Reusable nappies

[rubyrooster]

Good afternoon ladies.

I am looking for some advice please.

I want to use reusable nappies with my second baby but don't know which are the best ones and don't know anyone who has used them.

What are people's thoughts on reusable nappies?

Thank you for your time xx

I love them. If you want to start from birth, I suggest hiring a newborn kit if your local library does them. The goreal and nappylady websites are good places to start researching. As are Facebook nappy groups.

UK Cloth Nappy Library Map
goo.gl/maps/qDQJ4wsFzEF2

I had a go but gave up after a while. I think because I didn't buy enough, so couldn't do full time. The mix of disposable and reusable ended up being a reach for the disposable ones. So after you have visited the nappy lady and seen what you like and what makes work for your child I would suggest trawling the fb selling sites for second hand nappies. Get enough to go full time right away rather than adding a nappy here and there every few weeks.

I use them and love them for DC1 and I'll use them for DC2 as well. I bought some cheap ones by little lamb they are birth to potty but I did use disposables in the hospital and for a couple of weeks at home as my baby was a little small for the real nappies to start with. I have a bucket with a lid to store them until I wash them (every couple of days). I only bought a few to start with as they all have different shapes. I also like the pocket fold ones not all in one. If you have any questions just shout.

What are the different types to get ? I have looked at the bambino mio ones but so confused with it all. Xx

I tried but dd1 hated them and screamed when she had them on but not us disposables!?!

There are all in ones and pocket folds. There might be others too. I use pocket folds so you can change the insert without changing the whole nappy if it's just wet. This reduces the amount I need to carry around. Also we have no nappy rash with cloth but awful rash with disposables. Also I've never had a poonami exposing with cloth but disposables are terrible for it. A big plus for me not changing outfits everytime they poo.

The Nappy Lady website has some great explanations of the various types. I'd second the recommendation to speak to your local nappy library and look in to rental kits. Different types and brands of nappies suit different babies so it's best to try a few. Personally I love Totsbots Easyfit Stars as they're a really easy to fit all in one, but they do take forever to dry.

I dont want to put you off.. but I am sharing my experience ...
I tried them with my first one ... I had lots of them ... they are not cheap... still I gave them try.. as DS had started some nappy rash with disposables .. DS was fully on them from 3 months to 1.5 year.. I got some extra bambo fillers also for night times..
yes they are 3 main usable types .. 1- all in one 2- pocket type 3- covers
all in one I didnt find useful (in my views they get dirty then have to change all as well as corners leak as inside cloth peep little bit out)
other two worked well for a while..
I bought some expensive ones and some chinese ones also from ebay.. as they had very beautiful prints.. the expensive bambino and a mothercare one shrank in 2 washes(followed washing instructions) .. 2 size down .. can be used for doll .. not for baby afterwards... though china cheap ones were bit ok
but after a while of 4-5 months of washing regularly.. their pocket cloth and filling started becoming water repellent .. not at all soaking any pee and leaking all over.. (after a research found out this is because of residue of soap)
then tried monthly .. "stripping" whole new thing .... full day messing with nappies in bathroom

after quite a wash for months .. the nappy out side material started worn out and started leaking.. I could see inside plastic wax coating coming out... and bamboo fillers also were losing threads in wash in my washing machine ... blocking it's wholes ..
then I gave up .. and didnt bought any new ones to replace them. .. gone back to disposable
I am thinking to potty train my second one as soon as possible in future.. so I need to use less disposable nappies.. but not thinking about reusable ones
and yes not to forget about mentioning that with reusable also DS got some rashes... afterwards found out the sleepsuit buttons under his bottoms were responsible for rashes not nappies... as buttons were making any nappy to rub his bottom as he was moving and playing with his legs while laying down on his back.

That sounds like you weren't fitting or washing them correctly. Cloth nappies don't go on the same way as disposables (apart from Totsbots Stars) and can leak if they're not fitted properly. They only need a small amount of washing powder and machine strip washing is a good idea every so often - I just put mine on for an extra rinse every time and so far all good.

I've never had to strip mine they're going strong 20 months in. I only really have cheap ones too. I don't use much powder as they've already had a soak in disinfectant.

Have to write quick as in a rush -Used for ds birth to potty trained. Using now on twins. We have a selection of brands.

Little lamb - bamboo and microfibre are great. I have never used their wraps, we use blueberry wraps - you can often get 2 for £22.

Bum genius are great - easy to stuff.

Dh prefers the ones listed so far, he is a sahd and says these hold well. They are also best for night times and long journeys.
Tots bots - got a few, would not recommend, they stink.
Fuzzi buns. Okay very small under clothes which is good, hold ok.

Little bloom, ok for newborn.
Baba and boo - have one won't buy again.
Prefolds blueberry - well worth having as back up. Use with blueberry wraps.

We bought little lamb fleece inserts - not disposable - they are really good.
Little lamb bamboo boosts - which we use in every nappy make.

Buy a cheap lidded bucket. In summer put a few drops Of tea tree and lavender on a muslin and drape over nappy bucket just inside the lid.

I made cloth wipes, bamboo cotton, pinking shears and a quick run around the edge with a sewing machine. Cost £15 and took about 2 hours (I won't make it to the sewing bee!) they aren't pretty but must have saved us hundreds. Home made wipe solution in a squirty bottle.

Use barely any detergent, a couple of tablespoons. Don't use tabs or them liquigel things - far too much detergent. We find with residue in the machine a couple of tablespoon is fine.

Line dry when possible, sun bleaches stains out.

Never ever use fabric softener. Wash at 40, once every couple months at 60 to stop build up.

Good luck! We've been happy using reusables.

Used for dc3. They were fab and not difficult ( -And this was 18yrs ago!)

Top tips - buy 2nf hand and don't get suckered into a birth to potty offer. The best nappies when they are 3 months are not the same as at 18 months.

Oh and we usually do a cold rinse then a wash. If you see detergent in the machine towards the end an extra rinse helps.

If you do an extra rinse on clothes or nappies etc often loads of detergent is swishing around so It's also made us realise we use far too much detergent in washing machines so we have cut down! No doubt that has saved us loads too!