Baby Bees and Green Kids

[Tam-I-Am]

Okay, dedicated clothies,

You've convinced me. You've finally done it. I've been researching, and researching and I've finally decided its time to take the plunge. Today, I am buying my first 4 cloth nappies! I am very excited, somewhat apprehensive and need some advice.

I have decided on BB's and Greenkids as nobody has ever seemed to say anything actually BAD about them, and lots of people think the world of them. So my questions are thus:

Baby Bees:
1) Hemp or Bamboo?
2) Liners - how many? What kind
3) Covers - PUL or wool - or both?
4) Night wear - what do I have to do differently from day wear (C sleeps for 13+ hours, and fills, but not out-wets, a huggies at present)

Green Kids:
1) Stuffing - what kind (hemp, microfibre or both)?
2) How many stuffers will I need?
3) How long will it all last - will a greens be better for overnight than a baby bee?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm hoping to place my order before the day is over! :smiliedance:

[babytoo]

I'm a cloth 'virgin' too and ordered the trial pack from Green Kids which I got last week....have used the 2 nappies each day and I have to say I am really impressed although have found them a little bulky for my DD who is 6 months old and weighs just under 7 kgs....so having said that I now understand the cloth addiction and the search for the best cloth! I have now ordered 2 other brands to try out as well and awaiting for these to arrive!

Ok so I only know about the Green Kids....they have the microfibre boosters which are to put in the nappy as well as the hemp prefold for night time. The hemp prefolds on the GK site are called Hemparoos and they come in 2 different sizes obviously the larger one has more absorption....

Anyway, join the club, I can't wait until I am 100% cloth but that will only happen when I find the perfect cloth for my DD....:fingerscrossed: that it is sooner rather than later....the worst part is waiting for fluffy mail, and because I have decided YES I WANT TO BE A CLOTH MUMMA it annoys that I can't do it right now!

[Tea Lady]

If it were me I'd get a trial pack from each place - they're usually better value than buying seperate items and come with everything you need. Re: hemp / bamboo, it depends a bit on how you will dry them - they both take a long time to dry, but bamboo takes much longer (it takes me around 24hrs to dry hemp in the sun in Qld!!). I'd suggest hemp because then you'll get to use the nappy more often and get the feel for it faster.

I'd also just start with using the nappies in the daytime - it's a bit trickier to get the stuffing/ boosting right at night and it might be easier to experiment a bit first with day nappies so you'll know if DD needs to be changed.

Hope that's some help -
Have fun!!

[poshBecks]

Hi.

I use green kids.

For stuffing: I use the hemparoos that you get from GK's. Large size is the best. They are a little bulky on small babies but the bulkiness gets less & less as they grow.
I add a microfleece insert at night & it works fine. Though I am thinking of adding a face washer aswell as Ella has started wetting through a little. Could be though that my hemparoos havn't had the ultimate 10th wash yet (when they reach their best absorbancy).

I just love them!! :yelclap:

BTW Clarabelle... congrats on your new pink name!! :p

[Tam-I-Am]

Thanks guys, that helps a lot.

Tea Lady - I am indeed going to buy a trial pack for each....and think they're great value! I think I will go with your suggestion and buy hemp first, and add a few bamboo later if necessary.

And Beck, thanks for that info...I'll buy a couple of hemparoos and a couple of microfibre stuffers too. I'll see how I go.

(And thanks for the congrats too, Beck! I'm loving it!)

[Rainbowbrite]

Of a day i stuff my greens with a flannalette flat & micro-fibre cleaning cloth from big w. That lasts 4 hours. Of a night, i stuff it with a microfibre & hemparoo both from Greens. No need to use liners.

I only got 1 BB. I got the night time pack so not much experience with it. But i will say that the one piece of bamboo in it took 2 days on the line to dry. Wash it 3 times before use - dont have to dry each time (i did 3 washes in a day). Mine has only been washed 4 times now & i used it on MJ last night with a microfibre cleaning cloth as well as all the inserts & a wool cover & no leaks at all :smiliedance: They are a great fit. I'd say go one of each cover, wool for night PUL for day (must get some PUL covers).

OH MJ sleeps for approx 13hrs & never had a leak except when i put it on loose & her pants got caught up the leg :o

BTW, welcome to the dark side :laughing: :devil6:

[Tam-I-Am]

Thanks RB! (I thought it was the pink side! LOL)

Well, I've done it. I've taken the plunge and ordered a trial pack of baby bees and greenkids. I've ordered one PUL and one wool cover for the BBs and 2 large Hemparoos and 2 microfibre stuffers from Greens.

I can't wait to get them now! yay! I'm officially a clothie! (Well, as soon as I get my orders I am!)

