some help and suggestions please!

Help wanted from (soon to be) first time mum regarding cloth nappies.....

Hi,

I am really wanting to use cloth nappies for our Sept bub
(OK, so are these then called fitted cloth nappies or all in ones, the one's I mean that look like pants with buttons/press-studs whatever down the sides? and/or the ones that look like a disposable with the velcro at the front?). I have no idea at all about these, only what I have read on BB, as no-one I know has ever used them (only disposables, which I don't want to use).

What brands are good? What brands are not so good?

How many will I need of each size?

How long will they last before s/he grows out of that size?

Do you use liners as well? if so, are they also washable or disposable? And brands again too please!

I am feeling very niaive in this area, so ANY advice, suggestions and recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
xx

Hello my lovely milly :hello:

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...new-users.html

I found this thread really helpful and I ended up buying about 30 bamboo prefolds and I've got 2 newborn PUL covers to use with them. I will also be buying a wool & a fleece cover for night use and maybe a spare day time PUL cover. I intend to use the prefolds for bubs as a newborn and than I have about 20 pocket nappies which are one size fits all with the snaps on the front, I think even though they fold down to a small size for a newborn they are still a bit bigger then doing the prefold thing with covers. OH and I also bought a couple of minky baby beehinds petties cause they are soooo cute! they were on sale for $20 each but in hindsite I didn't 'really ' need them I just wanted them. Goodluck :D

Hi, Congratulations on your bubs.
I have been using Peapods since day 1 with DD and have found them very good. I was using flushable liners until about 5-6 months of age but now I don't. They come with a liner and an extra liner for night times. I used 24 small nappies until DD was 6 months and now I have 16 of the Medium size, I could probably do with a few more but we manage. This size will hopefully do her until she is ready to be toilet trained but they do have a Large size if it is needed.

OK quick lesson.
MCN come in a few varieties with a myriad of brands;

Prefolds - basically a square of bamboo or flannel that you fold and either secure with a snappi or just a well fitting cover. THey all require a cover.

Fitteds - there are made of absorbent material only (bamboo/cotton/hemp) and have no waterproof outer, therefore always requiring a cover.

Pockets - are basically a shell that is the waterproof outer and a fleece inner that looks like a nappy. There is an opening at one end to have stuffing placed inside (the absorbant bit). There secure with snaps or velcro and come in both sized and OFSM. You can generally adjust the stuffing to your bubs requirement.

All In ones - are exactly that all the waterproofing, inner and absorbant bit in the one nappy. No stuffing or folding required. Downside is that they take much longer to dry.

All in Twos - similar to AIOs but usually have part of the absorbant bit that either snaps or folds out to make for a quicker drying time.

Covers - come in fleece, wool or PUL. PUL is great for day but too hot and less breathable for night.

Myself I prefer fitted for a newborn with covers. Many of the OSFM are far too big I found (and my bub was over 4kg at birth).

There are so so many brands. Many of the MPMs on here either make or stock them. There is a cloth nappy discussion as well where you can get many great recommendations.
My favourite fitteds are Spunky Butts hands down for newborns. If I go back for a third I will stock up on them.

My fave covers are Maz-a-licious covers and BBH PUL covers.
I also love my hand knitted wool shorties.
Many recommend BBH fitteds and I love them too - but my littlest bub is 1 and finally now they fit him great. I found them far too bulky for smaller babies.
As far as AI2s go my hands down fave is Bundles of Buns. They are made to order.

I don't use liners unless we have issues - then I just use rectangles of microfleece.

As for numbers I have culled but still have about 50-60 nappies. Trust me you won't need that many. Babies need changing about 10-12times a day so about 25 should do until you figure out your system.

My number one tip would be don't buy all one brand. You never know how they will fit and if you get all the same and they don't fit properly - you've wasted your money. Even on my two kids different nappies suited each of them differently.

HTH a bit.

Hi ladies,

thanks for your replies.

Cherished - thanks for that link. Just a question, what is a PUL? Is it plastic somehting something?

Blessedmum - thanks, I'll take a look at those.

Kim - great info! thanks, and yes it did help! Just a couple more things,
What is MCN - I am guessing something cloth nappy, but what is the M??
What is OFSM??

sorry, I am crap at abbreviations!! :redface:

PUL - is polyurethanelaminate (sp) It's a kind of breathable plastic
the m is modern
ofsm = one size fits most (sometimes companies will say OSFA A=all, but most is more accurate)

My preferences:

Flat nappies with a snug cover for newborns

For older babies/toddlers, I like me a good pocket because I'm lazy

Welcome to the world of cloth. Just take is slow, don't buy too many things all at once - it's good to try a few different types and systems to see which suits you and your baby best. Oh, and ejoy!

:yeahthat:, lol you'll get there babe.
Glad it helped.

hi Milly!

we have been using BumGenius pockets now since DD was a newborn. they are a OSFM and she is almost 3 and they are going strong.

the good thing about MCN is that they do not need soaking, are easy to wash and no where near as time consuming as the terry flats that our parents used to have to use.

i have also bought a trial pack of the cushie tushies for the new bub...no idea what they are like obviously, but i just couldnt resist the cute as a button fabric :redface:

with our BumGenius i bought a full time pack (26) and that includes the outers and the inserts. and i think it was around the $500 mark...you'll make this back in the year by not buying the sposies full time!

HTH!