Cloth Nappies #183

Mrs C Aussie = three nappies that have a suedecloth inner, that i can think of right now are:

• greenkids pockets
• itti bitti all in ones
• bum genius OSFA pockets

there are more, but that's what i can recall, without going looking up listings on nappy sites.

Brigsy - i would be contacting Itti Bitti about delamination too, check the length of the warranty, every brand differs in this.

Ryatha - last time, there was a reusable nappies week event in Modbury. i didn't go to the one at Noarlunga this time either, too far for me too.

TK - now we're even, we can be each other's heroine.

ECAPRIS, is it you who is after organic/fair trade kid's clothing? just found Greenbean (different to Greenbeans which sells mcn making stuff) both in NZ though, and Monpiti - they have a good ON SALE section too. Plus under ACCESSORIES, nice dolly clothing set, would make good xmas pressie.

RHYB - did you brave RNW on your lonesome?

the Mazalicious shop (wahmnaps site) sure is a hive of activity! so many cool mcn things. love the fabrics.

Charlotte's Mum - cushie tushies have bamboo in them, so would prolly need three pre-washes. (dry inbetween).

ALIOOPS - funny you should mention that A'KIN cream, solving Em's nappy rash problems, i happened to see that cream online last night (can't remember WHERE now!). my brain is a sieve.

Cute xmas bibs at Retro Joe right now (wahmnaps store). i have been happy with our 100% cloth bibs (variety of WAHM brands i got bilby, BEFORE i worked out how to make them myself), Our bibs have had nearly three years constant use now, still looking good (quilter's cotton used for outer, that washes up so well, colours don't fade, but to be fair, they do get dried inside here on the clothes airer). i have no idea what age bilby will be before she stops wearing them, or refuses to wear them e.g "me big girl, no bib" - i'm waiting for that! i got colourful ones, they haven't stained and i think she likes how attractive they are. i like how much they save her clothes getting messy/stained too. A friend had a very refluxy baby who "lost" most of her milk after every feed, and the "scoop bibs" showed a new purpose i hadn't realised - "catching reflux", when i thought the scoop bibs were only needed around the time when self feeding happens.

ARIMEH - nesting for the new bub - makes me smile - i love the nesting bit. makes me feel all dreamy (insert emoticon for green eyed monster).

Heather - with night nappies - different kids wee and poo their own way at night. Observing what your child does will guide you in waht to put them in.
If they don't do much, a fitted day nappy, boosted on the outer (inbetween the outside of the fitted nappy and the inside of the cover) with a fleecy or wool cover, will be enough.
If that's not enough, time to look at a dedicated night nappy (regardless of age).

FItted night nappies with lanolised wool soakers are great for heavy wetters.

Pocket night nappies, you can customise to how much absorbency your child needs, by how much you stuff the pocket.

AI2 and AIO night nappies are the hardest to boost (if you put in TOO much, you get leg gape).

To keep your baby's bottom dry overnight (avoiding nappy rash), you can
- lie in a microfleece liner
- choose a night nappy with a staydry inner e.g microfleece, suedecloth
- change after every feed (if very young and feeding often)
- the fibre with the highest degree of breathability is merino wool. Plus the other bonus with lanolised wool, is that once the fitted nappy is 100% saturated, the wool keeps on absorbing 30% moisture. the con is the handwashing and lanolising. not hard, but one extra thing to do (once a month) which is something to consider when you have a young bub.
The summers that bilby was one year old and two years old, we had heatwave summers both years, weeks of 45 degrees etc. i had her in wool soakers, wool shorties (as our waterproof cover over the nappies) and i was so impressed how cool it kept her, how well her skin breathed. Up til then, i thought wool was only for keeping warm. i couldn't have personally had her in wool when she was a newborn though (her very first summer), i was too sick from the c-section, to be doing handwashing at that stage, but that's just me. Plus she was doing such runny explosive poo at the nb stage, i had to use the PUL covers that have the leg gussets. but she wanted a feed every two hours, so wasn't in them for 12 hours or anything.

so much of mcn is observing hwo your bub is (with their weeing and pooing), what they need, what bodyshape they have, and then finding the product that meets that need. babies vary so much. that's why these threads called "tell me your fave best nappy" and "tell me the best nappy to buy" can't really be answered, as the answer will depend on the baby, so many variables.

Yeah I know for a fact that I got impatient with the pre washes but I am stuck in the house trying to pack pre-melb trip so it doesn't really matter with the nappy changes and the wetting through. on a cleaning spree with packing the house up so poor dp doesn't cop it. Loving the cloth goodness though and haven't had a red bum from lil miss since 99% of the time sposie strike :)

Hi all, hope all of your cloth journeys are going well.

Just popping in to let you know that we are having a picnic in Townsville to celebrate reusable nappy week. Thread here Hope to see any townsvillites there and please share with anyone else you know who is interested in or has ever used cloth

Hi everyone,

DD hadn't done a decent poo since Tuesday so I thought I would put her in something that I didn't want her to poo in and see if it did the trick LOL it did... I put her into a fuschia itti and tah dah poo everywhere!

Itti's are a good fit for us (size S at the moment) though slight leg gape near the crotch so maybe I should have put a MAL cover over it.

I couldn't remember if itti's need a cover normally and didn't have time between putting it on and the pooplosion to check the site to double check. I think I am going to have to make a list of what needs covers and what doesn't and put it near my nappies!

WOCB: Purle itti

Your talking about the d'lish ittis TK? The nice fluffy ones? They don't need a cover.

Yep the d'lish ones.... ok this will probably make me look like a complete dill but are there others? :hide:

Yeah they sell bitti boos too and they are fitteds :)

Cool thanks Mel... so much to learn LOL

OKay everybody..spam me with newborn requirements!!


I bought an expo pak of small ittibittis yesterday (buy 12 get 3 free)
also got 3 minilalas
3 thirsties duo cover with gussets
got 2 small CGRs

thats it. I know I need to make some prefolds..what size is best and how many do you think.....
suggestions for wipes, covers, nappies, liners etc gratefully received.....there are just too many stores out there now it's all a bit confusing! How many wet bags, what size etc.

Oh I do have the most important piece of equipment though...we got a little squirt at a you beaut expo special pricce..lucked out there!

Mel - i have three CT wetbags - they're good for a few nappies when out and about. i also have two three smaller ones (lesley's boutique i think) from darlings downunder. they're only really good for one nappy - so they live in the nappy bag incase of explosions while out! i have two with me when i'm out - if she has a decent poop, nappy and wipes in one bag, clothes in the other, and then they go in the car! i have one CT in the nappy bag all the time (it has the wipes pocket on the front), one in the car (with a spare nappy and wipes in it) and one in the pram. i rarely take the whole nappy bag into shops with me so this works for us. means i only have to air the CT ones most of the time, and throw the others through the wash when we have a dirty nappy.

wipes - i have more than i need - but i have a stash at the change table, i have a stash in each of the CT bags...

covers - i have only used MAL's so i can't comment on others - but i love MAL's (and will be putting them over Itti's tonight - i want a bit of "reinforcement" while we're out and about - just in case... six days of poop... don't want it spread all over the pram...

:

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Hi everyone,

DD hadn't done a decent poo since Tuesday so I thought I would put her in something that I didn't want her to poo in and see if it did the trick LOL it did... I put her into a fuschia itti and tah dah poo everywhere!

Itti's are a good fit for us (size S at the moment) though slight leg gape near the crotch so maybe I should have put a MAL cover over it.

I couldn't remember if itti's need a cover normally and didn't have time between putting it on and the pooplosion to check the site to double check. I think I am going to have to make a list of what needs covers and what doesn't and put it near my nappies!

