Have you still used cloth nappies when you've gone away (on holidays)??

[Frangipani]

Hi,

Just curious who's continued to use cloth when you've gone away on holidays.

We're planning a trip away for about 1 week away at the end of this month and I've got a toddler and newborn in MCN's. We're driving to our destination, with a sleep over in a caravan park or hotel half way (both there and back). Then whilst there we will be staying with family, but don't know what they have in the way of line room (they have 2 children so imagine they'd always have their line full like i do) or even a clothes dryer in case it rains. So was thinking i might have to resort to disposables

Would you continue to do cloth or would you do disposables too?

[Ryatha]

We went away at christmas for 2.5 weeks and stayed at a caravan park. DH and I thought we would try the cloth while we were away and it worked really well. We took our own clothes racks and took enough nappies that I washed every 1.5-2 days. As long as we kept up with them we didn't have any dramas.

Maybe call the relatives and ask them if it would be ok for you to use their machine while you are there and see if there is anywhere to put a rack undercover somewhere? GL

[Indadhanu]

Yep we used cloth when we went away for about a week. We used disposables while travelling but once we had access to a washing machine we were using cloth. It was easy, we just had to remember to do it which wasn't too hard if we put them on first thing in the morning and took them off in the afternoon.

Why not ask them about line space or a clothes dryer so you can plan. They'll either say yes or no.

[Kazbah]

We took cloth away with a toddler for 5 days to a caravan park and it was fine. Took a large box and used that for everything. Caravan parks have washing machines and we dried them in the parcel shelf of our car while driving.

Other times we've had more trips and used bamboo sposies.

[MrsB26]

I love my boys clothy bum but i'm going to go the other way and say that when we are on holidays i use sposies. When we went away to a caravan park this year for a week it was just so much easier. We didnt have the best weather anyway and it was going to cost me $4 to use the washer and another $3 for the dryer (no way we got enough good sun to dry nappies) so i was glad we didnt do cloth. I will admit i felt guilty but i soon got over it!
We will be away for another week this june and i will be doing the same thing - spossies (which i dont even have to buy this time as i still have 3/4 of a pkt left!)

[sneakysparkle]

I haven't done cloth while away - usually because all the nappies take up too much luggage space! When flying with 2 toddlers I think theres enough gear without carting nappies too.
But I did miss it - sposies feel so gross and plastic-y after using cloth!

[Arimeh]

Yup on holidays I use cloth. Easy if you are going somewhere where there is a washing machine - but always - ALWAYS - use a liner if there isn't a little squirt handy

[Gigi]

i think if you are organised to do it, and plan for it, it can happen.

But if organising and planning for it, is not on the agenda, i wouldn't.

e.g you're driving
If the luggage is organised, so that the nappy bag/s are ALWAYS accessible, on top - it'll be ok.
i would take hand sanitiser for the nappy changes you'll do, when there is no tap to wash your hands. Take ALL your wetbags with you. An extra large wetbag (pail liner size) is great to act as a pretend nappy bucket. I have read of some people using an old esky, as the "back of the car nappy bucket", especially as they have the lockable metal bits.

For at the caravan park/relatives, i consider packing
- the mild detergent you use at home
- a travel clothesline (two bits of elastic cord, entwined around each other, so you don't need pegs) and with a hook at each end. that way, you won't worry about taking up all the line space at your relative's house.
- flushable liners for your toddler
- quick dry mcn e.g pockets and all in twos for the toddler, prefolds and covers for the newborn, plus night nappies for the toddler, again i would take the pocket and all in two style night nappies (in preference)

i would put the newborn in disposables whilst travelling at least. Mainly cos i did ALL the nb nappying stage with a Little Squirt, and cannot imagine doing it without one. Whereas i flew interstate with a two year old and DID survive without the LS, cos the flushable liners were so excellent.

BTW, i would suggest Bummi or Tots bots flushable liners, they were so much better and softer than other brands we tried out.

I totally agree about the frequent washing, i once had to leave my nappies THREE DAYS and boy was the amonia bad when i washed them! had to do TWO intensive washes to get them back to normal.

i would communicate BEFORE you leave with your relatives, to make sure they are ok with you washing nappies in their machine. The less "hidden surprises" you have, the better. Everything is different in another environment, but in a relatives house, you have the added dynamics of people.

