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?
- 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.
- Find another laundry service? I'll keep looking but it seems this isn't possible at the moment in my area.
- 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.
- 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 ...
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