WOCB: Purle itti

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you're not a dill TK, no-one is born knowing all this stuff, and there is no way anyone could possibly keep up with ALL the mcn available, there's just so much of it!

itti bitti make
- fitted nappies called itti bitti boos. 100% made out of absorbent fabric, so need a waterproof cover.
- all in ones called d'lish snap ins and sewn ins, they are minky outer with HIDDEN PUL. no little label to tell you there is hidden PUL, but if you rub the outer with two hands, you might hear a rustling, that's the PUL.
They also make PUL aio's called "classics". and then there are teh Limited Editions too.
(i obviously have no life ha ha).

To make it easy for myself (when living on two hours sleep per day) with my nb, i had my nappy stash set up, using a bookcase, with $2 shop baskets.
One labelled FITTEDS, next to basket of COVERS, next to basket of LINERS
One labelled POCKETS (already stuffed, ready to go)
One labelled ai2's (already snapped in, ready to go)
Nappy bag packed ready to go out (stash of going out nappies)
and later on, Childcare nappy bag packed ready to go (stash of CC nappies)

i'm not super organised, i was so tired and rundown, if i DIDN"T do it like that, i would forget important stuff and be stressed while trying to get us out the door.

having the nappies sorted into the baskets, really destressed me. instead of having to work out what was what (when tired, baby crying on change table etc), i just read my labels and didn't have to think.

Hidden PUL is tricky, you DO have to remember WHICH nappies have hidden PUL.

A general thing to remember

- one step nappies have waterproof outers, or hidden waterproofing
that is
POCKETS
Aio's
Ai2;s
their outers will be - minky (soft and velvetty), fleece (furry), PUL (smooth synthetic).

- two step nappies (nappy and cover) have no waterproof outer (or hidden for that matter).
so fitted nappies will have ABSORBENT fabric on the outer
like cotton, bamboo, hemp etc

where it gets tricky:
you can get SOME waterproof nappies that have cotton outers, hidden PUL.

you can get FITTED POCKETS like mandymacs that DO need a cover, and their outer is made from absorbent fabric.

so there are exceptions.

but try to sus it out
write yourself a table and catergorise each one if you can, to be your cheatsheet whenyou get frazzled
i really recommend the sorting into baskets, so you are not sorting when trying to change your bub (the worst time IMO), when all you want to do is change them and get to bed!

most of us have lived thru mcn with a nb. you don't have to be superwoman and look everything up. if you're frazzled, just ask your question here, one of us is sure to know it or to point you in the right direction. i had lots of kind mcn mummies help me when bilby was a nb and i was rarely on the computer but when i was, i was pulling my hair out (the sharp learning curve of trying to use my MCN theory, in a practical way, once bilby had arrived).

MELBEL - petal - i once thought multiple wetbags was people being precious. But by the end of our mcn days, i had 4 and i wished i had that number earlier.

• one to live in dh's car
• one to live in childcare nappy bag (later on)
• one to live in the nappy bag you take with you EVERYWHERE (to alternate with the one that is sitting in the nappy bucket, about to be washed and dried)
• one to live in your car in the spare OMG i've lost the nappy bag, nappy bag
• if you do overnight travel with rellies, friends, - holidays, you will need a big wetbag, the kind that you can hang over a door.

bilby is toilet trained, and this is how i use the wetbags now:
- one in dh's car, in case of accident while she's with him
- one in her childcare bag, for them to put wet clothes, wet undies in if she has an accident
- one in my car, in a bag that is always there (spare clothes etc)
- the huge travelling wetbag, is now the wetbag for swimming gear, after her weekly swim lesson.



workhorse, great size, economical wetbag, very sturdy zipper - baby beehinds wetbag

the most important component of the wetbag to me is the zip.
cheap crappy zips will die in no time.
you are opening an dclosing that wetbag HEAPS
you are washing that wetbag HEAPS
it must be sturdy zip other wise, zip dies, waste of wetbag.
so i look for the CHUNKY zips.

avoid the cotton laminated PUL ones (i'm sure you know that already)
if you buy a fashion outer one, make it a brand that only sews the two SEPARATE layers together at the zip end.
Happy Tushies do this. the brands that do it, put it in their listings.
Procare PUL wetbags totally rock.

