What modern cloth nappy has worked best f
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Forum Name: Cloth Nappy Discussion
Forum Description: Are you new to cloth nappies? Looking for washing tips? Want to rave about a great new nappy you've tried? By popular request a board especially for all our cloth Mums!
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Topic: What modern cloth nappy has worked best f
Posted By: MalibuBarbie
Subject: What modern cloth nappy has worked best f
Date Posted: 07 April 2008 at 6:33pm
| I am thinking of changing over to using modern cloth nappies but I am so confused about which type/ brand to use. Most of them seem too expensive and I have looked at making some of my own but I'm not much of a sewer. What are your thoughts? |
Replies:
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 07 April 2008 at 6:46pm
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For day time Fuzzi's work well for us. Overnight I use Foxybots. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: kiwivic
Date Posted: 07 April 2008 at 6:46pm
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MCN's are expensive up front but they are a lot cheaper in the long run. I converted to cloth when my second baby was 5mths old. I bought 11 medium Fuzzi Bunz nappies that cost me the equivalent of around 6mths worth of disposables. He wore them for 12mths and then when we upsized I sold them on TM and got back over 75% back on what I'd paid for them! So not only did I save on 6mths worth of disposables I was then able to use the money I got back on them to go towards the next size up - you can't do that with disposables! A lot of companies will do a laybuy service so you can pay them off over 3mths, otherwise you could just buy a couple a month and build up your supply over time. Lots of smaller babies wear a size medium until they're potty trained so you may never need to upsize.
So, what I've used: Fuzzi Bunz - USA made nappy that's been around for ages. Has good resale on TM and comes with a microfibre insert which dries really quickly. I bought these in a medium when I started using cloth nappies on Leo at 5mths old. They're recently redesigned the nappy slightly but I haven't tried the new version. Can be bought from www.mothersinstinct.co.nz Honey Child - NZ made nappy similar to Fuzzi Bunz. The insert is mircofibre again but is slightly more absorbent than a Fuzzi Bunz insert. I have a couple of these and although they are pricier they seem really well made. You can buy from www.honeychild.co.nz or contact a local agent through the website who can visit you at home & show you the nappies. Foxybots - made by a WAHM (working at home mum) in Palmerston North. She makes gorgeous limited edition minky fabric pocket nappies which she sells separately from the inserts so you can either buy one of her inserts or use any other that you already have. Her microfibre/hemp trifold inserts are great! Instead of a pad-style insert (like FB or HC) this insert comes flat which you fold into 3 before inserting into the nappy pocket. It speeds up drying time of the insert and the combo of microfibre & hemp is really absorbent (more so than microfibre on it's own). I have a couple of these which I use on Leo overnight as the pocket for stuffing is bigger so can accommodate more absorbent fabrics. But they're just as great during the day too and come in really cute minky (fluffy) fabrics. Buy from www.foxybots.co.nz Itti Bitti D'lish - they are an Australian made nappy that unlike a pocket nappy where you stuff with your absorbant fabrics these nappies have snap in inserts which are made of bamboo. The inserts take almost twice as long to dry then microfibre inserts but they're really absorbant, are a natural fibre, and these nappies are SUPER SLIM fitting. Also, because the inserts sit next to your baby's skin the outer can be reused if the nappy is just wet, therefor you cna buy more inserts than outers so they're not so expensive. They really do fit as slim as a disposable and come in a cute minky outer fabric. Buy from www.mothersinstinct.co.nz Hope this helps! Vic xx |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 07 April 2008 at 7:22pm
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we have some great info stickied in the cloth nappy thread... so have a look in there...
pockets are very popular but prefolds and covers are also great for newborns. i prefer fitted nappies for nights and for my newborn and you can get some great kiwi made nappies quite cheap too... also some of the ladies on here who didnt have much faith in their sewing skills have done a great job making nappies... i know that http://www.greenbeans.co.nz/ - greenbeans have a DIY kit that is very cost effective. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 07 April 2008 at 7:58pm
My favourites are fuzzi bunz and baby harmony (not that that helps you, but I have never had a problem with either  ) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 07 April 2008 at 9:07pm
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There aren't many pockets that I haven't tried (heck I have most brands in my stash) but if I had to streamline to one I'd go with Fuzzibunz. They are consistent and reliable and you can adjust the absorbency easily with more/less stuffing. My faves were Happy Heiny's which are similar except have a velcro fasten, but the gremlins can now get them off way too easily. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 07 April 2008 at 11:49pm
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i've tried alot of different pocket nappies too and my faves are baby harmony and drybees. the drybees are velcro instead of snaps so can come off easily though....thankfully charli has got over that and doesn't bother anymore.
it really does come down to trial and error. like most things, what works for some, doesn't work for others. the beauty of mcn's is if it's not working for you, sell it and get something else ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 08 April 2008 at 7:11am
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We Fuzzibunz in this house.
I have a big range of different MCN's but these are our favourite. Easy to use, easy to wash and so cute  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 08 April 2008 at 7:33am
Totally agree. Most people love fuzzis but they just never worked for us. But the resale value of most mcn's is so great that it doesn't really matter if they don't work. Another good thing to try is meet up with someone (perhaps from on here) who has a few different types so you can have a look at them |
jack_&_charli wrote:Posted By: nicolaann
Date Posted: 08 April 2008 at 8:02am
Yeah I would try to find someone who uses MCN and have a look, and maybe try a few out. It is very confusing to begin with. The first MCN's I bought were tweedles, mainly because they were a cheaper option. I love them and have since bought lots more. You could always pick up a few on trademe to see what you like. I also love foxybots nappies - they are so so cute! I have also made some, and they are truley easy to make. I'm really not a sewer, but managed fine. And they are much much cheaper to make yourself. The snazzipants website has lots of great info as does this thread!  Good luck!!------------- Nicky, Mum to Alex (5) & Sophie (3) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kiwivic
Date Posted: 08 April 2008 at 10:44am
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I agree about finding someone who uses MCNs. I would never have even thought to try a cloth nappy if a friend hadn't bullied me into trying one of her Fuzzi Bunz. I had no idea how lovely or easy they could be!! I used that one nappy every day for a week, although really I was convinced from the first use! I've been talking to DH about how I'd love to make up a nappy trial pack for people so they can try out different brands of nappies for a 2wks period. I think it would be a great way for people to give cloth a go without spending heaps of money up front.
Vic xx |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 08 April 2008 at 7:51pm
That's very true as the name is well known world wide and people are happy to pay not much less than a new nappy price for a 2nd hand one (nuts if you ask me! lol) I still love my old style USA Made Fuzzis so if you want to go 2nd hand I'd suggest those or for new I love Honey Child naps (obviously or else I wouldn't sell them lol) similar to FBs but the design of the nappy and the inserts have been improved and they're NZ made
We also offer a 30 money back guarantee so if you still just don't like them, you get your money back. you can't ask for better no risk buying than that ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 09 April 2008 at 8:37am
Yep! I am one of those with minimal faith in my sewing skills and I can make my own nappies!! They are soooooo easy. My only problem is I am a bit rip, sh*t and bust and just need to bring out the Virgo in me and be alittle more careful. Otherwise I have had a lot of success with bum genius OSFA (or OSFM) |
Posted By: MorgansMum
Date Posted: 09 April 2008 at 10:31am
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If you really can't decide an number of people have hire kits available with all sortd of differant systems in them, that may be the best way to go. I have decided to go with pockets for baby who is due in June. ------------- Morgan, Libby http://www.TickerFactory.com/"> 
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 09 April 2008 at 3:29pm
We love our NapNaps - and they are kiwi made! ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 4:25pm
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do people find that cloth nappies/ mcn's are big and bulky? -------------   
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 4:32pm
| Not especially. They are bigger than sposies but they are great for holding pants up lol. |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 4:33pm
no, not at all... they can be for some night nappies and on tiny babies sometimes...but it depends on what you use. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 4:55pm
