Making use of old nappies... What would you do?

I have been given a bumper load of old nappies from my step-sister. Whilst I am thankful to have the chance to play with different styles at no cost, my hubby is being a complete scroodge and doesn't want me to buy any others!

This is what I'm dealing with:
- A whole pile of babybeehind cloths (cotton/synthetic blend) which look really tatty (rips in the fabric around the studs etc) - apparently they're 7 years old & they smell like it too
- A few woollen covers with poo stains on the edging around the legs (not sure how to get the stains out)!
- A whole pile of synthetic all-in-one pocket nappies in ok to good condition (mostly with studs but some velcro) some are one-sized
- A few synthetic covers in ok condition
- A LOT of boosters of various types, in all different fabrics (bamboo, cotton, micro fibre)

What I really wanted is organic cotton nappies that are one-sized, with velcro. I don't really like pockets, I prefer pop-in boosters. My mum is going to make woollen covers so all-in-one isn't important to me.

This is my first baby, and I'm feeling pretty down about having to use all these hand-me-downs that I know I don't like the style of (or the fact that they are synthetic). What should I do?

if they're in reasonable condition you could sell them on at a low price or give them away if you really don't want them.
For damaged ones, you can cut out the absorbent part and make boosters.

They really only last so long - if they're ripped or the elastic is gone, etc, then they actually won't be much use to you. I'd just buy more.

Yep, what Mad B said. They do have a life span. If you really want to save them try giving the ones without rips a soak overnight in a tub full of eco washing powder, then strip wash them and then lots of sun.

Aslo, not sure you'll find many organic cotton AI2's. Bamboo and hemp are far more absorbant and have antibacterial properties.

After 7 yrs i think i would send them to the great nappy bucket in the sky.. They have done their job, pull out anything savable.

There is much more Hemp and Bamboo around these days than just cotton, as its just much more absorbent and snaps will outlast velco not many fitteds use velcro as it picks up lint and looses its 'stick', but if you are getting woolies made than something like Motherease (all cotton), Bamboo delights, Babybehinds fitteds are all easy to get and a great investment. Its a false economy to try and use past it nappies and have to fall back on sposies if they are not up to the job.

Thanks for your advice ladies!

I felt much more empowered to tell hubby that they're not worth keeping around and used your reasons to explain to him! I have salvaged more of the snap in inserts from the yuckiest ones, and had another play with the very few baby beehinds that are still holding together. The old BB's don't really have anything else worth salvaging from them, even the fabric is wearing thin. I can see what you mean, that they really are going to rip and fall apart soon anyway.

A positive is that I hadn't realised that the BB's are so adjustable for a smaller baby. I was also turned off them as I prefer to avoid bamboo because of the way it is chemically processed, but I didn't realise that some of the BB's I have are the hemp fitted and so are only hemp and cotton! So these may be a good option for me when I get a few new ones. I also like the Motherease organic cotton fitteds. Thanks for the suggestion!

It's good to know that snaps are a better choice than velcro. All I had to go on is these horrific old things that the snaps are tearing out of, but if you say velcro usually fares worse then I'll take your advice!

I'll try giving them all a gooooood soak too and chuck them out if they are still smelly and dirty!

I also sorted them all by type and showed hubby how much more fiddly the pockets are to use (sorry, I'm not a fan) over the pop-in boosters and that turned him off using them. Prior to that he'd said "well even if you get new ones, I'm using these" - not anymore! We agreed to keep them around as backups but that I can get some new ones! I'm so pleased! I'll look at selling them if we're not using them a few months in.

So now I have to decide between BB's hemp fitteds, or Motherease organic cotton fitteds. If you know of any other affordable options that are onesies in only hemp or cotton I'd love to hear what you think! I had looked at the Disana tie nappies but I think they must be a choking hazard.

Thanks so much again for your opinions. :D

For cost savings there are second hand mcn sites on fb, where ppl are selling nappies of much better quality. They have to say how the elastic is going, if there are any stains and their condition.

Pockets can be bit fiddlier to put together, but they are easier to get poos off because you have a single surface to scrape or rinse rather than the folds and creases of inserts. I have all sorts in my stash and they all have advantages and disadvantages.

I would try both before buying up. I found I like both the BBHs and the pockets for different situations. It changed from when she was tiny to now too.

Secondhand MCNs can be great - I got a heap off Gumtree and some had only been washed (never used). Much cheaper!

Hmmm... Are the pockets still much of an advantage when using a nappy sprayer?

I'll go check out second hand mcn's. I guess I wasn't going to because this whole hand-me-down thing has turned me off! But if I could get near new that would be ok. I guess I might be able to get a discount with the nappy hunt on at the moment too?! I'll have to check that out.

