Boosters and prefolds with bamboo - what do you think?

[Ryatha]

Hi Everyone

I have tried my hand at making boosters with Bamboo fleece and it worked out really well - well they look good, just waiting for bubs to be born so we can try them out.

Since we found that pretty easy (MIL helping with her overlocker) I was thinking of making some flats out of Bamboo double terry that I have found on the web - would that work? I was going to make them about 50x50... that will work from NB to infant wont it?

Also, I was thinking of making prefolds and was wondering if a Bamboo/hemp jersey would work or should I just use the bamboo fleece? There are two thicknesses of fleece and I wasn't sure which one would be best for a prefold. Or would it be better to have a different fabric on the outer sections and just keep the bamboo to the centre?

Thanks everyone for your help.

[Ryatha]

Anyone?

[HotI]

I have made some prefolds with flannel on the outside and bamboo in the middle, but they haven't been tested out yet so can't tell you if they any good.

[Ryatha]

Thanks - I didn't know what fabric to use on the outsides...

[HotI]

you can get nappy flannel from Spotlight (which is white) and i have also made some with funky flannel on the outsides.

[Ryatha]

cool - might have to give it a go... my trips to spotlight become sooo expensive! I just want everything

[LimeSlice]

I think they would work really well

Give it a try and see how you go!

[KatieRabbit]

Hhhmmmm- i would go the bamboo fleece for the prefolds. I think keep them fleece all over with two layers on either side of a three layered centre panel. Regarding the thickness I would go for a medium which I think is about 370gsm. I got some 280gsm I think which is really too thin. I have ordered a medium and heavy (430) bamboo fleece but waiting on their arrival.
I don't know the bamboo terry so not sure about the flats. I can measure one of my cotton terry flats in the morning if you want the size?
PM if you want to know where I ordered my heavy and medium fleece from- it was way cheaper than anything else I could find but I haven't received it yet either!

[Ryatha]

Thanks Katie - I've PMed you for the details.

It seems like the bamboo terry is just like the cotton terry - I can PM that site to you as well if you like!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

[berrme]

I have seen some of the bumboo bamboo flats and they look a little thicker than the sample of bamboo double terry I got from tiny toosh. Other than that it is the same and would make good flats. I was considering doing the same thing.
50 by 50 is a good size for small to medium size children. My cotton flats are all about 60 by 60 and I am still using them on my 17kg toddler.

With your prefolds I would use terry on the outside... you can't use snappies properly on fleece.

[maz]

yes...terry on the outter for the snappies works best..and its nice and absorbent

ONly problem with haveing 2 layers of bamboo fleece it the thickness factor.....its one thing to make boosters and trifolds out of 2 layers of bamboo fleece but its another to make a prefold out of it and in all honesty a bit of a waste cause babies dont really wear them for long enough to get the full absorbency

[KatieRabbit]

Maz- can you clear up my confusion?? Making prefold would you use two layers of terry (is this cotton or bamboo??) as the whole square or rectangle and then a third strip of bamboo fleece down the centre? Thanks

[berrme]

KatieRabbit, I used nothing but cotton terry flats with my sons up until around 4 months, even at night, and they were absorbent enough. I have only seen prefolds, but they are quite small and wouldn't fit for all that long. I agree with Maz that spending the money on bamboo terry for newborn only nappies is probably a waste.

[HotI]

you can make bigger prefolds. I saw some recently where the second layer on the middle third actually swung away that helped with drying.

[berrme]

I have always wondered why prefolds are always 'newborn'.
The loose middle section is a good idea, I like the fitted nappies with fold out absorbent pads. Makes drying much faster.

[maz]

Maz- can you clear up my confusion?? Making prefold would you use two layers of terry (is this cotton or bamboo??) as the whole square or rectangle and then a third strip of bamboo fleece down the centre? Thanks

hon you can use what ever terry you want. I like to use bamboo terry on the inside and cotton on the outter but bamboo terry is so darn expensive......and yes the hiddern booster/middle strip is bamboo fleece for absorbancy.

You could make prefolds any size you want BUT I dont think they would be very absorbent for a larger/older child and to be honest who would be bothered fighting a toddler wiht a snappy in one hand, their legs in another and trying to get the sides of the prefold to stay up..blah to that

[Ryatha]

Ok, so thinking about prefolds for wriggly bubs does sound like a nightmare - thanks maz!

Now am I strange in the fact that I don't use snappies with my prefolds? I just pop them on bubs and then put the cover over the top... Seems to work...

Also, What shape is best for inserts / boosters as extras for covers and AI2 outers where only the absorbant part has become wet/soiled? I'm tossing up between and hourglass shape or plain rectangle... anyone have any ideas?