Re-usable Nappy Service in Wandsworth Post Reply

[shaneleone]

Hello -

Let me know how you go with Real Nappies for London and Wandsworth Council - would be great to get the council supporting this!

I did hear back from Hippy Happy Nappy via email - they said they've moved and BT haven't connected them yet, so their landline isn't working. I did also speak to Number One, but decided that the package from Hippy Happy sounded better to me, so I've taken the plunge and signed up with them. I am supposed to get my first delivery two weeks before my due date (Sept 1), and then the service will start after the baby comes. I'll let you know how it all goes. And hopefully we can get the council on board to make it that little bit more affordable!

Shannon

[Notyetamum]

Great news Shannon!

I spoke to Real Nappies earlier and they recommended Number 1 (after I said I couldn't get in touch with Hippy Happy).

Number 1 emailed me back to say that they service our area and that the nappies they use are the prefold bambino mio ones. I know you've already gone for Hippy Happy but thought it might still be of interest.

Great to know that Hippy Happy is working. Please let me know how you get on with their service and nappies. I'm due in early December so probably won't make a decision just yet.

Real Nappies gave me some pointers re the council so I'll be calling them tomorrow but it sounds as though the reason they are not yet part of the scheme is because they don't feel there is enough demand for real nappies in our area - a petition could therefore help our case.

[shaneleone]

Will definitely post a report on Hippy Happy after I've tried them for a bit. And hopefully we can get a petition to the council to be included in the Real Nappy scheme!

[shaneleone]

Hello
As promised - a short review on Hippy Happy Nappy, I'm also happy to answer questions, but please be patient, I'm not online all that much right now with a 6 week old.
I had trouble initially getting a hold of Hippy Happy as their line had been disconnected as they tried to set up a new number, but got through via email. I signed up for the initial two months (two months are required as a minimum at the start), and paid via google - but felt the initial communication from the company was poor. Although I had paid and registered, I didn't receive any welcome information or explanation, so the only way to find out anything out was to email any questions or queries I had. These were always answered, albeit briefly - one word answers, and only ever answering my question. THat was the only way I even found out when my first set of nappies would be delivered, I had to email and ask. After spending close to 200 pounds (100 pound returnable desposit + 2 months of premium service) - I expected a bit more communication.
However, the nappies were delivered, along with liners, a nappy pail and liner bags for the used nappies. Although we were provided with the smallest size, they didn't fit my son for a good few weeks. He was 7 lbs when he was born, and they are supposed to fit from 8 lbs, but we didn't really feel they worked until he was more like 9 lbs. The nappies are quite a bit bigger than disposables, so much so that he can't wear his tiniest outfits with them, but the bigger he gets, the less of an issue that is. And it is slightly more hassle to change him, but we feel it's worth it for the environmental benefits. They do get wet and are a little bulky, but he doesn't seem to mind, and the wet hasn't ever leaked through the nappy cover that goes on top. So we are pretty happy with them and they seem to be doing the job. I would also say that you are only provided with 42 nappies per week, and have to pay for additional nappies. If you are only going to use cloth, that will probably not be enough for a newborn - we started using them when our son was 5 weeks old, but used a combo of disposable for when we went out, visited grandparents, etc.
Hope that helps. We'll definitely be continuing the service, and only wish more parents considered using cloth. NOw if only we could get Wandsworth onboard with the real nappy scheme - to encourage others and to make it a little more financially viable!!!!

[Notyetamum]

Hi Shannon,

Congratulations on your baby! How's it all going? You must be pretty busy right now so thanks for taking the time to feedback on the nappy laundry service!

That's really disappointing to hear about the lack of comms from the company especially, as you said, when you take into account the costs involved and the nature of the service - most first-time customers will not be reusable nappy experts!

I'm still debating on whether to go with Hippy Happy Nappies or the other company that was suggested: Number 1 for nappies; Or in fact whether to buy the nappies and launder them myself (my husband's not too keen on that option!).

Can I ask you whether you have gone for the standard nappies or bamboo ones?

