Real nappy rant

UPDATE: I'm not writing another post about this because it's not really the core topic of the blog, but I thought I'd let anyone interested know where I've got to on the real nappy dilemma I was facing (the basics of which you can read below, if you didn't catch it first time around). After much thought I ended up buying Tots Bots Fluffle nappies - 11 in total (five secondhand from eBay, then another six from The Nappy Lady once I'd decided they were for me. I also bought Motherease wraps on eBay, which are excellent, and some Tots Bots wraps, which aren't half as good. I also bought a very very cheap lidded bucket (hideous bright blue and red but hey, it lives in the garage so who cares?) from Wilkinsons as a nappy pail.

I chose the Fluffles because they are super-quick to dry once washed - 10 mins on a hot radiator will do it - and so far I am very pleased with them. The only drawback (or a bonus, depending on your viewpoint) is that they live up to their fluffy name - your baby ends up with a bum J-Lo would be proud of. This can be a problem for a lot of trousers, which are generally cut for a disposable-sized rear. I've found some lovely stretchy trousers from Next that look like jeans that work really well, and put my daughter in trousers one size up, or a dress and tights, both of which work fine with the padded effect of the Fluffle.

I still use disposables at night and at times when I am going out, and after an attempt with another brand of eco-disposable at night resulted in a wee-small-hours (pun intended) post-leak change of nappy, pyjamas, and sleeping bag, I'll be sticking with what I'll just describe as a household name of disposable.

I got some great advice from Horticultural readers and also from the Nappy Lady's tailored advice service, which I'd recommend if you're confused about what to go for. They were very patient with all my dumb questions. Speaking of which, anyone tried making their own polar fleece liners? It must be pretty simple, I am guessing?

ORIGINAL POST: The cloth nappy (diaper, if you're not from these parts) laundry service I have been using since my baby was born in April has abruptly stopped trading. This was extremely frustrating, not least because it happened without any notice - in fact I was convinced some rather odd individual had stolen a plastic bin full of dirty nappies from outside our house until I discovered the truth. I think the letter informing us must have got lost in the post as another mum I know did get a warning that the service was about to end.

It had been working really well - we were getting through about 40 of the cotton squares a week, and once soiled they were picked up for washing and a clean batch left outside the door. I used disposables at night (I'm not up to changing nappies at two in the morning ...) and on occasion when going out, but on the whole I felt as if I was doing my best to minimise the waste created by my little one's daily doings, to use a rather twee euphemism.

Finding another service is proving harder than I'd thought. I'd seen a leaflet for a similar looking laundry setup in the health clinic only last week, but when I called the number repeatedly, no answer. My email was bounced back too. Don't say they've packed up as well?

The local council's recycling experts don't know of another service operating in my area, either.

So what are my options?

1. Buy a load of cloth nappies and wash them myself? I am not going down this route because I have enough trouble drying the piles of washing we already have, and the thought of having dozens of nappies hanging all over the house fills me with dread. Plus I don't think it's tremendously efficient given the small size of British washers and the price of electricity.
2. Find another laundry service? I'll keep looking but it seems this isn't possible at the moment in my area.
3. Use some form of eco-disposables? Unfortunately I've tried the most commonly available brand in my area and found it to be leakier than a Labour cabinet. I've sent off for a free sample of another brand but my, those things are pricey, and I can't buy them locally. How green is it to have nappies delivered by post? I have no idea.
4. Continue to use a well-known brand name that isn't all "green" but does stop my baby's clothes from getting covered every time she has a particularly large, er, delivery. And I don't have to spend all day crouching over the washing machine. This is my rather unsatisfactory course of action for the moment.

So, if any mums and dads out there have some tips/suggestions, please let rip in the comments below. Remember, I am in the UK so don't assume I have a giant washer and drier for laundering dozens of dirty nappies ...

Comments

[Anne P]

We had exactly the same experience when my son was about 3 months old. And we swapped to washing our own. We were luckier in that he was a February baby, so we hit the issue just as summer was coming on, so it was easy to dry them on the line, but once we were in the swing of it we didn't find it too much of a problem hanging them up indoors either. There is a huge range of 'high-tec' cloth nappies available these days - even more so than 5 years ago when we were looking. Even so, I would recommend terry squares - they do take a bit of folding, but once you're used to it it doesn't really take that long, and they do dry very quickly (a priority for us as we weren't about to get a tumble drier.)

Oh, and ignore the report that came out some years ago from the Environment Agency saying that there isn't a lot to choose between disposables and washables - they assumed that a significant proportion of nappies are boil washed and tumble dried - oh, and that 10% of parents _iron_ nappies!!! Wash at 60 (or even 40) degrees and air dry, and you're definitely ahead of the game. And there's no need to soak them in sanitiser either - a bucket with a lid is all you need - even dirty ones don't sit around long enough to be a problem.

But if you're about to invest in a set of nappies, there are a number of online shops from whom you can hire a trial set to decide which type you like best. The shaped ones, although slower to dry, are much easier to use.

Good luck.

[James Heywood]

We use washable reusables, and they've worked fine for us for the last 30 months. In fact, we find they leak less than disposables.

If we wash the nappies every other day we never have to use the tumble drier. We could wash less than this if we'd bought more to start with.

We tried a few, and the nappies we use (the Bimble/Bumble) we use work much better than some we tried. I couldn't be bothered with all that folding business, for instance. During the day we change every 3-4 hours, and leave the same nappy on all night (unless our charge has a poo).

I'm doubtful whether reusables save any energy (cause the washing offsets the lower production energy). However, there's much less waste going to the landfill, and we're saving money.

[James Heywood]

It felt wrong using 'poo' in a comment. I hope I haven't broken some taboo. I half-expected the comments system to censor me :)

[thirza whittall]

you seem pretty set against washing your own nappies....but the new micro fleece nappies from lollipop dry so quickly (overnight in our house) that drying really isnt a problem. also if you wash them at 40 you would probably use the same amount of energy as the laundry company washing at 80. contact www.teamlollipop.co.uk for you nearest advisor as they may know of a laundry service that the council dont (as they are not alway very clued up!) if you are in the midlands ring the cotton nappy project 07887878333 as they do a laundry service.

[louise]

just wondering if any of the real nappy people have more than one child under 5/ partners at work more than 8 hours a day? just wondering...

[Podchef]

14 years ago when we had our first daughter, my wife and I idealistically launched out to be "green" before it became a trend. We were smallholding and living in a one room cabin with a garden hose delivering our water. Nevertheless we chose to go the cloth diaper route.

As we live on an island, and the commercial diaper service costs a fortune out here, and involved lugging dirty diapers on a ferry, we decided to forgo the service. Instead we opted to resurrect an old 1930's wringer washer machine where we would pre-soak and wash the diapers, wring them, and then run them through a regular wash cycle at my in-law's house next door.

This was a bit much to take, but being young and idealistic, and poor, we bore our task valiantly from June until the New Year. Lugging a load of wet nappies--the old cotton, double lined kind, some of which were my wife's and mine when we were babes--certainly kept us fit. However, in mid-January disaster struck. While soaking overnight in the wash-tub, we had a sudden weather change. The diapers in their tub were in an out-building which could offer no protection from from the sub-zero temperatures we were plummeted into. The diapers--all of our supply save a few--were frozen solid in the washtub. Atypical weather kept them locked in their prison for two weeks.

In the meantime, we bought a supply of commercial, disposable diapers--there were no green, or environmentally friendly kind back then. Later in the spring when we rediscovered the thawed tub of diapers we were too addicted to the ease of disposability. 5 daughter's and several nappiless years later we still use the cloth ones for cleaning and rags.

[Anne]

Louise - yes, I did, but this isn't about making any judgments - parenting is hard enough work, whatever the circumstances - but if someone wants to consider using washable (I don't like the word 'real' in this context - like disposables are 'fake'!?) nappies, then I'm happy to share my experience.

