How many soakers? Plus other questions

[BlueGin]

Hi cloth-heads :wave:, would love some advice on how many soakers it would be good to stock up on before the baby arrives. I had planned on them being pretty much my only covers.

Do babies grow out of them quickly, or does the stretch give you lots of time in them?

Also, is there ever a time/place where a soaker is an inappropriate cover?

Note: This is to cover terry flats

Thanks all :)

[mama anne]

Hi cloth-heads :wave:, would love some advice on how many soakers it would be good to stock up on before the baby arrives. I had planned on them being pretty much my only covers.

Do babies grow out of them quickly, or does the stretch give you lots of time in them?

Also, is there ever a time/place where a soaker is an inappropriate cover?

Note: This is to cover terry flats

Thanks all :)

hey :wave:
i've found it good to have different sizes of soakers around - i find we use the ones that fit her now (small) during the day and then the ones that will fit her soon (medium/large) at night time.
if you buy/make ones with a drawstring at the waist, bigger ones will fit better on a smaller baby without having a gapey waistband.

i have no experience covering terry flats, just fitted nappies so take this with a grain of salt ...

at a minimum i would say 3 of each size, three to rotate during the day and that way you've got two to rotate if one gets poo on it and needs to be washed.

i wash my soakers whenever they get a bit whiffy AFTER hanging out to air after wearing ...... and then lanolise them ......... bella is 4 months and i've washed them maybe 3 times? however we use other covers as well as wool.

wool is like fleece - it breathes, but eventually you will get "compression wicking", which is where if bubs is in one position for a long period of time (say in the stroller/car seat) then dampness will occur on whatever bubs is sitting/lying on.
pul is pretty much the only fabric that won't give you compression wicking - so maybe if you had one pul cover?

okay enough talking by me - someone else!!!!!

also, if you can make them or know someone who can make them for you, they're WAY cheap :thumbsup:

[kymmy]

Oh for a newborn 4 to rotate. Maybe more depending on bub's messiness!
We used flats with soakers and they do have some stretch. And it only when they get longer that you may need to up a size. As mama anne says the bigger ones would be great for night. And drawstrings or ajustable waist may be helpful. you could try tubies - like a knitted tube which makes it easier to change nappies on newborns.

Um can you ever have enough soakers? In a word - "NO"

[BlueGin]

Thanks mama anne, sounds like a good and economical way to do it, having the next size up as the night nappies.
So do you think I'd need something like PUL for every car trip? Or just big long ones? How would it go having a spare flat under their bottom in the car for excess? (Talk about rapid fire questioning! :p)


Um can you ever have enough soakers? In a word - "NO"

:laughing: 'course not! This is just a starting figure, you know, before the addiction takes hold? ;)

And good point about the drawstrings, better a bit loose everywhere else eh?

So Kymmy, what do you think in regards to their being a time when soakers wont be the best option?

Thanks again guys

XGin

[mama anne]

Oh for a newborn 4 to rotate. Maybe more depending on bub's messiness!

actually yes. forgot about the explosions for a second there!

[kymmy]

When aren't soakers are good option? Hmm imo never!!! But some ppl prefer to use other options in car trips etc due to compression leaks. I guess that may be an issue if you went for a long drive. But then with newborns they usually stay in the same spot for the most part anyway. We use wool full time and it isn't an issue. We always use wool.
I think I would use it with my next bub from day one too. But then I haven't used mn on a newborn so I may not be the best person to ask. I used flats and PVC on my girl almost 7 years ago. But that was only at home (sposies when we went out)
Oooops just thinking out loud ....:ecomcity:

[kymmy]

Oh when we go for long drives we would stop anyway to change bum and go to the toilet.

[BlueGin]

Fantastic Kymmy! Great to hear from someone who is having success using them full time :thumbsup:
Who knows, I might be the test case for newborns in this area of the forum, he he
Do you think a spare flat under their bottom in the car seat would help?
I had rather got the impression that even a compression leak would be minor, and odour neutral... is this correct?

I'm learning a lot tonight :D

[CurlyG]

I don't find compression leaks much of a problem to be honest. It's only wee! :D And you were right, the only compression leak I've had in the car has been fairly minor.

[kymmy]

Urine is sterile so not really an issue to me. I think a flat would suffice. You can't get away from wee or poo no matter what!