Reusable Nappies

Ooh, thanks for the tips on wipes!  I've got loads of Muslin squares here from DD (she was a posset monster), think I might start cutting and sewing soon then instead!   

Another question from those with nappy buckets does anyone know of one that locks?  We're needing something to keep DD out of the nappy bucket, but our nappy bucket we have doesn't have a lock on it (and putting anything on it to try to deter her is just asking for even more trouble.     I've seen Bambino Mio's new bucket is supposed to have a lock on it, but it looks rather flimsy to me.  My Mom has a great bucket at home, but that's in the states with metal clips that lock over the top - completely toddler proof (and somewhat adult-proof too)!   

We bought trial packs of Mothercare Smart Nappy and Bambino Mio to see which we liked better.  The Smartnappy took way too long to dry.  We've had no problems with the Bambino Mio.  The fact that the inner nappy is trifold means they dry quicker.

Try NCT sales as well.  I have bought reusable swim nappies there and have seen various types of reusables (just not any Bambino Mio so I didn't buy). http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com/in-your-area/nearly-new-sales

We used traditional towelling square nappies and safety pins for all our babies and disposables on holiday. There are some really good different ways of folding them depending on the size of the baby. My friend's child had a very senstive skin and problems with eczema and she actually found disposables exacerbated this - I think some babies may react to the constituents of disposables - absorbent gel etc, although this was a long time ago and disposables have probably changed a great deal.

We use terry squares, too.  No pins, as they're rather old-fashioned (sorry!), but the Nappi-Nippa.  I love them and don't find them faffy at all, like most might.  I like that I change the fold as he gets older depending on need!

So we have Motherease one-size for DH who is hopeless at folding & I generally use the terries when I change him .

We use terry squares, too.  No pins, as they're rather old-fashioned (sorry!), but the Nappi-Nippa. 

No offence taken - I would have loved to have something better than pins! One of the folds for a small baby actually allows you to tuck in the ends without using anything to secure it, but you do need something once they get bigger.

ooo, I'll have to see if I can find that one.  The Nippa is quite easy to use, but I like discovering new folds, too.

ooo, I'll have to see if I can find that one.  The Nippa is quite easy to use, but I like discovering new folds, too.

It's this one: www.kittykins.co.uk/advice/id/25. She fastens it, but you can tuck the side points into the middle folds quite securely (at least for a non mobile baby!).

Oh wow...I bought a trail kit of Bambino Mio and some fleece liners (found them on sale so I figured that would be my first sample product).  They arrived today so I was checking them out.  I've had 0 experience with cloth nappies and this was NOT what I expected!  I thought the nappies themselves were supposed to be similar to the nappy covers (as in shaped and fastened around the baby's bottom and fastened closed) but this is a big rectangular piece of cloth.  From what I can make of the diagram included...the nappy itself is actually folded into a rectangular strip (there are a few different folds for extra absorbancy or loose stools or whatever) and placed in the center of the nappy cover (like a feminine pad would be placed in the center of briefs)...then the liner is placed in the opposite direction (making a 'T') and then the nappy cover is fastened onto the baby...is this correct?  Is there a different type of reusable nappy where the nappy itself it fastened to the baby?  I'm glad I've got 4 months to try this out on my daughter's babydolls!!

That doesn't sound right at all...I thought Bambino Mio's were shaped nappies??  Sounds like you got ahold of prefolds, which from what I hear are supposed to be not great for leaks.

EDIT: I lie.  Mios are pre-folds.  I think you want a shaped nappy if you don't want to go down the folding route.  Go read the articles on thenappylady.co.uk - she really does explain EVERYTHING.

We used a mix of cloth (80%) and disposable (20%) in the US but that was 4 years ago.   I think you have great advice from the above comments.  The only thing I would add is that I would try out different types at the beginning and only buy a few/ one of each.  Depending on your baby and your preferences - what works for you may vary.  I had a girl (friends with boys had different experiences).  She really did not like being even a little wet and the fleece liner was a savior.   We mostly used a 3 piece system when she was tiny but once she could roll/craw we found a more pull-up style called bambino in the US that we really liked.      Since babies grow very fast - you will use them and need new ones very quickly.  Just like anything with a baby trial and error is always the way to find out what works for you and your baby.

