Will I actually use reusable nappies?

[laweaselmys]

Have been checking out the classic mumsnet threads, and one was about things you always thought you'd do when you'd have DC's and then didn't.

Frequently mentioned were resuable nappies, and how they never got used because they were inconvenient.

In order to save money I have been thinking very seriously about getting reusable nappies for my DC when he is born (lol, not till march but need time to stay on look out for cheap second hand ones etc) but if I'm genuinely not going to use them, it would waste more money by buying them and not using them...

So in all seriousness, from people who've tried it and succeed and those who've failed, just how time consuming and inconvenient is it??

We don't have a tumble dryer and so would need to buy quite a few of each size for winter months to make up for slow drying times, how many extra washing loads do you really do? (currently do 3 per week, would expect this to go up with DC arrival anyway, was expecting once a day?) Also will probably only be able to be a SAHM for first 6 months, and will then be having to use quite a lot of childcare (possibly as much as 7-6 on weekdays) if I can't work out a way to get around work situ before then. What would nursery do, faced with reusable nappies? Would I have to buy disposables for when DC at nursery?

Sorry loads of questions. I just don't want to waste money if it won't work, but really want it to work as can't get over how massive a sum £7000 a year on disposable nappies is!

As has been suggested, don't buy lots of one type and you'll be more likely to find a combination that works for you. Then you'll fall madly in love with cloth nappies! I'm on DD2 now, so my cloth nappies are getting their second go-around, and I love them as much now as when I first put them on DD1's bum 3 years ago!

Never got into reusable wipes though. Hanging all those endless, tiny things on the line drove me nuts! I use kitchen towel, each sheet torn in half, and a little squirty bottle of water. Squirt baby's bottom, wipe with kitchen towel (the recycled type, of course), flush down loo. Cheap and easy!

laweaselmys - your local nappy project here

www.realnappycampaign.com do a search here for local advisors, financial incentives etc

Hi, I'd definitely recommend pocket nappies like fuzzy bunz. The outers wash and then dry very very quickly (sometimes half an hour on the line), whilst the pads take longer because they're the absorbant bit. So, have more cheap pads than outers. I virtually never had a leak until it was nearly time to potty train. So not the cheapest washables to buy intially, and you have to buy different sizes as the DC grows but it ensures a snug dry fit, and not that unsightly heavy dangle between legs that a fully laden disposable nappy results in. And I sold mine on as they were outgrown.

Lots of people told me I wouldn't use washables after my DS1 was born. I think you just have to decide that you are going to do it an work through any problems, just as you would with anything else.

I made the mistake of buying "birth to potty" nappies which were no use until 10lbs. Didn't know about using muslins or boosters then so used sposies for first six weeks until fortunately chunky child was big enough. For DS2 treated myself to newborn size nappies which were great.

In general they are easy to deal with. My CMs/nurseries were already familiar with nippa tots bots and wraps but nursery did tend to fasten the wraps too tightly, as you would for a sposie. Annoying on an 18 month old but not nice on a six month old, so make sure you explain clearly how they work.

I found washable nappies worked far better on liquid bf poo than sposies. With two children I only ever had one blow out with poo up the back and on the vest. I expressed astonishment when it happened (with DS2) and my friends all said it had been a regular occurrence with their sposies. So not as much extra washing as you might think!

I used totsbots with ds & dd1 - fine but bulky, so problems with getting clothes to fit.

I've been given a load of 2nd hand cotton bottom prefolds for dd2 & am an absolute convert - much quicker to dry & less bulky.

If I were starting all over again I'd probably try to pick up a few second hand nappies of every conceivable type - you will use different nappies at different stages, & the few people I know who tried & gave up are the ones who bought an enormous set of one sort. Cheaper & greener to buy 2nd hand too.

Cotton Bottoms are very much like Bambino Mio.

I use large cotton wool pads, am in the process of making some washable wipes from old towels.

