settle after a while...

good luck