Where do i start?

[MegACT]

Ok I'm a newbie :wave:
I found out on Wednesday that im 4 weeks pregnant with my first bub and the idea of cloth nappies has always appealed to me :)
Problem is I have no idea where to start. I guess i would love if you could fill me in on the basics...
Advantages?
How many needed?
What size for age?
Cost?
Best Product?
When to start buying?
What do i need to buy as i see there are inserts and covers etc?
Any other useful information?
Any information you can give me would be so greatly appreciated!!

Thanks. Meg xx

[tanni_83]

have a look through the stickies up the top...theres loads of info in there :yes:

[Oscar's mum]

Check out this site:

Oz Cloth (http://www.ozclothnappies.org/)
It has loads of information and answers pretty much anything you need to know.

Abbreviations (http://www.ozclothnappies.org/abbreviations)

The above link is for Oz Cloth too, but is the list of abbreviations etc for cloth nappy and related items.

all about nappies (http://www.allaboutnappies.com/understanding.php)

Another great site with lot's of info.

The nappy lady (http://www.thenappylady.co.uk/Advice/Instructions.asp?InstructionID=2)
This site above is for different folds if you decide to use flats;)

[Oscar's mum]

Advantages?
How many needed?
What size for age?
Cost?
Best Product?
When to start buying?
What do i need to buy as i see there are inserts and covers etc?

Advantages: Well there is environmental and money, you save both in the long term.

How many needed: At least 18 IMO.

What size for age: Well you can buy all different sized ie newborn, toddler etc or, you can buy ones that fit from birth to toilet training (OSFA).

Cost: The cost varies alot and depends on the style of the nappy. AIO's or AI2's are the most expensive (I believe). Expect to pay from approx $14 up. As a rough guide though most of my nappies are around the $25 mark.

When to start buying: Now is as good of time as any.

What do i need to buy as i see there are inserts and covers etc? I would buy all different styles etc and see what you like the best.

Two things I think are essential regardless of what style nappy you get:

1. Liners
2. Little Squirt - it washes the poo off the nappy into the toilet.

[Phoenix's Mum]

:smiliedance:Congratulations on your pregnancy! *sigh* being a mum is so lovely, I loved being pregnant!! Big hugs, your journey begins here....

Cloth nappies from my perspective are-

Advantages? Cost less $$$$ BIG BONUS, better for the environment, you don't fill your bin with sposies every week (I know, I'm a convert!), a sense of pride at not having to lug home boxes of huggies from the supermarket, a change to join the cloth community and share our addiction to cloth bums.....

How many needed? Hmmm for a newborn you'll need anywhere from 5-10 a day. (They poo a lot, whether it's cloth or sposies.) I have about 28 nappies- a mix of all-in-ones (AIO's) and fitteds (which need a cover- not that I always use one) and I wash every two days, and right now my son is pooing 6 times a day due to teething! But if you wash every day you might only need about 15 or so- half that drying while you use the other half. You can always build up your stash as you go, and trial different nappies till you find the ones you lurve.....

What size for age? Some nappies such as Baby Beehinds (and others but my brain is not working) are one-size so you can use one nappy from birth till toilet training. Much more economical. But having said that, I just acquired some NB nappies for a friend, and they are so adorable I wish I'd got some... But hey, you'll work it out.

Cost? I got a pack from Baby Beehinds website but you can always build up your stash secondhand, it is much more economical. (That's what I've done, I sold/swapped half my BabyBeehinds here on bubhub at the Cloth Nappy Swap & Shop and also on buyena.com) It depends on what system you use (flats, fitteds, AIO's, pockets) but you can do cloth quite cheaply. Or you could pay up to $15-$35 a nappy individually

Best Product? I love my BabyBeehinds Bamboo fitteds as you can use them without a cover for a while. Berry Plush nappies are divine and you can just change the insert. Any AIO's are easier as you just whip it off and put another on. No covers etc.

When to start buying? I didn't discover cloth nappies till Phoenix was 6 weeks old and finally layby'ed them so we got them at almost 3 months. I wish I'd slowly built up my stash, as lots of other mums do, one nappy at a time...

What do i need to buy as i see there are inserts and covers etc? Like I said before, lots of choices. Check out ozebaby.com.au and also the websites recommended on bubhub in the directory

Any other useful information? Cloth nappies are lovely and I wish I'd found them earlier! I love it, it isn't hard, and I don't mind washing nappies. I thought cloth nappies would be about soaking and napisan and all that jazz but they aren't. Just whip off, put in a dry bucket (called drypailing) and wash altogether when it suits you! You'll feel proud that you're a cloth mum and get as obsessed as we all are about cloth nappies!:ecomcity:they are so wonderful etc etc etc!!

Check out the Nappy Threads and you'll find info on washing, people's thoughts on different nappies, and also the cloth nappy swap and shop.

Here is the link
http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=99

Good luck, and may you find love with cloth!!:laughing: