Tempted to make some MCN's: Guidance Please.

[my-three-monkeys]

Hi all,

I have a 2 DD's still in nappies and have always used disposables, but I have recently seen some MCN's IRL, and I think they are a fantasic idea.

I am itching to get my sewing machine out: some advice would be greatly appreciated first though....

I have made a pattern based on my huggies but I would like to know what materials a newbie should use for her first MCN, and what order the layers should go?

We are in QLD, does the temp/humidy here affect what you use?

At this stage I don't want to spend too many $$$$, so spotlight would have to stock it.

Thanks in advance.
Toni.

[HotI]

I don't think you will be happy with the outcome if you are limited by only using material that Spotlight sells. For absorbancy you need bamboo (or hemp) and to stop leaks you need PUL or something similar- unless you are going to buy covers.

If you want to try MCNs, you are probably better buying a few on sale or second hand and trying them rather than home made ones first off. Else you may just get frustrated and give the idea away before you see if cloth is right for you.

[Cherished]

Hi, I looked into making some too but I am not the best on a sewing machine and I don't even have one so I would need to buy one of those too... I ended up buying some from coolababy on ebay which are all in one's, watreproof on the outside so you dont' need an extra cover plus they come with one booster in them and I purchased and extra booster for each too. I got to pick what colours I wanted and I am really happy with them (so far... I don't have a baby yet to try them out on) they are from china I think (I guess most BB'er would frown upon that) but they worked out to be about $10 each including the extra boosters. I have since looked at loads of MCN and to be honest the ones I got look very similar to pea pods but mine are adjustable for newborn through to toddler so you only need one size. As I said I haven't tried them out so I don't know if they would end up being too bulky or anything but looking at them they seem fine and good quality. I will consider buying (or making) some hemp or bamboo boosters if the microfiber ones they came with don't do the job too well. HTH

[my-three-monkeys]

Thanks Guys.

I have looked into buying the bamboo fleece and PUL on snaps.

But for my first attempt I'm going to use microfleece with towelling inner. Hopefully Spotlight have some sort of waterproof fabric that will do the trick if I can't get PUL.

If the pattern works out I am going to buy some bamboo to make some boosters.

My DD is nearly 2, and my last bub, so can't really justify the expense of purchasing a full set at this late stage.

[Trillian]

From the little that I know, you really need to do it right, with the right fabrics otherwise you do your money anyway kwim? Maz gave me a link to a place that sells everything you need for nappies but I can't for the life of me remember what it was called now.

ETA - greenbeans is what the shop is called. it is a NZ site

[Indadhanu]

I made my own pads, not mcn, so not exactly the same but i really like nappiescovered for materials

I'd be very VERY hesitant of any waterproof material from Spotlight, as it just won't breathe! PUL isnt too expensive really and if you make fitteds and covers rather than AIOs you'll be able to reuse the cover for a few nappy changes before having to wash it. When we used fitteds and covers I'd only have to use two, MAYBE three, PUL covers through the course of a day.