MCN Failures?

[Amelie]

Hi
I know it is probably unlikely someone who failed at trying modern cloth nappy would be reading a nappy forum, but just in case I thougth I would post here. I was wondering if any failures out there had any tips for a newbie as to where they failed and why? I have purchased a small stash of mixed prefolds and mcns in advance of the arrival of the baby, but now am worried I will fail (full time work as well as baby) and have wasted my money. Any insight greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Amelie

[Heaven]

Great thread! I will be interested to hear some responses b/c this is why I haven't bought any cloth nappies, I'm scared I would give up and waste my money!

[Kitt3n]

well, i havent bought anything other than cloth, and if there is no alternative then it just has to work doesnt it?!

All my mum had was the old school terry flats, and if she could make that work then I am sure I can make MCN's work

Plus they are just too damn cute!

[briggsy's girl]

i'm with kitten - i'm only having cloth - if i don't have sposies, i can't use them as a fall back - and it's at least a 40k round trip to buy any sposies, so i can't fold and just get them!!

i think if you're determined, you'll make it work - and if you really can't, most mcn's that are in good nick have good resale value...

[maz]

My eldest 2 were in cloth until they were 3 months old. I stoped because my terry flats just weren't holidng up and MCN weren't known to me at that stage.

My 3rd child has been in cloth since 2 months...really I suppose she was in cloth from day dot (terries ) and then we discovered the joys of MCN's...my youngest has been in them since birth.

Positive thinking has alot to do with your attitude with anything. If you thinking about failing...9/10 your gearing yourself up to fail. Regardless of using cloth or disposables..its really a preference what you find works for you.

I know that by using cloth I am leaving less damaging footsteps behind me and allowing the earth to breath instead of being suffocated by waste. Im not only saving money but saving my childrens future!

[Matryoshka]

I think that any amount of time you use them for is benefit to your baby and to the environment so it's impossible to "fail"

I used mcn's on my first son for 14 months and while the huge amount of less rubbish was better for the environment, it unfortunately wasn't worth my time and i knew i wouldn't manage the washing with 2 in cloth so i sold my stash and got half of what it cost me to buy... so overall for the 14 months we were way ahead financially when compared to disposables.

If you are really concerned about not managing it timewise - because it IS more washing and hanging - then its not too late to sell them new and make back your money

I went through a period for a while where i felt that i'd failed at cloth, but my hubby reassured me that he would rather see me spending that time with my kids than washing/hanging/putting together, as it was time consuming.

[Ezz]

If you are concerned about time, I would think about nappies that can go in the dryer. I usually hang my nappies on the line, but when we are having one of those weeks, I chuck them through the dryer.

The BBH - I dry on low heat (because I know that the heat damages the elastic in the legs). The Greenkids - I dry the insert in the dryer (on low or high) & I just hang out the outer on the line. Flats/prefolds should be fine in the dryer too.