Tots Bots Rock (Totsbots)

Member Name: flamesparrow

Product:	Totsbots
Date:	10/01/05 (1148 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cost, Leaks, Durability

Disadvantages: Washing, Drying time

As a newcomer to cloth nappies, I did the sensible thing (or not) - tried folded terries, then rushed out and bought the first nappies I found online.

Then I did my research.

The nappies I'd bought were prefolds, and didn't suit my little lady's shape. I knew that I wanted something like a terry, but without the work of teaching my partner to fold!

After lots of reading I decided Tots Bots sounded good for me, so I ordered my white tots bots (thick, good for night time), and my rainbow bots (thinner, and more slimline for daytime use).

They are incredible!

~Shape~

They are shaped like a disposable, with excellent elasticated back and legs - meaning great containment. There is a foldable booster inside which you can position towards front or middle depending on the sex of your baby.

The fold out booster means that drying time is less, but they do still take a while to dry, but with a baby, I'm always drying clothes anyway!

~Types~

They come in two types - your basic tots bots which are thick and come in white or unbleached, and Rainbow Bots - pink, lilac, blue, green, orange and yellow, thinner and a more tailored fit for daytime wear.

They come in three sizes (size one = 8-18lbs, size 2 = 18-40lbs, size 3 = 40lbs+) and can be held together with nappi nippas, or they have aplix (velcro). I have been told that size 2 will work as a birth to toddler nappy, with some folding, but I have yet to try it... Maybe next time. Rainbow bots are only available in sizes 1 & 2.


I highly recommend these. My daughter is a very heavy wetter, and they can withstand her during the day, and with an extra booster (tots bots sell boosters for £1.50/£1.90, or I just use a folded muslin square) last though the night too.

~How to use them~

To use them, just fold the booster to the correct position (instructions are included or available on www.thenappylady.co.uk). Put in a liner - you can either use washable fleece or silk liners, or disposable paper ones. The liners stop the wetness coming back onto baby's skin, and also catch the poo once they are weaned. You then just lie the baby on it like a disposable, and do it up at the front (either with a nippa or aplix). It then needs a waterproof wrap over the top of it - I recommend motherease ones.

A nappi nippa is a little rubbery gripper thing that works instead of pins - great invention!!!

I used to store them in a bucket of water with a few drops of teatree oil, or nappy soak (you can keep them dry, by the water stops the stains from setting as much), but I ave recently stopped adding the water (called dry pailing), and have just been putting a muslin in the bucket with a few drops of tea tree and lavendar on it to mask the smell a little. It is a lot easier to empty the bucket, and to be honest, I was getting stains anyway!

I then wash them every three days on a normal 40 degrees wash (with an occasional 60 wash to blast any mean germs). I add a spoonful of vinegar to the final rinse, which helps to soften them. With a younger baby you will probably need to wash very other day.

You need about 15-20 if you are starting from a newborn, I am coping with 10 (8 rainbow, 2 white) but Bronwyn is now fully weaned, and about 3/4 wraps.

They usually cost £7.25 for the nippa version, £7.95 for aplix (size 2, other sizes are approx 75p more of less). Unfortunately they are only available online at most cloth nappy websites which often incurs postage costs, but The Buzzness has free postage.

Main TotsBots site - www.totsbots.com
The Buzzness - www.thebuzzness.co.uk

They also have a great resale value, normally going for about £5 on ebay.

My little lady is now 18 months old, and needs to go up to size 3 fairly soon. There is no way she is 40lbs. They still do up round her waist, but she has a very errrr, voluptuous bum? and it doesn't do too well at covering her bum cheeks anymore!

~Why Use Them?~
I'm not going to spout al the environmental stuff, you've heard it all before - reuse nappies=less waste.

What I will say is:

Money - they will save you a small fortune in the long run. If possible, start saving for them as soon as you find out you are pregnant, or ask the willing famiy members who want to "buy something for the baby" to get you some. It soon builds up to a full supply.

Leaks - B has always had leaks with disposables, either wetness overnight, or poo if it is a little loose. I very very rarely have leaks in tots bots, and if I do, it is only onto the wrap, so a clean wrap is needed, rather than a clean outfit!

Safety - You know exactly what you are getting with these. I changed to reusables because B used to get the little crystals on her bum from disposables, and I felt I had no idea what they were made of, and what they might do to her. With these I know exactly what I am washing them in, what they are made of, and I feel safe.

Durability - These babies last! I have bought a few used off ebay, and I now can't tell which were usd, and which were new as they all look so good still!

Love - A strange idea for a nappy? No! Once you start using the right type of reusable for you, a weird passion comes over you, and you will chose your nappy over any other at all costs!!!

~Disadvantages?~
You have to wash them, and therefore get over the "ick" factor. It doesn't take much of your time, and with practise, changing them is as quick as a disposable.

They need changing slightly more often than a disposable, but since the guidelines state that disposables should be changed every 4-6 hours anyway, it is about the same (its just easier to get away with it in a disposable).

Drying time - they do take quite a while to dry, but can be tumble dried (shortens their lifespan slightly).

Summary: