Would be really grateful if you could post your experiences of terry vs shaped reusable nappies. Shaped is going to work out more expensive, obviously, but is the initial expense worth it for the convenience in your opinion?

Thanks ladies

Hi there you!!!!!!!

Well, I have no experience of terries so can't help with that bit.

We went with Bambino Mio - for 2 reasons, first we got a sample set from our local council and so could try them without any outlay and they suited Max and us down to the ground so that was obv important and secondly they were one of the cheapest shaped nappies we could find.

We got a birth to potty set (once we had tried the free trial pack - would never have spent out that much without knowing they were suitable!) from kiddicare for about 200 quid - yes yes it was a HUGE outlay at the time but it has absolutely been worth it (went on the credit card until we paid it off) and they are very easy to fold, use, wash etc etc.

Added bonus is that his nursery is prepared to use them - may sound random but thought I would mention it as if baby is going to need to go to childcare and they won't use the nappies then it makes it even more expensive - I hadn't even thought of it but onlyw hen we went to look round thought of it!

Anyway - hth!

Thanks CC, that does indeed help Hadn't thought about the nursery thing - presumably they don't like having to fold terries or something?

I anticipated that initial outlay for the shaped ones might be around the £200 mark, but as you say that's nothing when you think how much you'd throw at disposables. How many nappies did that include?

Further question if anyone is able to answer: for the shaped nappies which you buy a separate waterproof outer layer for, how many outer layers do you need? One for every couple of inners, for example, or fewer?

25+5

This is the set we bought:
http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_34_10751_-1__16843_10001_
and with regards to your covers question - we have never needed more covers than were in this set as you don't need to change themat every nappy change.

Don't really know why some nurseries don't like using them we send ours prefolded but the one i questioned about it said they didn't like the idea of having wet cloth nappies in a bucket for the day but as i pointed out they had a bucket of dirty disposables so whar's the difference?

That kind of thing looks ideal. One last daft question if that's ok: what do you mean when you say you send yours to nursery prefolded? Don't those come folded and ready to go? Thanks

No the bambino mio's have a flat cotton square 'nappy' and then a shaped waterproof cover ( see: http://www.bambinomio.com/v06/nap/nap.cgi and also if you click on the 'nappy system' tab and then user guide it shows you different folds.)
So you fold the cotton nappy (different ways to suit different babies) so we send ours folded and with a liner wrapped round so they just slip inside the cover and then velcro on - don't know if that makes sense but if you look at the website hopefully it will.
They are dead easy - I just fold all mine when they are washed and dried and stack them on his chest of drawers ready to grab and use.

Oh that's good, so they're sort of a halfway house. Expect having a regular shape makes good use of the drying space, too. Lots to think about - thanks!

Hi, why would the nursery put washables in a bucket? My LO goes my mums & she puts them in the sented nappy bags I give her (which I save to use again or use in my little bathroom bin!).
My MIL works at a nursery & she says the younger staff moan about the washable ones but she has no problems with them. I have a friend who just puts disposables in for nursery as she is worried they might accidently bin one of her washables! I'd give em hell if they binned one of mine!
I like my terries as you can shape them/change the fold to suit the bb rather than having to go up a size as with most preshaped nappies, when LO is going to stay at either grannies I always send them prefolded with liners etc.
I like preshaped for when LO is older & a wriggler as it can be easier to put on & there's no folded nappy to fall apart when they kick/scramble/crawl away!
Terries are great for drying really really quickly, my preshaped nappies take a whole day on the line to dry & sometimes longer for the bamboo ones if it hasn't been the best day weather wise.
xxx

I've never tried terries - I must admit that the shaped nappies won me over for easiness and cuteness! Personally I find the shaped velcro nappies are easier too as I found the nappy nippas a bit faffy adn I'm all for an easy life!! Now Cole is getting very very wiggly at nappy changes I'm glad I have the shaped velcro ones as its bad enough trying to fix a nappy and wrap on him .. wouldn't fancy having to faff with a nippa or pin at the same time!!

Definately worth getting in touch with your local council to see if they have a grant towards reusables and if they have nappy councillers that can show you samples and offer advice and trial packs to hire.

Hm..annoyingly though I never thought to ask nursery about whether they'll use the reusable nappies. Can't see why they wouldn't if I send them all ready to use and send a bag to send them home in, and obviously disposables for spares. Nursery are gonna hate me cause i've already asked them about putting him on the potty after nappy changes and meals and now i'll be wanting them to use the reusables too!!

Hmm, lots of different advice! I suppose the answer is different things suit different babies, and mummies. Looks like I'm either going to have to bite the bullet and spend a few hundred quid outright and live with my choice, or faff about road testing different types and brands. Have looked on my council's website but they don't seem to do any kind of scheme. Perhaps I'll post a WANTED: various nappies! on Freecycle and practise on a teddy bear before deciding....

26 weeks today

I used terry on my 1st 9yrs ago as I dont think there were any shaped nappies at the time (at least I dont think there were) and got along fine with them at the time. this time around I am using totsbots and have to admit I wouldnt go back to terrys. Reasons for this....

Terry....
..are not as absorbant
..leak
.. constantly buying new plastic knickers cause they would rip or go crunchy or stain.
... fiddly
... pin used to scare the life out of me luckly I had a girl but my aunt story still sends a shudder (she managed to stick the pin thru my cousin !!) so if you do decide on them put your hand under the nappy to make sure you prick yourself not your baby.

my only fault with the totsbots is that the velcro is starting to come appart but I think that might be a fault as my 1st size was fine I had not probs so i might have been sold a rejected batch.

they are easy to use they are shaped so my baby can walk around as normal as she does in a disposable. they only other down fall I'm having is my daughter has discovered how to pull off her nappy so I have to make sure her vest is constantly done up so she cant get to it. I learned not to foget to do that after her peeing on the floor ((nice))

I havent tried any other brand so wouldnt be able to tell you which one is best but I do like the totsbots and would recomend the colour ones I had the white ones in the 1st size and they did discolor, also the fleece liners are brill and absorb that bit more I got 7 and tend to use them for the night.