Flats or prefolds .. first of many questions

[Little_Toad]

I'm doing a lot fo research on nappies as I havent decided which I am going to use yet.

Either the Bambo bio degradable nappies ( cost about 40c each) or cloth nappies.

Qu1. I know this depends on the baby's size, but how long usually do babies wear newborn nappies?

Qu2. Does nyone here use flats or prefolds.. and if yes, what other parts do you need for them? ie fleece linings etc, nappy covers (plastic of fleece). WHich is better, flat or prefold and how much do they cost each.

I just dont want to go out and spend HEAPS of money on the AIO's if I'm not going to like cloth nappies. Also if the toadlet is going to grow out of them and have to get a new size in a month.

Thought I would try with a few flats or prefolds first

[FourAngelKisses]

I prefer flats with the PVC pilchers.....simply because of the cost factor. Babies grow so fast that you would to be spending a couple of hundred every few months buying 2 dozen new fitted nappies.

JMO

[Tea Lady]

I have quite a few terry flats and they're really not hard to fold (esp the newborn fold). I have one snappy (I'm terrified of using pins!) and about 3 PVC pilchers and 5 PUL pilchers (PUL is more breathable apparently, and a fair bit more $$ but won't break, but the PVC gets stiff and cracked after a couple of months). I use a mixture of microfleece liners (bought m'fleece from spotlight and cut it into vaguely rectangular shapes - dead easy) and disposable liners (approx 2c each - homebrand). I found the disposable ones MUCH better for breastfed poos - microfleece is better when the poo is solid.

You can get flats really cheap on ebay- that would be a good way to try them out. Personally I can't really see the point of prefolds - you pay more for something you've still got to fold, but then again I've never used them so maybe I'm missing something great!

I would suggest maybe buying one or two fitted and / or pockets as well to try out - they do cost more but are much easier to use (about as easy as disposables) and if you get good ones you can resell them if you don't like them - they hold their value really well. Personally I favour the one - size ones so you don't have to keep buying more all the time. There are a few brands that make these.

Also, I know I couldn't have used cloth in the very early days - we used disposables for maybe 8 weeks, and I'm glad we did - if I'd tried cloth earlier I might have decided it was too hard and given up. Don't worry if you can't manage it at first - you can always put them away and try again another time when things are easier. :)

[gidgeroo]

Hi Little Toad

I'm very new to cloth too (about 4 days now!!) and have been doing a bit of research lately. My bub is 6.5kg and 6.5mths old (4mths corrected) now and we have just started using cloth. There are so many types out there - and I may try a few other systems such as pockets or all-in-ones.

A friend showed me his eenie nappy system which he has used on both his children so I bought one pair of the pants, 6 microfibre nappies, some liners and tried them on the weekend (this all cost around $50). There is a plastic pouch clipped into the pants that the folded nappy sits in - the pants then fasten with velcro. You only have to change the nappy when wet not the pants as they don't get wet.

I was expecting leaks - there have been none. the liners managed to catch most of the poo and washing and drying were quick and easy. They are easily available at most Bulk Nappy shops and they come in lots of good colours. They also have absorbent pads that are really absorbent and can be flushed or composted - I bought some of these to boost the nappy overnight and to use when out for long periods of time. You can also use terry or flannie flats in these pants - just fold them to fit.

Yesterday I bought 6 more nappies and 2 pairs of pants and will continue to use this system with DS2 until he's toilet trained. He can wear these pants until he's 12kgs so he'll be in them a long time.

I love using now and wonder why I didn't do it years ago!!

good luck finding the one that works for you.
cheers
Georgia

[poshBecks]

I started off with terry flats. They are easy to use, but you have to change their nappy more often. I have pvc pilchers & a pul one. PUL is way better quality & nicer on bubs bum!! The pvc ones only last about 10 washes before they break.

I have started collecting pocket nappies. They are easier again, more absorbant & you dont need covers or snappis. Green kids make a nappy that fits from newborn to toddler so you dont have to keep purchasing as they grow. I love them.
www.greenkids.com.au

Have fun.

[waawa]

Personally I can't really see the point of prefolds - you pay more for something you've still got to fold, but then again I've never used them so maybe I'm missing something great!

I loved prefolds because they are so much quicker to put on than flats - with a flat I had to fold it on a flat surface separately from the baby (so either go through and pre-fold them all, or stop to fold it before changing), and it was harder to put the folded flat on with a very wiggly/unco-operative baby - if he managed to get it unfolded, I'd have to take him off the change table, put him down, and start over. With a prefold it was just grab one off the pile, slip it under his bum, one second of folding and Snappi, done. I could also easily change a prefold in a pram or a cramped public change table or anywhere else, where there was no nice (or clean!) surface to fold or re-fold a flat.

Prefolds are also heaps trimmer, especially on a teeny babe, and they dry softer on the line than terries do. Don't get me wrong, flats have their place and I used them too, but if I had to choose I'd be prefolds all the way.

The price isn't that different unless you're buying very cheap terries (which won't last as long or be as absorbent); it's about $3.30 for a quality terry (Canning Vale). High quality Infant sized prefolds are 3.80 and high quality Premium sized prefolds are 5.50 at the Weewuns. You can get other prefolds (I'm not sure of quality though) as cheaply as $2.50 for infant prefolds, 3.20 for premiums, and even cheaper by the dozen, 28-36 dollars depending on size. I wonder when people talk about how "expensive" prefolds are, whether they're thinking of hemp prefolds?

Lara

[Rainbowbrite]

I have quite a few terry flats and they're really not hard to fold (esp the newborn fold). I have one snappy (I'm terrified of using pins!) and about 3 PVC pilchers and 5 PUL pilchers (PUL is more breathable apparently, and a fair bit more $$ but won't break, but the PVC gets stiff and cracked after a couple of months). I use a mixture of microfleece liners (bought m'fleece from spotlight and cut it into vaguely rectangular shapes - dead easy) and disposable liners (approx 2c each - homebrand). I found the disposable ones MUCH better for breastfed poos - microfleece is better when the poo is solid.

Sounds kinda like us. Terry flats about 3 dozen, with PVC pilchers or Fluffy's. I have 5 snappy's (had 2 got given 3) & use a mix of microfleece & homebrand liners.

At night though, i use Greens pockets. Love them, cant reccomend them highly enough :smiliedance: