converting to cloth nappies.... help?

[YMo7]

i have decided to use cloth for the 1st time for my last baby....

*babygirl* kindly donated one to me to try for my 2 year old son and we loved it... i think it was an AI2 with bamboo inserts??
(bear in mind i have no idea what i am talking about)

anyway, she also gave us a website to look at where i can buy more... does anyone have any suggestions with which 'type' to buy? pockets? AIO? AI2? i think thats all i have researched... are there others? we prefer the type that dont need a 'cover'... and i dont know if they all have these, but the one that *babygirl* sent us had 2 insert thingys that press stud inside the nappy and we liked that...

can i only buy them online? are 2nd hand just as good? how do i know what is best to buy?

please help the dope! lol...

TIA...

[NibbleCurlynBub]

What you have might be an AI2 (since the inserts snap in)... Many are waterproof and have a PUL outer (or inside)..

Each nappy will vary though.

Pockets are pretty much like a stuff-able cover, so you would need inserts for those. They dry easier.

[YMo7]

i think the one she gave us had PUL in between 2 layers... if that makes sense?

[NibbleCurlynBub]

:yes: Most nappies are like that since PUL is a bit like plastic and a fabric outer is much nicer and easier to use a fancy fabric. :)

Maybe *babygirl* will spot this and come give you some answers about your nappy.

I'm not an expert enough on clothies to recommend any. :o

[pinkgingham]

sounds like a AI2 with a hidden PUL layer.

have you asked whoever gave it to you what it is, like brand and type etc.

but definately sounds like an AI2.

you can buy them in stores but only a very select stores do have them (natural organic kind of stores usually) and only particular brands. you can find out who stocks near you by going to ozclothnappies.org...i know itti bittis, baby beehinds and peapods stock IRL. ozclothnappies will also have a list of nappy retailers. but some are outdated and no longer make cloth nappies but most are still open for business.

but mostly they have to be bought online.

stay away from ebay or oztion unless you are confident you know what you are buying. i do buy from there but thats only because now i know about MCNs and know what to buy and what not to buy as there are some good sellers on there as well as some dodgy ones.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

eBay is no longer able to sell second hand cloth nappies, either. :)

Stay away from Oztion. I am busy with a police case on there. My first buy too, typical!

[jess_live_die]

for a new born bubba i would try fitted and pockets they are my favs if u want any sites let me know i have broutgh off so many sites hehe I LOVE MY CLOTH

[pinkgingham]

eBay is no longer able to sell second hand cloth nappies, either. :)

Stay away from Oztion. I am busy with a police case on there. My first buy too, typical!

i have bought nappies and nappy accessories on OZtion, never had a problem yet...:confused:

[NibbleCurlynBub]

This particular person is no longer allowed to sell on there. :)

I do prefer eBay, it has a much better dispute resolution process.

[pinkgingham]

well i guess that risk can be found on ebay or OZtion, i havent had problems with either yet in the 3 years i have been using it. but back to the OP.

my main advice is do your research before buying anything. make sure you know what you are buying. whether that is on auction sites, websites or second hand from forums.

but once you learn all the ropes, beware-its terribly addictive!:laughing:

[justmum]

My advice would be to get a couple of trial packs.

Ittis bittis (they do the AI2 snap ins), Green Kids (pockets) and Baby Beehinds (but get the Magicalls, not the fitteds - these are an AIO with a pocket at the back) would be a good start.

Any you don't like you can swap on here for the ones you do like.

Green Kids might be a good option for you as they are OSFM (so will fit all of yours still in nappies) and if stuffed properly I have heard you can use them over night (although we don't do that here). So they could be a good economical option for you.

The pockets are a bit fiddly to stuff but once you get the hang of it, you'll be a pro :thumbsup:

[peanutbutter&jelly]

:iagree: I'm in the process of gathering trial packs and individual nappies and figuring out what I liike and what I don't...

So far, magicalls from Baby Beehinds (Minkees, not smooth outers but the insides are the same) take far too long to dry, but contain dirties well for us, and take all of my boys wetness pretty well. And the bamboo booster works well for us, we last as long as a Huggies disposie!
I'm looking forward to getting an itti bittis Snap in... check out some websites - try the baby beehinds site, the itti bittis site, the greenkids site.... read about them and consider what sort of thing you think you'd like. Oh, and the darlings down under website is good (google it) because they have a range of brands and types!
Good luck!

[Opinionated]

Itti bittis, Bits for bots, Twinkle Lily and Abby gros make up my stash.

I also have heaps of fitteds with wool covers.

One thing with cloth nappies- buy cheap and you often get junk. Spend some money and they are often better quality and if you look after them, can re-sell for good money.

