DH has finally realised that the cost and work involved in MCN's is nothing compared to disposables. So we're going cloth!!!
As you can tell I am fairly excited about the whole thing!
So now I just need to know a few things, and was wondering if anyone is able to help out.
1. What do I wash the nappies with, do I use normal laundry powder or do I need something special?
2. Are most MCN's tumble-dry-able? DD2 is due in winter and I do love my tumble dryer. I realise the plastic bits are a no-no but is there anything else that can't go in?
3. Are all-in-ones the best things for newborns? Is there an intro pack that I can get for about $40-50 to try out particular types? Size wise what should I be getting - keeping in mind DD was 9lb4 and grew very quickly.
4. How many do they go through in a day - on average. I know with disposables that you would use 8-12, depending on circumstances, is that the same with MCN's?
5. So... How many do I need??? We'll be washing every second day or so. Does that mean I need 3 or more days worth just to be safe?
Ok, that is all I can think of at the moment - Thanks for all your help!
Congratulations, cloth is so much fun! I feel I am still a newbie 8m or so on, but I will try a few quick answers until someone more qualified jumps in to help you out.
1. Normal washing powder, but 1/4 to 1/2 the recommended amount. Some people prefer certain brands without certain ingredients. I'm lazy and just use my regular liquid.
2. Most MCNs are tumble dryable on a low heat but it can shorten the life-span of elastic and PUL. Plus sun drying bleaches stains and kills germs.
3. Most people use something cheaper than AIOs for most of newborn time (flats or prefolds usually) because they need changing so often anyway. I didn't start with a newborn, or know all the brands' packages, so someone else can help you better with that and sizing.
4. Once again, I'm not sure about newborns, but it does sound about right.
5. Every second day is probably the longest you should leave them dirty. I feel pretty safe with about 3 days' worth, but I live in QLD and don't have too much problem with drying time. I didn't take note of where you are, but maybe in a colder/wetter climate you would need more?
I'm sure someone else can give you loads more detail, but maybe that helps a little in the meantime.
Have fun shopping!
1. What do I wash the nappies with, do I use normal laundry powder or do I need something special?
I use the eco-aware brand of powder. Stay away from anything with fabric conditioner ... and also stay away from soap flakes. Some people use "soap nuts" or bicarb soda only.
2. Are most MCN's tumble-dry-able? DD2 is due in winter and I do love my tumble dryer. I realise the plastic bits are a no-no but is there anything else that can't go in?
I mostly have tumble-dried my nappies - the baby beehinds are OK, the fleece covers are OK, the thicker PUL is ok (but use a low heat). The high heat isn't good for PUL, particularly thin PUL.
If you get pocket nappies, the pockets (with the PUL) will dry overnight in front of a heater, and you can get more inserts which can go in the dryer. Thing is though, that bamboo will lose some of its fluff in the dryer which after a lot of drying will reduce the absorbancy.
3. Are all-in-ones the best things for newborns? Is there an intro pack that I can get for about $40-50 to try out particular types? Size wise what should I be getting - keeping in mind DD was 9lb4 and grew very quickly.
From what I've heard, fitteds with covers are better.
4. How many do they go through in a day - on average. I know with disposables that you would use 8-12, depending on circumstances, is that the same with MCN's?
Yeps.
5. So... How many do I need??? We'll be washing every second day or so. Does that mean I need 3 or more days worth just to be safe?
Yeps. BUT! get some flanno flats, you can use them with some funky covers, they take way less time to dry, they can go in the dryer and can be used until TT is over.
Good luck with your cloth journey, it's great your DH is onboard!
1. What do I wash the nappies with, do I use normal laundry powder or do I need something special?
2. Are most MCN's tumble-dry-able? DD2 is due in winter and I do love my tumble dryer. I realise the plastic bits are a no-no but is there anything else that can't go in? I use normal; washing powder but us 1/4 of the amount
3. Are all-in-ones the best things for newborns? Is there an intro pack that I can get for about $40-50 to try out particular types? Size wise what should I be getting - keeping in mind DD was 9lb4 and grew very quickly. I use all in ones magicals also the baby bee hind bamboo one size fits all are alright too... fits form newborn right through great money saver.
4. How many do they go through in a day - on average. I know with disposables that you would use 8-12, depending on circumstances, is that the same with MCN's?
we use around 8 nappies a day but i found with the magicals we use alot less we use more if we use the bamboo fitted bbh brand.
5. So... How many do I need??? We'll be washing every second day or so. Does that mean I need 3 or more days worth just to be safe? I would say u need 20 nappies and wash every second day. that's what i do i actually dont dry pail i put them in a bucket of plain water.
CONGRATS on going cloth you will feel great every time i change joshies bum i say thats 48 cents to the bank lol
Squidipa, CrystalBoo & Kazbah - Thanks so much for your replies.
I'm just north of adelaide where it is pretty cold and hopefully wet this winter. Drying outside doesn't happen unless we have a good day. I generally only use the tumble dryer on low heat so that sounds like a bonus!
Fitteds with covers and the flats sounds pretty good, I'll just need to work out how to use them best! Where do you normally buy them? Online sounds great but I am such a tactile buyer that I want to read the packet, play with them and stuff before I buy - bit hard to do online...
The one size fits all really sounds like a money saver if it fits from NB to toddler... I might invest in a couple of those.
Going into that thread now Kazbah... We do have babyco over here but it is a bit of a drive from where I am. I'll search around the local shops but once I'm on mat leave I can do a trip down there. I know we had a birthing expo on today in Adelaide but I couldn't make it. The Australian Nappy Network sounds great - will look that up as well - Thanks!
