3 Thankyou for your interest in BriSGlos reusable nappy library.
This page is a copy of the auto-response sent to those who email the nappy library that answers the questions most often asked, created to help filter enquiries after I saw a massive rise from April 2020 and fell behind in answering them. To save you reading the whole thing, please choose the statement that applies best to you and proceed to the sections indicated afterwards. Responses at the end can be sent via the Contact form or email direct to brisglosrnl at gmail dot com Section A:
However, the nappy library is a not-for-profit run by a volunteer, so if your contact was of a B2B nature such as accounting, advertising, websites, sales etc we can't afford most services so likely aren't interested. Very sorry, but such is the nature of things, though I am always interested in discussing collaboration prospects with compatible small businesses. Section B: Residents of B&NES and NSOM BriSGlos reusable nappy library is a member of the Wessex Washables Network (WWN) for the West Country, along with the libraries for North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset. We are each only able to serve the residents of our respective counties, so for your equivalent service, please contact your own library using the details below. Please note, we share information within the WWN in order to conduct our services to an equal standard, to assist families in the best way possible, and ensure there is no overlap nor confusion with advice - in line with GDPR regulations as a service provider. All data is kept securely within media applications on password protected devices. B&NES residents - please see https://www.hugofox.com/community/bath-cloth-nappy-library-6414/home NSOM residents - please see http://northsomersetnappies.org.uk/ Good luck starting out on your reusable nappy journey! Feel free to scroll section I at the very end, however, if you would appreciate some local discounts on eco-living and reusable nappies that also support the nappy libraries, along with information on our local Facebook help and support groups for WWN area residents. Section C: I am a resident of Bristol or South Gloucestershire county and ….
D - Classes: At present, all advertised in-person "Introduction to reusable nappies" classes are cancelled, with regret. They will not return until we see baby groups and social gatherings back on for large groups. Even then, due to the more vulnerable nature of expectant women and very new babies, they will not be amongst the first groups to start up again. Classes are now offered live online via Zoom, with some pre-recorded footage, initially as a trial service whilst we work out the kinks - there have been a few! Entry is by a voluntary donation per household, suggested £3-£5, for those that can and would like to. This helps cover the cost of the Zoom account, and costs of running the library and maintaining kits - I run it as a volunteer. Options for making the donation are included with the Zoom invitation, so it's left up to you when and how, and I don't check. I'd rather you came for free than worried about finding funds at the time you want to take the class. Having an irregular income and being forced to choose between food/fuel and small purchases is exactly how my family came to reusables over 10 years ago, I completely understand, please don't worry. To receive an email when the next batch of Zoom classes are set, just use the contact form to request this, along with any other responses needed. E - Newborn loan kits: The library offers two types of kit at present, the smaller sized newborn loan kits are hired at a cost of £10 per month, with first 2 upfront then reviewed each month on the same date. Kits returned early will have any whole months (4wk months) refunded in full, or any weeks left can be transferred to a one-size loan later on at a rate of £2.30 a week. These are basic kits, with flat cotton prefolds and fitted nappies, plus a selection of wraps. They are designed as a "gap-filler" to be used alongside a few disposables, to help new parents get the hang of fitting and washing before they have to worry about "what nappy". These are the kits offered to expectant parents and those with babies already born but not yet big enough for one-size nappies (as most aren't really birth-to-potty sadly). As a guide, those with babies wearing 3-6mth vests or smaller over a disposable nappy will need this size kit first, though this is a library policy to avoid failed trials rather than a hard-and-fast rule across all nappies. To find out how to hire one of these kits either when a baby is due or as soon as possible, please proceed to section G. F - One-size "birth-to-potty" trial kits: The library offers two types of kit at present, the larger sized one-size trial kits are hire at a cost of £30 per month, returned at the end with no extensions. These are true trial kits, only available to those whose baby needs 6-9mth vests or larger when wearing a disposable nappy, though this is a library policy to avoid failed trials rather than a hard-and-fast rule across all nappies. You must also have attended one of our intro to cloth classes, either in-person before March 2020 or online from end of August 2020. These kits are about 30 different changes of one-size nappy to enable you to really the most popular brands amongst each of the types of nappy, along with wipes and accessories such as wet bags and boosters. To find out how to hire one of these kits as soon as possible, please proceed to section G. G - Joining the waiting list In order to join the waiting list, for either size of kit please copy and paste the following, answer the questions and return in an email to the address at the top - including any other answers/questions needed from the other sections. Due to sheer workload at the moment, you will likely not get a confirmation immediately, it can take some time - but waiting list requests are ALWAYS backdated to the date of the first email sent to here requesting it (not messenger/text etc) so please don't worry. 1) Name as on ID - often different to email/FB. 2) Postcode - as on address ID. 3) Due date of child, or birth date if already here. Plus size of vest currently used over a disposable in the case of the latter - so I know if you need the smaller size or one-size kit. 4) If you have other names used on Social Media - so I know it's you if you use another method in future. 5) Name of your partner, if applicable, and you are happy for me to discuss this with either of you, sometimes partners take over around the time of birth for example. 