Nappies: reusable or disposables?

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Hi everybody,
This is my first post. I'm due to give birth to our first child mid-july, and my DH appears keen on using reusable nappies. I never really thought about it before, but why not? So what do you think are the advantages/disavantages of each kind of nappies? Thanks.

Hi and welcome and congratulations! I think there's actually a nappies topic in the products topic, so you might be better posting in there for answers.

Personally, I've used some reusables but mostly disposables. I'd have liked to keep on with the reusables, but the thing that made it harder for me in the end was the clothes - British baby clothes are made to fit around a fairly slim-fitting disposable nappy, and DD is pretty big for her age, so I just couldn't find trousers etc. that would fit well around a cloth nappy - she always looked like she was having trouble sitting down!

I didn't get any reusables until after DD was born, but wish that I had now, and that I'd made more of an effort to actually see some and talk to people face to face about it, as internet research was just too incredibly confusing. There might be nappy meet ups near you - you can find out on the NCT website, or local Netmums site.

Good luck with it all!

We use disposables at nights, purely because I don't want DS2's skin in contact with wet nappies for lengthy periods.

In the day, I use a mix of 2 parters, bumgenius pockets (which are very slim) and my ultimate fave, cloth with a wool cover - either longies or shorties.

Because wool doesn't need washing frequently (sounds rank but is fab, trust me) DS2 gets to wear cute leggings, I save a fortune on trousers & he gets to be totally comfy (unlike in Jeans etc which I feel are the uncomfiest trousers known to man for a baby).

I started by getting a trial pack of nappies from Boocoo, which enabled me to try out lots of different types of nappies. With DS1 I used a prefold laundry company, which was great because we didn't need to do any washing.

Good luck, whatever you decide

Thanks for your replies philbee and puffylovett! Food for thoughts...

hiya - i had both when dd was born but when she grew out of the terries i had i didnt buy anymore (i might though now) the problem we had was that dd screamed every time the wee touched her skin it just seemed unfair to force them on her.

we now use nature boy/girl nappies. they are compostable to they sort of ticfk the box for me as my reusable choice was environmental.

i have queried many folk about washable nappies and most recommend bumgenius.

good luck

I used washables. I loved not spending money on nappies, and if you have more babies - that's even more of a saving.
And then, when they come out of nappies - all DD's clothes still fitted for another year (where I'd bought larger sizes to accommodate the nappies).
I never got the spending bug (I had a birth to potty set of prefolds that I got cheap from someone who'd never actually used them, and added a few extra wraps). But if you wanted to spend a lot - there are some gorgeous nappy designs out there.
My DD never got nappy rash either, and was out of nappies pretty early.
I never felt I was doing any extra work to any other mum - the machine washes them for you.

Congartulations !

I've always been a washable nappy person, but used disposibles in the early days so I'm not totally advers to them. Its not really any more effort as the washing machine is on pretty much constantly when you've children in the house anyway.

Over the years they have paid for themselves and you never have that just run out feeling. Oh, and your dustbin never stinks to high heaven after 2 weeks waiting for the dustbin men to collect !

My DS was out of nappies at just under 2, never had nappy rash and still uses them at night a year later.

The clothes can occasionally be an issue, but tbh its not that much of a problem.

And your DH is keen to use them too.

Thats a bonus !

I love my reusables. I use terries on my DS (the same ones DH wore when he was a baby!) with flushable liners in the day time and fleece liners at night. I use waterproof wraps that I mostly got secondhand off ebay, there is also a nappy auction website if you google. I cut up a few threadbare nappies into four and use them as boosters to give him extra absorbency at night. And we fasten with nappy nippas which are a work of genius. He is 9 months, no nappy rash at all.

I have about three dozen nappies and two buckets, only wash about every four days. I recommend terrynappies.co.uk for info and supplies. I have got several friends that tried various types of expensive newfangled reusables and found that they leaked. Terries are great because you can fold them in a way that suits you and they are cheap. You can also sometimes get money back from the council. My DH was not keen at first but neither of us would switch to disposables now.

Wow I have written a lot. I didn't realise I loved them THAT much!

WillbeanChariot - I could have just written your post!
I love my terry nappies too, and like you, I have a friend who started out on those new pre-folded ones, and they leaked and took ages to dry. Whereas Terry nappies are dry in 30 mins on the line, they take next to no time, and always look lovely on the line too! My older neighbours love to see them out drying and I always get such lovely comments off them!

Cheap, and great to use, I would definately recommend them.

also.... on the rare occasion that we have used disposables (eg, if he has been to GP's house and they have put him in ones that they have bought) i notice a funny smell when you take them off....

Now I've written a lot too!

Congrats by the way!

I also don't particularly trust those gel granule things, like they have in hanging baskets, so close to baby's private parts.

I thought about using resuables, but decided against it after discussing it with my mother, who was aghast that I could even consider going back to the Dark Ages of washing and ironing nappies every day. She said that she seemed to spend the first two years of my life (I was born in 1971) doing nothing but dealing with my nappies, and was overwhelmed with relief when Pampers arrived in time to emancipate her by the time my sister was born in 1975. Things are obviously different now, with washing machines and tumble dryers, but it still seemed like a lot of work. Possibly I'd have felt differently if I'd seen any of my friends happily using reusables, but all of us went down the disposable route.....

It really isnt' that much more work, I put the dirty nappies in a rinse wash (with no spin just a drain cycle) then add all my other whites to the machine and wash as normal. I don't have a tumble drier but that has never been a problem.
I have always found that my reusables (I use tots bots) never leak, however all my friends that use disposables are always complaining about poo shooting up their little ones backs - they then end up washing more than I do!

If you buy the nappies before your baby is born you are far more likely to use them.

Hey - I feel quite inspired again! It did occur to me that now the weather is warmer (for a few days) and DD is trotting around bare legged I could get the terries out again. I did enjoy using them, I really liked handling the fabric instead of papery plastic.

I just never got into the habit completely - we moved twice before DD was eight months, and she's a terrible wriggler, so a folded terry takes a lot of punishment. But I agree that the washing wasn't bad, actually. And it makes you feel very self-sufficient.

I'd definitely try harder with a second baby (once they're out of the tar-poo stage), and good tip on Bumgenius for a slim fit, Puffy - thank you.

ironing nappies???

i can sympathise with your mum though ttalloo - there were only terries then. we have tumbles driers etc and can just buy some disposables if it gets a bit much now and then :-)

Ironing, really? I said I would try the terries but not be a martyr to them and I have honestly found them no extra work. I don't have to wrap and bin stinky disposables just flush the liner and bung nappies in a bucket. Wash when I've got a load and hang them in or outdoors (no tumble dryer here). Outside is best, the sun works a treat on the poo stains.

Hi RedonherHead . Amazing how enthusiastic we can get about nappies!