Want to stop using reusable nappies but feel too guilty

[macana]

I've been using reusables since my DS was born 4 months ago, as the whole landfill thing and statistics on how many disposables are thrown out every day horrified me. But the truth is, I'm sorry to say, they are making my life really miserable, and it's only out of guilt for the planet that I am still using them. Washing poo out a couple of times daily then constantly washing the nappies is getting to me...I know it's pathetic, but it takes a lot of time.
My husband wants to stick with them as they save so much money - but, of course, HE doesn't wash them. And now my DS is about to start weaning, I can't think of the nappies I'll be getting.

Is it too selfish to give up? Or am I allowed to think I've done well to get this far, but if it's getting me down that much I should stop....

If you're not getting on with them then stop - why make it one more thing to feel guilty about? WHich nappies are you using? We use tots bots and I don't find them a chore. And when weaning starts there's actually a lot Less mess as we line the nappy with a flushable liner so the whole lot just gets flushed away!

Not selfish, but I think your regime sounds a bit bonkers! I'd hate using them if I was doing all that! Try using flushable paper liners, and getting in a routine of putting nappies in the machine to rinse in the evening, and then washing them first thing in the morning. Then the only work is drying them at some point. Seems a shame to waste all that money!

do you use liners? you should - then you can chuck them down the loo, saves a lot of poo issues, especially when they are on solids.

I am obviously a lot less conscientious than you - I dry-pail my DS's nappies in a 25L brewing bin (tight lid) and do a wash every 2 days now (he is 15mo), but even when he was 4mo, it was rare that I did a wash more than once a day. A full 25L bin = one wash.
Oh, and I did give in on the night nappy - we use Nature's baby disposables overnight (reduces nappy washing even more!)

You might just be over-working yourself with it - instead of chucking the whole idea, perhaps you could re-think how you do it.

good luck!

yes, try the flushable liners, they'd make it a bit easier.

how many nappies do you have? I only wash every 3-4 days

I dry pail too and wash every 3-4 days. By the sounds of it you are making far more work for yourself than you have to!

i dry-pail too. much easier.

tbh, we used disposables for a while with ds1 and I hated it. they stank, I kept thinking he had poo-ed himself but it was just the smell of the nappies
and my bin was just filling up with the stinking things which meant emptying that every day nearly which is just as much hassle

plus, you still should tip the poo down the toilet when using disposables, so that won't change!

Now if it is making your life miserable, stop using the nappies, give the nappies to a mumsnetter and get some disposables like nature babycare. I got mine in sainsburys.

If it's making your life totally miserable, then definitely find a new home for the nappies and put the money towards disposables.

However, can you have a go trying what others have suggested - flushable liners, dry pailing, wash every other day.
Could you try using reusables till you have a full load, use disposables while washables wash and dry, then use reusables again, etc. Or use disposables at night? It's not an all or nothing thing!

I have a 4-month-old and have been using reusables for a couple of weeks now, and honestly find them no harder than disposables. I dry pail (no smell with lid on) and wash every other day. It's just one extra load of washing in amongst the others and doesn't really cause me extra work. We don't have a tumble dryer - they just go on clothes horses and radiators and there are always plenty dry again by the time I need them.

Once he's on solids I'll start using flushable liners, so though I guess it'll be a little ickier, I don't see it getting much harder then.

OK, you need flushable nappy liners to catch the solids. They're made from potato starch and you just hoik them out of the nappy and down the loo.

That leaves a relatively unscathed nappy that you put dry into a lidded bucket with a few drops of tea tree oil. This helps keep them smelling acceptable until you wash them. They are one hell of lot nicer to handle if they're still mostly dry. Prewash, usual wash. It's a LOT more pleasant than the revolting soaking in a bucket of Milton, which I suspect is a throwback to the 70s and in my view is unnecessary with modern machines.

I hope you can find it within you to stick with them, you've done so well so far.

If you're miserable with them, give yourself a break, and use disposables. If it makes you feel less guilty, you can always keep hold of the reusables and go back to them if you're feeling less tired. I never used reusables for the first 2-3 months anyway - far too much like hard work until the baby stops pooing dozens of times a day.

i found washables easier once dd was on solids properly - poo are more 'formed, so you just flush them and the paper liner and they barely touch the nappy...

I've always used disposables, but recently started using reusables. I'd be happy to do this on your behalf if you like? So I'll save the planet for you by using washable nappies, and you can have my quota of disposables. I was using them anyway, so it's guilt free for you.

I'd heartily recommend the flushable liners too, though depending on your child, there is still a bit of rinsing to do! Nothing compared to without them though.

If it is making you miserable, then I agree - stop. I used the folding type from 3mths till about 8 or 9 mths, then I just found them such a faff to get on a child who hated lying down that I gave up in frustration. I felt a bit bad, but at least had saved on a good few disposables. You have done well to get this far.

Great post, Lawks!

Yes, good post from Riven. I have just taken a couple of months "break" from using them with dd2. I kind of got fed up with getting laundry dry in the winter etc.

After my break I am enthusiastic again (ish!). I am enjoying using the washable baby wipes in particular (like little flannels). It saves me money on baby wipes and are nice and warm on her skin.

The weather is getting better now for drying clothes and nappies.

just to add, I used flushable liners even at the beginning - it does reduce the mess on the nappy.

The nappies I use are home-made ones, made from fleece and interlock - they dry overnight usually, on an airer in the bathroom (where the CH boiler is also based)

I would suggest switching back to disposables for a couple of months, or even using disposables just on the weekend to have a break each week. I didn't start using reusables until dd was 11months, and I think it has been much easier than I would have found it earlier, as there is much less to deal with and I#m getting more sleep.

Given that your ds will probably be in nappies for at least 2.5years, you can still make a difference if you return to reusables in a few months.

I gave up on washables too... too much fuss and there are other ways to save the planet too!
I like to think that buying toys/books from the charity shops 1) help the charity and 2) reduce landfill and save nrj by giving them a second life!
freecycle is another way to reduce your carbon footprint etc etc...