Reusable Nappies

Anybody used them, what products and what was your experience?  I don't really know much about how they actually work (had a few quick reads on 3 piece systems with disposable liners but I know there are other options also) but I feel like it's more natural for the baby so I'd like to gather some more info and see if it would be a good option for us.  Doing laundry doesn't bother me so the hassle of washing and drying isn't too much of a concern but wanted to hear other pros and cons.

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=60409.0

Isn't a very long topic but a good start

Another good thread:  http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=49206.0

I've tried a good amount of reusables on DD and had quite a bit to say.  I'm positive about reusables, however they ended up not being the best option for DD's delicate skin as it just wasn't practical (nor is she willing to let you) change nappies as soon as she went to prevent nappy rash.     I'm hopeful to try it with DS, but not sure how enthusiastic DH will be.

Good luck!

We meant to do full time cloth from day 1, but he ended up being TINY at birth... AND we still don't have enough for full time! So we've been using Moltex in the meantime - urgh! Still "better" than Pampers? Maybe...
Now that he is nearly two months... small prefolds are working brilliantly (small Junior Joy prefolds using a nappi nippa thing and a motherease cover)... and his legs are slowly filling in (he's just so tall and lean!) so he is fitting into the other ones we have. We are aiming to build mostly a stock of Pop-Ins... which I really like (the dream-dri ones, though the original is nice, too... just takes longer to dry.) We have 11 of those. We also have 5 Bum Genius, which I have not gotten the chance to use yet. I am going to buy some TotsBots as well. I figure it can't hurt to have a bit of everything.

Might I recommend Clean Green Nappy Machine for buying new (we've got it good because the woman who runs it opened up a shop in our town as well as her website... so we went around there a lot before my son was born and got a lot of great tips) and if you want to save money, used nappies are just as good as new... or you can buy new and buy more used to round out your stash... might I recommend https://www.usednappies.co.uk?
eBay won't allow people to sell "used nappies"... so someone started this website. The great thing? It's so not as huge as eBay... less competition for auctions!

I hope to be cloth full time soon. I'm about to buy a bunch more (just got some money paypal'ed over from my big brother in the States) and then we should be set.

We're also using the eco laundry balls, which last for ages and therefore spend less on detergent.

I use cloth.  We use a combination of Motherease One Size (which I picked up for dirt cheap off the previously linked website) and folded terry squares (v old fashioned :p).  The all-in-one systems, in my opinion, are crap and very leaky.  It's really the separateness of the wrap from the inner nappy that keeps in moisture and poos more efficiently.

We use cloth, mostly Tots Bots (bamboo) but also a few Bumgenius.  The Bumgenius are easier to use, but the bamboo are more absorbent by far.  I recommend using a fleece liner with whatever you get as it provides a 1-way barrier (wet goes through to absorbent layer and not against their skin as fleece stays dry).  They're not really much more work than a disposable and smell much, much better. 

We use cloth, mostly Tots Bots (bamboo) but also a few Bumgenius.  The Bumgenius are easier to use, but the bamboo are more absorbent by far.  I recommend using a fleece liner with whatever you get as it provides a 1-way barrier (wet goes through to absorbent layer and not against their skin as fleece stays dry).  They're not really much more work than a disposable and smell much, much better. 

How are the Tots Bots? I have not tried them yet but plan to get some.

Tots Bots are great IMO.  I've used both the Cotton bots (discontinued) and Bamboozles (both poppers & velcro / nappy nippa).  The bamboo does take slightly longer to dry, but still good. I like the ability to adjust the fit to your baby as DD was a very curvy baby.

Twinkle on the Web is another good place to buy new nappies.     (I have more websites listed on the other thread I posted above and nappy reviews too.)

So from the perspective of someone who has never used reusable nappies and really knows nothing about them at all (just starting my research)...is it a good idea to wait a few days for the meconium to pass before starting reusable nappies (I think someone mentioned this earlier)?  We already quite a few bags of disposable diapers we got for free...so they'll need to be used at some point in time anyway.  Also, has anyone used a combo of reusable and disposable?  I'm thinking disposable diapers might be more convenient when we are travelling or on vacation or when the baby is staying with family members...but I wasn't sure if switching back and forth could cause any issues (doesn't seem like it should but babies are so sensitive to everything).

I'm definitely looking into using a 3-piece system (liner, nappy and cover).  I didn't even realize they had fleece liners (like I said, just starting the research process).  Has anyone used the flushable liners?  They sound convenient but I'm not sure what they're made of and thinking they wouldn't be too absorbant. 

My impression of the disposable liners is that they're not meant to be absorbent, but to catch solids so that they can be easily flushed, saving the trouble have having to do lots of rinsing.  The ones I've seen my friend use were, I think, rice paper, or something similar.  I don't see any reason why you couldn't use those in addition to an absorbent liner, if you needed to.

I hate disposable liners and don't recommend them.  Fleece are sooo much nicer, catch poo better and stay in place.  The few times I've tried paper, the liquidy poo of a breastfed baby tends to leak through AND it doesn't have the bonus of wicking moisture away from the skin like fleece.  Since you're already washing the nappies and things, washing the fleece liners as well is no extra work IMO.  If you've got a lot of poo on one, you just hold the very edge of it in the toilet bowl, flush and the force of the water prett ymuch 'washes' off the poo.  Then you can put it into your pail as normal.

I also recommend washable wipes as they're better for your baby than the chemicals in disposables and similarly you're already doing the laundry!

I agree with Aless and don't hold disposable liners in much regard.

I'm wanting to get onto reusable wipes and have recently found http://www.cheekywipes.com/ and wondering if anyone's used them?  I've even got DH interested in them, just need to have a sit down on it all over again.   

Honestly, I wouldn't waste the money.  I bought a pack of washable wipes off eBay (Junior Joy brand) and they're basically smaller-sized washcloths and nothing more/less.  Some people even just buy cheap washcloths from IKEA and cut them smaller to make wipes.  I then make my solution (I use camomile tea, splash of oil & few drops of lavender oil) in a square tupperware, put the wipes in and put the lid on.  A batch lasts 2-3 days and we're set .

Yay, I love that so many people use real nappies. We're planning on using a diaper service that our friends use. I'm not sure what kind of diapers they use but I'm told they're good. I probably should ask....

However, we'll be using disposable diapers for the first few weeks. I've been looking into bio-degradable diapers for this time.

Our council offers an incentive to get people to use real diapers. They either give you a trial set or they give you money back if you've bought your own. You should look to see if your council has some sort of programme.

Usually diaper services use prefolds which I think are trickier. We do our own washable wipes with a water, a couple of drops of EO (tea tree or lavender), and a daub of baby wash.  So very easy!

Although we got a birth to potty set which was too big for Lucie as she was only just over 7 lbs at birth and the diapers were for 10lbs and up, so she was in disposables well through the meconium stage.  Not a bad idea really as the stuff stains like you wouldn't believe.