[Jane Perrone]

I love that story Podchef! I can just imagine standing over the rock-solid frozen nappies and feeling like laughing and crying at the same time!

[Nicholas Bavington]

have you tried these

http://www.nappyeverafter.co.uk/

http://www.realnappycampaign.com/questions_and_answers/index.html#How%20does%20the%20laundry%20service%20work?

http://www.niftynappies.co.uk/

http://www.changeanappy.co.uk/

all of these were found through google search of
nappy laundry service

[Sussp]

We used washables and laundered at home - probably one or two extra wash loads a week. Daughter was born in winter so with heating we managed to avoid tumble drying for some time.

About to embark on this adventure again with baby no.2.

WE used fuzzibunz which dry quickly as they are the pocket/prefold/ stuffable (still not got hang of jargon!)

[Karen]

Tots Bots do a 100% polyester nappy called a fluffle that comes out of the machine almost dry. I have found cloth to be less leaky than the eco-disps that I occasionally use. Also, Jane, I'm not sure how old your baby is, but you won't have to change at night forever. I stick my 15-month old in a hefty night-time nappy at bedtime and it lasts until morning. Granted these are more absorbent than the fluffles, so they take longer to dry, but there is only one of those a day. I have to say I haven't found washing/drying nappies to be particularly hard work compared with most other elements of being a mum.

If you haven't already, try http://www.thenappylady.co.uk for tailored advice that would take account of your circumstances.

[Jane Perrone]

Thanks for all the advice chaps ... I have been in contact with the nappy lady and will be figuring out exactly what to do in the coming weeks. I am guessing it'll involve a mix and match approach of buying some cloth nappies to wash and trying to source some eco-disposables that don't leak hideously or break the bank ...

Really like the look of the Fluffle Karen ... will perhaps get one of these to try out ...

[Karen]

The Fluffle is a rather lovely nappy, but one of the bulkier fits - but at least that gives your baby the cute round cloth-botty look.

[Sarah Halton]

Jane - probably a bit late with this, but I used terry squares with all three of mine (and yes, I had three under three and a half and a husband who wouldn't touch wet nappies) and it was fine. I did never have more than two in nappies at once, though. They dry very quickly because they're only one thickness of material and you don't need to buy a new set when the baby grows, just fold them differently. We bought 36 nappies when #1 was born, 12 more when #2 arrived, 12 more with #3 and finally had a dozen off freecycle when the first lot fell into rags on the youngest child. They've been fine. The best pants we found were Motherease pants. But you will need bigger trousers for the poor child - a disposable-clad bottom is not the same shape as a reusable-clad bottom, but Mothercare et al have not yet realised this.
Sarah

[Clare Jaques]

Hi Jane,
Have you tried Moltex Oko nappies? They're unbleached (so no chlorines / dioxins) and as soft as "standard" disposables (my toddler complains that the other leading eco-brand digs in and hurts below the sticky tabs).
And they don't seem to leak, unless I fit them half asleep (not unusual, with a 15 week old!)

I think moltex are pretty expensive in-store, but we got round that.

We set up a local food buyers' group in our village with Suma.co.uk. As long as we spend a minimum amount, we get trade prices. This means not only get 25% off organic food, but up to 35% off toiletries - including the Moltex. This makes them affordable.
Might be worth looking into?

[Jane Perrone]

Thanks for all the further comments. Have invested in five Fluffles and am trying them out. The major problem is finding trousers that fit the "big bum" shape real nappies create! Will invest in a few more once I've had a bit of a test run.

The Moltex have been recommended to me by others, Claire, and I think I am going to give them a go, particularly for nighttimes. Your toddler is right about the other eco disposables - they didn't suit my baby, who had terrible red marks on her belly from the tabs, plus they leaked badly. I know some people who swear by them though.

