Getting to end of my tether with my Tots Bots - please help! (long sorry)

[ReadingTeaLeaves]

I'm hoping to benefit from some collective MN wisdom.

We are using birth-to-potty one piece Tots Bots Pockets Tots with bamboo inserts. We bought a whole new set at the Baby Show in October after doing quite a bit of research into what would work best for us. We started using them 5 weeks or so ago with newborn DS who is now 6 weeks old. It all started well with only the occasional leak (no more than I'd expect from disposables) and I was looking forward to a couple of years of happy use of reusables. Even DH has been convinced they are a good thing - the money saving aspect particularly appealed to him.

In the past couple of weeks we are getting more leaks. I think DS is turning into a very heavy wetter and at night times we have started using a booster which helps but makes the nappy incredibly bulky and looks uncomfortable on our little 9lb-er. It's usually wee that leeks I think from a leg or up the back but then seems to get everywhere. I've bought a couple of wraps (haven't arrived yet) for use at night but surely shouldn't have to use these full time over one-piece nappies should I? (I can't face spending more money and doing more washing!!).

Last night I ended up changing him 4 times, every 2-3 hours and every time he was wet all through his clothes and this morning we've had an explosive poo that made its way straight through two layers of clothes instantly.

What are we doing wrong? I can't quite believe we are still putting on wrong as we had such a good first few weeks. Could we have a bad batch that for some reason leak more than they should? Did we choose the wrong nappies (I know two piece might have been better but I was assured by the TB sales person that one piece would be ok). I'm worried we have wasted our money and will have to buy new nappies or switch to disposables which I really don't want to do.
Should I send them back??

I have resorted to psmpers this morning. Please help so i can switch back asap!

Just seen a similar post about BumGeniuses. What is strip washing and how might it help? And given we've only been using for 5 weeks should it be necessary?

I wouldn't use them on a baby under 14lbs to be honest as the leg holes are quite big which could be why you are having leaks. You shouldn't need to boost at that age really. Also if you over boost the legs will gape even more.

I wouldn't think they would need a strip wash yet.

If you gently pour water onto the top of the pocket does it absorb through the fabric or sit on the surface? If it sits on the surface then give them a strip wash.

If all else fails get in touch with totsbots and ask them to test one for you. They are normally very helpful and friendly.

Strip washing is washing them without any detergent at all. Remember not to use fabric conditioner at all.

You may find as he fills out a bit, they will fit better and leak less. In my experience onesize pockets fit better from about 10lb onwards.
Regarding night times, pocket nappies are not really reliable enough for this and most people will opt for a 2 parter nappy. You may have to shell out for a couple of nappies easpecially for nights. Although you may find the wraps do the trick.
I did not get on with tots bots pockets myself, I also found them leaky.

There was no way in hell that a pocket nappy would have lasted my 2 overnight. DS is 4 months and has already managed to pee through a boosted 2-part bamboo nappy a couple of times . Mind you disposables were no better either.

lionstar - you need a fleece cover!

I would also say two parter for overnight.

Thanks Octo, I haven't tried fleece, but you have reminded me I have some wool shorties. They were for DD at an older age, but they will probably fit DS now (we don't call him Cheese Boy for nothing )

Thanks for the tips everyone. Our wraps have arrived so may try that out tonight and if that doesn't work we'll park the Tots Bots until DS is a little heftier. Thanks for explaining strip washing too. Fingers crossed.

Pockets/AIOs and night time don't mix very well in my opinion. Two-parters are way better and fleece or wool is brilliant over a well-boosted fitted nappy.

I really love specialist night nappies like Holden's Landing Bedbugs and Wee Notions Night Notions but TotsBots are about to launch a lovely, soft, squishy and stretchy new one-size fitted bamboo nappy in a couple of days (I was lucky enough to be a tester). It is excellent value and works well at night.

If you are any good at poetry, you could win a 5-pack of stretchies on the Tots Bots FB page.

Mine never got on with pocket nappies because they were such heavy wetters and then my youngest just had a skinny bum and and thighs so never suited her eaither.

You could try fitted nappies and use the wraps you have over the top?

Hi,

we had the same experience. The TotsBots 1 piece with bamboo booster were great to start with and then gradually all started to leak.

I don't think we ever used them at night as I was worried the urine etc would be in contact with the skin rather than locked away as in a disposable.

I tried the two methods TotsBots suggested to enhance efficiency: insert the booster after they have been poppered up, try the next popper. Both methods failed.

The lady at Totsbots asked if we used fabric conditioner as apparently this reduces absorbency. ( I have however now read that some baby detergents automatically contain softeners....)Whilst we don't use fabric conditioners I do not recall seeing any reference to fabric conditioners in the literature which came with the nappies?

We are hopefully on our way to getting a refund because as you mention changing littleun's nappy 2/3 times an hour is not practical either for her or me.

When we got to speak to TotsBots they were pleasant enough but they were hopeless at responding to written communications and I always had to phone an chase for action.

We have tried again recently now littleun is bigger ( 6 mths/ 16lbs) and still they are hopeless.

If you try for a refund ensure you quote your rights as a consumer. TotsBots agreed a refund quickly (they never actually offered replacement nappies so we have just given up on reuseables now) but some 3rd party suppliers will try not to refund you quoting 'the nappies have been used' or 'you're out of our refund period.' If you need to clarify your rigfhts read this web page: whatconsumer.co.uk/what-are-my-statutory-rights/

Thats a really good link

Hi Squiglet - sorry to hear you've had problems.

Just thought I'd mention that I've had a bit of a revelation in the last couple of weeks. We are still having the occasional leaky wee but it does seem to have improved. The wraps hold things in at night and perhaps as he gets a bit bigger he is filling things out more. But more to the point, I had a week of using disposables, for a variety of boring reasons and just had a total nightmare - explosive poos up baby's back at least once and sometimes twice a day (and this was pampers). It was a good experience for me as I've realised that the grass definitely isn't always greener on the other side and I have new found respect for my TotsBots and I've realised that the odd leaky wee is much better than the odd leaky poo!

Well that's good news! I found the same - when ds3 was 6 weeks old we went to cornwall on holiday and took disps - we had poo everywhere for a week - was a nightmare - spent the whole week washing his clothes and bedding - grrrrr