6) Please state if you are expecting/have twins, or have more than one child you want to nappy together. Waiting list etiquette: As newborn kits are loaned out as long as they are needed, I cannot predict the date your kit will be ready for you, but they are not normally offered until we are at least two weeks before your due date. It is fairly common for them to become available after due date/birth as well, so if you are someone for whom the idea of using disposables to start is at all upsetting, we suggest arranging to get some of your own in just in case. Kits are issued according to the date the family joined the list, followed by need according to due/birth date. This means it is always worth joining the waiting list, as whilst being on the list early is best, someone joining late with a due/brand new baby will get a kit if there is no one in the list due within the next 2-4wks and one becomes available. This just means you may have a short wait if your baby is already due or here and you hadn't joined the list, but don't mind being flexible. Lockdown baby boom: We are already seeing the results of lockdown "family time" on the waiting list, with families joining now with due dates from January 2021, and plan an increase of kits to cope by then but absolutely wise to provisionally get on the list. You can always decline or postpone at the time, and there is no charge to do so. Older babies and one-size "true" trial kits: For those who already have a baby in 6-9mth vests over disposables or bigger, reply with the above info and you will be contacted for a one-size trial as soon as one is available, as these kits are managed on a first-come first-served basis. Waits tend to vary from less than a month to two or three at some times of year, though we reserve the right to shorten trials to a fortnight for £15 to help at such times. Out-growing kits: In the event that a baby on the Newborn waiting list grows big enough for the one-size kits, such as when they joined the list late term or after birth, they will be bumped to the one-size list and served according to the date they originally joined the newborn waiting list. Similarly, there is no need for those hiring newborn kits to request to join the one-size waiting list, we presume that you will want a trial kit once newborn outgrown and plan to accommodate this. Just let us know if you don't want one, such as those who already had one-size nappies for later. H - Personalised advice: If you are attempting to choose some nappies for yourself rather than loaning a kit, I can help you narrow it down to what might suit your needs. Below is a questionnaire I have written to help guide us to what is most important to you and therefore what systems might suit. This service is very popular, as you can imagine, so do allow a couple of weeks before chasing. It is very thorough and similar to the in-person service I normally offer, and still for free at a time the nappy library has limited income after lockdown, so I am very grateful for your patience. Needs assessment: 1. Age, gender of child (plus centile and weight if known), and vest-size needed over a disposable nappy? 2. How will you be drying the nappies? So, if you have a tumble dryer, are you happy to be reliant on it? Or do you have a heated airer, damp issues, no outdoor space, anything relevant etc. 3. If it all works out, are you hoping to cloth nappy full-time, part-time, occasionally, just days, just nights? Will you be using public childcare/family childcare? 4. Do you have a budget in mind? Your ideal budget for enough nappies for question 3, and a stretched absolute max budget would help a lot. If not sure, telling me what you have looked at but know you can't afford helps too. 5. Would you prefer new only, preloved only or happy with either? 6. Please rate the following in order of importance, it's ok to rate two the same if you can't decide, but ideally not more. This will help me suggest nappies that meet your needs the most. Just insert a 1 before the most important factor down to an 8, except where rating two the same. If you are part of a couple and can't agree, report both together and I'll find a compromise! Leave un-numbered if you don't mind at all, and not a deal breaker. Please note though, there is no one nappy that does everything well, there are pros and cons to all - we're just trying to find the ones that meet your most important requirements. Ease - systems with as few options and parts as possible. Hygiene - a system that can take really hard washing and drying. Lowest cost - cheapest £ new. Lowest environmental impact - lowest impact of manufacture and material choice. Natural materials over synthetic - more cotton, hemp, bamboo over polyester/microfibers. One-size rather than sized - multi-sized system rather than getting new sizes as grows. Quickest drying - if limited by number of nappies/drying space/method. Slim fitting - nappies that aren't much bulkier on that disposables. 7. Anything else at all that's relevant not already covered? ie. medical needs, family situation etc I: Everything else: Local help and buying preloved local nappies: We have a Facebook group chock full of experienced cloth nappy users at @brisglos nappy users - we're all an expert on our own journey. This group is open to residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset - all 3 nappy librarians for those areas are in the group. We have a sister group for Preloved sales too at @brisglos nappy sales. Both groups have joining questions you'll need to fill in to be approved, so do look out for them as you request to join. Please note, that whilst the groups welcome residents of the 3 West of England nappy libraries, each library can only loan kits to their own residents and do ask for proof of address ID. The libraries are all part of a Network known as Wessex Washables and we share information related to providing an adequate service to each of our areas; in order to improve the service, safeguard children, and make sure no one is abusing the services offered. Buying nappies new: Finally, we have links with local shops, and a national retailer who all support the nappy libraries - and especially ours. The Friendly Eco: Bristol's own cloth nappy and eco living shop, run by local Mums Freya and Kate, who are also nappy library users. Recently open again in store, and you can order online from them at The Friendly Eco Wee Impees by Breaking the Wheel: is a local WAHM offering hand-made hemp flat nappies, boosters, washable wipes, cleaning cloths and other home textiles. Currently well stocked with all items made to order and delivered via Royal Mail post or contactless collection from Filton - North Bristol. Hemp is a fantastic eco friendly and versatile alternative to straight cotton. Find Breaking the Wheel's Facebook page and group, and the shop at BTW - shop online (The WAHM in question is also the voluntary librarian of the BriSGlos nappy library - me!) The Nappy Gurus: This is an online UK nappy and eco living shop that supports the Nappy Library too, I'm also the Nappy Guru for Bristol and surrounding areas. Nappy library users get a 10% discount across most of the site except on bundles, using code SARAHSMITH in the coupons box at checkout. If you did happen to order from them, the nappy library gratefully gets the value of 10% of your order as a thankyou. This goes straight back into running the library The Nappy Gurus I hope this information was some help to you, if you have a question not answered here then do use the contact form at the top under the Home menu, and I'll try to look out for new ones as I answer some of those that won't be covered by this. Many thanks Sarah - BriSGlos Nappy Librarian |