Has anyone switched to washables really late on, my two are 4 and 18months, is it worth it now?

[dragonbutter]

DS1 only needs a nappy at night, and that is laundry i would be prepared to cope with, especially as he now poos in the toilet.

DS2 still in nappies.

I was full of good intentions before i had the boys that i would use washables but the reality of parenting did not work out exactly as we'd hoped in the beginning and we decided to make life as easy as possible.

I'm wondering if it would be worth switching at this late stage.

I'm tempted myself. My dd is 14 months, and nappy usage has calmed down enough to consider re-usables. I'd be interested to see what answers you get...

i'll bump the thread in the morning, more likely to get a response i think.

Yup - I've recently gone back to using washables (DS is just over 2). It's really not that much hassle. I also wash the wipes (wee-wee ones only!) with the nappies, then am about to make a bum cleaning liquid. I will be that eco-warrrior mum!

Work out the cost savings, maybe that will convince you!

You can pick-up second-hand nappies very cheaply so would definitely be worth it financially. Environmentally, every time you use a re-usable that's one less nappy in the land-fill. I've used re-usables mainly since ds was born, and they're great you don't need a solution for re-usable wipes -water does the trick. A friend of mine switched to washables when her ds was 15 months. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions about washables.

bumping.
not because the advice so far hasn't been brilliant, but just because I take it personally if my threads don't get at least 20 posts.

Seven

Eight

nine

Ah, feck it, I've got work to do

11. oh thanks for the effort though.

Twelve

Go for it! I think it would definitely be worth it, TBH I have no idea how much disposables cost but I bet the cost of a pack isn't that different from the cost of one reusable.

You'll obviously have quite an investment to make but you'll be able to sell on the nappies when you've finished with them. You could even buy second had and resell when you've finished that would really keep the costs down. Some local councils have real nappy incentives, it's worth checking it out.

I'm buying some (new, unused) from a MNer; there are also loads in same condition on ebay - so you can cut the costs even further!

Also I've recently discovered 'dry-pailing', which apparently everyone but me knew about! Makes life much easier - you just chuck the nappies in a lidded bucket, no soaking, then wash every 2-3 days. No sweat!

Thirteen!

yup, dry pailing is great. No nappy soup to deal with here

Washable wipes (well, thin flannels in our case) are great too. Just chuck 'em in the nappy bucket.

Nappy soup! Goes great with booster bread!

TBH as DD has got older (she's 2.8) I've stopped using them. They seem to leak more now she wees for England.

I did it when DS was 18 months - I had to switch back after a while because we never cracked the nappy rash problem. But I bought both bucket and nappies secondhand, and bought washable wipes new. I think by my calculations if you have 6 months or more left in nappies, you will save money by switching and it's not that much more hassle (certain aspects easier).

I didn't lose out by switching back either because a friend bought the nappies off me.

You may get some help from your council with the cost as well.
Here's a good list of councils which have incentive schemes

littlepants.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page&id=15&chapter=5

Worth checking out anyways!

19!

so dry pailing, is just a bucket with a lid???

any particular types of reusables you'd recommend?

Yup, just a bucket with a lid. A mesh or cotton bag as a bin liner makes it even easier. YOu can just bung the full bag in the washing machine and it empties it's self smartish.

Which nappies would be best is a whole other thread TBH! It depends on what you want, what you like and what you need...

Maybe some pockets for day time, but IMHO definitely some two parters for night. But which ones. Hmmmmm.

I thought that might be the case NN.
Usually i ignore the threads about it as i'm so clueless.
I vaguely remember there is somebody local who does trial runs and has different types. It might be a government thing. I'll see what i can find out.
Thanks all.

21

You could go to the NappyLady website - they do an analysis to help you work out which are the best nappies for you. I recall having to fill out a fairly lengthy and detailed form, but then they replied promptly and I bought the nappies from them (though you can go to ebay and get them new - and cheaper!). I've been delighted with their recommendation.

Yup - dry pailing is the 'technique' if you can call it that. You just need a bucket (16l is best - anything smaller won't take enough nappies) with a lid. Shove all the nappies in there and then put them straight in the machine.

Another tip - use paper liners to catch the poos, then lay two of them down at the same time (overlapping in the middle) so that they cover as much of the nappy as poss. We do it this way and almost never get poo on the nappies themselves.

You can also wash and re-use most nappy liners (obviously just the wee-soaked ones!).

I used disposables with my first two then swapped to cloth for DS3. I really like the cloth nappies, they are saving me a fortune and I def would not go back to disposables.

Agree with other posts:
.Dry pailing def preferable (I had a nasty incident where DS2 knocked nappy bucket down stairs.'Nappy soup' on hall carpet and up the walls........ No more nappy soak in our house!)
. I got £25 back from county council real nappy incentive when I got my nappies.
. Def need liners. Scraping poo off fabric is not good - although be careful with liners labelled 'flushable'. Had the loo blocked many a time by those. My DS is pretty regular with his nappy filling so I can use washable cloth liners most of the day, just putting a paper one in when he's due to do his no.2!!
. Some companies do trial packs so you can 'have a go' before making a big investment.

Have a go!

Flushable liners are fine - the loo block thing is easy (though not especially pleasant) to deal with.

Look away if you're squeamish...

If your DC does an especially solid or large poo, just split it up into two or three pieces before plopping it in the porcelain. You do not have to split the liner to do this; just separate the poo.

God, how my life has changed! I used to be a vaguely glamorous media babe!

Gingertoo - we also have the 1 poo thing in our household, so only use paper when necessary. Our DSs must be poo twins.

lol - 'poo twins'!!!