I’ve just been sorting nappies out for baby number two and very nearly passed on some fleece tots bots wraps because I really didn’t use them last time around (opting for the PUL wraps instead). I know lots of people really value fleece wraps (and wool soakers I’ve seen mentioned too!) but I just don’t get it!! Surely they let all the wee out!?
I’d really value some voices of experience here! How have you found them?
I don’t get how they would work? We use fleece liners in order to let the wee through to the nappy so surely they let the wee through to the bed/clothes?? *shrugs*
We used them a lot with night nappies - I am one of the ‘loved them’ camp. We had the red Tots Bots one, and a couple of rainbow and spotty ones - they seemed to mean less wet nappies in a sort of breathable way, and they were one of the few things which helped when DD had nappy rash (bizarrely!). So, if it were me, I’d give ‘em another go.
That said, they do wick if the nappy gets really sodden, but as I say, we were using them with night nappies when DD was a year or so, so they’re not feeble!
I also used wool wraps - my impression of these was less favourable; they were fine in the winter but they did seem pretty warm, despite the claims about them being cool in summer and warm in winter and whatnot, and it took a lot of lanolising to get the wraps to really hold the moisture in.
I only ever used PUL wraps at night, because the moisture wicked through the leg elastic and gave her terribly raw red nappy rash around her legs. We *love* fleece wraps - no nappy rash at all, and no, they don’t let wee through. They are water *resistant* - try going out in a fleece jacket in the rain - you don’t get wet underneath unless it’s a thunderstorm! The reason that fleece liners let wee through is because they are being squashed between baby and nappy - if you squash fleece it does wick through - I occassionally found the sling to be slightly damp for that reason.
You need to keep on top of changing - I was aware that I changed Grace more often that my peers - but I hated the idea of her sitting in a wet nappy anyway. If you have tight fitting clohes (go up a size in poppered vests) then you are more likely to get dampness, but all in all I loved them - will be getting rid of most of my PUL wraps this time round!
The only fleece wrap I had was a second hand Tots Bots and wasn’t brilliant. I mostly used wool longies at night though and they were amazing, despite the fact that I couldn’t get my head around how they worked.
I didn’t like fleece wraps, but wool ones, well once we turned to wool we never looked back!
Wool is naturally water repellant if it contains lanolin, have you ever seeen a soaked through sheep? So if you maintain them correctly then they are great, no nappy rash, no hot sweaty bums. We especially used them overnight as Reu always got a very hot bottom during the night with a PUL on. In the morning it would be a bit whiffy and maybe a little damp, but his sheets etc would be dry and hang the woolies up for the day and the smell evaporates and they are lovely to go again at bedtime!
Interesting thread! We’re from the in between camp. (Coz I have to be a bit different at all times lol!) They are only water resistant so we change often but then I think if a nappy is wet I’d change it regardless as soon as I noticed so they never get wet enough for leaking. I love them for sunny days on toddlers instead of shorts!
I do however notice that clothing begins to smell ever so slightly by the end of the day. I don’t think it’s wicking as such but I guess some wee must evaporate through as theres no waterproofing.
Love them, we use tots bots and Angies Nanniecool ones.
The brilliant thing about fleece I find is that moisture is drawn away from the los bottom and then air is able to get through, so actually as fast as the fleece is sort of absorbing moisture it is drying also (the nature of fleece I suppose). I found my ds had a reaction to PUL so I stopped using it. I have had wicking occasionally, but only if the nappy was left too long. I’d not use PUL again, I know what it is like to have a plasticy sanitary towel on all day and I’d much prefer breathable fleece IYSWIM.
Wool works because it absorbs wet very slowly, but also evaporates it and releases it at the same slow rate. That’s why they are so cool, because the evaporation takes latent heat out. Fleece works in a similar way, but is not quite as cool as wool. You do need a sufficiently absorbent nappy underneath. The wool will absorb wet from the nappy, but it won’t absorb a flood, because of it’s slowness in absorbing. That said, wool covers are the absolute tops! Fleece ones are more prone to pressure wicking, so my preference would be wool every time. But fleece is cheaper, and is certainly an excellent option to explore
We had the red Tots Bots one, and a couple of rainbow and spotty ones - they seemed to mean less wet nappies in a sort of breathable way, and they were one of the few things which helped when DD had nappy rash (bizarrely!). So, if it were me, I’d give ‘em another go. 