When you say dry bucket [quizzical look]

I rinse all nappys and pop into a bucket with mild napisan solution in it, wash every 2/3 days 30'C, 40minute wash, line dry and sparkling nappies (bambino mio)

eBay is a great resource of reuseables for bought but never used items for one reason or another.

Be aware of the RRP, Kiddicare is often the cheapest supplier of brands and then include the postage to find the ideal bargain price for you.

Be prepared for a wait for what you want at the price you want it for.

I think the figure of 7000 is in relation to the number of disposable nappies used from birth to potty - average age of potty training is now almost 3,and longer for night time

It's worth investing a bit of effort in your drying and washing set-up. We got one of those "sheila maid" ceiling airers for about £35 and set it up in the kitchen above the biggest radiator (you will have to pick a good spot). It has been invaluable for drying not only nappies but most of our washing in the winter. A full load of nappies would usually dry in 24 hours.

7000 nappies at 15p each is about £1000.

Another thing. There is so unbelievably much extra washing with a baby that washing the nappies is the least of your worries. I think we alternated nappies with clothes for each evening's wash. I faintly remember those days of three loads a week .

We used disposables mainly for the first 3 months. I used some muslin nappies and trialled a few different types of reusables then. Although I wondered if we would ever switch to reusables properly, at 3 months we invested in Bumgenius (our favourites) and love them.

DH was very sceptical because he didn't want the extra faff. But Bumgenius go on exactly like disposables and he really loves using them! DS looks so cute in them, and they smell a lot less than disposables (IMO the gels have a really weird smell when wet/dirty, and they are in the house for a week while we wait for the rubbish to be collected whereas the reusables are washed every other day)

IMO with Bumgenius there is really very little difference in handling compared to disposable, and as I'm always washing muslins and sicky babygros (plus my clothes which always end up sicky as well!), it isn't any more hassle to deal with the nappies, honest!

I did the sums because I'm a bit anal like that. Disposables work out at about £1 per day. 1 Bumgenius (which are expensive for reusables) is £14, so I save the money for one reusable after 2 weeks. I need about 14 to do a wash every other day, so in 28 weeks/6 months they will have paid for themselves. DS will be in nappies until 2-3 years, and they will also do for subsequent DC. So although I'm not factoring in wash costs it's clear that they work out much cheaper, even though we use a premium-priced reusable.

I'd do as others have said and trial a couple of reusables over the first few weeks before you decide. This was the best thing we did so we could pick one that suited us and DS (the best nappy can vary depending on your DC's shape). I'd buy one of each main type second hand over the next few months and then you won't notice the cost, and then see what you get on with in those first few weeks. So maybe get a totbots/little lamb, a onelife/motherease, a pocket nappy, a terry and a bumgenius type.

Sorry - posted and vanished. Reusable wipes - I think they cost me £5 for 10 (double-sided fleece/terry) but obviously you can make your own cheaper still. I always meant to get around to soaking them and carrying them in a box, but then picked up an empty plastic spray bottle, so have got into the habit of carrying them dry and just using the spray to wet when needed.

There are also lots of fancy sweet-smelling wipe solutions around but I never got around to that either , so just use plain water. To be fair though this seems to suit dd who has sensitive skin which flares up at perfumes and fragrances! (another reason we left the disp wipes behind).

I honestly don't find the washing a pain, but then I am used to it and tbh we do so much washing here an extra load every few days doesn't matter. I don't soak before wash but just chuck everything in the nappy bucket then when it's full do a quick pre-wash and a full cycle with half normal amount of powder and a few drops of tea tree oil.

Hi there, thought I'd add my bit, and a sales pitch...

I used disposables for 4 weeks (I got those many free/money off!), and then switched because I'd bought the washables. I do have a tumble dryer but very little money to use it and I live in Wales where it rains a lot! But it's really easy to use reusables, and I'm loving them. I have a pack of pampers as a back up, but I very rarely use them - 1 pack lasts several months. But it means that if it's rained and I really can't dry them, then I will be able to cover his bum!

