Cloth nappies 101 for dummies

Yup I'll admit it - I'm a dummy when it comes to cloth nappies. I have no knowledge whatsoever. I'm a disposable user.
Sooo its surprising that i"m even writing that I'm thinking of going down the cloth nappy route. I did a search today on the internet for the bumgenius ones, and they look fantastic. However, I don't even know where to start in getting myself organised, or how to take care of them, or what goes with what - which is best etc etc etc.

Can someone point me in the right direction with straight forward advice and recommendations about how to start on this new road? I've told DH that its costly at the beginning for all the nappies but as they do for more than one child, we would end up saving heaps from buying disposables for Aricyn until he is toilet trained and this next one (plus we are planning one more).

So .. where do I start??? What do I do?? What kind of nappies are there? I don't understand all the abbreviations (like I said, dummy, know zilch) so if someone has a few minutes (or more) on their hands to let me in on this strange (yet compelling) world of cloth nappies, I would be very grateful.

Plus, also recommendations for nappies for an 18 month old and a newborn would be great.

THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE.

Hi there!

I'd also like some advice. I have no idea of the difference between an all-in-one (AIO) nappy, pre-formed nappy and pocket nappy....

We're about to go into the big world of cloth nappies too, but have no idea where to start. I've been around and looked, but there's so many choices, so many fabrics and so many brands that my mind is about to explode!

My boy is a big wetter and hates a wet nappy, so I need something that will keep him a bit dry (don't want him waking up every time he pees) but like natural fabrics that will dry easily in a damp cold house during winter! Arrrggghhh!

Will watch this thread with interest!

Mel, check out this thread, you'll find some great info there.

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

And then if you still have questions (which I'm sure you will), feel free to post them there and someone will come and help you!

Best bet for 2 kids... ONE SIZE nappies!

They are a life saver for me when i run out of Medium size for Jasmine :)

Thanks Janie xx

Kim - One size fits all huh...i guess i'd need heaps of them for two or three kids though (although hopefully by the time I'm havin a 3rd, DS will be toilet trained!!) What are the prices usually ranging from? Any good brands you would recommend?? Are they the ones that look like disposables?

bum genuis are great!!

Id def recommend BumGenius (usually sell for around $28 each or if you can buy in packs or trial packs work out cheaper). Green Kids, Haute are some others i have in my stash i love :)

With my 2 girls i have a mix of One size and AIO (sized) i have 35 nappies between the 2 and i wash every 2nd day and thats plenty for me.

God there is so much stuff out there its confusing!!!! So I'm on a website and they have an introductory package for $160 and I'm wondering if this is what I should be going for, to get an idea of what is out there, what I would like etc etc.
In the package you get:
Bumgenius AIO
Tot Bots Bamboozle
Baby Greens Growing Greens (AIO)
Itti Bitti (AIO)
Bumis Superbrite Cover
Eenees Biodegradeable liners
nappy wetbag

So would this be a good start for me to try out some things? And I'm not sure what size I would need for a tall (reasonably skinny, no butt to speak of), 13kg, 16 month old??

Any advice?

I personally wouldn't get a starter pack like that cause it mixes AIO's and pockets etc. I decided to go for one 'system' so as not to confuse my H :lol:

I got pockets for the faster drying and LOVE our bumgenius one size pockets. We have Hautes but they have have only just starting fitting around our skinny boy's thighs and they wet through the fabric- rubbish IMO. We also have green kids which are stiffer but super absorbant and good for night time.

I say pick a system and buy a couple of the major brands to try them- that's what we did anyway and it's worked for us.

thanks ren.
So not meaning to sound dim, but the bumgenius one size is a pocket nappy? and other brands sell the one size as well as pockets? And you just stuff them.. with... uh... stuff? pmsl
god I sound so stupid.. i'm normally pretty intelligent.

The bumG one size is a pocket but the sized ones are not a pocket but an AIO.

BumG, Haute and Green Kids are a one size pocket. You stuff them with inserts :D

I have a mix of AIO, Pocket, Fitted (which i hate cos i dont like having to use covers at all).

ok. so pocket nappies would probably be best for me - or AIO's - and some are dependent on size and some aren't. So let me sum up what I THINK I'm getting through my thick skull
Pocket nappies are good because they are quick drying, don't need an outer cover and can be shoved with as much stuff to suit childs needs - and can come in one size fits all or sized to fit.
AIO's - are good because they don't need an outer cover OR an insert but take longer to dry and come sized to fit.
Am I on the right track? I'm feeling a little bamboozled..

100% spot on Mel :D

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I'M GETTING IT!!!!!!!!!!!! :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

I can be be a cloth nappy user also!!! wooohooo!!!!!! :happyforyou: I'm doing some looking on ebay and they aren't as expensive as I thought they would be and goshdarnit.. they are sooo damn cute!!!!!

Now... do they need liners on the inside as well for easy poo removal or not? This may nor may not be my last question.

You're doing very well- it took me ages to get that far! :lol: Bumgenius have and AIO and a one size pocket nappy.