Yeah I totally got pre-fold...thinking that meant it was pre-folded so you didn't need to fold it...DOH!  I've got a little trial kit here so I can try it out but my friend recommended BumGenius pocket nappies and that seems to be more along the lines of what I was looking for so I think that will be my next sample.  Just going to order 4 or 5 and see what works best for me and little man. 

Thanks to everybody for all the great advice and links...we're going to get this down!!

Confusing terminology - gotta love it.   


There're 3 types of reusables (correct me if I'm wrong):
- Pre-folds: you fold your own to suit your child inside a nappy wrapper
- Shaped: you fasten just like a disposable (can be snaps, pins, nippa's, velcro tabs etc) inside a nappy wrapper
- All-in-one or Pocket Nappy: where it's basically a washable version of a disposable nappy


Then you have your added extras:
- Liners which can be paper, fleece, cotton etc
- You can also put in booster pads for extra absorbency (more for the shaped or all-in-ones)
- Wrappers - your baby's bum bling (seriously there are some pretty cute & atrocious wrappers out there)

Yeah I think the shaped one is what I was going for...but I failed that on the first try.  Actually though...now that I've read about the prefolds and played around with them a bit...I'm thinking I might like this.  It just seems like you have a little more flexibility because you can do all kinds of different folds to customize to your baby.  That scared me to death but like I said, I've been playing around with the folds and it's amazingly simple.  Plus I can actually prefold all the nappies after washing and drying...and then it's just a quick insert inside the nappy cover during changing time.  I already got some fleece liners although I'm not really sure what you're supposed to do with them...I assumed you just placed them on top of the nappy but in the picture diagram it is going the opposite direction and I can't figure out how that works.

The nappy covers that came with this trial pack are pretty cute although (in my opinion)they have too much purple in them to be considered neutral...but we'll survive.  Since he's going to be a summer baby, I have a feeling he'll be showing off his nappies quite often so once we bump up to the next size (or pick a different brand) I'm planning on pimping his bum out in some stylish baby bling covers!

I really do want to say thanks again for all the help and advice.  Babies are overwhelming enough as it is but it's even worse when you want to try out something and you have no clue where to start!

Yeah I think the shaped one is what I was going for...but I failed that on the first try.  Actually though...now that I've read about the prefolds and played around with them a bit...I'm thinking I might like this.  It just seems like you have a little more flexibility because you can do all kinds of different folds to customize to your baby.  That scared me to death but like I said, I've been playing around with the folds and it's amazingly simple. 

Don't be scared - most of us were using these 30 years ago!

coming in a few days late to the thread . . .

I love my cloth nappies.  DD has done well with them.  In fact her nappy rash is always worse in the weeks we holiday and she uses disposables.  Studies have actually found that the whole "stay-dry" thing with disposables really doesn't impact kids getting nappy rash or not.  Washing them really hasn't been that much work either.  We're doing laundry anyway and just throw them in.  It's like washing a handful of extra dishtowels with our wash--no biggie.

I wasn't all that fussed about getting big names or cute patterns.  My biggest priorities were absorbency, lack of leaks, drying time, and value for money since in the beginning we were in a second-floor flat with no drying line or machine. 

I went for Easy Peasy Bumbles, which have been great.  They aren't as cute or small, but I'm used to DD's big nappy bum now and think it's cute.  They've worked really well and dry quickly.  In the very early days I had a handful of smaller lemon-coloured Bimbles which were great as a newborn (I'd recommend trying the Bimble first before the bigger ones).  My favourite wraps hands-down have been the Motherease Airflows.  I also prefer the nippa to poppers.

Kittykins and the Nappy Lady were some of the biggest helps in me setting aside some of my overwhelmed feelings as I tried to figure out what I wanted.  I also find these sites helpful if you want to try out some used nappies and save a few pennies whilst being able to try different things:
http://www.usednappies.co.uk/index.php
http://www.thenappysite.co.uk/
http://www.clothnappytree.com/

good luck!