Glad to hear that you're getting on well with the nappies themselves, and will bear the weight / fit issue in mind when our baby arrives in the next few weeks. Sounds like a pack of disposable nappies might be a good idea to start off with in any case!

[shaneleone]

Thanks for the congrats, and it's going well - up and down and the last week has really been the toughest so far, but he's been an angel so far this afternoon and evening, so you never really know what the day will be like yet...

Yes, I was disappointed with the lack of communication BUT I really do love the nappies, and honestly cannot imagine having to wash them all myself. As it is, you will find yourself doing a TON more laundry than you thought possible, even without the nappies. Unfortunately, do to an illness in the company, we've also had our service canceled this week, so we're back to disposables for a week, which is disappointing and it was fairly last minute. But all that said, I would still very much recommend the company, the service and the nappies.

I chose the bamboo option - having to fold the nappies seemed like an extra hassle and the bamboo seemed to be a better option environmentally and for his skin. And I'm really happy with them. The bamboo option was part of the reason I chose Hippy Happy over Number 1. The prefolds at Number 1 are also more expensive than the prefolds at Hippy Happy (Number 1 doesn't offer the bamboo service) - and you have to pay for your own liners at Number 1, whereas Hippy Happy provides liners with the service. However, Number 1 does provide you with more nappies for newborns, and then starts to decrease as the baby gets older.

What I would honestly recommend though is starting out with disposable. First you have the meconium, which is pretty yucky - and you are also just dealing with recovery and figuring it all out AND unless you have a pretty big baby, I think you'll find the cloth nappies provided may be too big - although this may not be the case with prefolds. But I'd give yourself a few weeks to settle into your new role as a mum, and then go cloth. We started when our baby was 5 weeks. Good luck!

Any ideas how we can try to get Wandsworth on the Real Nappy scheme to get some cash back for using cloth??

[shaneleone]

and just one more comment on Hippy Happy - the service includes two wraps for the nappies, but the wraps they provided only fit up to 11 lbs - so my baby grew out of them after only using them for 1 week!! so I'd request larger wraps to start out with, esp since he didn't really fit into the nappies until he was about 9 lbs. he has been growing fast - about a lb each week, and we had the service cancelled for one week (see message above), but still...

[Notyetamum]

Thanks Shannon,

We were also thinking of the bamboo option so all this information really helps. I think I'll do as you suggested and use disposables for the first few weeks then start using the service.

[shaneleone]

Hello,

And on a final note - HIppy Happy has said they'll swap my wraps for the next size up. So all in all, I'm very pleased with the service - I like the bamboo diapers for their absorbant and anti-bacterial properties, as well as the environmental impact. At the moment, I can't imagine washing cloth nappies myself, esp as we don't own a tumble dryer, but as a brand new mum, I'm doing so much washing as it is. I've never tried the pre-folds, but the bamboo are really easy after you get used to it after the first couple of changes. And we've never had a blow-out using cloth, only with disposables.

I really do recommend Hippy Happy's service - last week when our service was cancelled due to an illness, the amount of rubbish we had to put out for the week was practically tripled! So I know I'm making the right choice using cloth, and wish more mums would consider it. Especially when it's the same cost as buying disposables! Now if only we could get Wandsworth onboard...

Good luck with your impending arrival!!!

[shaneleone]

PS - Based on our experience, I'd suggest using disposables until your baby weighs 8-9 lbs. That gives you a chance to get used to being a mum and settle in, most importantly. And although the Tots Bots size 1 are supposed to fit from 8 lbs, I found they really didn't work for my baby until he was closer to 9 lbs. I think you'll also appreciate how much space you're saving from a landfill when you switch!

[mumhug]

Hello,

just seen this thread. I've been usuing real nappies for my two year old since she was 5 months old - I meant to start sooner but was spoilt for choice with the range of real nappies and had a bad time trying to get feeding established.

