What do you want to know about Modern Cloth Nappies?

[Mor]

Given that there seem to be a lot of people around who don't actually realise how amazing Modern Cloth Nappies are, I thought I would start a thread for anyone who is interested in asking questions about modern cloth to ask and find answers! There are other great resources around for modern cloth nappy information in Australia: www.ozclothnappies.org, www.ecobubba.com and www.modernnappies.org, but for anyone browsing here, please feel free to ask questions of those of us who do love and use cloth nappies, and we will do what we can to help! :D

And please note, this isn't a cloth vs disposables thread, there is another discussion here (http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2794) for that debate!

So ask away! :confused:

[Rainbowbrite]

Great timing :D I just posted the following on the other thread which i've cut & pasted here & edited there.

Can someone please post info or even PM me to let me know more about these cloth nappies that require no soaking, are absorbant enough for over night, don't require pins etc. I'm getting sick of the cost of disposables but love the convenience of them

So yeah, i would like personal accounts, not links if possible. Including sizes, costs, how many i'll need, what i need to use with them etc. Also do i need to buy more as MJ gets bigger?

thanks
RB

[LucyE]

There's a huge variety out there for all sorts of bubs and their mums :) Some find it to be a bit of information overload at first, but it's worth it to find the right 'system' for you. I've tried a lot of different brands and each has it's pros and cons. It would help to know what age your baby is and your budget.

You can buy sized nappies which I prefer because it gives a better fit at each stage or you can buy one-size-fits-all. Medium sizes generally get the most use because babies don't seem to grow that much once they're up-and-about.

How many you will need depends on how often you plan to wash and what age your baby is at. I wash every second day (because that's how much my bucket will comfortably fit) and change approx 6 times per day.

The main types are: fitteds (which don't require folding but will require a nappy cover); pockets (which generally don't need covers); or All-in-ones (AIOs). Most of them are fastened with either snaps (resin version of those popper like buttons on bodysuits etc), aplix/touch tape (higher quality velcro like), or snappis (Y shaped plastic things with 'claws' to grip onto the fabric).

I dislike AIOs because they take too long to dry due to the cover being part of the nappy. Fitteds give the extra protection from poo explosions because they have the cover as a second barrier of defence. Pockets are quick drying because you stuff 'boosters' into them (the amount depends on the absorbancy you need) and unfold it all for washing and drying.

Most pockets come with a microfleece inner layer which is nonabsorbant so gives a stay dry feeling against the skin. Fitteds can either come with this inbuilt but I prefer to have separate bits of microfleece for them because it makes cleaning up much easier.

Covers - things have progressived from the old PVC pilchers which would tear and are not breathable. You can either get PUL (polyurethane laminate) which is breathable but waterproof, wool, or fleece. Wool is by far my favourite choice because it's natural and breathable but it can be bulky.

What I use: these days (DS is 17mths old) I use mostly pocket nappies because they give a nice trim fit. For day time, I use just one microfibre stuffer unless we are going out and I add a thin hemp booster because I dislike having to change while out and about. For nights, I use a FuzziBunz with a microfibre stuffer and a Sandra's Stuffable hemp booster. That lasts us 12hrs easily.

Washing - I do what is called 'dry pailing' which means after a nappy change, I drop any poo into the toilet (a Little Squirt can be handy), then I place the nappy into the bucket. No chemicals or soaking agents. When it's time to wash, I chuck the whole lot into the wshing machine and because I have a whizz bang frontloader, I can select the prerinse, soak and warm wash options, lower the spin speed, fill up with detergent and walk away. In the morning I hang them up and in this weather they are dry within 3 hours. Some people use half the recommended dose of detergent and white vinegar in the rinse (just put it in the fabric softener compartment) but I have really hard water so just use the recommended amount. People often ask if the nappy bucket is smelly but it honestly smells less than when I had disposables individually wrapped, then further wrapped in a plastic bag within a sealed bucket. If you're nose is really delicate, a drop of lavendar essential oil in the bottom of the bucket does wonders. I wash in warm water and rarely have a stain (just the one occasion when DH left a pooey nappy for 1 1/2 weeks in summer). When I visit Mum's (who washes in cold) the faint stain that are there after the wash, disappears in sunlight. The UV rays does marvellous things for nappies.

Here are some links if you are interested
For One-size-fits-all fitteds BabyBeehinds (www.babybeehinds.com.au)
My favourite newborn fitteds: Tots Bots (www.cleverpants.com.au)
For some very cute fitteds: Erica's Nappies (www.http://www.ericanappies.com.au/store/index.php?main_page=index)
For pocket nappies try Fuzzi Bunz and SwaddleBees (http://www.theweewuns.au.com/store/) or Green Nappies (http://www.greennappies.com.au)
There are heaps more on the modern cloth link above.

Gotta go now, I hope I have helped to answer some of your questions. Feel free to ask for any more details :)

[Rainbowbrite]

It would help to know what age your baby is and your budget.

MJ is 4months old. Weight is 4.65kg. Would prefer not to spend a fortune but it all depends on how long they'll last honestly :)


How many you will need depends on how often you plan to wash and what age your baby is at. I wash every second day (because that's how much my bucket will comfortably fit) and change approx 6 times per day.

That sounds about what i'm doing at the moment.


Washing - I do what is called 'dry pailing' which means after a nappy change, I drop any poo into the toilet (a Little Squirt can be handy), then I place the nappy into the bucket. No chemicals or soaking agents. When it's time to wash, I chuck the whole lot into the wshing machine.

Sounds easy to me. So warm wash is the way to go? I currently wash in cold but whatever works.

Thanks so much i'll be investigating the styles.

RB

[Mor]

there are HEAPS of different types, but me:
I have a 10 month old son, and since birth have used:

12 terry squares but you need to fold them, and pin/snappi them (canningvale brand)

12 fitted pocket nappies - these are nappies that have a liner and cover sewn together with a hole at one end so you can stuff it with absorbant material, like hemp or cotton. You can get different sizes, which generally provide a more customised fit, or one size, which last from about 5kg - about 15kg.
(Sandra's Stuffables, Green Nappies, Pico Pockets - Cute Tooshies, Princess Pockets - in order of preference)

15+ fitted hemp or hemp/cotton nappies - these are nappies that have only the absorbent material sewn together so that they are elasticised where it's important, the legs, and back, and they do up at the front with snaps or velcro. they need a cover, and if you prefer, a liner.
(Baby BeeHinds one size, Bubba Nature - hemp medium, Cuddle Buns - Cute Tooshies, Ericas Hemp Blends, Bubba J small hemp, Bubba Nature hemp/cotton...- in order of preference)

Covers:
Motherease PUL fabric air flow (side snaps closure) and rikki (velcro closure)
Bummis (velcro closure)
Polar fleece cover (very breathable, great in summer)
I am about to try a knitted wool soaker too, for the first time!

Liners
polyester microfleece or polar fleece from spotlight or similar (they are cheap and easy to make yourself, you just cut the fleece to size and use it, no sewing!)
flushable eenees when desperate!
Raw silk when poos irritate his bum

My favourite type would be fitted hemp nappies, but they are the more expensive, typically. They are SUPER absorbent and good lasting quality I have only mentioned a few brands, there are LOTS out there.

YOU NEED good covers if you want to make it work. Don't skimp and only buy cheap PVC from the supermarket! Often WAHMS (work at home mums) sell the nappies they make as well as covers which suit the nappies, and others.

Having a nappy with 3 parts - liner, absorbant bit and cover means that you can customise the fit really well so that it works best for you. You can add more absorbent material, use a liner or not, fit the cover so it accounts for your baby's shape...

I also like pocket nappies for convenience. They are great to throw, pre-stuffed, in the nappy bag. They dry very quickly and are easy for most people to use. You can also get all in ones, not my preferred type, as they don't dry very quickly at all.

Cost varies a bit, you will pay probably about $25-$35 for a good quality hemp or pocket nappy, and $20 - $25 for a cotton nappy. BUT this isn't a rule, so don't quote me or judge a nappy by it's price simply because it doesn't fall into these categories. There are lots of factors that go into pricing a nappy.

Most people who use cloth nappies exclusively on one baby have about 25 nappies as a base to get them through 2 days before doing a wash. This varies depending on what your washing wants are. If you get different size nappies, then you will possibly need more, as you need to replace the smaller ones as they grow out of them.

Washing takes 10 minutes each time, to throw them in the machine and then hang them out. EASY! and no soaking.

I use cloth wipes with water, and just wash them with the nappies. I don't like disposable wipes as they seem to irritate Matthew's skin.

I also have a little squirt attached to a toilet so that we can squirt any messy solid poos into the toilet before washing them. Very easy, and microfleece liners mean that most poo just rolls into the toilet anyway!

You said you baby is about 6 months old? You still have about 5000 nappy changes to do and for a typical cost disposable nappy, this will cost about $2000. For a good quality set of nappies and covers you will spend less than $1000. This sounds like a lot initially, but you can use them on future children or sell them on second hand and get some money back.

I hope this helps. I don’t want to hogg any more space here with my anecdotes, I am sure there are others who can contribute. If you want more specific information though, feel free to ask here or PM me!

I typed this up earlier, and just saw LucyE's reply, so sorry for any overlaps, but decided to leave my post as it is for reinforcement! :)

[sundaymum]

Hello,
just offering some tips from my experience with two littlies in cloth.
I've always preferred fitted cloth nappies over other styles. On my first child I really experimented with a range of differnt nappies, and have the following comments to make. By my second child, I had our preferences honed down, and have listed my favourite styles and why.
With our first child, we started off with good old cloth squares, while he was newborn, and then we bought a combination of Baby Eco, Little Lambs All-In-Ones, and Tots Bots. We also tried Erica's nappies, Ella's House hemp nappies and Motherease. The Baby Eco nappies were pretty good, they are very slim fitting, and wear really well, I didn't like the Little Lambs at all, and ultimately found that Tots Bots were the msot reliable and absorbent to use.
On Child Two, we use Tots Bots by day, and Ella's House bumhuggers by night. We also use some of the Ella's House plain hemp nappies for day use, for when we need a less bulky nappy than the Tots Bots, eg under clothing (you can get both at nurture nappies (http://www.nurturenappies.com.au) ) The Ella's House bumhuggers are fantastic for getting right through the night, they are hemp fleece outer, with a polyester fleece dry inner layer.
For covers, I prefer wool, and PUL from either Tots Bots or Motherease.
I wash every two days, in a front loader and line dry. The sun does wonders for the nappies. No secrets there, but I occasionally use vinegar in the fabric softener compartment.
I have quite a nappy collection, but would recommend:
24 nappies for one child, with 4 to 6 covers. If you choose sized nappies, you would need only 4-6 of the smaller newborn sizes, and the rest in the larger size. For Tots Bots at least, the larger size, Size 2, is adjustable to fit a newborn, so you could potentially do away with purchasing the Size 1s altogether if you don't mind a bit of bulk. For RainbowBrite, I would skip the Size 1s and move straight onto Size 2s, given your baby's age and weight.
As Mor said, your covers are critical; don't compromise on them. If you choose PUL, Motherease Air Flow covers have the best reputation, and we have found them to live up to that reputation.
In terms of fastening, we use a combination of snappi/velcro/popppers. I like the poppers least, and my husband likes the Velcro style best, but so does our first child!
We love our cloth nappies, and would never look back. I don't think anyone can go wrong with Tots Bots.

[Mumoffour]

We used fitted cloth nappies for our son for daycare with velcro pilchers- they are fluffies brand and came from Kmart. We found the towelling ones better than the flannelette. At home we used the tradittional squares with woolen overpants and a flannel 'booster'in for nighttime usage. The only fitted ones i wouldnt recommend are ones called 'lil rippers'as they are shaped wrong and never seem to stay put. When we go out we use eenie weenies which while not really all reusable ( the pads in the middle go in the compost) are fantastic! They also do up at the back so little fingers find it more difficult to undo. Cheers :p