Cloth nappy advice.

[LittleTiger007]

Is anyone else planning on using cloth nappies? Or do you use them now with an older child? What have you gone for?
Baby number 1 is in the way in May. I’m thinking disposables in hospital but Little Lamb nappies after the first week or so. Any advice gratefully received.

I think if you can get a selection to trial at first from a nappy library you will definitely benefit from it. It’s really hard to find the best one for you without trialling them on your baby. I was set on Little Lambs, but they just didn’t work for us as they didn’t fit her snugly. I’d definitely try out a few types first so you get the best and easiest option for you.

Check your council for cloth nappy schemes, I got a free pack of a couple of cloth nappies with our 3rd, wasn't keen on them though.
You can also get trial packs if you search online to see which type work better for your lo before committing to an expensive bundle.

I used them with both DC. Used disposables in hospital with DC1 and cloth once home and cloth from birth with DS2 (knew what I was doing by then).

Don't commit to one brand or one style. You might not get on with them.

For tiny babies I found two parters best, so like LL where it's the cloth bit that looks like a disposable and then you put the outer waterproof shell (wrap) on top. I had some LLs but I loved my Tots Bots Bamboozles.
Motherease wraps were my favourite. They were a bit old school even 10 years ago with DS1, but they were bomb proof and the best fit of any wrap I ever used.

A great way of bulking out your collection, particularly with a newborn as they need a lot of changes, is to buy a stash of prefolds.
They're not great for absorbancy once your child starts going longer between changes, but for the first few months when you change about once an hour, they're a godsend. You can just change the prefold and only change the wrap if it is dirty or it smells.

We also had a stash of TotsBots Teenyfits for when DS2 was newborn (those and prefolds are what I took to hospital) as we really liked the Easyfits on DS1.

As both of mine got older, we moved away from two parters in the day (though still used them at night) and our stash was made up predominantly of custom WeeNotions pockets (sadly you can't buy new anymore but I imagine there are plenty still for sale on FB), BumGenius pockets and TotsBots Easyfits. The Easyfits in particular are similar to a disposable so super easy to use. They are what we'd leave for anyone babysitting the DC.

All of those are in the BTP style, meaning that you can use them as your child grows.

However, BTP isn't really from birth. They're too big from birth but work from approximately 6 months onwards, depending on baby chunkiness of course.

Don't forget your fleece liners. You put that in the nappy in between baby and the nappy. Fleece naturally wicks moisture away from the skin so it draws the wetness into the nappy and baby stays dry. As poos become solid, they generally roll off the fleece and into the toilet.

They're on eBay for less than a fiver for 10.

Good luck! This post had made me really miss those days.

I'm due in May and planning on using cloth nappies. So far, I'm planning on disposables in hospital in case we're in for a few days, so I don't need to think about it.

I've gone with muslin cloths and Rumparooz wraps in newborn size to start us off, see how we get on, then plan on moving to birth to potty nappies when baby is ~6 months old. This worked out quite cheap and I've got 4 wraps, 24 muslins (I bought Muslinz brand ones as they have really good absorbency) and three nappy nippas, the wraps won't need changing every time and muslins will always come in handy if all of them aren't being used as nappies or once we're using BTP! I also got a set of little lamb boosters for night time (I think 10?) Which again can be used when older. Then it was a nappy pail and a wetbag for out and about or downstairs changes and that's my "stash" so far!

I am considering getting some fitted nappies for the middle of the night exhausted changes, but I don't think it would be necessary based on what I've got so far, so I might see how I get on before I order them.

I have also got some cheeky wipes, seeing as how I'm doing cloth nappies cloth wipes seem like no extra effort.

We had signed up for the cloth nappy library newborn kit but as we've settled on muslins I've taken my name off, and will go onto the BTP list once baby has arrived safely so we can try out different brands before investing in a stash, might be something to consider for you.

I used them on DC1 from 3 weeks to potty training. Try to get a trial kit from your local nappy library when you feel ready to start. There are lots of facebook groups for advice and second hand sales which saves a fortune. The Nappy Lady website is fab for advice and has tutorials and YouTube videos as well as selling all the kit.

You will need a nappy bucket or large wet bag (waterproof bag). Small wet bag for when you're out.

Washable wipes are brilliant. I use water wipes in the change bag but they are rubbish in comparison. You can buy pre cut and sewn wipes or use cut up flannels. Chuck in nappy bucket and wash with the rest, no need to dry them just stick them in a box to re use.

There are way too many different types of nappies! Dont get sucked into buying patterns because they're cute...they're there to catch wee and poo after all.

I started with two parters- absorbent nappy with separate waterproof cover. Easy to use, cheaper than all in ones (both bits sewn together) and bomb proof.