Liners are probably personal choice- I don't use them and just wash then sun our nappy to remove the poo stains. But then I'm dealing with BF poos so I think for older children it's a different matter. You can get single use or washable liners.

I use flushables....but not all the time. I find with Chelsea (18 mths) the poo rolls off so no real need for them.

Hehee.. goshdarnit I feel so proud of myself - three days without food and I can still think straight.. woohooo!!!

Thanks so much guys.. I think I know what way I'm going towards now - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU...

Now... to ebay I go.. hehe..

Mel, I use different types of nappies for different things....fitteds are much better overnight on bigger kids in conjunction with a cover of course. No way would a pocket or AIO cut it.
I've got a skinny tall kid too and bumgenius are great. Itti bittis are the best though! and dry really really quick. I will be getting a bakers dozen next time. I love monkey doodlez too and have some bubblebubs, BBHs, pocket change, peapods, homemade ones....list goes on.
I think the trial pack is a great Idea cos I send AIOs to daycare, peapods at home only. I like some pockets but not others, some AIOs but not others. If you stuff them as they dry or just get them ready, they are all the same to DHs, ie they go on the same way.

Kim - ah crap, now you have thrown that into the mix!!!!! argghhhhh... I didn't want it to be too complicated, I only just started to get my head around it.. pmsl!!

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thanks ren.
So not meaning to sound dim, but the bumgenius one size is a pocket nappy? and other brands sell the one size as well as pockets? And you just stuff them.. with... uh... stuff? pmsl
god I sound so stupid.. i'm normally pretty intelligent.

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"Haute" Pocket nappies are awesome... they are one size and the only nappy that has consistently fitted my DS changing shape. I think they'll be too big for a new born but i plan to get DS2 in to them asap. They are about $25 and come with 2 inserts. Later on if you get desperate for more absorbancy, its cheaper to buy bamboo or hemp fleece and make your own - can be done with zero sewing skills, as i did!.

I went with pocket nappies because i didn't like the damp feeling you get with fitteds even when using a liner.

I've had no problem using pockets overnight with my DS - some other brands we use are Greenkids, Peapods, Dry Bees.

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If you stuff them as they dry or just get them ready, they are all the same to DHs, ie they go on the same way.

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That's true except for fitteds I guess- I didn't want to have to deal with covers (I'm super lazy! :lol:)

We use pockets for night but change in the middle of the night as he's not sleeping through. If it stops working we might get some wool covers to put over the pockets I guess.

Yep good idea Ren, that's what I do when I run out.

Sorry Mel....:redface:
The fun bit is picking them cos of the patterns too......lol

OK well I think I have made up my mind on what I will be testing first!! I have my eye on a couple of pockets on ebay (and i figure if i don't like them they were only $15) and I think for nighttime I will try to ecobumz from canada. Definitely will be looking at more brands though - I didn't realise they were sooo cute!!!!! what have I been doing for the last 16 months.. I musta been crazy!!!!

Kim - apparently the ecobumz ones are really good for nighttime and come in AIO and pockets - have you heard anything about them? I could just be getting sucked in cos they are pretty cute.. ;)

Mel, drop into the cloth nappy discussion thread and ask the girls in there........trust me, if there's anything to know about a nappy, someone in there will tell you!

Also check out the nappycino forums, there's a wealth of info on there.

The one thing I would advise is to only get a couple of any one particular type. If you like the fit or performance then go back for more. If you don't then you have only lost out on one and not several.

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"Haute" Pocket nappies are awesome... they are one size and the only nappy that has consistently fitted my DS changing shape.

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I hate the fit of these nappies on Caleb and find they have terrible wing droop and the bulk of the snap down at the front to change sizes is annoying. I have one but never use it and it will go with my next sell off.

I feel the same way about Baby Kangas too!

Gudism hope you find what you are looking for! In my nappy stash I have a bit of everything (well, actually, a lot of everything! I went nappy crazy!) and though my DH is now well versed on nappies, the most husband friendly thing would have to be AIOs and pockets that you have stuffed for him already. Same with inlaws. Fitteds and covers confuse them, they end up putting covers on AIOs and pockets. And the best way to get hubbies and in laws on the cloth bandwagon is to use something easy!

You will not believe how many brands there are out there....

And I think the trial pack you mentioned earlier was a good idea to try different things.

BUT, I find that fitteds and covers are the best protection against leaks, so I prefer fitteds and covers.

Sammi, I love the one haute pocket that I have! Isn't it funny how we all love different things :) I bought it off B4B and I'm now thinking about getting some new ones!

Mel, I think trying a few different sorts is a good idea. Just remember....although it's not always the case, usually with nappies you get what you pay for. So while some nappies might seem quite expensive, it's usually because they're good! A nappy that's crap, and just doesn't work, is a complete waste of time, because you end up changing clothes etc all the time and the nappy ends up on the shelf!

Thanks guys, I think I will poke my head in the cloth nappy thread!!!!

Janie - thanks for the tip ;)

Janie you can have my Hautes :lol:! I have 4 and I've been thinking of getting onto B4B to offload them- they do nothing for us and I think I'd rather just get rid of the darn things and put the money into something else.