Seriously confused on re-usable nappies!

[babylove123]

Hi,

A friend of ours bought the big expensive birth to potty training kit from Cotton Bottoms 5 years ago. Shes been storing them in her loft after having her first child and gave them to us because they decided to not have anymore.

She showed us how to put the cotton material liner in (tucks in a flap at the front of the nappy then spans up above the back), followed by the flushable liner to catch solids and then how to put the nappy on. All great except either we're doing something seriously wrong or they're rubbish! We have 24 liners and 5 outers, we're having to wash constantly because the outers are getting soiled each time. We could understand this being the case when its poo time but when she wees it soaks through the cotton liner and out onto the outer or even better is that it soaks up the liner and out through the top ruining the outer and seeping through onto her babygro!

She is only 4 weeks old - whats going on?! Shes only 7lbs 8ozs now so is in the newborn size.

Is it the style of the outers thats rubbish (they tend to get most wet where the flap of material is to insert the liner) or the cotton liners themselves? We've been looking at new reusable ones and i dont know if i should just buy new outers and use my liners i already have or whether i need to start again. If i do start again, what do i get?!

Please bear in mind that our money is seriously tight. We wanted to use re-usable for the environmental aspect and whilst i know in the long run we'd save loads compared to disposables, the initial outlay could cripple us so i want to try and be sensible!

Thanks!!!

Not sure but bumping for you .

Don't know about cotton bottoms but try posting on the real nappies thread - they're pros there!

They are prefold nappies, prefolds & explosive breast fed poo are not generally a good combination.

I would recommend getting some eco bumbles from here

www.easypeasynappies.co.uk/

or put a wanted ad up for some small fitted nappies. Just get a few to try you will soon notice how much better they are.

With the eco bumble you can put the prefold inside it but it all fastens on with a nappy nippa and the elastic at the legs will make it secure and stop the poo leaks. It will be a bit more bulky and you may have to use the next wrap size up but it should work fine.

Hi - haven't tried the ones you're using, but would definitely try a new wrap for starters. Motherease and One Life are the best on the market and fairly bombproof, so would contain explosive newborn poo. See how that goes and if you want to try better nappies then why not buy second-hand? Motherease and Onelife again are great, and you won't go wrong with them.

Good luck!

"either we're doing something seriously wrong or they're rubbish"

they are rubbish

have tried all sorts of cloth and imo cotton bottoms are the worst

i was in tk max the other day and they had 5 tots fluffles for £25

u could use you CB wraps, imo thye work ok, biy ME airflow is the best though not prettiest and get some shaped nappies

or use your cloth bits in a stuffable nappy

also when i used CBs i did not poke the nappy in the flap bit

i think u can nipper a CB which might help a bit, though u night need to move up a size ib the nappy, which as u clearly have all the sizes shouldnt be a problwm!

Hi everyone,

I've tried all different ways of doing these nappies! Cotton insert in, out, at different levels in the nappies and nope - still dont work!

Am thinking about buying a couple of bambino mio outers and try using my inners in them, see if that works.....not sure what to do! All i know is that shes going through disposables like no 2morro and we cant stand the waste!!!

Thanks for the advice

The cotton bottoms wraps are actually quite good and reliable IME - not as good as Motherease, which are the best by far, but I have used them over shaped nappies very successfully.

I never got on with the actual prefolds though - they were rubbish. Don't ditch them though, I use mine as everything but nappies: under sheets to protect the mattress, as burp cloths, as nappy boosters at night etc.

Shaped nappies are much more reliable and there are lots of cheap second hand ones around. I prefer diddy diapers, tots bots original cotton ones and motherease one-size nappies.

Try totsbots with the CB wrap! The CB prefolds are a total faff IMO & work much better in stuffables with older babies.

I could spare you a couple of tots tbh, if you like? We're scaling down the nappy stocks having had 3 in washables...

Hi,

I wondered if the actual wraps were good but the inserts were rubbish - i mean it is the insert that soaks and leaks onto the wraps. The wraps even contain runny poo so i spose they're not the problem.....

I was talking to someone the other day who told me what she did with hers (not CB but same style) and i had to point out that shes been leaving her kiddie in soiled nappies! She changes the paper insert but not the cotton insert.....uh, thats the soiled part! Duh! Good job her kiddie is a "i dont give a damn" baby!

Raven, that would be so kind of you, i'd really like to try something different and if they're good, then i can buy them (or buy yours off you ) - hehe, hope that didnt seem rude! Let me know how much you'd like and i'll send you a cheque

Not tried cotton bottoms but if they are like the prefolds I've used their performance will be much improved by fastening them on with a nappy nippa. The nappy lady website or twinkleontheweb I think have pictures on how to nippa prefolds.
Otherwise I would strongly 2nd ecobumbles - they are £3 each and have huge pockets you can use your cotton bottoms as stuffing for, have elastic round the legs to keep the poo in and fasten on with a nappy nippa...very good ime and cheap as chips...

You're very welcome to have a couple to try - I'd only be freecycling them sooner or later - I've got too many, & they're too tatty to sell, but still perfectly useable, so you could see how you get on before you buy any...

Email me your address on carrie smith eleven at hotmail dot com (but no spaces & digits not eleven..) - I'll pop them in the post to you.

Raven oh Raven

Could you email me pretty please with a cherry on top?

[email protected]

Hi mybaby - my prefolds arent ones you can use with the nappy nippa's unfortunately - i was having a look at them last night :-(

Raven, you're a star! I'll email you off my hotmail account in a moment!

Thanks