Convince me to use reusuables.....go on you know you want to!!

[domesticallychallenged]

I really would like to give reusables a go but I am as it says on the tin - domestically challenged, and I am worried adding a bit more work will be foolish! Also are DD's clothes now not going to fit as her bum will have extra padding? I know these excuses are weak and feeble but they bother me. Convince me to try them

I'm a convert to reuseables. I got given a couple piles of various nappies before A was born, and they've all worked a treat. Even the ones that aren't a great fit (after 3 months Bumgenius leaked on my fat-bottomed baby) seem less leaky than disposables.

Nappies just get thrown in lidded bucket. When full (about 12-14 nappies) do wash, half a dose of non-bio and teaspoon of nappisan, then dry on radiators.

Have to admit the best bit is getting cute wraps to go over the nappy - I have a baby with pandas on his bottom!
Although knowing you haven't wasted another 50p when your baby pees the minute you put a clean nappy on is also cool.

I'm as domestically challenged as they get...

I haven't found reusables a hassle at all, and was a bit wary of trying them. I love not throwing away sacks full of disposables. As for smell, on the few occasions we use disps I find them FAR smellier especially when on - I keep being convinced he's done a poo when he hasn't - must have become more sensitive to the chemical smell.

I use Bumgenius for daytime, and Bumbles plus Motherease wrap at night.

First started using them not for environmental reasons but because ds used to leak out of every disposable we tried and reusables were much better at containing his explosive bf poo.

Some of his more slim-fitting trousers are a bit hard to pull over the nappies, but not that bad. If you use the buttoning vests you might need to buy a bigger size.

Oh, and as for washing I use half the normal amount of fairy non-bio, plus a bit of soda crystals, and a splash of vinegar in the conditioner drawer. They smell fine when they come out.

Oh, never use Ecover!

Found that out a couple of weeks ago when my flexitots started to stink!

Switched to Fairy Non-Bio and haven't had a problem since!

I trialed ecover not long ago - not impressed

It gets everything superficially clean but you have lingering smells - not nice!

About Ecover: My ds(7) came up in a really bad itchy rash last week. I'd swapped to ecover over xmas after using ecoballs for about half a year, you know to do my bit for the environment. Anyway I had to go back to good old Fairy non-nio. Turns out he's allergic to it, he was red all over poor thing. Ecover = bad for sensitive skin. Like their washing up liquid though.

Flame also co-ordinates 2nd hand sales on her site- Bum fluff nappies

I love my Bum Genius nappies and for the hassle of chucking them in the wash every couple of days you save money and can feel smug and environmentally friendly. I don't have a tumble drier but Bum Genius dry pretty quickly on a clothes airer. Plus if your binmen only come once a fortnight I don't know how you would manage with disposables! And I think they are better for DS's skin.
Totnes Nappy Company have a very good helpful website and are very good at answering questions when you email them.
You can go really green and use wahable wipes too, you just wash with nappies and this definitely saves you ££££££ when you think what a pack of wipes costs and how many you get through...

Wow, I have been using Ecover for years, we use the non-bio powder for nappies and the liquid + fabric softener for general clothes. I don't get lingering smells or itchy rashes!!

Some councils run coffee morning things called Nappuccinos where you can go and ask questions and borrow a pack of different brands of nappy to try out, don't know how good they are but worth looking into maybe?

My council gives you a cheque for £35 for using real nappies (need your receipt and a HV to confirm you are using them).

Ok I am trialling some new born nappies for a couple of weeks. Here goes................

Good luck!
Do let us know how you get on and what types you end like the best
Jo x

Thanks I will!