[Megan]

Like you I'm not a complete eco martyr, we use disposables for nights, and dodgy days away, having said that we've used/are using washables (cotton bottoms) for both of ours on the basis that with only the one of them its about 1 load a week in the machine (otherwise 2 loads), we have a large load washing machine/dryer (7kgs), dry as much as we can outside and its only the nappies that get washed hotter than 30oC, I picked up a dustbin shaped plastic bucket from whatever you want or some such for £2.00 thats large enough for my sons nappy inserts and boosters (he can pee for England) for a week.

Clothing wise for boys, the only real answer is dungerees, you can turn up the long legs to fit and they are inherently wider at the waist, girls just don't get trousers till pullups.

PS, Louise, kids aged 3yrs and 20 months Daughter only went into pull ups a month ago and yes my husband works full time. Once you've gotten over the initial hurdle of starting with re-usables its just another habit same as wiping noses when they're in striking distance.

[Karen]

I'm thrilled that the Fluffles are working out, and I agree about the wraps - Motherease are the best. We have had the fluffle-bottom problem with trousers, too (at least girls can wear dresses, as you say) - and I would agree with Megan, that dungarees are the way to go. Conrad wears trousers in the next size up, rolled up at the bottom - also this summer the fashion for long shorts meant that shorts for 2-year olds made lovely trousers for a 1-year old.

How on earth did you buy used nappies on eBay? They usually don't allow that sort of thing!

[Jane Perrone]

Not sure Karen - they were clean, obviously, but had been the subject of a colour wash accident so a little grey around the banding. Made no difference to me, and it was a cheap way to trial them before committing. Perhaps eBay just missed a trick ...

[Karen R]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum stuff so please bear with me. We use tots bots during the day and then bamboozle at night (bought through 'the nappy lady' - aren't they great?). No problems at all, wash and dry at home, only had an 'incident' once in 11 months etc. On the occasions when we have used disposables we have found that they leak terribly and smell!! What's that about? ANYWAY, our problem now is that at almost 11 months I can no longer 'get away' with having my son parade around in oversized sleep/playsuits all day long. We are having a really hard time finding trousers/bottoms that will comfortably accommadate his large behind! We've looked down the 'organic, real-nappy-size' clothing companies, ie. cut for cloth, green baby etc but find them too costly for us. How have you found a way around this.... any suggestions.... apart from 'wait for the sales'.... doesn't make enough of a difference for us..... help

[Jane Perrone]

Hi Karen

It's a really good point ... it is expensive to buy clothes that fit "big bottomed babies". I think it's a little easier with girls, as I put mine in a dress and tights one size up, or in a top and leggings one size up, which works pretty well. I also got some bargains in a recent Cut 4 Cloth sale (click on the "bargain basement" link on the front) so it's worth checking those sites regularly.

I also put my daughter in dungarees which are generally roomy enough for a cloth nappy, which would obviously work for boys too. Other than that I guess the answer is go one size up with jeans etc and roll up the legs ... not the best answer I know! Some of the sizings vary a lot too - Tesco trousers are quite a generous cut for instance. Also worth checking for bargains on eBay or your local NCT nearly new sale. No easy answers I am afraid but hope that helps!

[Leah]

I would try Itti Bitti nappies. They are now available in the UK and are absolutely fantastic at containment, are super trim for clothes and they snap apart so they dry amazingly fast. They are THE best modern cloth nappy on the market without a doubt. ittibitti.com.au email her for her UK distributor :D

Hope that helps.

[Leah]

I would try Itti Bitti nappies. They are now available in the UK and are absolutely fantastic at containment, are super trim for clothes and they snap apart so they dry amazingly fast. They are THE best modern cloth nappy on the market without a doubt. ittibitti.com.au email her for her UK distributor :D

Hope that helps.

[Leah]

I would try Itti Bitti nappies. They are now available in the UK and are absolutely fantastic at containment, are super trim for clothes and they snap apart so they dry amazingly fast. They are THE best modern cloth nappy on the market without a doubt. ittibitti.com.au email her for her UK distributor :D

Hope that helps.