Someone suggested I did a nappy update on how we’re getting on with reusable nappies and I thought it was a great idea, as a lot has changed since we first started using them (see my original article here) and they have become far more second nature now. And with the COVID-19, it has really hit me how great it is that we never have to panic buy nappies.
What I would firstly say is that it’s never too late to try reusable nappies or pants. In fact, toilet training or age 2 up is probably the perfect time to give them a go! Most nappies are made from birth to potty training, toddlers nappies generally don’t get as full so there’s less worry about leaks and they’re more likely to understand when their nappy is wet so (hopefully) could be easier to toilet train.
I think there is definitely some sort of consensus that you have to buy 30 reusable nappies off the bat and go straight into only using reusables as soon as you make the choice. This certainly isn’t the case, just buying one will be so helpful to the environment and will allow you to build up your confidence with using them. My tip? Try putting your child in them at home for a couple of hours between dinner and bathtime, you’ll save at least one nappy from landfill which is brilliant.
Our preferred are the ‘all-in-one’ nappies, as they’re simple and work just like a disposeable. We use Bambino Mio a lot (and Aldi often do good deals on them). We usually add a booster pad to make them last longer. The Totsbots nappies with a wrap are the securest for leaks, but a bit more of a faff. And I’ve just discovered Peachi Baby and Little Lamb which are very cute!
Where are we with it? Well, nursery are totally onboard with them, to be honest we were scared to ask as didn’t want them to feel any pressure but they offered and it has been great! We have about 15 now in rotation, sometimes we don’t have any spare if I’m behind on my washing/drying but we use disposeables in that case. We drop her off in a reusable with three spare nappies, booster pads, a zip washbag and liners (we tried without but nursery wanted to keep using disposeable liners to catch most of the poo – not ideal as it’s still disposeable but it helps with cleaning and they’re happier). We are given the bag back at the end of the day and they go in the wash. Yes, we often have to clean poo off her nappies when we get home, but we’ve been baby free all day so it’s not exactly a challenge – I do it next to her whilst she’s in the bath!
We only use Cheeky Wipes at home, which we love and again, are a great way to dip your toe into reusable baby items! I have the plastic tub for them and I use camomile essential oil in the tub to keep them smelling fresh. We also use muslins still for dribble and spillages etc too.
I must admit, we had a few leaks at nursery for a while, they can’t keep such a close eye on leaks, I suppose – but I also think this was mainly due to the fact Peggy was still bum shuffling and adding a lot of pressure onto the nappies. Now she is walking it makes a huge difference to how many clothes changes she goes through.
We rarely buy disposeables now, maybe 1 pack once a month? We still use at night and if grandparents babysit. Although the cost of reusables at first seems steep, the cost per wear makes them a much more cost effective product (I love Peachi Baby’s fact sheets on cost per wear and how many disposeable nappies you save by buying theirs) and obvously the earlier you start or the more kids you have, the cost lowers. And there is a huge secondhand market for them, too.
Our summer holiday last year was the best time for disposeables, Peggy mainly wore a resuable nappy and t-shirt in the day (the sea was too cold so she didn’t really go in the water, but we have reusable swim nappies for our next holiday).
Curently, we are trying to change Peggy into towelling training pants when we’re at home to get her used to be able to pull them down ready for toilet training.
The feeling that I get from saving nappies from landfill over the last 1.5 years has been amazing and now, if we have another child, we will know what to do and will save even more. And do you know what’s more exhausting than washing nappies? Being asked to justify reusable nappies all the time. ‘But how do you deal with the poo’? ‘I heard that washing them all the time is worse for the environment’, ‘Don’t they take ages to dry?’, ‘The idea is just gross’. It’s not up to me to defend reusable nappies, it’s up to the individual to decide what’s better. I know I’m doing something good.
So that’s my recap, if you’re new to this or want further info then please see my original post here, which has further links and info on vouchers you can claim from local councils, too. Or look to The Nappy Lady for advice (I found their videos on how to wash them etc extremely useful).
Thanks for the update! We have been using reusables for one month for our four month old baby. Your original blog post was a huge help to get us started – including using cheeky wipes which we used from day one. When people asked us what we wanted for our new baby we directed them to the reusable nappies and several people bought us one or two as gifts – so much more useful than clothes which are too small in a matter of weeks!
Oh yes this is a great idea – we use nappies so much more than clothes, too! xxx
We are 6 months in with my 9 month old daughter & I bloody love them… I wholeheartedly agree with everything both your posts say. I wish we’d had the courage to convert when my eldest was a baby. Cheekily passing on exactly this blog to those people questioning us on the decision!! Thanks 👍🏼 x
Yes, it can feel so daunting at the beginning (when you have so much more to consider and worry about, too!) but I know if we have another child I wouldn’t fear it as much at all xx
Thank you so much for making reusable nappies sound so normal. As you said, some of the consensus elsewhere is that you need loads and they need to be the mega expensive, hard to get ones. But its just not true! Hope you and your family and keeping well and safe during these strange times.
Yes, no one is telling you to only do reusables and never rely on a single disposeable, there can be a nice compromise which is still helping the environment! xx
We were so disappointed with the Miosolo! We ended up with 18 in total and had to stop using at Xmas cos they were leaking within an hour (our daughter a month younger than Peggy). Good to hear they work for some, think we didn’t do enough to try other brands and is can be trial and error. So we’re selling them all and back on disposables until potty training, but agree reusable wipes best thing ever and once you start the washing thing so not that big a deal!
We came to reuseables very late in the day – in fact we only started using them AFTER our kid had been potty trained during the day and just required a night time nappy. As well as being better for the environment and finances, it’s nice to not be dependent on disposables during a lockdown. We use Little Lambs as they cater for larger kids (15+kgs) and can absorb a lot of liquid over a 10hr nighttime shift. They are super easy to use and clean esp as there’s only liquids, no solids, to contend with at night. Would definitely recommend to anyone nervous about trying reuseables to swap in the overnight nappy.
Oh brilliant, this makes a lot of sense! And good to hear about Little Lamb as I’ve not used theirs xx
Hi Alex
You inspired us and we bought several in the Aldi baby event last time! Thank you! Due in a few weeks so can’t wait to get started. We’re going to use liners initially and my question is, do you put the liners in a nappy bag and then a special nappy bin?! I won’t to avoid an additional bit of waste but I presume you can’t just put the liner in the bin otherwise it will stink the house out?!
Thanks again
I flush the poo away then put the liner in the bin, or we had a nappy bin in her room for a while which trapped odours. Often now we throw liners etc straight into the outside bin x
Thank you for sharing this article, quality overall content, high-end images, I hope you will continue to share better articles in the future.
Love this lost! You’re totally right, it’s not up to us to justify using them. The number of people that are appalled by my choice and think I’m ignorant about the true cost of them 🙄🙄🙄
It really is exhausting.
Just on the nappy liners, we use reusable ones, just cut from microfleece fabric (no sewing involved as they don’t fray). They’re great as they stay in place much better than the bamboo one + they’re reusable.
Love this article ❤️