• If you've invested in the nappies (like me), the financial reason is good enough to make you use them properly! I once used some of the disposables at night, but got annoyed because it wasn't saving me any money, or any time, and so I don't now.
• Get some easy to use ones, and you're less likely to find it a chore.
• Washing - no problem, but have enough nappies and wash often enough!
• I gave myself a get-out: I bought the nappies in the smallest size, and if (once DS had outgrown them) it was too much/not working, then I could change brand, or change to disposables.

However, it's worked out for me, and I'm investing in more, the next size up. Hence...
I'll be selling my 1st size, 2nd hand but in mint condition. They're Modern Baby nappies, old style nappies and wraps. Really cute (a definite selling point for me ) and they work brilliantly. Contact me if you're interested in buying some/all/whatever.

If you're determined to use them, of course you will. As well as saving money, you won't run out because you just bung them in the wash. Recommend you join Freecycle - I got a load for nothing, and also find out if your local council has any schemes on. Regarding wipes and liners, even the "disposable" ones go through the wash a few times in our house!

5 nappy changes a day for 3 yrs=
53653= 15(365)=3650+1825=
~5500 nappies per child.

Except, All mine day trained quite soon after 2nd birthday, so I'd think more like ~4000 lifetime nappies each. Or about 600 quid per child, in theory, if 15 each (and I know I've paid more like 9-10p/nappy in general, when we have used disps, which brings the cost down to about 400 quid each, if we had used disps entirely).

Oops! I meant 5 365 3 in 1st line of last bit, not the bold 365...(note to self,must preview, must preview)

Essie3 I can't CAT you as have not paid subscription??

I would be interested in having one of each type to try out as suggested. But baby not due until March! so would be ages if I decided I wanted to buy the rest of a certain type.

you can email me at halfevilkids @ yahoo . co . uk if you'd like to sort out a deal.

also, thank you very much for all the advice! Lots to think about, but glad to hear I will use them.

I did a calculation - took the price of each reusable I bought, the price of a disposable and looked at how many times I would have to use each nappy for it to pay for itself - the number was surprisingly low (most were between 30 and 40 times, and that was buying new).

So I reckoned that provided I used them that many times (which by my calculation I would if I used them for more than 3 months!) it still made sense.

In fact ds prefers them to disposables, and now (19 months) complains when we put him in a dispy. So it's really paid off. Plus, when we can't be bothered and use a dispy we don't feel bad, as we know the reusables have paid for themselves many times over!

i thought average wad 7.50 per week.

Going with a nappy service is an alternative. I wanted to use cloth nappies but wasn't too keen on the extra washing required (least favourite housework chore for me) so we get a weekly delivery and collection from the nappy pixie and it's great.

HENSMUM

Chat about cotton bottoms. CVant get to grips with them as yet. DD 5 weeks ben using 3 weekd with 1 dispo at night.

Which folds work well. new pooh gets all over wraps!!

Had a few leaks.

Struggle to get a nice fit.

Advice please.

I bought totsbots multi coloured bamboozles, loved the look, loved the feel but really couldn't cope with how much my DS weed as alardi mentioned. Recovering from a cs, I didn't know if i was supposed to change the nappy every time it got damp in case he got nappy rash, and I think the outer wraps I got weren't very practical as too bulky on top of the bulky nappies.
I sold them on usednappies.co.uk, good place to look for bargains btw.
If I hadn't been so shellshocked from the whole birth thing, I'd like to think I would have persevered more with them as I hate the idea of using disposables. Sorry to those who disagree but I do find disposables more convenient....I also had (still have!) a whingeing DH who didn't like using them so that narrowed down the window of usage by another 40-50%

As other posters have mentioned, excessive washing wasn't a problem, but the bamboozles can take a long time to dry without a tumble drier. Sometimes 3 days here (yes, Wales!)

laweaselmys - where abouts in suffolk are you? I'm in west Suffolk and due baby #3 in November so you could always practice nappy changes for me? but seriously I have a load of different nappies you can look at / feel although not sure if any will be for sale as DH is already talking about baby #4!