Can someone explain reusables to me? Where do i start?

[HotSprocket]

I have a 9 week old dd and am moving into a flat that has a washing line, so i can start using reusables I am so fed up of disposables so can't wait to get rid of them.

Can someone talk me through how i use them, it seems so confuing.

For example with an all in one do you just put on the nappy with a liner inside? Then when its dirty just take out the liner then wash the whole nappy?

And the other types? What are they and how do i use them?

I like the idea of the ones that are adustable size so i don't need to keep getting new ones.
I will need ones that dry quite easily as i will have the washing line but no tumble dryer.

I am using BumGenius 3.0. They are a one size, with removable absorbent bit in a pocket. DD is breastfed so don' t use a liner. When nappy soiled take it off and put in mesh liner in nappy bucket. When bucket full stuff the whole liner in the wash. All the stuffing comes out in the wash. Takes a few hours to dry, then reassemble nappies for reuse. Thats how I do it

My dd is breastfed too, so i don't need a liner?
Learning something new already
How many do you have? I was trying to work out how many times a day i change her nappy and i think its about 10.

With a very young baby it's good to have 15-20 nappies. it depends really on how quickly your nappies dry and how often you wash as well though

Put em on, when soiled stick in an air tight container - when full hoick all into the washer whilst holding breath as it can be pretty stenchy - wack in a small ammount of your desired washing powder (not a 2 in one with fabric conditioner) and dont use fabric conditioner (bold 2 in 1 powder is allowable) - do a cold rinse to de-pee them (a 10 min job on my machine) (this stops smells settign in) then do your wash on 40 ish. Hang out your nappies whilst grinning at them like a loon and then reassemble them in colour coordinated piles for use again. Its fab . I miss them washing days sooooooooooooooooooooo much

Thanks Nappyzone!

I'm also a novice and planning to order some of the cut price Bumgenius from you today...

I notice that you don't recommend BG for nightime use - can you suggest a good option?

Also how many day time vs night time nappies should I be ordering?

Lots of questions, sorry!

If you have a light weight wetter you can get away with them overnight but normally you find you need something more substantial for overnight. Ellas house bumhuggers are my fave for a mega peer with a fleece or wool wrap or a well stuffed drybees fleece though i used to get away with a well stuffed wonderoo - people speak highly of weenotins nigh notions though i never tried them. Enjoy ! I have just ran out of blossom .....

id go with 15 and see how you go as that should give you a 2/3 day wash cycle.

I had 18 initially washing every day, have just bought 6 more as was running out as DD is very fastidious and I have to change her at every wee if she is awake. I am using BG at night too at the moment (DD is 7 weeks). They last for about ten hours overnight with no problems (both inserts in). They'd go longer but she doesn't sleep that long

When she gets bigger I might start looking for different night nappies, but surely when wee they can't pee all that much?!

I cheated... daytimes in reusables, nighttimes in disposables (usually only the one per night once they were beyond the really teeny stage).

For middling children, I found prefolds (sort of square flannel with a thicker middle panel) worked fine, lasted three children, and still come in handy for scrubbing down floor the guinea pig pen years later. We also had some Motherease with poppers that worked brilliantly.

Its not cheating thoug his it as one per day rather than 5 a day in the bin is far better - a little goes a long way. A thin layer of hemp in your bg might boost them that bit further but be careful not to over stuff or they will gape.