Advice on re-usable nappies....

I don't think we get a nappy service over here, but i don't mind washing them separate from clothes in a washing machine.... I just don't know how many would be a good amount of nappies to buy to be able to get them washed and dried in time. I never thought of a pale, but that is a great idea to keep them from being kept in plasic bags, which would be awkward. Disposables is the easy way, but way too expensive so i'd rather not use them if possible. Thank you for your help.

How many you need depends on how many times per week you would do the washing. The first time we started with 100 diapers a week. We noticed that we were using only about 60/70 a week.Since They came to pick them up weekly that was the number we kept while using the diaper service. We were told that a baby until about 1 - 1 1/2 years old might need about 8 changes a day which will be about 56 a week.Newborns need more than older babies. WE always had a few extra ones because they were so absorbent so 70 was a good round number, When we started washing on our own, we started with 48 counting which ended up being a bit too much but it was fine because we kept them and replaced the older ones as they got too used. WE did the washing 2 or 3 times a week. In my opinion the rectangular diaper with a cover is better than the "all in one " that looks just like a disposable diaper but in cloth. It's better because the cover doesn't get wet as often as the diaper, except in newborns when that happens a lot. actually if it's done properly and changed regularly the cover will might not get wet at all for the whole day, so you will need much less covers. I had about 12 but I had some left from the diaper service. IN the end I had too many but it was fine, it's not like they had an expiry date:) This works better because the cover itself is a bit more expensive but it's washed less. THe rectangular diapers themselves are easier to wash and faster to dry than the "all in ones" and since they are cheaper it costs less to replace. The "all in ones" take much longer to dry, and of course when you change them you have to use a complete new one. I Might not be explaining this too well, I'm a bit tired and have a headache but if you need send me a message I will explain better. Ah, and for the pail, make sure that it has a place for a filter and still line it with a plastic bag. That way you can drop the diapers and you can tie the bag and then place the lid on the pail or just twist a bit and then place the lid on the pail. This prevents any smell to be in the room. Also, the cloth diaper is easier on the skin than disposable but doesn't have the gel that make the disposable ones feel completely dry even when wet. So it's important to change the baby more often and clean him/her properly. You will need to wash the diapers a few times before you use them for them to be as absorbent as they can be. USe the hottest water that you can. Also if the pail doesn't have a place in the lid to put a filter you can make a pretty good one using a small plastic container - even a small margarine container. Make some holes in it. Inside put some baking soda and a few pieces of charcoal to absorb the odor. Then place it inside the pail. It works too:) WHen you wash them it's better not to use chlorine because it shortens the life of the diaper. Use hot water and 3/4 of white vinegar in the final rinse - I was told that it would help prevent diaper rash and always did it. I don't know it it was because of that but my kids never had diaper rash:) THe picture is the kind of diapers I used.

SOrry Kate, I just realized you wrote this discussion when I posted my comment :) So my first line should read : I did, Kate. LOL

Well, it would depend how often you plan to do a wash. If you change your baby 12 times a day I would think you should buy 3 dozen cloth diapers. I would investigate the brands though. The cloth diapers I have seen recently here in Canada are very thick, prefolded and a little rubber pant with velcro snaps on each side goes over them. For going out and trips I would still use disposables.

Thank you for your help. The whole idea of them being absorbant and that they save alot of money sounds good to me. Aslong as they work for my baby i don't mind all the washing and drying it will include. I would probably keep a few disposables in just incase i can't get them dry in time though. How many do you think would be the right amount to buy so that we have enough to manage to get them washed and dried.

That sounds a good idea too, because i know they may not be as absorbant for long periods of time. Do you know any brands that you would recommend? Thank you for your help

A nappy is a diaper, just a different word for it. I fogot to put diaper in my discussion as i use the word nappy. Thank you for your reply.

I know i may wish i brought disposables after abit because of all the washing and drying it takes, but in the long run it will be better for our baby and cheaper too. Thank you for your help.

I think I had three dozen and still did laundry daily for a long time, since bedding and clothing also needed washed and I easily had a load a day.

I wouldn't want to use any with pins because i wouldn't want to put the pin near my babies skin, but i know they do not have pins anymore. Other than the problem with the pins i would want to use re-usables. How many do you think we would need to buy so that we arn't washing and drying them all day long? Thank you for your advice.

Thank you for replying to this thread.

I know it will be more work than using disposables, thats why im considering it but not definatly sure..... because i'd want to know more about the products before i buy them. I know some one brand of re-usable nappies that i've found basically need the poo getting off with wipes, just like i need to do on my sons bum when i change his nappy. I used disposables for a few months with our son, but he began to wee out the sides of them so we had to get a certain type of huggies nappies. Pampers nappies made his bum sore and he got thrush alot with them. Thank you for your help. ~Joeys wife

The laundry part and when we go out is what put me off using them for our son. But after the amount of money it costs to buy disposables we are considering using re-usable ones this time. You don't use pins or cloth nappies anymore. There are all different types and from what i've found when searching for brands of them there are quite a few that are very absorbant. I want advice of people for which type they recommend, because there are so many to choose from and i don't to spend loads out for a pack and then they arn't very good. I wouldn't use them if it was the old style pin ones because i would be too scared to put the pin near my baby when they wiggle about. Thank you for your advice.