Using cloth - Help me get my head around it all!

[PumpkinZulu]

DF and I are very determined to cloth nappy, but OMG There is so much to learn, all these nappies, I have no clue where to start!! So, a few questions:

How many nappies will we need?

How many times a week will I need to wash?

What sort of nappies should a newbie like me get? Fitted, all in one...argh I just don't know!

We don't have heaps of $$ but see these nappies as a good investment, for the environment, our bubba and our back pockets. So any suggestions would be great, websites etc (maybe in PM's?) We just want simple, easy to use and GOOD cloth nappies, don't mind so much in the beginning about custom patterns etc.

Cheers oh wise ones!

[Teeki]

Great post pz, I'm subbing cos I'm in the same position

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

[~Kim~]

I'm sure an expert will be in soon, but I've cloth nappied two so I have a fair idea.....
I found that for a newborn I needed at least 12 nappies a day, but DS was a super pooper, and not all babies will be like that. I washed every couple of days at the start because I washed his nappies separately (because NB BF poo is just well...yuck). Now I wash the nappies every day with the regular wash so I need less IYKWIM?
You'll need to wash dependent on how many nappies you own and how quick they dry.

For a NB you can't beat either fitteds with a cover or prefolds with a cover. I sucked with prefolds so just stuck to fitteds, but most love prefolds. That is because two layers of protection are generally better for pooslposions.
While i love the idea of AIOs and AI2s they just don't work for us because DS is a MASSIVE wee-er and they are harder to boost because generally they are slimmer fitting so the majority of my stash for him are pockets, but that is something I found you really couldn't tell until they arrived.
for eg I bought lots of BBH for DD but they just didn't suit DS at all so most are hardly worn. I've also tried most of the hard to gets but they just didn't work for use so we have a really basic stash.

I have a stack of BBH hemp and bamboo if you are interested in those to try cheaply.
ETA I also loved spunkybutts fitteds, and if I have another will buy them mainly.
Bummis covers were my fave, but many swear by Baby beehinds covers.
Maz also makes fantastic civers, they've saved my clothes many a time.

[sconeonamission]

I used fitteds, one-size-fits-most and terry towelling squares. Planning the same again, this time though I'm starting from the beginning and trying some prefolds!

Best of luck!

[lissy]

Great thread PZ I was wondering this too

I'm sure an expert will be in soon, but I've cloth nappied two so I have a fair idea.....
I found that for a newborn I needed at least 12 nappies a day, but DS was a super pooper, and not all babies will be like that.

OMG Kim really? I just had a heart attack at 12 nappies a day! What a humungous job that must've been for you! Lol Im glad not all bubs are like that though phew!!

Ummm complete nappy idiot here Can you translate pretty please?? BBH? Civers? Pockets? Hard to gets?

[Ryatha]

We started with prefolds and covers when DD2 was newborn. Then moved on to AI2's and pockets for a while and now moving back to prefolds and covers cause DD2 has huge wee's.

We wash every day to 2 days, depending on the weather and how many she goes though.

We have about 24 nappies/covers/prefolds that run through a rotation, some waiting to be washed, some drying and some ready to wear. We have always had about that many and we just washed more regularly when she was little.

BBH has great info on their website, as well as some of the other larger brand sites. I would suggest signing up for cloth nappy hunt. You learn heaps about the nappy world as well as having a chance to score some prizes.

GL!

[~Kim~]

Nah....a humungous job is 20 nappies a day lol....and running out of diposables in the middle of the night and having no backup.
They're so easy....chuck em in dry bucket, nd chuck em in the wash with 1/4-1/2 scoop of washing powder or 2tbs bicarb. Then hang them on the line....

[~clover~]

I used prefolds, terry flats & covers at the start. They are great, cheap & fit all babies
Also awesome for back up once you start to fill your stash.

Maz covers are the best. No doubt Fit over any nappy IME.

All brands will fit differently, so I'd wait til bub is here to invest alot of money. That way you have a chance of knowing what fits best

I have 21 AIO's/AI2's & wash every 2 - 3 days. I have flate & prefolds I use in there too. I'd say 10 - 12 or more a day for the NB stage. You will be vhanging every hour or 2 day & night.

ETA - I don't use powder. If I do I use eco store. DD gets eczema from washing powders.

[Bloom]

If I had to start again with my stash, knowing what I know now having had my DS in a variety of MCN, I would buy exclusively AIO or AI2 type nappies with boosters. I would have a starter stash of easi-dry bambooty nappies (size mediums) to use from birth and then some bonnibuns and/or itti bittis for when they outgrown the mediums (around 9 months give or take).

Of course every baby is different etc which makes it harder.

The other lesson from my experience:never buy velcro, the kids learn to take it off and I find it never stays on the wash tabs in the wash and gets stuck to other nappies.

[Arimeh]

Ooh my favourite subject *rubs hands together with glee*

I'm no expert either but have clothed 3 kids now, two being from newborn. I like prefolds and covers to begin with, mainly because you do go through a lot with the poo newborns do and prefolds are cheap. I only have 6 this time round though, but I do have sone fitteds, all in 2s and some all in 1's as well. As for what type you should go with, it really comes down to personal preference, I use Widdlewuns with the girls and they are all in 2's. Some people love pockets, I got sick of stuffing them so I sold mine off.

As for how often I wash, probably every 2nd day and that's with 2 in cloth. I go through about 6 a day each girl but don't use cloth at night. I'd say a safe number for a newborn would be 10 a day, and probably start a stash if 30 to give you some drying time, making allowances for bad weather and the fact you live in Melbourne. I'm not a fan of one size fits most, just because it's harder to get a good fit than with sized nappies.

Can't remember what else was asked! Hope that helps.

[PumpkinZulu]

Oh god...I'm even more confused now Will need to google all these brands methinks.

[LimeSlice]

Head over to the Australian Nappy Network page hun, here http://nappynetwork.org.au/content/reusable-nappies

[~clover~]

I will say Happy Heiny's do a great fitting OSFM. Out of all mine it was a great fit on DD as a NB.
Other OSFM haven't been so great. Green Kids are good, but are bulky.
Both are pockets.

I use medium Itti's mostly on DD now. Them & swaddlebees side snaps are the best fit for her. Skinny hips, skinnier than average thighs & a pot belly

[Ryatha]

Head over to the Australian Nappy Network page hun, here http://nappynetwork.org.au/content/reusable-nappies

:yeahthat: that is the website I was trying to think off

[TeniBear]

That reminds me, I need to go through my tiny stash and see which ones are more suited to NB so I can stick one or two in my hospy bag... I want to bring bub home in cloth...

Sorry, I'm no help


Sent from my iPhone so forgive the speelung misstacks

[Muppity]

Great thread PZ I was wondering this too



OMG Kim really? I just had a heart attack at 12 nappies a day! What a humungous job that must've been for you! Lol Im glad not all bubs are like that though phew!!

12 a day for a newborn is pretty much normal I think (or are you calling my darling DD abnormal LOL!)

For all the newbies there are a couple of threads that you may be interested in

Cloth Nappy Glossary

Help for New Users

[LimeSlice]

pmsl You will be lucky to get it under 12 a day for a newborn!!

[Arimeh]

I must of been lucky, dd1 was about 8 nappies a day, but she was formula fed, and dd2 was about 10 nappies a day on average! Woohoo! Lol