Can someone please explain....

[talia11]

the deal with the cloth nappies everyone talks about? I don't get the abbreviations everyone uses so my q's are:
What are the ones you talk about?
Where do you buy them?
Vs Disposable
price?
pros/cpons.
thanks!

[talia11]

ok disregard that - I have found the sticky!

[Tam-I-Am]

Most of the nappies people talk about on here are made by WAHMs (Work At Home Mums) and are sold at various internet sites - you can check them out in the Bubhub Directory here.

Which abbreviations were you wondering about - the only ones that spring to mind for me are AIO - which means All-In-One; and PUL which mean Poly Urethane Laminate - a waterproof (or nearly so) but breathable material that is perfect for nappy covers...

Basically there are 4 major different types of nappies:

AIO (as above) is just that - a nappy that is all in one, and requires no stuffing or cover etc

AAIO or AI2 (almost all in ones or All In Twos) require some extra boosting, or snap-in boosters.

Pockets are just that - two layers of material sewn together to create pocket inside, which you stuff with absorbant materials like hemp and bamboo. The outer layer that forms the pocket is like a cover - so no other cover is required

Fitteds need a cover.

Pros are water consumption - it takes 3.2 times more water to make a single disposable nappy as it does to wash a single cloth nappy. Convenience - ALWAYS having nappies on hand, never having to rush to the servo and pay $100 for a packet of huggies in the middle of the night. Cuteness factor - the cloth nappies are just so damned cute! And economically - I worked out that our stash of nappies paid itself off after 5 months.

Cons are: Having to scrape poo of cloth nappies (although there are devices which mean this is not strenuous or difficult - ie the LittleSquirt - a high pressure hose attachement for your toilet), and the initial financial outlay can be quite overwhelming - but like I said, ours paid themselves off after 5 months!

The meh (not pro, not con, just a reality!): No soaking is required of modern cloth nappies, and you wash with your normal clothes in hot water with half the amount of detergent that you would usually use. Then dry them in the sun, and they are sanitised.

I love using cloth nappies :)