Check out buyforbaby (http://www.buyforbaby.com.au) for second hand.

[YMo7]

thankyou ladies - but i have more questions - i found a website called usednappies.
we would prefer to use the kind that dont require covers and that have the snap in things...
on that site, we found some called bubblebubs GNST.. they are most liek the ones that we have tried and they are what *i think* we are looking at getting...
does anyone really like or dislike this nappy?
i get the AIO and AI2 and pockets etc but when it comes to the brands, i get a tad confused (no, not blonde, just can't get my head around it all for some reason)...
if i am buying online how do i know what i am getting if i don't understand all that? and how do i know what a good price for a nappy is? this particular one is $20 and this is the description:
BubbleBubs GNST, Light blue Inner (blue snaps), size
Medium, medium wetter
Great night nappy, customise the absorbency with 2
snapin boosters & bamboo trifold, usual pilling from
washing, good cond.

please HELP!?

[YMo7]

another question - what about wipes - like cloth wipes, i imagine the bamboo ones would be good? how many of those would i need and do i just use water or sorbolene or something when wiping the bottom?

oh and how long will they wear the newborn size? we were thinking perhaps getting 40 nappies in each size - is this too many?

[julietv8]

The GNST (good night sleep tight) is a night nappy, so a bit too bulky for through the day but fine for night time, also these need a cover. Krap Katchers, Iish-fly nights, Zada nights are all good options if you dont want a cover.

did you get my PM?

I would maybe buy a couple to try, I would suggest maybe an itti bitti, a Greenkids pocket and something for night time and see what you like or what works for you.

For cloth wipes, the bamboo ones look nice but I just use cut up chux :laughing: with the dixie drops available from nappylicious or minicuteure.

[YMo7]

yes - sorry julietv8... i just messaged you back now... with a trillion questions. lol... hope you dont mind!

re: wipes.... aren't they a bit rough on bubs bottoms? or are you meaning the thick blue sqaure wipes? not the checkered ones?
like even washers don't stay soft after a few washes..
dd2 was allergic to wipes so we were told to use cotton wool balls with sorbolene which worked a treat but of course, they aren't re-usable...

what are those drops that you mentioned?

[julietv8]

I find once they are wet, the standard old chux are nice and soft. they rewash quite well too. I just cut them into quarters. Im not sure if I'm allowed to link them but if you google dixie drops just pick the first link. They are lovely on bubs butt, and smell yummy.

[pinkgingham]

thankyou ladies - but i have more questions - i found a website called usednappies.
we would prefer to use the kind that dont require covers and that have the snap in things...
on that site, we found some called bubblebubs GNST.. they are most liek the ones that we have tried and they are what *i think* we are looking at getting...
does anyone really like or dislike this nappy?
i get the AIO and AI2 and pockets etc but when it comes to the brands, i get a tad confused (no, not blonde, just can't get my head around it all for some reason)...
if i am buying online how do i know what i am getting if i don't understand all that? and how do i know what a good price for a nappy is? this particular one is $20 and this is the description:
BubbleBubs GNST, Light blue Inner (blue snaps), size
Medium, medium wetter
Great night nappy, customise the absorbency with 2
snapin boosters & bamboo trifold, usual pilling from
washing, good cond.

please HELP!?

GNST is a night nappy which is a fitted....needs a cover but i love them. great for heavy wetters with a woolen cover over them. AI2/AIO are fine for daytime but if your child pees alot then a night nappy is best. most night nappies seem to be fitteds but there are other types also.

bubblebubs also make AIO's and pockets. i havent tried their pockets but i have one of their AIO's and personally i dont like them. they are too wide in the crotch for my DD. but they are ok and i use them still.

$20 is a really good price for a GNST. especially if it says its in good condition. be careful i might snap it out from under you :laughing: i want more of those nappies. and medium is the size i need :p


another question - what about wipes - like cloth wipes, i imagine the bamboo ones would be good? how many of those would i need and do i just use water or sorbolene or something when wiping the bottom?

oh and how long will they wear the newborn size? we were thinking perhaps getting 40 nappies in each size - is this too many?

you can use many things for cloth wipes...chux are good. they wont last through many washes though. alot of people use face washers specifically for cloth wipes. you can buy microfleec and cut it into wipes. or you can buy some online...some make them from bamboo. others make them from sherpa (cotton) others make them from flannalette....

40 nappies in each size is a fair bit. to go full time 20-25 nappies per child is enough. so if you buy a few one size ones then when they grow out of them just sell them and buy the next size to have 20-25 still. iykwim. if you have OSFM nappies they will most likely last til toilet training and can be suitable if you have more than one in cloth. but you can have as many as you want...lol i have way over 40 for one child....i'm a little addicted :laughing: