Planning on using washables and wondering about a laundry service

[Caitni]

Hello ladies

I'm 26 weeks with my first and would like to use washables. I've used a menstrual cup for a decade (and will use a mooncup post-baby) so the idea of using disposables and giving my baby a big landfill present before he/she can even walk is most off-putting!

But I'm wondering about a laundry service. My DH (who's American) seems to think a "diaper" service is essential as we don't have a tumble dryer. But I'm thinking (possibly naively) we should be able to manage without a laundry service just using radiators/washing line. Some of the designs (eg bumgenius) sound like they dry quickly.

I know a laundry service would be handy but I don't like the idea of renting the nappies...that's my main reason for not wanting it really. There's also the extra cost of using a service. But then I have no idea of the volume of washing involved (will it be like my infanthood in the 70s with seemingly hundreds of terry nappies drying constantly around the house?!?).

So, what do you experienced washable nappy users think? Is it better to just buy your own and handle the washing or go down the laundry service route?

TIA

If you use a laundry service you will probably be stuck with prefolds supplied by them. Some people love prefolds, most do not.

Nappies like BumGenius do dry pretty quickly, especially the outers. If you get hold of some extra inserts to use while you are waiting for your other inserts to dry - preferably some (slower drying but more absorbent) bamboo and/or hemp ones - to use together with the microfibre ones supplied, you can work it pretty well without a dryer.

For nights, pockets only tend to be ok up to a point but don't last the night once a baby is more than a couple of months old. Heavily boosted standard fitted nappies or specialist night nappies like Holden's Landing Bedbugs (gorgeous but pricey) or Weenotions Night Notions are the business but take a while to dry.

To be honest, I imagine the majority of cloth nappy users don't usually use tumble dryer for environmental reasons, but a ten-minute tumble does fluff up a fitted nappy beautifully.

My house is full of nappies drying everywhere, but they are lovely fluffy things that bring a smile to my face every time I see them.

So, in a nutshell, no laundry service, washing your own is no biggie, hope you have a lovely rest of pregnancy, come join us over here.

I wouldn't recommend a laundry - saves no money and the prefold nappy system is poor!

Would suggest quick drying nappies if drying is an issue - either bumgenius as an all in one or lollipop micro/softee with a good cover like motherease or weenotions. Fuzzi Bunz are also a great all rounder and US made so you could have them posted to you for much better price.

Hi Caitni, there are so many lovely quick drying nappies, there really is no need for a nappy laundry service. As Swampster said prefolds are pretty naff. Look out for microfibre nappies as they are the quickest drying. Once you get into the hang of it, the washing is no trouble at all. Most of us rarely tumble dry even if we have one, even with 2 in nappies. How about trying out a tester kid that lots of websites and nappy representatives offer. Then you and DH can see for yourselves which you like.

Thanks for all your messages - it's really good to hear that not having a tumble dryer is no barrier to using washable nappies . It's also so good to get such good tips and advice.

Swampster thanks for the link to the general chat thread. I've got a way to go on the lingo (not all of it makes full sense to me quite yet ) so I think that thread will be really handy! I also love that your drying nappies bring a smile to your face

Mumface thanks for the tip on the tester kits - hadn't thought of that at all so will definitely look out for that.

Octo I'll look up the lollipop/fuzzi bunz and the covers. It's great to get some more names to look up.

Hi
Our baby hasn't arrived yet (I'm currently 31 weeks) but have bought some pre-loved cloth nappies, a mixture of totsbots/bimbles/BGs/pop ins to try.
I've been washing baby clothes so I can pack our hospital bags and decided to wash some of the sized nappies too to see how long they do take to dry - put a load in yesterday, gave them an extra fast spin at the end and they were pretty much dry after about 3 hours on the line outside. Put them on an airer by the radiator for a couple of hours which finished them off. I'm now feeling much more reassured about how long it takes to dry them!!
We are going to get a tumble dryer as well but that has been on the cards for a long time, and I doubt we'll actually use it all that much.

Hi-
all good advice. Just to add we dont have a TDryer and cope fine without it.

I wash the nappies in the evening, hang them on the radiators over night so they get the heat from the heating when it comes on early morning. I then transfer them to finish drying in the airing cupboard.

Sorry if someone already said it but did you really say you are planning to use a moon cup after the birth?

Am sure didnt but dont use anything internal for lochia. Dont think you will want anything going up there for a few weeks apart from the infection issues.

GOod luck

Hi Gingerbread gosh, no I don't mean straight after the birth! I mean when my periods come properly post-birth. I'm already stocking up on maternity towels for the lochia. Thanks for the tips re drying - we don't have an airing cupboard but do have heaps of radiators.

Hannahbelle good idea about buying some preloved ones and actually trying them out . And good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

This really helping convince me that a laundry service is just a waste of money. And the good thing is that I read out the responses to my husband last night and I think he's becoming convinced too!

Caitni - there are lots of trial kits available on websites - like the BagKits and Nappies2GoGo - try Cloth Nappy Tree, Cloth Nappy Addicts or on here! Check out the Go Real discounts page too for some freebies.

I meant to say for preloved nappies.

Hi Caitni

Sorry I haven't read other peoples responses, I just wanted to give you my experience.

I wanted to use reusables but didn't want the hassle of washing them so we used a nappy laundry service from birth (cost £8-10 a week in Surrey) this was great as post-birth with a newborn attached to me all day I have no idea how I would have had time for washing too. Then after 3 months when things were more settled I bought my own nappies and started washing/drying them myself. I don't have a tumble drier either and so in the summer they go on the line (unless its a v hot day they usually take all day) or now its winter I am putting them on the radiator which works fine. I use; Tots Bots AIO, Blueberry Minkies, Itti Bittis, and a couple of others. My fleece liners also dry on the radiator.

HTH!

Also, I know a few people have given up on reusables because of all the washing/drying + having a newborn, but if you are determined to make it work then I'm sure you will!

I'm with ChocOrange - we used laundry service for first 3 months with both DD and DS. Allowed us to get used to everything else without having to worry about the washing. Once we started washing it was fine - and I stuck with pre-folds and had no problems with either baby but then the range available even 5 years ago was much more limited.

Enjoy your pregnancy

I have a washer dryer but don't use dryer very much. I have a mix of nappies with 5 Bumgenius, 4 Itti Bitti Snap ins and 4 Blueberries, and some freecyle acquired nappies and wraps. I find the Ittis dry really quickly and you can get extra inserts as well, as those take longer than the outer nappy to dry. The Bum Genius also dry ok though they do take longer. I started using cloth nappies at about 7 months though.

Thanks for all your feedback ladies. We've decided not to bother with a laundry service, since the washing and drying just doesn't sound like too much effort.

Rather excitingly, I went to a nappuccino (yes, I am excited by nappuccions ) and am now the proud owner of a bumgenius, a fuzzi bunz (popper AIO), a bamboo booster/insert and a tots bots bamboozle and a wrap. I want to wash them and see how long they take to dry etc and just get a sense of what they're like.

And they're just so cute and lovely . I can't wait to see them on our baby when he/she is born .

Can you tell I'm converted already?