Reusable Nappies?

Question

My Wife and I are soon to have a baby and Like the Idea of Reusable Nappies. Can anyone recommend any particular brand or type, and are they any good. Also if anyone knows of a good place to get them or has any other useful information about nappies please let me know.

Answer 1

Kushies are my favourite - they fit really well and they come in various different types, depending on what your budget is.

All-in-ones are easiest from a changing point of view - no faffing around with liners, waterproof outers etc, but they are more expensive and they do take longer to dry so you really need a tumble dryer unless you're going to buy loads (expensive).

Kushies also do a version that does have a waterproof inner layer so you don't have to use a seperate waterproof cover, although you can use one of these as well if the baby is wetting a lot e.g. at night. Personally these are my favourite. There is a version that consists of a nappy shaped cotton/fleecy layer, that you HAVE to use a waterproof wrap with - they do the job and they're cheaper, but they don't last as long. The first two types will probably last you for at least two babies, so they're good if you're planning to have any more.

I tried Nappy Nation all-in-ones, but found them quite bulky, especially when baby was tiny - none of her clothes would go over the nappies!

I would DEFINITELY do what MICHELLE T suggested though, and go on ebay and buy one of each different type - preferably secondhand as new nappies are expensive if you buy them seperately - or better still, try and get a trial starter pack of various different types. There is a scheme in my area whereby you can rent a starter pack with loads of different types and brands of nappy for a few weeks to find out which ones suit you best. It can also be useful to rent the very tiniest newborn size nappies, because the baby will only be in them for a few weeks. You can then order a set of the nappies you like best through them, and you get a discount too. See if there's a scheme like this in your area - ask your local council or Children's Information Service.

As far as other useful information goes... buy at least two nappy buckets with good secure lids! Mothercare have them in various colours. Wet nappies don't really need soaking - as long as you keep the lid on them they'll be ok for a couple of days. I actually found they smelt more when I did soak them! Dirty nappies of course do need soaking - you can get nappy soak from places like mothercare or boots, or eco-friendly stuff from PHP on the internet. Wash 'em all at 60 degrees C and they come out good as new! If you do find there's any staining, a spell on the washing line on a sunny day ought to bleach it out - very eco-friendly and totally free of charge!

Above all, allow yourself to feel good about not adding any more to the pile of disposable nappies that take 500 years or so to rot down. If you find you need to use disposables sometimes e.g. if you're going on holiday, or at night if the baby is very wet, you can get very good eco-disposables from Boots (Nature Babycare) or on the internet (Moltex - my personal favourite).

Hope this helps, and best of luck to you and your new family :)

Answer 2

The original reusable Terry Nappies - around since long before the age of disposables.

They are -
better for the environment - cheaper in the long run - allow the skin to breathe (reducing the risk of nappy rash) - and will probably be useful as cloths long after baby has grown -

Quality is important for comfort and duration - spending more on them, is a good investment. Should be available in most decent stores.

Answer 3

I like Kushies as you can get the birth to potty pack, they are shaped so fit and do the job much better.
I tried terrys initially and I was forever changing wet clothes and bedding.
It is worth checking with your local council as some of them offer a monetary incentive to use reusable nappies as it saves on landfill.
Ebay have some good deals on reusable nappies. There is also a company called PHP that so a few types of Kushies and you can request a catalogue on line and they show you how they "work". Through them you can also purchase small "trial" packs so you can test them out before doing the bulk purchase.
I have enclosed a link to see the different types available.
A link that shows Medway council giving a £30 incentive for using re-usables and camden who gives a £54 incentive.

Answer 4

Tots Bots are by far the best, they are shaped like disposable nappies so are really easy to use. I would recommend going to their website for a look at the nappies but I would also recommend The Nappy Lady website as they are really good at giving you advise on exactly what you need without being pushy

Answer 5

Fantastic idea. Good on you and your wife. My favourite site for advice & looking at the variety is www.kittykins.co.uk If you don't fancy the washing, although its only a couple of extra loads a week and believe me you WON'T notice that!, then use a nappy service. They are often no more expensive than buying disposables, often a bit cheaper. But you are then a bit restricted to the kind you will be using as they have made the choice for you.

I personally used flat towelling squares and then kissaluvs on my son and am currently using Tots Bots for my daughter and I will then use the kissaluvs when she is the right size. That's a huge advantage, being able to use them for more than one child.

Answer 6

Hi. Cloth nappies are good for the environment and easy to use in the home but not practicle when out on journeys, this is where the disposables rate better. you can actually get money back thru your local council if you have your proof of purchase receipt. Kiddiecare in Peterborough sell good quality brands and they do have a website.

From a Mum who only ever used terry toweling nappies, lovely to see drying on a blowy day

Answer 7

Any terry towelling nappy is good although the thicker & softer they are the better because they are going to get a lot of rough treatment. I used Terry nappies for my son & while the initial outlay is quite high the only other cost is washing powder etc.
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing lovely soft, clean, white, newly boiled nappies blowing on the washing line in the breeze.

Answer 8

Hi I found the best thing to do is go to the Ebay shop and order 1 nappy cover of each brand, try and test them all then order all the rest. I wasted £90 on a starter kit that just wasnt for me.

You need to decided if you want Nappy covers and inserts or the all in one type. I found the nappy cover & inserts best as you just change the inserts and only need to change the cover daily. The all in one type take ages to dry.

Answer 9

I use Fuzzi Bunz and they are great! They are a pocket diaper so you just stick an insert into an opening in the back and then it works like a disposable. After they get dirty I just store them in a dry pail. I dump what poo I can off but I don't scrape, rinse, etc. When it's time to wash (every day or every other day) I just throw them in the washer and hang them on the line to dry. Very easy and simple. I like Fuzzi Bunz because they are as easy as disposables for other people to use. When the baby stays with my husband or mom they don't have any issue. Plus they work very well and rarely leak, even at night. This is my favorite site for cloth diapers: http://www.nickisdiapers.com/ She has great prices and excellent customer service.

Answer 10

Try contacting your local council, as many councils encourage re-usables and will help with the initial outlay. They may also know of a 'nappy library' in your area, which will allow you to try for yourself before you buy (or google nappy library/exchange/network for your area). I imagine whoever runs it would be a good source of info too