There are a couple of nappy stores in adelaide. Nature's cradle is at brighton but is opening a new store in goodwood later in may. I bought my flats from target.
I used terry flats when dd was small but found them a bit bulky in the first month. She was tiny though so you may not find that by the sounds of your bubs sizes!!! I had 20 which was ok because it was summer then. DEFINATELY use seperate covers on newborns to "contain" the leg leaks. I also love the baby behinds one size but Ihave hemp. They take longer to dry though. I like bumgenius for pocket nappies as they are one size also. I just have a few for using when out as they more convenient.
I used earth choice liquid when she was new but now use regular powder. I used to only use 1/2 or less of the reccomended amount but I was getting smelly nappies so now I use the normal amount and find it much better. Must depend on the brand. Unless you have an enormous bucket you will probably wash every day or day and a half to start with as it will fill up pretty quickly! I hang under the verandah for a day then finish in the dryer so that they dont get quite so worn out as full time tumbling.
OOO have fun nappy shopping. It is so much fun. Even if you are an el-cheapo like me you can still have fun choosing covers etc.
Sazz - thanks for the info - we make BIG babies so I really don't want to get small as I know she'll grow out of them so quickly! With the flats what type of covers did you get and where did you get them from?
I'm looking at the bumgenius as well at the moment and it looks pretty promising. Expensive but I guess you get your money out of it.
I'm about to get earth choice for my laundry so that makes it easier. I'm funny with powders and DD always got a nappy rash unless I used huggies, and the thought of paying so much for them this time has brought us to MCN's.
Ah, can't wait to shop now that I understand this whole cloth thing!
I had a couple of different brands of covers.
When I bought my bbh (baby behinds) I got a package that included covers but I didnt like their covers. I found the fold over elastic leg edging wicked moisture.
I loved my thirsies cover and also my bummis cover. I also have a few mazalicious covers too. Thirsties have leg gussets so were a nice fit over flats when I did a fold that had the bulky "pad" down the middle. I really prefer PUL covers. They dry so quickly and you will be washing them often with a newborn.
Nappy shopping is fun. I dont do much as I went the cheapo way and got onesize so I dont need much more now. It's still fun to look though. I have never managed to go to Natures cradle as they are so far down south but I'm going to check them out when they open close tothe city!!!
I haven't used cloth with DD when she was a Newborn. But I will this time around after the initial meconium stage. DD had some very runny explosive poos, so poo containment (poo-tainment) is my main issue. For that reason I am going to use flats and covers and I also have some fitteds to use with covers). I'd love to use mainly fitteds, but they get so expensive. with flats, there are special folds you can do, to help with poo-tainments. And the covers (with gussets) provide an additional barrier. This might sound excessive, but DD pood through her disposables, pants, through the baby capsule and onto the car seat underneath. So I'm trying to avoid that happening again.
I got some lovely bamboo terry flats and some cheap cotton terry flats. I use the cotton ones already to wipe up TT accidents for DD. They will comee in handy for so many things. The bamboo ones are more expensive, but so soft and more absorbent than the cotton. Also, get some boosters!
I'm not going to answer all your questions becaus eI think you have gotten some great answers already.
When it comes to how many you will need, I would allow for about 12 a day initially. All in ones tend to take a loooong time to dry. So do fitteds. Flats dry pretty quickly. Pockets are my choice for DD (who started cloth at about 14 months) The dry reasonably quick. The longer your choice of nappy takes to dry, the more nappies you will need. I think washing every second day is a good plan. I wouldn't wash less often than that. So, if I were you, I would get 1 1/2 dozen flats for use around the house and about 1 1/2 dozen fitteds, pockets or AIOs, whichever you prefer, for when you're out and about. This should cover you. You might want to only get a couple of each to start with and then see what you like best once your baby is born.
When it comes to covers, I'm not really sure how many you will need. If the cover is clean, you can use it again. It will depend on your baby and his or her pooing habits how often you will need a new cover.
Also, for you out-and-about nappies, think about getting OSFA nappies. That way you don't need to upgrade multiple times. I personally love Green Kids pocket nappies. But everybody has their favourites.
Have fun with it!
Sasa
Last edited by sunshine_sieben; May 3rd, 2009 at 10:26 PM.
Arimeh - thanks for the welcome - I have been stalking your website checking everything out.
Sunshine_sieben - thanks for the info about the flats and covers - and using sposies to begin with. We already have some so they'll do for the first few days... or day!
Sazz - once DD2 is gets bigger we'll probably go the onesize as well, it makes sense. I know this may sound silly but what does PUL stand for?
PUL is polyurethane lined I think. Its the plasticky type. It is a breathable but waterproof fabric, unlike the old fashioned plastic pants. The cheap nappy covers you get in supermarkets and target etc are plastic and not breathable like PUL.
They will last for months of washing but eventually the waterproofness will wear out. I only had that happen to my one favourite cover as she outgrew the sizes before on the rest. that is the only thing you really do need to get in lots of sizes - covers. They need to fit well to stop leaks.
PUL: polyurethane laminate. Any fabric can be lined with that making it soewhat breathable, but waterproof.
PUL shouldn't go in the drier on a regular basis. BUT, sometimes small holes or tears can happen in the laminate and a quick run in the drier might help re-seal these leaky spots.
Have a look into wool covers. I haven't really used them, but some people swear by them. More breathable than PUL, all natural and doesn't need washing very often. But I guess not all that suitable for runny NB poos.
Apparently a great option for night nappies, though.
He's finally agreed... We're going cloth!
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I also love the baby behinds one size but Ihave hemp. They take longer to dry though. I like bumgenius for pocket nappies as they are one size also. I just have a few for using when out as they more convenient.
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