Reusable nappy advice

[Jwinter]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone had any reusable nappy advice. My first baby is due in May and I would love to use reusables once baby is a few weeks old. My main concern is how people have found the whole washing and drying process? My best friend has just given up on using them as she was finding hers were taking up to 3 days to dry and her house was constantly looking like the local laundry - I'm wondering if this is common or just the brand/ type she was using? I live in a flat and we cannot dry laundry on our balcony so I'm worried about how long people have found the drying process and if it's become more of a chore. Also has anyone used laundry services? They only seem to be once a week and I'm unsure if that's regular enough?? Any advice on this would be much appreciated.

Jenna

[Convex]

If you don't have a dryer or a likely spot (we have a very sunny room where they dry pretty quickly) then you can choose a type that are quick drying. Eg minkee ones I think dry very quickly.

I'd really recommend you go to the nappy lady website and fill in a questionnaire, she will know everything that's available and recommend you something that suits you.

I found the washing etc no drama, but my 1st son used to poo through disposables and so it was either washable nappies or wash 100s of changes of clothes.

I had enough nappies to do 2 washes a week, maybe 3.

[Pickle]

I used cloth nappies for all 3 of my kids (and for over a year had two children in them at once due to a small age gap between my first and second children). We don't have a tumble drier and I never had a problem. I used minkee style nappies (Itti Bitti and Blueberry) which were fast drying - in winter I tended to put the bamboo inner on radiators and they dried very quickly.

I had enough nappies to last 3 days or so, which made the washing seem like less of a chore. I loved using cloth, and my children all potty trained relatively easily which I'm sure is in part due to using cloth nappies.

If you're interested in a few sample nappies (6 months onwards) I still have all of mine in the loft!

[Pickle]

I would also add, with my first child I didn't start using cloth until he was about 7 months old. By that stage (post weaning) they use far less nappies in a day and it's pretty straightforward. I used them from birth with both of my girls by which point I was a lot more confident, but you do need a lot more nappies for the early months.

[sanity girl]

I got on well with the bumgenius flip nappies for my son - very fast drying outer and microfibre inserts. I also liked the bambino mio all in ones - also microfibre and fast drying. I had to dry everything inside on a clothes airer - no tumble drier. I used disposables for the first two months then moved onto cloth - much preferred it. My big tip is to give them cold rinse in the machine before you wash them, and use very little powder detergent (not ecover - something like daz is good) in the wash, with an extra rinse cycle at the end. A build up of detergent can make them smell. I liked to wash at 60 degrees to get them really clean.

[Jwinter]

Thanks everyone this is really helpful advice all much appreciated. I will have a look at the nappy lady website too. I think waiting till our baby is at least a few months old will help as most of you have found.

Thanks again all

Jenna