I ended up trying some cotton terries my mum had kept and love them. They wash and dry quick and you can change the fold to fit better as baby changes shape. Also super cheap. I used the same covers.

This time I have 5 or 6 all in ones for the change bag (I did use terries out and about before but I have a toddler to wrestle this time as well). I have my lovely terries (about 15) and wipes. I have my super absorbent bamboo two parters for nights (6 of these) and motherease airflow covers (4-6 in each size). I also have some boosters in various fabrics for when baby is peeing lots or for night time. Oh and 2 wool nappy covers for night time - easier to use than you might think and it stops leaking if you have a heavy wetting baby.

DC1 was 10lb at birth so went straight into size 2 nappies and moved onto size 3's but as I was using terries by that point I only needed 5 size 3's for night time.

The whole lot has cost me about £600, some was second hand and I could have done it cheaper. I will use it all for DC2 in a couple of months time when he or she arrives....then sell the lot! I expect to get back at least half what I spent. Hope that was a useful essay!

I used with DC4 from 4 days old. A combination of little lambs and also muslins and wraps.

I bought some baba and boo newborn which I loved too.

Expecting in June and planning to do the same but more of the muslin wrap combo as they dry so quickly in the sunshine.

Fab advice! Thanks everyone

Birth to potty is a Big Fat Lie. They're too big for newborns and my average sized son couldn't get into them by potty training at 2y4m.

We bought a second hand load of totsbots all in one's for our second baby and love them. My best tip is to avoid buckets etc - buy two large wetbags. Have one on the go and then you simply invert it into the washing machine and shove it in with them. No grossness because everything's washed!

Also, you can combi-nappy. We do cloth during the day for our second but disposable at night for security/convenience. You can do disposable when you're out, when you're tired, when they get a bit rashy and you want to slather them with sudocrem... It doesn't take away from cloth nappies at all to use disposables from time to time.

We use little lambs! We have the 2 part ones (so a nappy and wrap) and disposable liners. Also boosters for night time. We also use cheeky wipes and a tots bots nappy bucket and a little lamb mucky bag for out and about. Good luck. We made the switch at 18 months but wish I'd done it sooner! Will be doing it from newborn next time, I just love cloth nappies. It may seem expensive at first but when months roll buy and you realise you haven't spent anything it's really satisfying. Persil washing powder is the best and napisan is good too. Mummy of 4 uk does useful YouTube videos on cloth nappies and wipes.

Just to give a slightly alternative experience - we were fine with birth to almost potty (haven’t quite got to potty yet but are almost there and I think we’ll make it!) The newborn stage is probably the trickiest bit but if you are able to find a birth to potty option it’s a lot cheaper. Not the end of the world if you can’t but fantastic if you can do worth giving it a go. I don’t think it’s a lie, but probably depends on the brand.

@firstimemamma

We use little lambs! We have the 2 part ones (so a nappy and wrap) and disposable liners. Also boosters for night time. We also use cheeky wipes and a tots bots nappy bucket and a little lamb mucky bag for out and about. Good luck. We made the switch at 18 months but wish I'd done it sooner! Will be doing it from newborn next time, I just love cloth nappies. It may seem expensive at first but when months roll buy and you realise you haven't spent anything it's really satisfying. Persil washing powder is the best and napisan is good too. Mummy of 4 uk does useful YouTube videos on cloth nappies and wipes.

This is good to read! We have bought the two part nappies too. Most in cotton with a few in bamboo for night time. My sister’s children were completely toilet trained by 24 months (20 months for the girls) with cloth nappies although she didn’t use little lamb. I like the fact that they are basically terry nappies like I wore back in the day. My siblings and I were all out of nappies before we were 2. I think it has to do with being in cloth nappies. Plus they are so snuggly and smell better without all the chemicals that are in disposables. We shall see how it goes ... both of us work from home so that should help with the washing.

Thanks for the reply op my ds will be 3 in august and still wears the nappies so he didn't get the cloth nappy / potty training memo bless him - it varies from child to child. All the best with everything. We also like this bum cream and would recommend it

www.babipur.co.uk/earth-conscious-baby-balm.html

It def varies from child to child. I’m a teacher and I’ve had a couple start school who were still to get the memo! Thanks for the bum cream link.

www.ethicalshoppingforbabies.co.uk/reusable-cloth-nappies-reviews-guides/what-is-reusable-nappy-week-reusable-nappy-week-2021/

Reusable nappy week on the Babi Pur website in a few weeks so if you're looking to buy anything it could be worth waiting aa you can often get some good deals.

We used a birth to potty system with DD1 - bambino mio which is one of the cheapest. They wash nice and quickly but didn't have much adjustment and often leaked. Two part system which we have used with DD2 is SO much better. Slightly less convenient perhaps, not so similar to disposables, but so much more absorbent and we never have leaks. We use totsbots bamboozles