Cloth nappies vs. Dissposable nappies

[JellyBean]

Hi!

We use cloth during the day, and eco disposables at night - as they are free of chlorine, bleach, plastics and some of the other nasties that the mainstream brands use.

Its really only in the beginning stages that you wash alot - before bub starts solids. And the lovely runny poo comes straight off when you run it under a hot laundry tap. If you breastfeed there will be no offensive odour.
Besides, you will find you will be washing a heck of a lot more anyway - because they slobber and burp up milk etc all the time, and its pretty simple to just chuck a few rinsed nappies into the wash with dirty bibs and clothes.
Disposables have only been available since the late 60's - so for the larger part of human history women always used cloth, and still do in many cultures of the world today. It's funny how people seem to forget that and treat you like you are crazy!! If you think about it, its pretty backward that in this modern day we send hundreds of stinky plastic nappies off to landfill every week to just rott and smell away..... Convenience always comes at a cost I guess....

For some women its about the environment, for others its about saving $, and for others its about keeping natural fabrics next to baby's bottom. Either way you look at it there are many pluses. Just make sure you get a decent stash - you will really go through them rather quickly in those first few months. And oh - they look so cute on those little bums!!

XX

[soulful]

Thanks soooo much for all the positive feedback ladies. I am now really really keen!

Can anyone provide an indication as to how many I would need? One size fits all or buying as your baby grows?

Also, any recommendations as to brands to consider?

TIA

[Arimeh]

I always thought it was too hard cos of the old school thinking of soaking, pins, bleach - arghhh - was too much for my little old brain!!

But then i actually saw what MCN was - and thought, hey this is easy.

I washed every second day - half a load, so didn't take too long to hang out etc.

Much more time consuming with two though, I must admit. But I like it - DH and I put nappies together while chatting at the end of the day about how our day was etc, so it gives us "couple" time as well. Plus if I'm busy, there is no reason why he can't throw a load in the washing machine and put it on for me.

Although he is the one squirting the nappies at the moment cos I'm under strict instructions from my physio about not bending over the loo like that Such a shame that. lol

So DH might not be liking the fact that we are a cloth nappy family at the moment.. rofl..

I think its much easier than people give it credit for, but sometimes I do fall out of love with nappies and it becomes another chore (you wanted honest) but then I'll see a gorgeous nappy or something that I want to buy and I get my groove back.. lol

ETA - I just saw your last post. I used a lot of fitteds and covers or prefolds and covers with Miss M as a newborn, and it wasn't till she chunked up a bit that the OSFM ones fit her properly. I do have a lot of sized ones, but I'm going to have another one so they will come in handy. Plus, since my kids are really long and lean, I get a better fit out of a sized nappy than a OSFM, and they aren't as bulky. As for how many - hmm... depends on how often you will be washing and things like that. I think the recommended amount is 24 - but i've got wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy more than that.. so I'm not the best one to comment on that.. lol

As for recommendations - there are heaps of brands out there, ones that will suit, ones that won't. So any recommendations from any of us is what works for us, but may not work for you ya know? Just a matter of trial and error! However, if you go with some of the bigger, well known, respected brands, you are more than likely to be on to a winner.

Good luck!

[maz]

I have to giggle when people say how expensive MCN's are.......yes they can cost from $20 to $50 per nappy BUT then againt eh government has given everyone a maternity allowance for when our bub's are born eg atm its $5000 so you can get the royals roce of stashes and then some out of that.

Id say a decent stash can start at $500. There are plenty of on line nappy stores that have a variety of nappies so you dont have to just get one of the same kind.

ALSO

I would advise anyone to wait until their baby is born to go buying up to big on nappies....babies come in different shapes and sizes..eg thighs are chunkcy, or as Mel said skinny and long so not every nappy is oging to suit. Many people tend to get prefolds or the old fashion 'flannels' for the first 4-6 weeks until they see what their babies will fit into

BUT bewarned...once the MCN bug has hit...watchout

[angelaartsstudent]

We are finding One Sized AIOs very easy for our newborn.

We use flushable liners so there is no poo on the nappy...the nappy goes in a bucket and then into the wash.

They are drying MUCH faster than we expected too!

[mbear]

Im a sposie girl....ive lashed out and spent a good $200 on cloth nappies....tried them for about a week on my then 12 month old...but they just werent for me....or her. I love the idea of money saving and environmental factors to do with cloth, but the whole washing thing and doing the extra loads just didnt suit me......im glad i tried it though....

[JellyBean]

I started on Baby Beehinds - as they sold them at my local Eco Store Outlet. They have various types of nappies and pilchers/covers.
I hope to try the Natures Child one too - you can order them from their website.
Yes - they are pricey upfront, but you do save in the long term.

You will find plenty of support on bb during your cloth journey! You may wish to check out the section/forum dedicated especially to them!

XX

[~Kim~]

and the are so darned beautiful!!!!

[Shanti]

BUT bewarned...once the MCN bug has hit...watchout

Maz is soooooooooo right there it's highly addictive.... LOL

You will LOVE MCNs.... They are so beautiful!

I started with disposables mainly cos our MCNs didnt fit DD's butt til she was a few weeks old.(also didnt have timefor washing in early weeks as had many feeding issues ) Then went half cloth, half disposables while I got used to the cloth world.... and slowly built up my cloth stash... now i have enough for full time use and have been full time MCN since DD was 11 weeks old. Haven't used a sposie on her butt for weeks