Things I was surprised to find out about cloth nappies

[ChocolateMoose]

• I now notice the unpleasant smell of wet disposable nappies. Cloth nappies don't smell the same, so it must be something to do with the chemicals.
• My baby is an entirely different shape in reusables - with his large cloth bum plus his round tummy he is basically the shape of a mini-sausage roll. I know you can get clothes designed for cloth nappies but I think he is going to spend his whole babyhood with his trouser bottoms rolled up.
• How complicated the whole thing is and how much choice there is. If I was doing it again I'd go for a used nappy trial kit (I was a bit squeamish before about second hand nappies)
• Terry squares are retro chic and nappi nippas are a triumph of design
• Changing wet nappies is more fun with reusables
• Changing pooey nappies is about the same amount of not fun at all
• Buying cloth nappies is strangely addictive...

Are these the sort of things that other people thought when they'd been using reusables for a few weeks?

The smell of disposables was the thing that struck me the most, although tbf some reek more than others - Moltex are pretty inoffensive compared to Pampers.

Sadly we're back on the disposables now since my son gets dreadful nappy rash after even a day in cloth and also wriggles like a demon so is harder to pin down! But I'll definitely be using them with any future LOs

For me:

• that the nappies would still work brilliantly 18 months in with no sign of wear, tear or stains! (Itti Bitti D'lish rule!)
• that I'd be forever wanting more nappies and yearn over new designs. DS2 is on it's way in a few months' time - so a great excuse to get more!
• That I'd be in such a minority of mums that use reusables past the first 6 months.

That they dry in half an hour, even indoors (bumgenius)

Cloth bottomed babies are so much easier to carry than babies in disposables! It gives you a nice big base Much better for using cloth slings too.

That I actually thought that cloth was hard work but 1 year on I love using them and find it easy now.
cloth is definitely addictive really want some itti bitti 's now!!! but still love my onelife!!!

That some cloth nappy systems are better than others - tried one system with DD#1 and 2 and didn't get on with it at all - now trying totally different with DD#3 and in love..can sense that addiction coming.
Isn't it strangely satisfying looking at a rack of drying nappies working out how much you saved not using disposables too
If you want to try new things then there is a good second hand market and you can always sell on at similar price if that particular one is not for you.

That they are totally addictive and must feed the addiction.

The huge range of colours and patterns.

The bizarre reasons people feel they need to give you for not using washables - my fave ever is 'my baby was two weeks late'

That paper liners do catch poo but blocked my drains - fleece much better here!

That silver liners heal nappy rash. Amazing - what is all that about?!

That fleece soakers are the best overnight cover ever and my scepticism for years was proved totally wrong.

The you can get amazing woolly creations, tie dyed stuff, embroidered and then ... matching tops etc

And despite this - it saves you shed loads fo money

The disposables smell is what gets me - its rank!

That reusables give DS a nice landing pad when he falls over

That I could get so excited by the postman bringing nappies - so much so that my first bonus spend was on nappies not me

How I now weigh up options such as prettiness versus strength.

Fleece liners are pretty grim as the poo sticks to them.

That it's so satisfying to sit making up my gorgeous Itti Biitis and folding all the inserts.

That I'd become addicted to buying pre-loved Ittis - I'm buying more smalls in preparation for DC2 even though DD is only 3 months and just in mediums!

That the nappy bucket doesn't smell (yet!) - DD still 100% BF.

oooh the addictio - nobody warned me about that!!

Definitely the smell thing, I really notice it now if we have to use a disposable.

Also how gorgeously squashy his bum feels in them... he has a skinny little bottom when not in cloth, most disapointing!

I'm years on from this now but I loved the fact that reusables (we used fleece stufables from Minkis actually prevented nappy rash in my dd2 (though I used them with dd1 and ds anyway)

With dd2, if you put a Pampers or Huggies or supermarket or Boots nappy on her, when you took it off it looked like she had a little pair of red pants on - her entire nappy area was affected. With a Minki and lots of Baby Barrier (which we still buy to use on dry skin and as a lip balm in our house) her skin was (and is) gorgeous.

It never crossed my mind that cloth would prevent nappy rash, but it did. Once my parents had her in disps for 2 days and her skin was totally broken down, bleeding. They never did it again!

That cloth would be better at holding in poo than disposables.

That my husband would actually be more evangelical about using washables than me and really not mind separating, washing and rstuffing nappies. (Amazing how happy a few saved pounds make him!!).

How appalled I'd feel looking at the size of our rubbish bag after a week's holiday wearing disposables.

And that despite all of this, that everyone I know would still think I'm totally insane for using washables...!!

That DD hasnt had a red or spotty bottom since using reusables

The addiction of NEEDING that new/different/cuter nappy

Sniffing fresh washed nappies makes me feel really happy

I smile when seeing my nappies on the line and love showing them off to neighbours

I like telling people who think im mad for using washables 'at least my daughters not sat in chemicals all day!'

Tapping DD on the bottom and hearing that padding sound as she says 'no mummy' then giggles

• how liberating it is to walk up to the shops without having to stuff the bottom of the buggy with packs of disposables
• how I never get tired of talking about nappies
• how hard it was to get started and how poor the support in my area is
• how fab the support on here has been
• how relaxing and enjoyable making up my pocket nappies in the evening once they're dry is

How much I would loathe disposables and feel sorry for the poor babies not clad in my lovely fluffy terries

How evangelical my husband would be, to the extent of refusing to have disposables in the house

-That my DH would be telling everyone how great cloth is!
-How much I would enjoy seeing a full clothesline of then swaying in the breeze!
-That I had to make most of mine as I could not purchase them anywhere within hours of where I live
-How very fast they do dry with the right design (ie. Bumgenius style)
-How few people know how easy it is - usually they are horrified at the idea of washing them, which is so easy

-that in the 8 years between ds and dd2 the cloth nappy market has exploded enormously and the designs available now are just amazing

• that baby bums in cloth just looks and especially feels so much better than sposies
• definitely am surprised about how much I now hate sposies (minus nature baby for some strange reason)

-how frustratingly difficult it is to find trousers to fit dd2, never had that with ds and dd1 who were both cloth bummed

• that I would discover one of the most amazing secrets of nature: wool wraps.

That I would sit here seriously considereing DC4 because these threads make me yearn for the joy of folding lovely terry squares onto little bums, and the addiction of new wraps. I would have kept DS3 in them forever but he potty trained himself at about 22 months

I actually offer to have people with new babies over for the day so I can show them the joy and ease of cloth vs disposable. I get odd looks sometimes.

The nappy bucket doesn't actually smell, and you don't need to soak them. And paper liners survivethe wash and can be used loads of times.

It's actually harder to put on disposables as it's less obvious which way round they go and the tabs are tricky to pull up.

That youcan get fucky velvet nappies in fab colours!

One problem I haven't yet solved - how to store all the nappies and bits... which I wouldn't have with a neat pack of disposables.