Reusable nappies - where to start?!

[Edelweiss2020]

FTM here and looking at potentially using reusable nappies when little one is here. Had a bit of a read up and a nosey on the nappy lady site and on here/Google - but still a bit overwhelmed!

Do people start in them straight away or use disposables initially whilst getting used to caring for baby then swap? I’ve read a lot that says different brands suit different babies so how are you meant to buy ahead?! And all the different kinds - ahh!

It is something I would like to try, just wondering what people’s experiences with them are and any tips as (as with most baby things!) my brain is a bit fried by all the info out there!

Thanks :)

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I struggled with them due to a stinky legged baby.
My sister is an afficidardo. She'd recommend a nappy library (like a sling one) and try several styles and find one which fits your baby well.
Also she says the best she's found, and tried laods are Terry types with seperate over nappies so you can boil them if needed due to poo stains (tmi!!)

Skinny not stinky!

It's so confusing, isn't it!

I'm on baby 2 now, having used cloth for baby 1 too. Firstly, the nappy lady has a Facebook group that is a fountain of knowledge. Lots of cloth users there you can pose questions to. Secondly, is there a nappy library close to you? This is a place where you can borrow different types of nappies to try at home.

We use a mix of pocket nappies and all in ones. Pocket nappies are a lot cheaper, but perhaps more work because you have to stuff them after each wash. All in ones can be expensive, but some people find them easier. Although if you use boosters with them, then that needs to be stuffed anyway.

We started using cloth when the babies were around 2 months. I have friends who did it from birth, but I found life so overwhelming at the start, I couldn't have coped with washing nappies every other day on top. Plus, the nappies we used were a bit too chunky when the babies were little.

I'm very happy to message directly if you have any specific questions. It's great that you're considering cloth, all the best and congratulations on your baby!

Some councils do a voucher scheme. Ours is if we put in £20 they will put £30 towards reusable.

FTM but I have also ordered Cheeky Wipes via this below online baby show to get a discount.
https://babyandtoddlershowstore.co.uk/?utmcampaign=121514688Conv%206b%20-%20Oct%20%26%20Nov%20bookers&utmmedium=email&utmmsource=Ocean%20Media%20Group%20-%20Baby&dm_i=1RDU,78G4S,3WJ6O9,TBKI8,1

Another FTM here and not had the baby yet, but we've settled on using muslins folded up inside a Rumparooz newborn wrap for the first few months to see how we get on, and we have cheeky wipes too.

The birth to potty nappies are huge on newborns and a lot of them only start at specific weights (7/8/9lbs depending on brand), and I didn't fancy shelling out on a whole set of 24 newborn nappies to a few months later shell out again on bigger ones. The muslin + wrap kept the cost down as we only need a few wraps (they should be able to be used for multiple goes, while the muslin is changed each time), and is less bulk on the baby when they're tiny.

Hopefully this works out for us. We're planning on hiring some nappies at 6months-ish, to see what brands suit before spending on more. If it turns out it's not for us and we end up using disposables then at least I know I tried, and saved a few nappies from landfill!

I bought a trial pack from totsbots which looks good and seems like it would be easier to use than some since you use a biodegradable cloth inside it so you can just dispose of the poo. I haven’t used them so don’t know how they work in practice or how they compare.

I found the pocket nappies tended to leak, while the wraps worked much better. Quality of inserts varies wildly in my experience. Micro fibre ones can be shit. If you don't have a tumble dryer those electric airers are good for drying the inserts and then wraps/ pocket nappies dry really
quickly on a standard site. Agree with pp that Nappy Lady v helpful.

Standard airer

I used reusables from about month 4. Tried a nappy library - very helpful advice and if course free! Am expecting number 2 - this time I will try from birth maybe using muslin and a wrap because there are so many changes with a newborn! Or maybe little lambs. I agree the all in ones (which I mainly used) would be pretty big on a new born. I just used a normal clothes airer - we have a drier but it's not good for the waterproof layer

I use terry squares and motherease airflow wraps with a microfleece liner. The advantages of this set up are:

• very cost effective - the squares are cheap as chips
• very quick to dry
• completely size and shape adjustable so work from birth and can be adjusted to long skinny babies / short chunky babies as needed
• lots of different folds so are very customisable
• rarely leak

Disadvantages

• takes a little while to get the hang of folding
• not so quick and easy to put on because of the need to fold (but this can be mitigated by storing them pre-folded

This is a really helpful article explaining the difference between various kinds: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/recommended/kids/best-reusable-nappies-tried-tested/amp/

And this is a very helpful website with a questionnaire to help you identify the kind that works for you: www.thenappylady.co.uk/

Feel free to DM me if you have any questions!

We have clothed from day 3. We decided to do muslins and wraps whilst she was a newborn and then intended to switch to pocket nappies. Instead I have completely fallen for flat and am still using the muslins at 6 months and have added terrys to my collection now she is bigger. I find them pretty bomb proof and very rarely get leaks

We started with 24 muslinz nappies, 3 nappy nippas and 6 wraps (4 rumparooz newborn and 2 bambino mio size 1). Initially we did 14 nappies a day and washed most days, we now do 6-8 nappies a day and was every 2-3 days. I like the muslins as they have been easy to adapt to changing needs. We started with the Jo fold which is easy to make smaller for newborns, we moved onto the bat fold when she outgrew that and now are on the kite fold for poo containment during the day and the gaynor fold overnight for absorbance.
We are just outgrowing the rumparooz at 15lbs/6 months (she's a midget!) but the bambino mios go up to 9kg. We have added in various birth to potty wraps

I fold all the nappies when they come out of the wash and put liners in them and boosters in the overnight nappies (needed since 3 months when we stopped changing her nappy overnight) so that when it comes to putting on the nappy it almost as easy as a disposable.
It takes me about a day to get used to each new fold.

If you start from newborn you're likely to need an extra size. You want to start when they're about 10lb. Google the nappy lady, the website can advise and she has a very good 90 minute video filmed last April about all the different types. Most people I know recomend 2 part.

Following as interested in reusables myself but there’s so much choice I have no idea

Thank you all so much for this! Will do a little bit more research, but I do feel slightly less confused now!