Considering terry squares, please tell me if I am mad?

[runningmonkey]

Hi,
I am pg with first dc and am on a tight budget. I am however determined to use reusable nappies. Am I bonkers to consider basic terry squares? I have found a starter kit on mothercare for £30 and I'm thinking that if it was good enough for my mum and dad (who both worked full time with 3 DCs) then they should be good enough for me! BUT DH isn't so sure, so any advice would be v much appreciated.

I could prob afford some nicer breathable wraps to go with this rather than the plastic pants that come in the kit so any recommendations for those would be good.

Ta in advance,
runningmonkey

Terries are great, but they are very hands on (not for the wee-squeamish), and more fiddley than other options (but dry faster and are more versatile for longer).

Look for 2nd hand terries, too. Some people don't get on with them and the 2nd hand ones can be a bargain.

Wraps: I like whispa pants or similar nylon pants for little babes. You can pick up 2nd hand small-size Motherease wraps for a pittance, too.

thanks mloo, am not squeamish so not too worried about dealing with mess!

The drying faster thing also sounds good, as I try not to use the tumbler as much as poss too.

Hi - My dd is two and has been in terry squares since birth. They are fine, honestly!! I'd advise against the starter pack from Mothercare though - although more expensive the terry squares you can get from websites like the Nappy Lady really are more absorbent and wear better (i.e. don't unravel/go bald etc). I don't find them fiddly at all. I use a simple fold that I found on the Nappy Lady website, and make the nappies up when they are dry, so have a few in my change bag, and the rest stored in the nursery. Baby #2 due any time and I'll be using terries again from the start. They do dry quickly, but I find I use my tumble dryer more than I'd like to for convenience. I use Rikki wraps (Motherease) with my terries and although in the early days of breastfeeding had a few leaky moments, I expect that would be true with whatever type of nappy you were using.

My DD was born in the US and I bought all my nappies there, mostly prefolds at first. Then, when she was about 6 months old I got a pack of birdseye flats, which are larger and thinner than terry squares but basically the same concept. They're great. I wish I'd had them at the beginning...

However, when the baby starts getting mobile you'll probably want something that's easier to put on, like pocket or fitted nappies. You don't have to, though, and that's a long way off.

thanks happynappies and aikigypsy

I have just found that nappylady site via google so will have a look on there. The folding guide dredged up my previously forgotten nappy folding skills (I was a teenager when my youngest brother was a baby so helped Mum and Dad out a bit with nappies/babysitting, etc).

I love terry squares,am now a dab hand at putting them on my 2 year old as he tries to escape I have some bamboo ones (nice and soft, slim fitting, absorbant) some bright bots (my absolute fave, great colours, good size, not stupidly bulky on a smaller baby yet still absorbant enough on ds now), some little ewes (hated them when ds was smaller as so bulky and bindings are really thick but they are fine now) and some mothercare (not that great really, very thin but were a good purchase as spares for when you go away over the weekend and won't have the chance to wash or other times where you need a few more nappies than usual). I'd def go for ME wraps, they are well worth the cost.

I would say to get better quality ones than mothercare, but other than that, go for it.

Nappy nippas are great.

Motherease wraps are about the most reliable, but bambinex ones have nice soft bindings (ooh and they have brought out a btp one which looks nice).

Bamboo terry squares are lovely and slim

I have bright bots ones sat waiting for me to put on bumfluff Bought them 2 yrs ago....

Thanks flamesparrow and indith

Its nice to know I am not mad

So... I should spend a bit more to get good quality terry and the motherease wraps seem to be recommended just about everywhere so I'll add them to my list.

ooh just googled brightbots... lovely!

gimme an email if you are interested in any bright bots

Have done!

I can slowly feel my budget getting a bit bigger... DH will have to be happy with beans on toast for tea for a while

Terry squares are great and can be used for so much more than just as nappies. Couldn't exactly wash the windows with a tots could you? Though we reuse quickflips that are outgrown as cleaning cloths too. Plus the squares dry quick and don't take up much room in the bucket.

There's nothing more rewarding than putting on a terry square well, and seeing them flapping on the line! I agree with everyone who says get the best quality ones - my fave's are the ElliePants ones, but I'd get a few bamboo squares as well, as they are slimmer fitting, and more absorbent. They take longer to dry, but they are really nice!

Of the ones I've tried, Lollipop terry squares have been the nicest. With Motherease airflow wraps of course!

Terries are versatile, economical, dry quickly and are fun.
People look dead impressed too.

Everything has been said. Terry squares are great. Buy the best quality you can afford. Try waterproof pants from Boots, because they are cheap, but are still good quality, with nice soft legs openings. They are the pull on type, which I prefer to any other. Also, I prefer nappy pins to those nippa things.

They're fab! What I liked even better after a fair few trials (with flat and shaped nappies) were those large (80x80cm) Danish muslin squares. They dry even more quickly than terries, and definitely quicker than shaped nappies, and I found them perfectly adequate even for toddlers.

Oh yeah, I used muslins for the first three months, very quick drying.
I bought some proper nappy pins for when Grandma babysits. Twinkle sells proper ones. Apparently the pins you can buy on the high street aren't sharp enough.

I've got some terries that I'm selling if you want them? 12 lollipop bamboo flat nappies, only one or two of them used once - I didn't get on with them. They were £48 new (eek!) but I'm looking for £20 for the lot.

If you're interested please email me on [email protected].

xx

PS I used muslins for the first couple of months and they were fab!

If they get passed on, I would be interested if they are 60cm ones ziggyf.

Oh and to OP, terries are fine, I would never go back to fitteds, the drying is just a nightmare. You will need a few more wraps though, as poo will get on them a bit more often. It ill still get on DCs clothes less than with sposies though!

Poo yes, as AccidentalMum says, but never wee!