Also, driving along, on a long drive, i have read that some people lay out a beach towel over all the luggage in the back, then lay out the just washed mcn ontop of that, so that whilst driving along, the nappies get dried (i presume they mean a 4WD, or station wagon, or hatchback - where there is a big back window, not a boot.

heaps of posts and threads on this topic, on Nappycino. From people who have backpacked thru Europe, used MCN on long haul flights, washed nappies without washing machines when staying in places where laundry facs were very exxy, camped in places where there is no water, every type of holiday you can imagine (with MCN). it's pretty inspiring.

we flew interstate, collected hire car at airport, and stayed in same motel for three nights - with one two year old - so that is my personal experience. but i read up HEAPS on nappycino, to find out what other parents did, travelling with MCN, got heaps of great tips. i was worried BEFORE we went, felt alot better once we got going, it wasn't as hard as i thought it would be.

My child's father thought we should buy disposables for the trip, i refused, due to my dd's skin irritations to disposables.

[~Kim~]

Until this trip I've always used cloth while we were away on both kids and we travel a lot.
Make sure you take your nappy bucket though.

[Nettie]

I've done both.

First time, we flew to Qld to stay with my Dad for 5 days. We used disposables for the last day there (so I could go home with all clean nappies) - but other than that, we were in cloth.

Second time - we drove over to Melbourne and we have a small hatchback. So we decided to do disposables for that trip. Glad we did. Trip was hard enough to find accommodation with a cot - let alone washing facilities too!

[Frangipani]

Thanks for the replies.

See the thing that i keep thinking is that because i have 2 in cloth, my system is that i wash every day because i have so many going (put them on in the morning, bring in at night- sometimes with a quick finish in the dryer because they are bamboo and take a little longer to dry. I'm fairly sure they don't have a dryer where we're going too.

Also we won't have much room in the car as we have to take our own bedding (well something for DH & I that is- trying to avoid having to buy a blow up mattress so maybe an old futon mattress- which will take up room in the car- unless we can come up with a better idea), sheets and doona's, as well as porta cot for DS2, lots of clothes (as it'll be rather cold there then), the usual- pram, some toys etc...wow- thinking we might need to hire a trailer at this rate-

But keep these replies coming, i can slowly be convinced it is possible to continue with cloth without too much disruption...maybe . The more i hear what others do the more i can convince myself.

Thanks again.

[Ryatha]

I just remembered that when DD2 was about 4 months old I went camping with her for a hens weekend. It had NO facilities at all, no running water, long drops, no electricity - NADA! I took her nappy bucket and enough nappies for the weekend and I just washed them when I got home. It was pretty easy. Like Gigi said, you want to be pretty organised.

[*Beema*]

Yeap, we have been on a few holdidays and used cloth all the way, except if we thought me may be pushed for time for a nappy change and would put a dippy on.

We flew to Melbourne for a weekend, stayed in a hotel. Rises Pooey one's well and wet bagged everything.

Brisbane/Gold Coast, stayed in an appartment, and we wet bagged while travelling and washed at the appartment, dippies only when we thought we'd be pusshed for a nappy change, but DD did a lovely poo just as we took off (I was flying with her alone) and learnt the joy's of changing a nappy in the tiny toilet cubicles

Sydney, Central Coast, stayed with my godparents, so washed them while we were there and then a night is Sydney and just wetbagged those ones.

It wasn't that difficult at all and defintitely worth sticking with them while travelling, they do take up more room in the bags

HTH's xxoo

[maz]

We did QLD from Victoria and did cloth the whole time..that included a 3 yo and 7yo in cloth at night.

[Brotherly_Love <3]

Nope I've always taken the cloth with me. I just find a laundromat and try hang them somewhere, or else I end up using a dryer!

[alioops]

We drove 5 days each way to Adelaide. We used sposies for the drive but cloth when we got there. It worked o but I do need to warn you.... Make sure the bucket comes inside. I though our bucket was empty hence DH leaving it in the garage.... It wasn't. It had a night nappy and another nappy that wasn't such a big deal. Thankfully I have managed to save the night nappy, but it is stained.