PREFOLDS/TRIFOLDS

prefolds have extra layers in the middle panel
trifolds is the same thing (double layer of bamboo) without the extra middle panels.

for drying time, i would go the trifolds.

30 x 30cm double layer of bamboo (terry, fleece etc)
overlock all around
there you have it
once baby has outgrown the rise (30cm) on those, use these as pocket stuffers, boosters for fitteds.

30 x 40cm for the next stage, double layer of bamboo
overlock all around
done

by then, they'll probably be coping with aio's, pockets well.

but a stash of bamboo trifolds will keep getting used until tt-ing - so useful to customise the absorbency in all the other nappies
- OUTER boost the fitteds
- INNER boost the aio's, in the front or back, wherever your baby wees the most
- put in the pocket, in combo with other inserts, again, putting the nb sized trifold at the end where they wee the most.

i thought at the beginning, to sew a panel of microfleece on the bamboo trifolds, but realised, later on, when you are using the trifold as a purely absorbent item (instead of The Nappy, as it is at nb time), the stay dry layer is in the way then. but you could just cut it out i suppose.

Wonderful that you have teh Little Squirt

other nb things you could get to set yourself up:

- clothes airing rack

- zippered wash bags (e.g the most durable i found were "anti dust mite pillowcase protectors" at big w, kmart etc). the lingerie wash bags last two weeks (with daily washing, crap zips, see my wetbags explanation, same deal).

- cut up nb microfleece liners e.g 10 x 30cm, experiment with shapes. Half a metre of microfleece will be plenty.

- set of four NB imse vimse covers with leg gussets on special at nurture nappies

- make up cloth wipes, one loopy terry side to "catch the poop" e.g bamboo terry, hemp terry, sherpa, french terry - and a soft absorbent side eg. bamboo velour, hemp velour, cotton velour. 20 x 20cm makes good "just a wee nappy" wipes. copy size of a facewasher for the "cleaning up poop" wipes.

- what season is your bub due in?

- nappy free time mat (nappy rash prevention, and the mat prevents you having to mop the floor/scrub the carpet etc).

- baby wraps are ridiculously small in the shops. Even with a short baby, wasn't long before i was using cot sheets as baby wraps.

- bibs with snaps are so much easier (don't snag in the wash).

- if organic lotions are important to you, do your homework now to find them and have a basket ready with
* nappy rash solutions
* baby sunscreen, baby sunhats
* my personal silver bullet, gripe water! that was a lifesaver!
* teething gel (needed this at three months)
* amber teething necklace
so that when you need them, you don't have to go searching, or end up buying something you don't really want, just to have "something".
You'll get given heaps of supermarket/chemist lotions and potions (some of which are not nappy rash friendly, despite how they're marketed), but if you're after organic stuff, do your own research.

- if you buy hand sanitiser, be aware, the majority of brands have 66% alcohol in them. *highly flammable, could give your baby alcohol poisoning if they lick it off you*. Plus as i found out, it dried out my hands so much, i had cracks that bled. there is one brand that is alcohol free, called Hands First. Much safer for you and your baby.
If you change your baby, in a place where there is no tap (and that has happened PLENTY of times to me), then you might be glad of some hand sanitiser!

- baby gates to keep pets out of areas you want baby to lie on floor etc. tummy time.

- reserve a compartment in the nappy bag for MUMMY STUFF. e.g bottle of water for you to keep up your fluids, keys, lip balm, whatever keeps you human, spare tshirt for YOU.

- nbs poo and wee at their own rates, but be prepared for a little person, with a kidney the size of a marble, to wee and poo VERY often. so a short trip to the GP/hosp, will run longer than you thought, due to the constant changing. So pack more nappies that you THINK you will need, until you work your bub's wee and poo powers!

- onesies that are tricky to do up, or have the closure at the back, avoid. Frequent nappy changes, you end up reaching for the easiest thing to get on and off. for first six weeks, they cna't regulate their own temp.

