On testOverview of Reusable nappies<< Back to the Reusable nappies main test page Here you'll find the best comments, advice and information on all of the nappies on test. Our panel had mixed feelings towards many of the nappies but agreed that the Tots Bots was the 'Best Buy' overall whereas the Motherease Sandy's nappy offered the 'Best Value'. If you're a regular user of any of the nappies in our test or have an experience you'd like to share, don't forget to add a review. Our parent panel comments on the following: Ease of useA simple, fuss-free nappy that's easy to put on can be a godsend for wriggly babies - particularly when on the move. Good fastenings and a well-shaped nappy can make the whole application process that little bit easier so look out for conveniently placed poppers and velcro. + Our panel found the Tots Bots nappy 'simple to use with an adjustable velcro fastening that will fit your growing baby'. They also liked its 'fantastic shape that moulds well to baby's bottom' + In terms of timing, our panel felt the Motherease Sandy's and the Bumble were the easiest to put on: 'The Motherease has poppers combined with elastic which offers a great fit - even for my skinny little man' whereas the 'nippa fastening on the Bumble gives a lovely neat fit'. +/- The All in One by Nappy Nation was a hit with a few of our mums who liked 'the fact that you don't need an outer wrap'. 'It also has lots of flaps which make the drying process easier as you can fold them in different directions'. However a couple of mums did find the flaps 'a tad confusing and time-consuming trying to decide which bits go where!' - The Minki Waffle Nappy disappointed some of our panel who felt it 'hadn't been thought about properly'. 'It's too bulky' and 'you have to keep baby really still on order to get it in the correct position' - 'a real shame since it looks so good'. - The most time-consuming of the bunch was the Imse Vimse Organic Flanelette nappy: 'fiddly, thin with no fastening device - a total disaster zone'. DesignDespite our panel's mixed reviews - all agreed that design is one of the most essential elements to get right with reusables as the tiniest flaw is all it takes to put you off for good. + The Bumble came out tops for design with our panel describing it as 'a clever nappy that can be adjusted from birth right through to potty training' - 'a very economical choice'. + 'A hassle-free nappy that's designed with both mum and baby in mind', the Fuzzy Bunz Pocket nappy was the 'slimmest nappy on test'. The nappy also comes with poppers on the waist and legs which allow for lots of adjustability - 'brilliant for putting on a standing toddler'. + Our panel found the Motherease Sandy's nappy had a 'very simple design that worked well to prevent leaks'. They also liked the 'sleek, effortless style' of the Tots Bots Bamboozle. +/- Our panel thought the Minki Waffle Nappy 'looked the business' and 'offered a lovely personal touch with baby's name stitched on the back'. But despite its good looks, our panel found that 'when the nappy and wrap were combined it's too bulky which results in a very hot and bothered botty!' They also expressed concerns over the fleece wrap which 'is a great option for winter but totally irrelevant for summer'. +/- Some of our mums liked the design of the Bambino Mio nappy but others found it 'bunched up a lot during use' and 'wasn't held in place properly by the wrap'. 'You also have to put the cover, liner and nappy together before putting it on which can be difficult with a wriggly baby'. AbsorbencyFlawed designs and cheap materials can mean frequent leaks for even the most dedicated reusable convert. In short, a nappy that fits well with a good quality, absorbent liner is an absolute must-have - especially if your baby is going to be wearing them at night. + Top of the list in this category was the Bumble which 'is probably the most reliable of all the nappies on test in terms of absorbency and containment' - 'I found myself coming back to this nappy again and again'. + The Fuzzi Bunz Pocket Nappy 'keeps baby dry for longer which is surprising since it's so slimline'. The panel also liked the One Life Cotton Nappy - 'this nappy performs well and keeps urine inside the nappy where it belongs'. + Nappy Nation's Bamboo Pre-fold is a more traditional style of reusable and is 'easy to use with practice'. Again, our panel had mixed feelings on this one but the majority agreed that it offered 'a reasonable amount of absorbency at a cut of the price of shaped nappies'. +/- The Bambino Mio nappy caused mixed reviews - some felt it had good absorbency whereas others found it leaked frequently. Two panel members found it worked well with an extra layer of muslin inside but others admittedly 'gave up after a few uses' - 'it's not a good nappy for explosive pooers!' - The Imse Vimse nappy 'wasn't very absorbent' and 'lasted an average of two hours before baby needed changing'. Similarly our panel found the Minki Waffle nappy 'looked incredibly soft and absorbent but leaked frequently' - 'a bit of a disappointment really, I so wanted this nappy to work!' ComfortA comfortable nappy = a happy baby so soft, bouncy fabrics and a cosy fit is important. Our panel found that bad absorbency, movement and general wear and tear were largely responsible for causing discomfort, despite the majority of the nappies being comfortable initially. + The Tots Bots Bamboozle was 'the softest, silkiest nappy by far...and it stays that way even after washing' - 'it's in a league of its own'. Other nappies that scored well on comfort were The Bumble, Fuzzi Bunz, Motherease Sandy's and One Life Cotton nappy. + Our panel were most impressed with the chamomile liners that came with the Nappy Nation Bamboo Pre-folds: 'These chamomile-infused liners are fantastic for soothing nappy rash and are a really good accessory for regular real nappy users' - 'an essential buy for teething babies'. +/- Our panel also liked the organic materials on the Imse Vimse nappy which was 'nice against babies' skin despite its poor performance'. - The Bambino Mio nappy 'moved around a lot and bent out of shape, especially when baby was feeling active - not the best in terms of comfort'. QualityA good quality nappy means months, if not years of use ahead so look for hard wearing fabrics and durable fastenings that will stand the test of time. + Our panel praised the Motherease Sandy's and Bumble nappies for their 'fantastic quality which withstands a lot of wear and tear. They also liked the Tots Bots Bamboozle which 'just gets better and better with every wash' - 'the true mark of a good quality nappy'. +/- With regards to wraps, the panel felt that the One Life wrap was 'one of the best on test'. The majority of our panel also liked the quality of the One Life nappy though a couple of mums had problems with the poppers and experienced 'difficulty in using the nippa as the pile is not thick enough to hold it in place'. - The panel weren't so impressed with the Bambino Mio nappy which 'got quite hard and crunchy after a couple of washes' and the Imse Vimse nappy got the thumbs down because of its 'thin, flimsy structure that's the least absorbent of the bunch'. Value for moneyNappies that offer good value for money will serve you well in the long run. Trial as many as possible, speak to friends and read other parents reviews so that you can get clued up on the benefits of different brands. That way you can make an educated purchase and you'll end up with a reliable system that's perfect for you and your baby. + Our panel felt that the Motherease nappies offered 'fantastic value for money'. 'These nappies are universal - they fit most babies very well and are simple and 100% reliable, a perfect choice for real nappy novices'. + The Tots Bots Bamboozle also scored well on value for money: 'it's one of the best nappies on the market, it's easy to fit and the soft stretchy fabrics and adjustable velcro fastenings means they last a long time too'. +/- Our panel felt that the Nappy Nation's All in One and Bambino Mio nappies 'could work well for some mums and their babies', though 'the costs would be significantly higher than some of the other nappies in the test'. +/- The Imse Vimse Organic Nappy was 'a good price for an organic option', but 'really not worth buying in bulk as it doesn't perform particularly well'. Results
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