Is it ok to share washable nappy wipes (or even nappies) between siblings??

[sjcmum]

Have DD1 aged 2.5 and DD2 aged 3 weeks. Using washable wipes (small bits of towel) for both of them - but is there a danger of sharing germs or anything between them? They are washed at 60 degrees with the nappies (which only older dd is in at the moment - younger dd is having so many changes a day, I wouldn't be able to wash fast enough at the moment).

Just wondering - because DD2 has had quite a sore red bum, and I wondered if it was because of the wipes? Should I stick to cotton wool for now? Anyone know?

Also - would it be ok to share washable nappies - or is that a bad idea ??

Really hoping that DD1 will be potty trained soon, then won't be an issue - but she isn't showing any sign of wanting to, and we're not forcing it at the moment with new baby to contend with to....

I did, although always used the 90 degree wash just to make sure!
Fragranced wipes always brought my dc's out in nappy rash, so water and cotton wool better imo.

if they are boiled betwen use - if not then i wouldn't

yes they'll be fine! you don't need to boil them. it's just nappies!
people with twins do it all the time

what about if one child developed thrush or another infection causing sore bum, would you still not boil?

TBH I thought this was the whole point of washable nappies and wipes?
But then I have only been using them a week.

can't see its a prob - i wouldn't think twice about them sharing towels and bedding so why not nappies and wipes? would you worry about one baby getting reinfected from a wipe? i wouldn't so don't think 2 is different

If my dd had an infection then I would boil all their nappies. I would certainly do this if they wewre sharing...
could you not color code the nappies somehow if you do't want to hotwash them?

dropdeadfred, if one had thrush then yes, I would use separate nappies for them.,

in general though I can't imagine there is any problem with sharing.
plenty of people with older children share underwear...

robynlou makes a good point!
if you aren't worried about your current nappies/wipes re-infecting one child then there is no reason to worry that they'd infect another.

yes, boil if there is a case of thrush. otherwise it'll be fine

Thanks - that is what I figured - I just worried that I am sometimes a bit slack in the keeping things clean and hygiene department so worth checking! I definitely wouldn't share if there was an infection, but guess most of the time it's fine. I can't do the nappies hotter anyway, as 60 degrees is max temp for them I think.

60 degrees really is fine hygiene wise, IIRC hospitals wash at 60 and if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me.

I have shared nappies with friend's babies and not given it a second thought. As long as you wash at 60 and there are no infections I cant see too much of a problem

TBH I'd only really see the need to wash at 60 with a newborn in the mix or if one of the children had a tummy bug or thrush or some other lurgy. Other than that 40 is fine IMHO.

That's certainly the way I'll be doing things when DC2 arrives in June.

I would just wash them normally if all is well. If there's an infection, wash at a higher temperature. My sons share wipes for about a year, and nappies for about six months.

I think probably all of us cloth nappy users share nappies/wipes between children, and wash them all together. Part of the cost effective-ness of it, don't have to buy separate stuff for more than 1 child. I've been doing this for nearly 2 years now and not had a single problem with anything. And just do the normal 60 degree wash too.

I wash dd4(12 weeks) and dd3(15 months) nappies and wipes all together and they both wear the same btp nappies on regular occasions with no ill effects. I never boil wash nappies as it can ruin them, i wash at 60 or 40.