I bought 12 birth to toddler nappies, 5 x wraps (+5 wraps in the bigger size), a roll of liners, reusable wipes, a pail and a pail liner (I launder myself and this means you don't have to pull them individually out of the bucket to put in the washer). If you are going to self launder and buy the nappies, I was really impressed with these people when it came to choosing the right real nappies for me: http://www.thenappylady.co.uk/

My nappies are still going strong and will be used for our second child when it arrives in January. Using real nappies and washing them ourselves was only a pain for the first 2 weeks till we got used to it. Our nanny also finds them easy to use. You use a tiny amount of soap powder (too much can cause a rash) with a few drops of tea tree oil to sanitise them. I wash them on a quick cycle of 60 degrees every 2-3 days. (I rarely put them in the dryer, as i bought ones that dry pretty quickly themselves - even in winter, though we have one of those very useful pulley maids, so everything dries pretty quickly!)

I use disposables for full day outings and holidays, but i've estimated that on 2 children i'll be saving about £1000 on nappies and wipes, based on them using then for 2 years each, plus it feels good not to be filling up landfill.

Apparently, each disposable costs the council 10p to get rid of (can't remember where i saw that) so they should at least follow the examples of other councils and offer grants towards the initial buying of cloth nappies.

Hope that helps - it can be a bit of a mindfield when you are getting started, but it's really easy when you get going.

[mamabel]

Hi
I have a 5 month old baby who has washable nappies - when I looked into it the Council did not have any sort of nappy scheme.

I found Babykind website really helpful - they offer a nappy trial so you can try out a whole range of different nappies before deciding what suits you best. There was always someone helpful at the end of the phone/email for advice etc

[Notyetamum]

Thanks for all the lovely advice, it reinforces my wanting to go down the re-usable nappy route!

I'll have a look at the websites you suggested and see about trialling the different brands of nappies and see how I go.

In the meantime, I'm going to try contacting the council again. Surely if we all get together we could get them to join the scheme?

[brihoney]

If you are using disposables with your newborn, and want to go for a bit more eco than the gel based pampers, I would recomend Bambo Nature - for my boy who had fairly chunky legs, the smallest size (mini) fitted fine with very rare leaks and performed better than pampers.

I used a weird collection of different washables - some I'd got on freecycle, some little lamb wraps and good old fashioned terry's squares with the new plastic hook alternatives to safety pins. I washed them myself and didn't find it a hassle. The paper liners are great as any 'solid' poo goes straight down the loo, and the nappy itself isn't often that soiled.

I feel bad I eventually gave in and went on to disposables - mostly as my mother and mother-in-law were my childcare once I went back to work, and I felt a bit bad asking them to deal with washables...

Am expecting number 2 next year, so thanks for the info above. I think I will try to get a set of washables as the disposables do add up after a while and its supposed to make potty training easier (still struggling with my nearly 3 year old who is nearly there, but has been potty training since july...)

[geeminor]

Hello real nappy users

It's really interesting to read your discussion about real nappies and the laundry service. I am also impressed that you have been putting pressure on the council to get an incentive scheme started.

I am currently managing an exciting real nappy project on behalf of Nappy Ever After that covers 10 London Boroughs and Wandsworth is one of them. I am recruiting real nappy advisors in 10 boroughs and setting up regular (monthly) 'Nappuccinos' (nappy demos and sales events) in the area. The council are supportive of the project and will be listing nappuccinos on their website once they are up and running from February. Nappy Ever After are based in Somer's Town (in between Euston and King's Cross) and offer a laundry service as well as a variety of real nappies for home washing.

Talking to your local counsillors is a good route towards getting the council to buy into an incentive scheme, such as Real Nappies for London.

Anyway, what I am writing to you about is to ask are any of you are interested in being a real nappy advisor for Nappy Ever After in Wandsworth? I have already arranged Nappuccinos with 2 different parent groups and am finding more groups to hold events for. It is an excellent opportunity for mums to get into some part-time work that fits around their family life.

If you are interested, please email me directly geeminor@mac.com stating that you live in Wandsworth and would like a job description.

I will be training advisors in January and nappuccinos will start in February of the New Year.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks
Jemima