"Basically" Leaky (Kooshies Diaper Basic)

Member Name: Emerald

Product:	Kooshies Diaper Basic
Date:	04/04/01 (342 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Environmentally friendly, cheaper in the long run

Disadvantages: Leaky, large initial outlay of cash, Bicarbonate of Soda required in large quantities for cleaning.

I had decided to use re-usable nappies with my first born before she arrived. Kooshies Basics were the only ones I could track down in my area, so I went for those. I figured the environmental benefits and long term cost saving over disposable nappies were worthwhile.

I bought the 5-pack for £20 from Tesco Direct (compared to Mothercare's £37 for the same product), plus the required pack of liners and some waterproof wraps. I decided to test one 5-pack before I bought the recommended amount (4 packs of 5).

The nappies were attractively patterned, easy to put on with velcro fastenings, and came in a handy plastic carrying pouch.

The first problem came when I read the washing instructions. The nappies needed to be soaked in a bicarbonate of soda solution after use and before washing in the machine. I couldn't get the required quantities of 'bicarb' anywhere - at half a cup per bucketful (to soak 5 nappies) I was going to need a large amount!

Eventually a friendly chemist ordered some in for me, but at £11 per 1Kg tub I wasn't going to save much money on disposable nappies.

But as it happened that didn't matter. The first time I put a Kooshie on my daughter (complete with liner and overpants) she was soaked within 10 minutes, and so was my lap, where she'd been sitting! Being generous I continued to use them, thinking I may have put them on wrong. I changed the position of the liner and adjusted the plastic overpants, but every time she was absolutely soaked within minutes.

I was really looking forward to using these but just couldn't get along with them. Perhaps I would have been better off with the Classic or Ultra, but they weren't available when I was shopping. The body of the nappy is too easily soaked and the plastic pants don't prevent leaks as well as I'd hoped.

Probably plenty of people get along with this product just fine, but unfortunately I w
as not one of them!

Summary: