Brand new cloth user, brand new bub... what nappys?

[OJandMe]

Hi guys! :wave: Here I am!!

I can't believe I'm actually here in this thread, as I've been such strong supporter of my sposies... BUT

Have crunched numbers :o and workd out we've spent close to $4000 on nappies since the boys were born. :eek: And decided that since we're not even halfway complete with our family (God willing)... the switch to cloth will save us THOUSANDS.

Soooooo. Baby Blue #3 will be a cloth bummed baby!!

So...

Questions:
1) Is starting with just terry flats and Bummis covers fine for a New Born?

2) Should I just invest in hemp and bamboo inserts, or get some other types as well?

3) Where can I buy liners? Or is it easy to make them from material at Spotlight.

4) Apart from 'The Nappy Lady' and "Darlings Downunder" what other websites should I bookmark?



I've read all the stickys.. GREAT JOB girls!! I feel very informed!!
THANKS GIRLS!! :D

[Shanaynay]

1) Is starting with just terry flats and Bummis covers fine for a New Born?
That is fine, but you could buy some Baby Beehinds hemp or bamboo fitteds to make things a little easier :) They should fit a newborn right thru to a 3 yr old

2) Should I just invest in hemp and bamboo inserts, or get some other types as well?
Hemp and bamboo should do pretty much any job :) - do yu mean as pocket inserts?

3) Where can I buy liners? Or is it easy to make them from material at Spotlight.
Just go to spotlight, get some polarfleece for about $9 a metre, and you'll only need about 30cm of the stuff, and chop it up!

4) Apart from 'The Nappy Lady' and "Darlings Downunder" what other websites should I bookmark?[/B]
I really like to browse 'the wee wuns' 'green kids' and 'babybeehinds' and 'nurture nappies'

[OJandMe]

Hemp and bamboo should do pretty much any job :) - do yu mean as pocket inserts?

I was thinking as inserts and as boosters for the terrys at night. With a wool cover.



Just go to spotlight, get some polarfleece for about $9 a metre, and you'll only need about 30cm of the stuff, and chop it up!


THANKS FOR THAT!! WIll do.



I really like to browse 'the wee wuns' 'green kids' and 'babybeehinds' and 'nurture nappies'

Bookmarked :thumbsup:

New question:

Because bubs will be a winter bub and wearing a fair bit of covering at night... how can I stop leaking? Will a wool cover wick? or should I use a PUL?

[gremily]

We used terry flats for the first 9 months or so. That was when I "discovered" there was more to cloth nappies than square! They worked fine for us, especially during the newborn stage when they're weeing and pooing more than ever. Nappies don't need to be overly absorbant at that stage as they're changed so often.

I'd probably look at getting some decent covers though. Pul and/or wool. PUL: Bummis, Baby Beehinds, etc
Wool: if you're able to knit (or know someone who knits) making your own soakers/longies will save you quite alot of dough. Otherwise, Possum Pouches, Llamajama, Ozebaby, Sustainable Hemp Products, etc.

Hemp and Bamboo are wonderful and it's hard to compare them to anything else. Absorbant and antibacterial, they won't let you down.

Look for Microfleece (very thin), Polarfleece (slightly thicker than micro) or a blend of the 2. Wash first then cut into rectangles or a contoured shape. No need for hemming as it doesn't fray:smiliedance: .
You might like to look at buying some special silk liners at some stage. These are wonderfully soothing, especially if bub has a nappy rash. I'm not sure if you can buy the material in store, but there are plenty of online stores that sell them.


Ozcloth Nappies (http://www.ozclothnappies.org/) have a list of online stores and irl stores.

[gremily]

New question:

Because bubs will be a winter bub and wearing a fair bit of covering at night... how can I stop leaking? Will a wool cover wick? or should I use a PUL?

Wool is absolutely wonderful. It allows air to circulate and helps to keep bub dry.
Wool won't wick, the lanolin helps to make it "waterproof".
Wool will last longer than a Pul cover will.
To stop leaking: BOOST!! Although as far as newborn poo goes I'm sure you know nothing will keep that stuff from exploding everywhere sometimes!!

[pookiesossige]

Check out Baby Beehinds in bamboo (not the hemp imo) for a fantastic night nappy! With the bamboo-fold up and a wool soaker, you have a fantastic nappy to last 10-14 hours :thumbsup:

I'd also bookmark Ozebaby, WAHMania, Baby Soft Landings, and Buyena (online cloth auctions- great for 2nd hand bargains!)
Check out Nappycino too!!

You can use pul or wool. Wool longies are awesome for winter! :thumbsup: Ariene wears a pair under a grobag, with singlet and long sleeves on her top half. If the longies are drying etc then she's in a bummis cover and a sleepsuit in her sleeping bag. You'll work out the combo that's right for you. Wool works great when the nappy is boosted enough (which is why I recommended Baby Beehinds bamboo with a fold-up) and is lanolised properly :yes:

[Shanaynay]

If you get longies, unless it's really cold, bub shouldn't have to have too many layers on too :thumbsup:

[OJandMe]

Thanks guys! This is all SO helpful! I'm sssooo excited about the change! I don't think DH realises what he's got himself into.. ( :devil6: pulls out credit card):laughing:


OH.

New Question.

A good cloth stash will last for more than one baby, right?

[gremily]

Pretty much. If you have a large enough stash to rotate through it'll mean less wear and tear on the nappies. For one child 24 nappies are recommended, but you could get more (and alot of people do). It would also mean less washing - rather than every couple of days, you could go every 3-4 days.

[Shanaynay]

And if you look after them, most should last well.
Some may last longer than others - fitteds probably last longer than anything with PUL in it :thumbsup:

[beeware]

I'd agree that good quality fitteds and wool will last for 2. I'm not sure about the PUL esp not cotton PUL. It probably depends how big the stash is!!!

[OJandMe]

Thanks guys.

I'm thinking of starting with
* heaps of terrys... I might do the Bummis intro pack with the prefolds as well.
* some hemp and bamboo inserts/boosters
* 2 PUL covers
* 2 wool covers
(what's the difference between a fitted and a pocket nappy?)* some of those. about 6 maybe. some BB and PeaPods maybe.

[ButterflyMama]

I'm doing pretty similar to you, Gretel.

I have 36 terry flat nappies and I have 7 Bummis PUL covers and 3 BabyBeehind Wool covers to use on my little miss for the first month or so, and I went to Spotlight and bought some Polarfleece and cut it up to use it as liners. I also got 3 Snappis from Big W to use with the flats.

I'm eventually planning to get a fulltime BB package with half hemp and half bamboo.. just waiting on my deluxe trial package so I can make sure that they're gonna be the right nappies for me before I fork out the big $$$.

Cloth is so exciting! You'll be addicted before no time.. ;)

Jessie

[gremily]

The difference between a fitted and pocket.

A fitted is basically absorbant material shaped similar to a disposable nappy. It needs a cover.

A pocket is kind of like a cover that has a pocket (hence the name!), that you stuff with absorbant material.