[poshBecks]

YAY for fluffy mail!!!! :yelclap:

[melfunction]

I luff cloth nappies :D *patiently waiting for parcel man with more fluffy mail*

[Rainbowbrite]

[QUOTE=Clarabelle;571405]Thanks RB! (I thought it was the pink side! LOL)

Well, yes, true....BUT the cloth addiction is the dark side :laughing: or maybe it should be the white side :confused:

[reAllytee]

Okey dokeys now you have me started :laughing:

I havent got any BB's will possibly get some at a later stage when im pg .... Not that thats anytime soon !

With Greens we have been using them for a good 9mths or so roughly & we love love love them in this house & im sure poor Sasha wishes she never got such a crazy customer ! Anywhos we have roughly 15 & i got like 50 microfibre lol cause i like to be prepared heh, 2 hemp prefolds & 10 small hemp inserts ( the hemp is not from them mind you ) this does us for a good 2 days. We also use Eenees inbetween.
We use just a microfibre insert through the day & that lasts us a good 3-4hrs & Boof is a heavy wetter. We use a microfibre wrapped in a hemp prefold for nites in a dreamytimes which lasts a good 12-13hrs ( you can still get dreamytimes on ozebaby as they have been discontinued otherwise ). The other small hemp inserts we use for when we are out & about to make sure we dont have any leaks if i dont change the nappy on time especially when sitting for ages as the wee just squeezes out of the microfibre after time.
Ummm i think thats it !
Oh just get a whole heap of cheap facewashers wherever you can when out & about & use them as your wipes hun !
Welcome to the darkside as RB said < insert evil cackle here > now the obsession begins hehehe i even have DP in love with cloth ! :devil6:

[mum_2_5]

I can't wait to get them now! yay! I'm officially a clothie! (Well, as soon as I get my orders I am!)

Yes well they have me addicted now. I am even using terry flats during the day while I build up my stash. I only have 2 baby bees hemp :crying: but have ordered more. Plus I have 2 greens kids in the mail. :smiliedance: For fluffy mail.

[Percy]

I got my two greens in the mail a few days ago!:smiliedance:

I got a fun time and a anytime, they are fantastic and i will certainly be ordering more soon!

DH will just have to deal with my new obsession, and im sure he wont mind once he realises how little we are spending on disposable nappies.

[poshBecks]

DH will just have to deal with my new obsession, and im sure he wont mind once he realises how little we are spending on nappies.

Well :rolleyes: I just spend $500 on them LMAO!!!!!!! :laughing: But now I have my stash... though I reckon the odd one might make its way into our stash.. hopefully unnoticed :o :fingerscrossed:

[mum_2_5]

Well :rolleyes: I just spend $500 on them LMAO!!!!!!! :laughing: But now I have my stash... though I reckon the odd one might make its way into our stash.. hopefully unnoticed :o :fingerscrossed:

What ones did you buy?????

[Tam-I-Am]

YAY! I now have on the way:
- 2 greens plus stuff (ie hemparoos, microfibre etc)
- 2 baby bees plus stuff (ie a wet bag, bumwashers and other stuff) and
- an ERICA VBSN (who gets to go nah nah nah nah nah now?!) from a very lovely friend who "donated" it to my cause!

They are all hopefully getting here early next week! I'm sooooo excited (sad, sad sad. I'm excited about nappies! But I'm so excited!)

[JATS]

You HAVE to come back and give us a review!!!

I am still trying to decide between BBs and GKs too!

[Tam-I-Am]

Well, we did our first overnight stint in a Greenkids last night. IT was FANTASTIC!!!! I'm sooooo pleased. No leaks, DD was dry as when I got her up (we did change her at her 5am feed, but we would have done so with a sposie too. And to be quite honest, if I'd left it on her, I think it would have seen the night out anyway!)

So big fat tick for daytime use, big fat tick for nightime use. I just order 20 covers, 20 large hemparoos and 4 microfibre boosters!! I'm so excited, I hope they come soon and I can be a clothie mumma! (BTW even though I ordered my trials from Baby Bees and Greens at the same time, I STILL haven't gotten any word on when my bees order is coming. I'm not impressed.)

[CrazyBeautiful]

(BTW even though I ordered my trials from Baby Bees and Greens at the same time, I STILL haven't gotten any word on when my bees order is coming. I'm not impressed.)
I put in an order a couple of weeks ago and haven't been contacted for my credit card details. I did email Davina and aparently they're really busy sorting out the bamboos at present and of course dealing with the hemp special. I had a look on their website yesterday and it said there is a 4 week delay for orders. I guess it wouldn't hurt them to email and say that they've got your order and explain that there's a delay.

[kymmy]

YAY for fluffy mail!!!! :yelclap:

:yes:
I got my first BabyBeehinds today - It has a mini booster as well as another and they are so nice. Saying that have yet to try it!! For me I am more intersted in natural nappies so BBs and Greens are ideal. We have 2x BBs and one Green plus about 10 Baby Eco which are organic. We have a few pockets but I love the cotton fitteds and a wool cover (esp so i can knit up soakers.!)

[ikis84]

I love all the hand knitted soakers... they are so cute.. I wish I could knit (more than just a crooked, holey scarf lol!!). I agree, an email from BB would be good! At least I am not waiting with a baby who needs nappies!! Hope you get yours soon! :fingerscrossed:

[Tam-I-Am]

Okies, I promised to come back and give a review - My greens are on their way, and I'm soooo pleased! (My mum thinks I'm a freak for being excited about cloth nappies....I told her I was not the only one! Hehehe!:D )

Greenkids are fantastic, very good for overnight, fantastic for during the day, somewhat bulky with a microfibre stuffer AS WELL as a hemparoo, but do the job very nicely....And anyway, that big butt was soooo cute!:yes:

Baby bees. I washed them three times in HOT water, then tried to use it overnight. C woke up after 3 hours crying, and when I tried everything else - realised that she was WET THROUGH! :thumbsdown: A kind friend DID point out that it can take up to 10 washes to reach maximum absorbancy - but I wasn't overly impressed with the BBs as a night nappy. Will happily add them to my day stash though!

So there you go.

[reAllytee]

Told ya it would get addictive :p

[Mor]

Sounds like you are having fun!


Baby bees. I washed them three times in HOT water, then tried to use it overnight. C woke up after 3 hours crying, and when I tried everything else - realised that she was WET THROUGH! :thumbsdown: A kind friend DID point out that it can take up to 10 washes to reach maximum absorbancy - but I wasn't overly impressed with the BBs as a night nappy. Will happily add them to my day stash though!

I am surprised to hear you say this, as my perception is that they are known to be a pretty good night nappy...? and I never have leaks with my hemp or bamboo ones... however, I do find that I need to add extra boosting with my hemp nappies (in fact, any fitted hemp nappy I use at night needs boosting, and I have a few different brands.). Bamboo on the other hand doesn't seem to need the extra boosting that hemp does. None the less, depending on DS' fluid intake before and in bed, I usually boost a little more just as 'back up'! When I add an extra booster to those long and short ones in the nappy, I put them on the outside of the nappy, between the nappy and the cover. This helps ensure there's no gaping gap at the leg holes. And if you are looking at boosters, check out some bamboo fold ups, they are brilliant, IMO.

Are you using hemp or bamboo, did you add extra boosting, and what cover are you using? I find that PUL covers seem to leave the nappy itself much much wetter than wool covers do. Wool is magic, you really should try it out. IT took me about 9 months to get the confidence to, and now I rarely, if ever, go back to PUL (except in long car trips!).

Also, it's very true that hemp needs lots of washes before you can expect too much from them. They need to be 'broken in', and will just keep improving with use.

And did you use a fleece liner? Some people don't like to use synthetics, others don't mind. I am one that doessn't mind, and if you are using greens, you prob. really don't care about synthetics against skin. If you get the chance, go to spotlight/lincraft and get some thin polarfleece or microfleece, and cut it up as big as you feel necessary. I like to cut it nice and big for night time, so it covers most of the nappy. It will help keep your bub's skin feeling dry, and make poo removal heaps easier! Nb. I also find that bamboo doesn't tend to feel as saturated as hemp can tend to feel when it's wet. And neither feel as sodden as cotton does.

Hope that helps! Maybe in a few weeks, after some more washes, you might be willing to try the hemp overnight again, with a booster, wool cover and liner?

[Mor]

oh, just read back and saw you have a VBSN - how are you finding it if you have tried it for night?

[H&B'sMum]

Baby bees. I washed them three times in HOT water, then tried to use it overnight. C woke up after 3 hours crying, and when I tried everything else - realised that she was WET THROUGH! :thumbsdown: A kind friend DID point out that it can take up to 10 washes to reach maximum absorbancy - but I wasn't overly impressed with the BBs as a night nappy. Will happily add them to my day stash though!

So there you go.

I have to ask....did you fold over the long booster into 4s? As Lucy said you can alwasy boost for night, but I find that by folding over the long booster into 4s it's usually fine. Did you use a PUL cover or wool? If a wool have you lanolise it yet?
Sorry for all the questions but it may help you get a great night time combination.

We loooove our Very baby simple nights (vbsn) we don't have to boost that either and combined with a wool soaker or longies if colder at night, it's my fav night combo.

I hope you are able to find a great night time combination that works for you.

Good luck

[3cherubs]

I use the BB Hemp for night and never had a leak. I boost it with the small hemp snap and the long one folded with a bamboo foldup folded twice. Also, use the BB Wool Cover and it has been fabulous for us.
Ours were only washed about 3 times before i used it on her at night.
Oh, and the little snap booster and outer of nappy is 99% of the time not wet.

[kymmy]

I haven't used BBs at night yet. But we always use a wool cover at night or longies.

[MummyCharmzy]

Baby Bees:
1) Hemp or Bamboo? atm i only have hemp... im waiting on my bamboo's... hemp is great though very absorbant
2) Liners - how many? What kind - microfleece and i have as many as i have nappies...
3) Covers - PUL or wool - or both? both, pul is good for daytime, wool for overnight
4) Night wear - what do I have to do differently from day wear (C sleeps for 13+ hours, and fills, but not out-wets, a huggies at present) use a wool cover and boost it was additional hemp or bamboo depending on what you use. I use two boosters in bellas BB overnight and she sleeps 14 hours :)

[Tam-I-Am]

Hi guys! Wow, thanks for your responses. To answer your questions:

The BB is hemp - It was washed 3 times before use, and I used a wool cover, which I had lanolised before use. The cover itself wasn't soaking, but the nappy was, right through. I boosted it with the small and large hemp snap-ins, as well as a hemp prefold booster that came as a bonus with the nappy....Maybe C just had a really wet night that night?! I don't know, but we'll use the BBs during the day for a bit - I'm quite happy with the greens at night, I feel really confident that they'll contain anything she throws their way (and keep her feeling dry!)

Mor - I do indeed have some microfleece liners that I cut up myself - they've been great....I found that the poo just rolled straight off them. They're fantastic!

I'm so excited....My stash of Greens should be arriving tomorrow (Wednesday) and from Friday I guess (after I've washed all the hemparoos 3 times and dried everything) - we'll be a full-time cloth family! YAY!!

[H&B'sMum]

Harry soaks through a bbh but with the liner in place his bottom is dry and the wool cover we use and his pj's are also dry. I would expect the nappy to be wet as it soaks up the wee. I would only consider a leak a leak if the pj's and sheets are wet. iykwim?????

Good luck with them all.

[Tam-I-Am]

I do know what you mean - It wasn't so much a leakage that I had the problem with, it was the fact that the nappy was sopping wet - it must have been uncomfortable against her skin, as she woke up....The green's haven't been like that. Even when she's completely wet, she still feels dry.

On another positive note - my green's came a day early! YAY! They're here! Wooohooooo!:smiliedance: :smiliedance:

[shed]

Well, we are on our first full cloth day today!!!!

Yesterday the washing machine was on all day as I washed them all and washed them again and again and again.

So first up I thought we'd try the Erica nappy. Next I think we will put on the Greens Funtime and then maybe the Pookey Pocket. I'm not sure how many we will use because I didn't actually keep track of how many disposables we went through each day. But tonight we will be using the Anytime stuffed with the hemparoo and the microfibre.

I am really hoping the Greens work out for us. If they pass the test today I will be ordering some more this week.

I am thinking about cancelling my order of Beehinds. The waiting time is a couple of weeks and I want to try out the FuzziBuns too and get at least one Swaddlebee because I am a Pumpkin Patch addict and their trousers a quite slim fitting (and because Ducky looks so adorable in hers that it made me want Bubby to have one too, LOL).

By the time the Beehinds arrive I think I would have made a decision on the Greens.

Gosh, this is so much fun. I can't believe how pathetic I have become!!

[gremily]

I've been using terry cloth since DD2 was born (13mths), with sposie at night (and when it's been raining and the clothies aren't dry:rolleyes: ).
I got a standard pk of the bb hemp - OH MY GOD I LOVE THEM!!They're so compact, they absorb everything, I love the microfleece liners (Clarabelle - Ikwym about the poo rolling off:smiliedance: ).
I'd never used wool covers before but was suprised how fantastic they were. We've used them at night, and although they're sometimes pretty soaked, DD2's always dry (hence the mf liner), and her pjs aren't wet.

I'm dying to try some bamboo nappies, though. I need more anyway, having only 12 atm means I'm washing alot, plus coz they take so long to dry means I'm resorting to using sposies (my dryer has died and it's been raining for days here in Sydney, which has meant sposies for a couple of days:thumbsdown: ).

Plus, even DF can put them on her properly! He used to give me the sh*ts when putting on DD2's flats - he'd never tuck the sides in, so her clothes would end up went:devil6:

[H&B'sMum]

I would still go ahead with the baby beehinds. They are wonderful nappies and don't think you will be disappointment, anyway you can never have too many nappies ;)