I've used both sio and pockets with nappy sprayer - I find that while I only have one surface with the pockets there's still bits that are hard to get around the legs due to elastic. Yes there's multiple layers with snap ins but I find I tend to get poo out more with the sio.
(I prefer snap ins to pockets cause I hate stuffing them)

I prefer pockets, even with a nappy sprayer!

I loved ME cotton fitteds up til about 7 months, then BBHs were good after that.

Not sure if Imse Vimse still do organic cotton flannie flats, but I had some and they're lovely.

DreamEze used to do an organic cotton fitted that I quite liked. It's been discontinued, I think, in favour of bamboo, but they come up on 2nd hand sites from time to time.

It's great that you're informed on the pitfalls of bamboo - if the alternative is disposables, then it's a ridiculous argument, but if you can make the commitment to organic cotton and hemp, then I commend you! I do a bit of both.

I have some homemade AIOs and fitteds, I used bits of old BBH fitteds as boosters. They're bottom-of-the-stash backups, but they do the job! :D

Thanks Audax. My hubby loves bamboo (as in growing it!) so I just have a little of an idea about how it is used.. He thinks he'll be a bamboo farmer or something one day!! That & I probably tend to be a bit of an idealist! It's a good place to start anyway. :)

Leckert I can already tell I'm not a stuffer either! I guess it really is just what works for you. I'm still glad to have a few pockets in my stash though so that I can experiment with them once bub comes along & elimination challenges present themselves. ;)

I took your advice girls and I'm off to see some second hand mother ease nappies tomorrow. The lady who has them doesn't know what type they are though, so it may be a wasted trip!

Yep her nappy's were synthetic, but I did buy 6 of the BB hemp (near new) through Gumtree today, so feeling pretty happy with that! It was good to get a chance to feel the motherease nappies. They seem wide between the legs, but much softer than the BB's so I can see them fitting a smaller baby more comfortably than the BB's. So, I'm still keen to get some of those.

Audax, do you know if the BB's snap in boosters fit in the ME's? I forgot to check!

I really like the BBH hempies, but they were too big for my new baby. I started using them from about 4 mths when the slight bulkiness wasn't an issue. But I had little MCNs to use for the first few months and prefolds that did the trick.

Hmm.. Silly question I'm sure, but can I use prefolds inside knitted covers (shorties / longies)? I can see it working with those flat, open style woollen covers with velcro but can't picture how it would work with the traditional type that are knitted into a pant shape. I hope that makes sense!

What about a prefold inside a flat folded nappy and then a wool cover?

That's worth considering! I'll have to have a closer look at flat nappies. I don't think I can be bothered with traditional folding though!

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Yep her nappy's were synthetic, but I did buy 6 of the BB hemp (near new) through Gumtree today, so feeling pretty happy with that! It was good to get a chance to feel the motherease nappies. They seem wide between the legs, but much softer than the BB's so I can see them fitting a smaller baby more comfortably than the BB's. So, I'm still keen to get some of those.

Audax, do you know if the BB's snap in boosters fit in the ME's? I forgot to check!

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No idea. I am slightly anal about my Nappies so I don't mx boosters. But I love having a big stack of spare boosters. So handy.

Haha ok - I'm just trying to cheap out. I have a huge pile of boosters but most have bamboo/ synthetics in them, so am hoping I can make use of the bb hemp ones & use the rest for little emergencies! Thanks anyway!

If you want to do it really on the cheap, make your own out of old tshirts. There's plenty f free patterns about, and they're not very hard.

But I don't have any old organic cotton t-shirts! And maybe I'm not THAT cheap...yet!

Looking at the prefolds and flats was making me think about making some of those though. :)

Making prefolds is awesome. I made a stack out of a local laundry services discarded towels. They have been fabulous, first as prefolds, and later as pocket stuffers.

I think upcycled is kinder to the earth than brand new organic. So I wouldn't worry about your tshirts.

How old is your little one Mrs Holmes?

Oh good, thanks Audax! I'm still mulling over my options... What to buy, what to make. I think I'd like to get a prefold or two to try. I am really keen on using woollen nappy covers though and just don't see these working in combo too well!

My bub hasn't come along just yet - due end of Feb! Just getting as prepared as I can!

i think the combo would work fine on a small baby (who doesn't wiggle too much). ds was a summer baby, and a hot baby, so sometimes he was just in a prefold with a snappy, no cover. you can fold them in too if you don't want to use a snappy

Yep, prefolds and woollies work. I had some lovey bums covers that were great. My massive baby outgrew my prefolds pretty quickly though.

Haha! I guess that work out ok for me as I was really only thinking about using prefolds to get a better fit on a newborn as there are limited options for pure cotton & hemp. Any suggestions on a good brand or should I consider making them?