Hi all - I have been quite keen on giving modern cloth nappies a go with the arrival of bubba #1, however most other people think I'm crazy!
It would be great to hear any experiences with cloth nappies (the good, bad and the ugly!) to assist me in making the decision. A few things running through my mind are:
Cheaper cost compared to disposable nappies
Better for the environment
Reduces nappy rash/better for baby
I do understand that there's more work to deal with - i.e. washing, drying etc but I'm thinking I should be able to cope?!
All views and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Ok I'm no domestic goddess by any stretch of the imagination but even I managed to cope with the washing side of things with MCNs - it's actually no real extra effort to be honest as I'm washing every day as it is. My MCNs are now on bub #2 so they have certainly saved money plus we have never had to do the emergency "oh no we have run out of nappies" dash to the supermarket!
I had many people think I was crazy too - they have since apologised and many wish they had done the MCN thing too. Personally I love them and the only problem is that they are addictive
I haven't started using my MCN yet (obviously!), but I have found most of my friends and relatives just assume I mean 'traditional' cloth when i say cloth. And yes, I have had some pretty unfavourable comments, like 'good luck for that week before you get sick of it'. But on the other hand I also have some friends who's family and friends have eaten their words when they see the modern cloth solutions in action.
So my point is don't listen to them! They probably don't actually understand what MCNs - opposed to traditional cloth - are all about. You may cope fine with the washing, you may find it doesn't suit you but you (like me) want to give it a shot. There is no reason to can the idea just because it might not work.
I had already decided to go cloth rather than disposable, and after seeing the hideously expensive up front cost of the available MCN's (which i know save money long term) my mum actually found a pattern for making them and is going to make them for me. It should work out to be about $5 a nappy, which is awesome in comparison to some of the $25 - $40 ones ive seen! Plus you get to choose your own outer material which means whatever patterns/colours you like!
The only downside i think would be the washing and especially drying time of them, but that's not enough to deter me.
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!!
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!
Last edited by Arimeh; June 10th, 2009 at 12:15 PM.
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
Cloth nappies vs. Dissposable nappies
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Convenience always comes at a cost I guess....
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