- baby tops that have snaps on the shoulders, envelope necklines - easy.

- don't underestimate the power of a spare nappy bag in the car. Means you don't have to carry so much with you (if going out for a day e.g) and if it all goes pearshaped, you lose the nappy bag, you're stranded somewhere - the spare nappy bag will get you out of all sorts of grief (except if your car gets stolen i guess).

- i found having a terry flat in the nappy bag was very useful. use it to shade baby, use it to mop up spills, use it to line the baby carseat in case of poosplosion. Use it to shade the babyseat so the metal clips are not burning hot when you come back to the car in summer.

- cloth breast pads and pure lanolin for sensitive nipples.

- having a complicated c-section, that meant a long recovery period, i have a list of things to do to help you cope, in a physical way, with mcning your nb.

• RAISE as many household items as possible, to reduce or remove the need to bend down. I put a box in the toilet room, to put the nappy bucket on. The washer and drier were raised. all our bins were put on boxes. changetable meant i was changin her at waist height,
• nappies stored vertically in bookshelf, meant i could reach all i needed at waist height.

Naturally, i hope your labour goes like a dream, but just tuck these ideas away JIC you need them. it makes alot of difference if your body is sore.

How exciting, nesting for your new little person! i'm so excited for you MelBel!

Argh! Just lost my post!

Night Nappies! We have been using BBB with Maz or wool covers for DD since the start and these have worked really well for us, never a leak, but they are starting to get really really stinky but are still absorbant, I have tried to strip wash them but they still smell, any suggestions on getting them fresh again?

We have wild child NN also, these are so bulky and thick on DD, we only use one booster and the outer layer is still dry in the morning, I think I could almost get away with no boosters.

I am curious what others stuff their greenkids minky with for night time use? I have hemp and microfibre inserts and bamboo boosters, could anyone suggest a good combination?

WOMB: GK Pink Retro.

we use BBB here with maz covers 2 ive gotta get some larges to fit his big butt in them though lol
how to lanolise plz help? got a BBH wool cover
is it just me or are BBB softer than the limited coloured ones?

WOJB: BBB with kiwi wonderwrap

Gigi... I have no words... I am in awe of you!

WOCB: prefold with MAL rainbow fleece cover

JwithJ - I just wash my woollies and then soak them for half an hour in a solution of warm water and a pea sized amount of lanolin. Seems to work for me!

Daintree - try a canestan rinse for stinky nappies - strip wash is to get the absorbency back up, not necessarily remove stinky poo fumes.

Oh and when I use my GK at night - I use a bamboo booster, bamboo insert and microfibre. Does the trick for both heavy wetheads here.

Thanks Mel. It is an ammonia smell that we have, horrible! I will hunt down some canestan rinse.

I might try her with one of each of my boosters, she doesn't seem to be a huge wetter overnight, but I would hate for her to leak and be laying in it for a long time. I rarely use hemp, are they much less absorbant than bamboo?

I have read that there isn't too much difference between their absorbency, however bamboo (I have found in my experience) appearsto be a bit more absorbent in this house.

phew we had a big fluff buyin day yesterday! we went to the PBC expo in melbourne! we were both sooo thrilled to see EVERY cloth nappy stand busy! we had to wait in line at the BBH stand, and Tania was flat chat at Darlings Downunder too! we bought 11 Haute pockets (she was clearing some out for $15 each! bargain!) and a couple of GK Bamboo Inserts (need to order a few more of those too) to put inside them for extra boost :) then we went to BBH stand and bought 12 Bamboo fitteds at 30% off woohoo! we will need to get more covers but we have a few smalls to get her through for a bit longer still :) then we'll need to get a couple of MAL mediums ;) hoping to get the penguin one tomorrow night ;)
the only downside to all that new fluff is prewashing. least its gonna be sunny here the next couple of days so at least I should get a couple of 'prewashing then dry' cycles done to build up the Bamboo's absorbancy!