Get the Classic or Ultra instead (Kooshies Diaper Basic)

Member Name: kat_weller

Product:	Kooshies Diaper Basic
Date:	28/10/02 (327 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, really really cheap

Disadvantages: Not at all absorbant

Kooshies Basics were my first 'cloth nappy' purchase. Kooshies nappies are widely available in the high street and have unfortunately cornered the reusable nappy market. I feel that these nappies give first time cloth nappy users the wrong impression. I tried them first because they were easily available and seemed very very cheap. The price of one pack of 5 with a free wrap equaled my usual monthly disposable nappy expenditure so I thought I was getting a good bargain. I wish I had splashed out more on better quality (I could have got at least 3 of my favourite nappies Tots Bots, for the same price) but the Kooshies Basics were a great stepping stone for me and it encouraged me to investigate the cloth nappy market further. They do still get used occasionally as spares.

Kooshies Basics only have 2 layers of 100% cotton flannel and they claim to have a "double-layer of soaker for absorbency" but I'm not so sure. It has no built in booster and generally performs very badly. The velcro fastening is okay with a thick strip of velcro for getting a good fit. They look very neat on and are quite slim fitting although this is undoubtadly because of the lack of asborbancy. This nappy is so ineffective, its not even worth boosting it and don't even think about using it at night, in the car, shopping or anywhere away from your home really! The wrap that came with the Basics was awful. It ripped around the velcro within a couple of weeks. The wrap was handwash only and although I followed the instructions, it still became damaged. Admittedly, the UK destributor for Kooshies were super quick to send me a new wrap when I returned the damaged one. The new wrap was much thicker and better quality but performance wise, not as effective as the Mother-ease for example.

The Kooshies Basics become soaked within a matter of minutes and really are what their name describes 'basic'. They dont have any endearing qualities other than a pr
etty print. I still use them because I dont want to waste my money and they are not worth selling on. I use them as 'in-between' nappies, eg if all my nappies are in the wash and I'm waiting for them to dry. Kooshies Basics can be washed with your other nappies and dry quickly. I would not purchase any further Kooshies Basics and probably wouldn't buy Kooshies again at all.

Summary: