prefold question...

[honeydew]

What is the difference between a prefold and an old fashioned terry toweling flat nappy? Which one would hold more wee for a newborn?

I have heard people saying a prefold is better but I don't know why. I have never seen or used one before so I don't have a clue!

[wild at heart]

basically from my own research it seems that they are less bulky and may fit better on a small baby. There is also a extra absorbemt section in the middle to hold extra wee.

With prefolds you can fold them as a terry flat and snappi them or fold them into a pad and place inside a good cover.

Not sure if that answers your questions.. everyone raves about prefolds don't they??

[Laksa]

it also depends on the material used. bamboo is far more absorbant than terry towelling...

[honeydew]

So are they sewn into the right shape already and you don't have to fold them up like you would a terry towelling one??

Are they much more expensive?

[wild at heart]

They are more expensive than terry towelling.

They are in a square with an absorbent strip down the middle.

You can fold them in a bat fold like a terry nappy or fold into a rectangle and lay in a pad inside a cover.

You can get contours which are in a shape kinda like an hourglass which you can lay in a cover and you can snappi them if you like.

If you google darlingsdownunder they have contours there and you can find COTTON prefolds at little koala (but can't think off the top of my head where you can get bamboo ones).

The prefolds can be used as pocket stuffers for when bubs is bigger.

HTH, there are probably other people who know more than me...:p

[BabyJoy]

All of the above is true, but I would also describe it this way.

A terry flat needs to be folded BEFORE putting it on your baby. A prefold is folded ONTO your baby. You can lay the prefold flat, put baby on top, then fold it on to them in various ways.

[honeydew]

Thanks everyone for your replies.... I think that since I will be using the terry toweling flats for a short period of time I might just stick with what I have....

I had a look at some prefolds tonight on the internet and would rather put that money towards some cute mcn's :)

[cherrybaby]

I reckon if you are already using terry flats then stick with them. Prefolds are great for reducing the bulk, but the cotton ones aren't very absorbant. The bamboo or hemp ones would be much better I'm sure but cost a heap more. We have a pile of prefolds here to use on my 5 week old daughter but they only get put on when the mcns are all in the wash as we have to boost them with extra hemp and bamboo bits.