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 Fairtrade Jacket There seem to have been lots of programmes on TV recently about FairTrade goods… and rightly so.
It wasn’t that long ago that I happily bought cheap disposable fashion from supermarkets, but I can’t quite bring myself to do that anymore. I have always like charity shops, but that was mainly because I like a bargain. FairTrade clothes, I thought, weren’t really to my taste- not that I am particularly fashionably myself. All tassels and brightly coloured stripes. That may have been true in the past, but things have really come on.
Sainburys do affordable T-shirts, as do Marks and Spencers, but while “surfing” (I must have too much time on my hands!) I have founds some lovely fair trade clothes. I’m very taken with this fairtrade jacket. Gorgeous, and pretty good at hiding my post baby wobbly belly!
And I can see Rowan looking very cuddly in this super cute FairTrade suit!
I bought a few of these for Sam to use at night. I loved them, but they shrank and he grew out of his size 2s by the time he was 20lb. I bought a few more recently for Rowan, and the problem seems to have been solved. Sam can wear these too, and he’s nearly 3!
I have the size 2 fasten free version- so that the front can be folded down and used from birth to potty training. I really like the design and fit of these. Really excellent poo containment. Rowan likes to store his up, and then explode – no leaks if he’s wearing these! I also don’t find them that bulky on a new born- not for a one-sized nappy.
On the down side, they take a while to dry- not ages, but a while. And again, they are made from long-pile terry so do go a bit crunchy and hard, especially where the elastic is.
I don’t think they will last as long as my little ewe squares- I guess there is more to go wrong on them. The material does seem a little thinner. Not sure a one-size version would last for 2 children. I only use them at night- along with disposables, so can’t answer that question.
I was given a pack of these by my sister-in-law, as she bought a load and didn’t get on with them!
They are 60×60cm, so supposed to be birth to potty, but they really wouldn’t last. They lost their shape and went rectangular very quickly. I just couldn’t fold them big enough. They are also quite thin, so wouldn’t be absorbent enough on more than a new born.
On the positive side, they were less bulky than my other squares (Little Ewes) and, because the terry has a shorter pile, stays much softer. I really liked these on a new born, but not a good buy in the long run. I now use them as burp clothes with my younger baby, and boosters in Sam’s night nappy.
I’m very grateful that I was given these, but I wouldn’t buy too many.
My husband very kindly added this blog to my site, and is quite upset that I haven’t written anything yet. The problem is that I really didn’t know what to write! He said- write anything, so, I decided to write a diary of a real nappy user- warts and all. At the moment I have 2 children in cloth. Sam is nearly 3, and I am hoping to get him potty trained soon. I will let you know how I get on- not too well so far! Rowan is now 12 weeks old. He has much more sensitive skin than Sam, and we are having problems with nappy rash. I think part of the problem is that I am over-loading the washing machine, so that nappies aren’t rinsing properly. They are a bit smelly, so detergent build up would make sense.
I use little ewe 60×60 cm terry squares on both of them, and either disposables or cotton tots bots at night. There’s the intro, so will add bits as they happen!
These are 100% unbleached cotton, with a bias binding, designed so that they don’t loose their shape. They come in a few sizes, my squares are 60×60 cm, so are designed to fit from birth to potty training.
I decided to go for terry squares because we were on a tight budget, needed something that dried quickly and I wanted nappies made from natural fibres. These tick all those boxes. Coupled with second hand wraps (I mainly went for motherease ones) I had a very affordable, and reliable nappy system.
When new, these very beautifully soft. I couldn’t stop stroking them! Cotton terry does go quite crunchy though, especially in hard water areas. This sometimes bothers me. I just use large fleece liners, so the bit next to the skin is soft.
As with many birth to potty nappies, these are pretty bulky on a new born. I sometimes used muslin squares instead in the very early days. My Little Ewes still fit my nearly 3 year old though. Sam grew out of my Motherease one-size (MEOS) nappies months ago. I do need to add a booster to these, especially if he has been drinking lots.
If you are considering terry squares, I really would recommend these. They have kept their shape pretty well- this is really important. If they are even a bit rectangular, then squares are very difficult to fold. They are really quite absorbent too- absolutely fine for during the day. They last 4 hours plus. They have lasted really well too- heavy use for 3 years. I’m sure they are not as thick as they were, but still going strong. No fraying edges. I’m sure they will last for baby number 2. Much better than high street squares. If getting terry squares, then it’s worth getting decent ones.
I find them pretty easy to use, but they do need folding. I quite like this actually because I can try different folds to change the fit. Sometimes I get bored with these. There are much prettier nappies out there. I have given way to temptation before, got a fab looking nappy, and then gone back to my boring old squares- they are just so reliable!
Is anyone doing anything for RNW this year? I am arranging a stall at a baby group I go to- hopefully will get a little more interest than last year!
If anyone is running anything that you would like advertising, you can always use the “Nappy Events” section on the main site (it’s free).
http://www.thenappysite.co.uk/nappy-events-nappuccino/
Hope that helps
The WAHM shops are quite a new feature.
There are now two sections. The first is for people who make their own products, anything from handmade nappies, to original artwork. These must contain at least 80% homemade items. The other is for retailers, either a WAHM who sells nappies from their home (not homemade), or a small business. Both sections work in the same way. Many of the shops have their own website already, so are using their space as a directory entry, having just one page with a link to their site.
The service is free for a year, and included in the offer is a banner that appears on thenappysite. See here for more details.
There is a help and support section in the nappysite forum.
The articles section has been set up to offer help and advise about using real nappies, from which ones to buy, to how to wash and use them.
Choosing the right cotton nappy for you can be a daunting decision- there are almost too many to choose from! Yes, using cloth saves you money, but they are expensive in the first place, and at a time when money may be short! This is why I set up the forum and nappy reviews. Read what other cloth users think about cotton nappies on the market, and feel free to ask any questions.
Anyone is welcome to read the forum, but in order to post, you need to register. The registration is separate from the main site, but you can use the same user name and password if you wish.
This is the main reason why thenappysite was set up- a place to re-home your cotton nappies- all for free- free listing and no commission to pay.
As many people know, Ebay don’t allow the sale of second hand nappies anymore, and it seems a shame that a product designed to be reusable, can’t be passed on to someone else. Not that environmentally friendly either!
How much to ask for?
Some real nappies are more popular than others and have a better second hand value, but as a general rule, the most I would pay for a used nappy is half RRP. For that I would expect the nappy to be in very good condition. If a cotton nappy has just been pre-washed, or literally used a couple of times, you may be able to ask for more. Sometimes the nappies you are trying to sell are being sold off somewhere new at a reduced price- maybe a newer style is coming out- this would effect the price you would get. Nappies that are affordable in the first place, for example, terry squares or pre-folds, don’t have such a good second hand value, as once the postage is added, it’s almost not worth it. Many people who use thenappysite put a suggested price on, but then except reasonable offers.
How to use the used nappy ads
Selling used nappies: You need to be a member of the nappy site first, then log in and press “add advert”. You have a chance at the bottom of the page to choose with category to put your nappy ad in. Please delete the ad when the item is sold. Your ad will appear for 4 weeks, but then can be re listed at the click of a button.
Buying used nappies: Simply browse the ads, you don’t need to be a member. If you can’t find what you want, then you can place a wanted ad- you will need to be a member to do this.
I hope you find this service useful, and you find good new homes for your second hand real nappies!
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