Disposible liners - are they really necessary?

[Meandacat]

Been using reusable nappies for a few weeks now and love them, but leaky poos are a problem. I use Tots Bots flexitots and Motherease Rikkiwraps. All fine except DD's poos are still fairly loose and they keep squelching out the side and down one leg and I think the problem is the disposible liner. It's just doing too good a job of keeping the poo out of the nappy and is pushing it out the side instead as it's nowhere else to go.

So... are they really necessary? How bad would it be to just let the poo soak into the nappy? They've washed fine where there has been "contact" so far but will they have a shorter life if I don't use a liner?

That said, maybe I'm using the liners wrong too? I started off with Tots Bots own liners which were slim strips which fitted neatly inside the nappy and seemed to have some absobency. Then I ordered Junior Joy ones - a lot cheaper - but they are HUGE. I can't see how they fit inside a nappy so I've been splitting each sheet into three. I also just bought some Bambino Mio ones in Asda and they look to be the same.

If you are still on liquid poos, you don't need liners. Once they are eating solids, you do as the poo gets sticky with bits in, and doesn't just wash off

Before DD was on solids we didn't bother with liners at all. Once we started using liners I found washable fleece liners much better than disposable ones. You can just cut up an old fleece blanket, if you have one, to make them. Then you can cut them so they're just the right size for your nappies.

My DS is 8 weeks and in washables since 5 weeks. We tried the liners for the first few days but found they made things messier! Just like you describe really. So I've put the liners away until he's weaned onto solids.

I found that the liners really protected DD's bottom from wee.

I don't bother with liners (DS still EBF) and plan to use fleece when weaned. No probs with wee and bubs is only one from our nct group who hasn't had any nappy rash.

Aha! I see! All makes sense now! Damn - so I've been literally flushing money down the loo with using them while DD's poo's still runny.

And thanks for the tip on the fleece, greensnail.