Help for New Users!

[Nelle]

If you're new to modern cloth nappies, or considering using cloth, feel free to ask questions and discuss things in here! Thanks for this mods!


ETA: Argh! I'd linked to a sticky about different types of nappies, but the sticky's gone - Post #13 roughly covers Fitteds, Pockets & AIO's.

To answer your questions Katie. Prefolds
I started River as a newborn with pre-folds and covers. I love them, the new bub will have these too! We had flats, but I was a real unco at getting them on, prefolds were a breeze! (In my homepage, which you can link to from my user name, there's a pic on how to use prefolds. Also one on how fleece can work.)
Prefolds are cheap, and being flat (though with layers), they dry pretty quickly, and also wash pretty well.
I used to drypail my prefolds (that is, in the bucket, no soaking, then straight in the machine) even with nb poop, unless it was solid for some reason - many people do this, we underestimate what washing machines can do these days! If you weren't comfortable with that, you could rinse the nappy, or soak it, but I just kept things as simple as possible in those early days, and we had no stains or machine dramas.
I use unbleached cotton prefolds (that I've gotten from Nurture Nappies and The Wee Wuns) in infant size.

You could use fitted nappies for a newborn, they're very cute, but they'll take longer to dry, and you can't use then as spit rags, vomit cleaners, makeshift bibs, etc later on!

Other newborn nappies.
I would recommend mostly using fitteds/prefolds with covers for the early stages, we call it the 'two lines of defence' against explosive poos. A poo might leak past the nappy, but if the cover fits well, that should contain it!
Of course, there are exceptions, and there are Pockets and AIO's that people find to be very reliable for their nb (BumGenius pockets for us), but it is all trial and error for each baby - you need to find a nappy that has a snug fit to contain any poo well.

Umm...I think I answered your question about where to start...I would say flats (prefolds are in this category) and fitteds with a cover for the early days.

Nappies once they're on solids
When River started on solids at 6 months, his poop changed to solid too, and then we started to use mostly pockets and AIO's, for ease of use. After bub starts on solids, you become less concerned with 'pootainment' and more with ease of use, absorbency, cuteness! Stuff like that.

Liners
We didn't really use cloth liners with Riv as a newborn, because the moment they poo, you change them, and he didn't have a prob with nappy rash for wees. I wouldn't bother with a liner just for the purpose of containing nb poo, I'm sure some people do, but I'd feel a bit like it was fighting a losing battle!
Flushable liners might make the cleanup a bit easier...haven't tried that with nb poo yet!
According to law, you should get as much poo in the loo as possible, but it's not really do-able with liquid nb poo. If you scrub at a sink, it goes the same place as if you just chucked it in the machine with a pre-rinse!
(I'm sure others have stories of how they dealt with nb poo, so you can pick and choose which way you want to do it!)

When the poop becomes solid, yeah a liner's great for flicking it into the loo. Flushable liners are great for sticky poos! We use micro-fleece liners, or flushable.

How many to get? For prefolds for part time use I'd say go a dozen. For nb fitteds, a bit less (because they're more pricey). And a couple of covers (covers with gussets like Tots Bots, Motherease Rikki, Imse Vimse and ...there's others). Ease yourself in, aiming to not have to buy any more sposie when they run out or something!

OHHHH What a ramble! I think I answered all your questions though! Post again if you're still confused, and I'm sure someone (maybe me again!) will be able to help you out!

[Katiegirl]

Nelle, thank you sooo much! And especially for starting the new threat. I would never have thought to put the nappy in the washing machine - nb poo and all! But I guess I will have to give it a test run...

I will start having a look at prefolds etc and covers and see what I like.

Thank you so much.

[Nelle]

And especially for starting the new threat. I would never have thought to put the nappy in the washing machine - nb poo and all! .

A new THREAT? Here I was just trying to start a thread and look what I've done! Haha.

Yeah, I'm sure there are people who go 'eww' at the thought of that, but if you rinse the poo in the laundry sink, then it goes to the same place, and if someone wants to scrape any unabsorbed liquid poo into the loo, they can be my guest, but the machine worked just great for me!

[Katiegirl]

Threat...whoops nice typo on my behalf! I think the poo is one of those things that I wouldn't be telling people about!

[Nelle]

Okay...so I swear this thread isn't about me rambling away to myself! I'm just replying to new people's questions all in the one place...ohhh I just look like one big ol crazy lady don't I...

Where to start? Depends how old your bub is!
For a bub with solid poo, you don't need to worry so much about blowouts, so pockets and AIO's are great. Really, you can use any type of nappy you want.

For a bub with runny poop still, perhaps consider more fitted nappies with a cover? You know how you can get a blowout with a sposie, and the poo goes everywhere? With a fitted nappy, a good fitting cover should catch everything! You could also use a pocket or AIO that fit your bub really well, but what fits is going to vary from bub to bub.

I still say prefolds are the bomb for newborns, because, with so many nappy changes per day, you want a nappy that dries quick and is easy to use (but not to exy, cos you'll need a few with all those changes).

What kind of nappy to get?
Do a bit of research - if you're interested in Pocket nappies, for example, look at a few types, ask around what people think of them, google reviews, and then buy one or two to sample - it might be a brilliant nappy, but if the fit's not right on your bub, it's not going to work. Most nappies seem to fit most kids though. It also comes down to what you like, what you find easy to use.

Don't be afraid to sample, you can re-sell cloth nappies on an auction site called Buy for Baby (since you can't sell used nappies on ebay anymore), and resale value's not too bad at all!

I agree with Snacks and Captain (in the other thread) though: it can be pretty confusing, til you buy one, use it and go...ohhh okay. You start to see what you like in a nappy, and what suits your bub.

Oh and Sherie, 6kg could be small...or medium, depending on what you bub is built like...most nappies have a weight range for each size...however each brand differs.

Okay, crazy lady signing out.

[~Raven~]

Great post Nelle! I've made it a sticky.

Hopefully some others who have had a newborn in cloth can add their knowledge too

[Jenstacia]

HI! I am new to posting so if I'm repeating someone's else's question, or this is in the wrong place, I apologise. I would love to use full time cloths with the next bub. If possible, no disposables. How many nappies do most people use with a newborn? I would like to take them to hospital with me, but want to make sure I have enough. Do OSFA nappies really fit newborns? My daughter was 6lb 12ounces born. Also what is the difference between prefold and flats? Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Nelle]

I'm a bit embarrassed that I found this question so quickly...I'm not obsessed with this, I just happened to be passing through BB before wrapping some Christmas presents - I SWEAR!

How many nappies do most people use with a newborn?

Umm, they say to allow for about 12 nappies a day? So you'll want at least 24, which sees you washing daily. (Hmm, now I think I might get another 12...so I can have a lazy day here and there!) It's not hard though. I'd be suggesting 24 flats or prefolds, if you were going to go down that route, and then a couple of fitted nappies for when it's 3 am and you're still half asleep.

Do OSFA nappies really fit newborns?

Depends how big they are, Riv was 9.4lb and just fit Baby BeeHinds fitted nappies. I think I first used a BumGenius when he was around 3/4 weeks and that fit fine. I depends on how much bulk you're happy with - they can look HUGE on a tiny widdle newborn!

For fitteds, apparently Whizzkids newborns are great, well priced too! But can be hard to nab. I think, if funds allow, I'll get a few bamboo nappies, like Tots Bots Bamboozles in size 1 (or Bambeino Mios, because I prefer to use a snappi, I think it gives a better fit) which are bamboo terry, so quite trim, and I know it took River aaaages to grow out of his Tots Bots size 1's! Tots Bots Fluffles might not be a bad option either, they're a synthetic nappy (microfibre), so the occasional child might react, but they're much faster drying than bamboo.
Sorry, that was a bit of a tangent on fitteds hey.

Also what is the difference between prefold and flats?

A flat is your traditional square of flannel or terry towelling that our mums and grandmas used. Flannel is trimmer, and terry can be more absorbent.
Prefolds are smaller squares, with a couple of layers of material. They're usually 3 panels, with the middle panel having more layers. If you type 'prefolds' in Google Images, you should come up with a few pics to give you an idea.

You'll need to pin flannel (as a snappi won't 'grab'), but you can snappi terry and prefolds. (Google Image 'snappi' if you don't know what those are too!) I love prefolds, find them really easy to use, and wash, but they still dry relatively quickly - though not much beats a flat for drying time!
We had flannel flats, but I was rubbish at pinning them - dh was a pro though, and many people love them.

There you go, others might pop in with other ideas for nb fitteds, and what OSFA's fitted their newborns! I'm off to wrap my presents!

[Nelle]

Okay, replying to Kell this time so I don't ramble in another thread. Yes, the crazy lady is back.

Boosters Kell!
Also known as inserts, stuffing. You can put them in a fitted nappy to boost absorbency, or even in an AIO to make it more absorbent, but they are the heart of a Pocket nappy!
One type you don't need to fold, trifolds, you generally fold to fit, usually in thirds, hence the 'tri'.
You can use anything, folded up facewashers, rags, a cheap chamois from a $2 shop. Most people probably buy or make their inserts though. Some of the more common absorbent materials are:
Microfibre: Very absorbent, in fact, don't let it touch bub's butt, cos it can dry out their bottom too much and irritate it! Some microfibre boosters have a microfleece top, so you can lay it close to the butt, like if you're boosting an AIO. The ones that don't need to have a layer inbetween, so are good in a pocket nappy. Microfibre can soak up wee very rapidly, great for those all at once wees. Dries very quickly.
Hemp: Absorbent, can touch bub's butt, natural material, so safe if bub reacts to synthetic materials. Usually dries more quickly than bamboo.
Bamboo: Slightly more absorbent, therefore takes a bit longer to dry too. Also a natural material. Can be more expensive than hemp.
They're the main booster materials.

Stores to buy from?
There are a few BellyBelly people who have Modern Cloth nappy stores, you can probably find them in the MarketPlace or something? Should mention them, since they pay to advertise!
There are other Australian cloth nappy superstores online, if you want to know where your friends shop, I guess PM to find out?
But Kell, if you've found them cheaper from the US, and shipping isn't too much, then go for it I reckon!

[ShootingStar]

Thanks so much Nelle.. i love your work! What a great thread!! Youre so good! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
Makes it easier when someone talks from experience and makes it so easy to understand

[Jenstacia]

Thanks Nelle, glad of the help! I am keen to know what people's favourite pocket or aio nappies are. My daughter is only in a night nappy and she is a big wetter so I find I really have to boost up to keep her dry. Any thoughts?

[Nelle]

**Disclaimer: I'm not obsessed with this thread, just subscribed to it, so it comes up every time someone posts here! Will other people subscribe and answer too already??**

My fave pockets are BumGenius (one size fits all) - Riv was in them pretty much from nb and still is in them at 15 months. GreenKids are another fave, I can't imagine they'd be quite as trim on a nb, but we love them too.

AIO's...We're still exploring true AIO territory, but AI2's (that need a bit of piecing together, so not properly AIO, but still falling into that category) that we love are the BerryPlush. Not only are they booootiful, we've found them to be really reliable too. They seem exy until you buy 2 inserts to one 'shell' because then you can re-use the cover and snap a new insert in. Pretty absorbent.

We like Magicalls, but if you've got a heavy wetter, you'd need to boost those. HoneyBoy's are awesome and would probably suit a heavier wetter.

[Nelle]

Okay, Sal, following on from the other thread.

- Do you prefer flats or fitteds?
I prefer prefolds (like flats, but a bit thicker and smaller) for a newborn, generally, because they tend to dry quicker, and nappy changes are more frequent.
As for nappies that are shaped, there are a few kinds:
Fitteds: shaped like a sposie, but need a cover. I tend to use fitteds (or prefolds) and a cover til bub is on solids, because the cover provides a second barrier against poo blowouts! Breastmilk poo can come out with a lot of force! They can be very absorbent (because they're made entirely of absorbent material).
Pockets: shaped like a sposie, it's kind of like a cover that you can stuff with absorbent material. A favourite of many, because, since you can pull them apart, they'll still dry quickly, and you can stuff them to suit how much your child wees.
AIO's: All in ones. Shaped like a sposie, and basically like a sposie that you can wash. The simplest to use, but some can take forever to dry, or the quick dry ones sometimes aren't as absorbent. Many come with a lay-in booster, or:
AI2's: All in two's. Fall under the umbrella of AIO's usually, the inserts aren't built in, they snap in. So, can be pulled apart for quick drying, but aren't confusing to stuff, you just snap the insert on.

-Do you buy premades or make your own?
I tend to buy, because I'm lazy with sewing, but many people sew their own. I make my own boosters and wipes.
-If you make your own what patterns do you use?
I'll let someone else tell you about sewing your own. I'll get there one day!

-When's a good time to start stocking up and how many should you have?
Hmm. It can be an overwhelming upfront cost (depending on what you buy of course), so now is good! That's if you've done your research and know what you want. It might not hurt to start with flats/prefolds and a couple of different types of fitteds, and then when bub is born, see what suits your baby/what you like to use, and then buy more. Flats/prefolds can be pretty safe to buy a dozen of, because they make good all-purpose change mat liners/spew rags/cradle liners.
How many should you get? The formula is: Nappy changes x how often you want to wash/dry.
For example...a newborn can be 10-12ish changes a day, you want to wash every second day, so that's um...20-24? If the nappies dry on the same day you wash them.

I'm going to have 24 prefolds (we also have 24 flannel flats, but I'm useless with them, though dh is ace) with about 4-5 covers, and then a few fitteds and a couple of pocket nappies that I know fit new babies really well. Just to give you an idea.
For my older bub though, it's a mix of AIO/2's, Pockets and Fitteds!

Hope that helps, feel free to ask away if you have more questions!

[Daydream Believer]

Fantastic
Thanks heaps Nelle!

[Khaleesi]

Hi I'm Mo & i have a little 4 month old girl Maddison.
I would like to put Maddi in to MCN, so i have a few ?'s.

1st how many would i need roughly? She's FF feed & i go through 4-6 disposables nappies a day.
Will she go through more cloth nappies or is it the same?
2nd Am i better off buying a package or should i buy a few different brands to see what works best for her?

Thanks for you help

[Nelle]

Hey Mo! I keep trying to tell the others they can answer in here, but yeah...it's usually me.

1st how many would i need roughly? She's FF feed & i go through 4-6 disposables nappies a day.
Will she go through more cloth nappies or is it the same?
I'd say about 6 per day would do - and then if you wash every second day, that's either 12 or 18 nappies you'll need, depending on the weather - how long it takes them to dry. You can always start with that many and then grab more if you find you need. (or if you get addicted to cute nappies like the rest of us )
I don't find Riv goes through more cloth nappies than sposies, but I find he needs a more absorbent nappy at night, like one with bamboo in it.

2nd Am i better off buying a package or should i buy a few different brands to see what works best for her?
I bought either one, or a few of each, and then if I liked them, then I considered packages. It's really up to you, if you do your research and are sure of what you want, then a package can be good value!
Something to consider is that some really well known nappies like Baby BeeHinds or BumGenius have great resale value, so it's a bit safer to buy before you try there, since if you hate them, they'll be easy to get rid of for close to what you bought them for.

Sorry if this is a bit scrambled, dh is watching tv and it's loud and distracting.

[Junglemum]

Good on ya Nelle!

[Nelle]

It's your turn to answer next Ange baby, I can't be the only crazy lady in here!