I borrowed the kit from the council and had a good look through all of them, we decided that the mother-ease ones would work best, there were 2 of those in there (well, one actual mother-ease and one like it) so they both went in those overnight and both had dry clothes this morning!

We said we couldn’t really give it a fair trial with only 2 nappies so I went to our real nappy shop and spent what I would have done on 6 weeks worth of disposables - if after 6 weeks we don’t want to continue then we won’t have lost anything. The council gave us a bag with 7 size one tots-bots that they’d been given to donate to the next person that wanted them and there were a couple of outers there too..  The nappy shop had some second hand ones, 7 one-life (like mother-ease) ones that had been washed but never used for £35, 6 motherease of which 3 were like new and 3 were more used but not stained, just looked older!  They were £15 for the 6..  Then someone else was selling 6 more size one tots-bots with 6 outers for £16.  Complete with nappy bucket, a couple more outers and a 10% discount it came to about £65.

We’ve so far got 13 mother-ease type ones and 13 tots-bots. The tots-bots are too big though??  They’re the old style I think as they fasten with Velcro rather than poppers..  She’s 9lb 5oz now, what weight is she likely to fit in them?  

Be interesting to see how we get on!  The trial nappies I’m going to take back tomorrow so we don’t get them muddled in with ours so those nappies are whirring round our washing machine at the moment!

How many outers am I likely to need?  I’d rather get ones now that are size adjustable, the whole point of mainly using the mother-ease is one size will fit either child so it will be less confusing for hubby, would be nice to get the same with outers if possible?

hi.

If the tots bots are too big for your DD2 then they must be size 2s.

They will fit her once she is about 6 months old.

If you dont mind them being bulky you can put her in them now, but you’ll have to fold the front down and use nappy nippas to secure them, since they are velcro.

You will probably need 2 or 3 sizes of waterproof wraps. And you’ll need at least 2 or 3 in each size. I’ve read that you can reuse the same wrap just wipe over the inside with a damp cloth, and keep using it for the day, put a fresh one on at the ‘before bed’ nappy change (thus needing two for a day, and one to use the next morning whilst the others are being washed and dried); however with mine I found that often the leg binding would get damp so the whole thing had to be changed. So I had around 6 wraps.

Having used tots bots nappies and motherease wraps and loving them, I then used Wonderoos and Bluberries, because they are pocket nappies (waterproof outer, fleece lined/inner, and you stuff them with shaped removable cloth boosters).  I chose these because I needed a quick drying nappy which was soft (I didnt have a tumble dryer, and tots bots towelling nappies can be quite scratchy if not tumbled). I did consider Motherease but didnt find them absorbant enough without a lot of boosting.

That said, Having tried lots, I’m pretty sure that were I to have another baby I would probably buy organic unbleached Motherease for use from birth (they are absorbant enough when regularly changing a small baby, just not for older toddlers who do a lot of wee in one go, ime), and then also use the Wonderoos and Blueberries I have, once the baby was eating solids and had solid poo (lol, sorry, TMI).

So, not meaning to confuse you; I’d personally get 3 or 4 (or 5 lol) wraps to fit your DD2 now and for the next few months (I think wraps are sized approx. 8 to 12 or 15lb IIRC), and see how you get on with the 2 piece ones. Then you can decide whether to get the next size of wraps, or whether to sell some/all of the nappies and buy some stuffables/pocket nappies. The pocket nappies also tend to be birth-potty nappies, fasten with poppers, and are perhaps the easiest, and least confusing kind to use, as they don’t require a seperate outer, and you can pre boost/stuff them to make it easier for other people to change them.

If you use fleece wraps during the day, you can make one last all day providing your baby doesn’t have a leaky poo,as fleece is water resistant, so the bindings don’t get damp. I use them as grace is sensitive to pul.

Angie

I used to use fleece wraps at night sometimes

How do you get on with the baby in a sling etc though? Just asking because I know the wee can wick through the fleece if its touching absorbant fabric (ie if sat in a sling, wearing tight trousers/jeans etc)

Tots Bots do sound like they are Size 2 and it is possible to fold down and use the velcro though I’ve not seen this done just been told it’s possible by another advisor.

Wraps - rule of thumb is generally one on one in wash and one for spare/leak.  I personally had at least 4wraps.

Fleece wraps in slings - I’ve a friend who makes fleece soakers and only uses these on her LO and is a bigtime babywearer (she owns at least 10 slings) she has never had a wet sling or moisture wick in the soaker due to a wet nappy and her LO is a heavy wetter.

Sunflower - 22 July 2010 03:21 PM

How many outers am I likely to need?  I’d rather get ones now that are size adjustable, the whole point of mainly using the mother-ease is one size will fit either child so it will be less confusing for hubby, would be nice to get the same with outers if possible?

Probably too late now, but Nature Babies do birth to potty wraps. 5-6 should be enough. I’ll PM you a link.

Thanks for the link!

Turns out the TBs were size 1 (once I found the label!  :blush: ) but she was such a skinny minnie that was why they didn’t fit, they do beautifully now! 

We’re rolling along nicely now, motherease for dd1 and a combination of mainly totsbots for dd2 with the odd onelife thrown in!  Hubby is getting on well with them too and it’s gradually becoming more second nature to him!

I’m guessing dd2 will be out of the TBs at 6 months or so?  Hubby really likes the fact they are sposie shaped and fasten with Velcro so is keento get some of these in a size 2, anyone selling any preloved ones with Velcro fasteners?

I only use fleece wraps, and am a heavy sling wearer - the trick is to get used to checking the nappy far more regularly than with a PUL wrap or ‘sposie. If the nappy gets totally soaked then yes, it will wick through, but most nappies should be able to contain one heavy wee without the wrap wicking. With my husband’s propensity to excema I don’t like to leave grace in a wet nappy long enough for her to wee twice, so fleece works really well for us. Sometimes you do feel a slight dampness, but it’s not exactly wet, and it’s in honesty you can feel the consistency of the nappy through the wrap anyway, and that’s a much better indicator of whether the nappy is wet - they tend to go a bit lumpy when wet…..

I’m not sure I’m explaining it well - try one and see how you get in - it’s by far the easiest way of figuring it all out!

Angie

Thank you - it does make sense!  I also have eczema and dd1 had dreadful dreadful eczema so we’re treating dd2 as if she will too given the immunologists said she was 80% likely to get it!  I must admit I change her every 3 hours still at least anyway!