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Most of Seb's nappies are barely bigger than a sposie. He still fits his old style (sooo 06? 07?) size 1 (they've made them smaller) pp jeans at 20 months, in cloth, and I think that's prett decent, even if he is skinny! -------------  
 
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Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 5:03pm
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i was just looking at charli's butt yesterday in her PP pants i just got her and it looked so trim! it was a baby harmony pocket with a m/f insert and certainly didn't look any bigger in the butt than a sposie ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MalibuBarbie
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 5:20pm
| I think I might give making my own mcn's a go. I want to make a pocket style nappy that fits from birth to toilet training age. Has anyone made anything like this? And if so, how well did it work? |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 5:33pm
| Yeah I make them. The only downside with them is that they can be bulkier on newborns. They work effectively though |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 5:48pm
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thanks ladies. the green nappies website thingy is great. www.nappynetwork.co.nz has some amazing looking patterns. Am gogint o try make a couple of toddler sized ones and see what i think and then once i know what gender baby is, make some newborn ones. -------------
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 6:01pm
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the nappy network is a .org BTW ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 6:35pm
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ooops, sorry bout that -------------
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Posted By: kiwivic
Date Posted: 28 April 2008 at 8:12pm
Leo has a rather large bottom even without nappies so I'm not sure that cloth makes too much of a difference! lol - seriously though, some pocket nappies are slightly bulkier than others but that's usually due to fabric, such as Foxybots minky nappies - but they're sooooo cute, the fabrics definitely make up for it. Using hemp & mf together is a really trim option if you need extra boosting or going for a bamboo Itti Bitti D'lish if you need something extra trim 
Vic xx |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 1:29pm
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what if you are making your own? has anyone done this? what is the sizing like? when i tried Vincent in them when he was crawling, some of his clothes wouldn't fit due to the cloth nappy. (old fashioned one tho) -------------
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Posted By: kiwivic
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 2:30pm
I think it all comes down to what fabric you use (i.e. PUL is thinner than minky or velour) and what/how much absorbancy you stuff the pocket with (i.e. if you use a mf/hemp trifold it's trim AND absorbant). Also a sized nappy will be trimmer on a small baby than if you use a one-size-fits-all pattern. Vic xx |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 2:52pm
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can you buy the hemp? and what is pul fabric? sorry i'm very ignorant of this i guess. lol. 2nd time mum, newbie mcn's -------------
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 2:56pm
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If you think nappies are bulky prepare to be wowed
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/wintir/IMG_0155.jpg This is a fitted, so would be little bulkier with a cover, but is one of our night nappies, so needs to last 12 hours. (baby beehinds) http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/wintir/IMG_0149.jpg All in one (berry plush) http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/wintir/IMG_0131-1.jpg All in one (bitti d'lish) http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/wintir/IMG_0108-1.jpg Cotton fitted with merino cover - The thickest nappies get around here! Ok done showing off -------------
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 29 April 2008 at 3:16pm
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thanks alia, that's awesome to actually be able to see them. and thank you seb! lol. i think i will need to deffinately try making a couple for Vincent, i only have one pattern for toddler ones at the moment but i think that'l b ok -------------
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 30 April 2008 at 7:52am
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Toddler pattern should be ok if he is a chubba bub, but I'd watch it's not for 2-3 year olds if he's not! if you got it off the nappy network the wee weka med-large should probably fit, Seb still fits the sml-med but he's quite skinny. -------------
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 30 April 2008 at 2:07pm
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thanks alia, i didn't even think about the fact that there was bigger sizes there. lol. i wil try both sizes as i think Vincent is about the same size as seb from looking at the pics. so where do i get hemp from? and what is the PUL? -------------
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Posted By: kiwivic
Date Posted: 30 April 2008 at 2:38pm
You can get everything you need from www.greenbeans.co.nz - PUL is the waterpoof fabric that goes on the outside of a pocket, microfleece is for the lining and you can use microfibre and/or hemp for your inserts
Vic xx |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 30 April 2008 at 2:54pm
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thanks Vic. i might try go to spotlight check out their prices first. -------------
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 30 April 2008 at 3:21pm
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chonny - you can only get microfleece from spotlight, not the other stuff. And only certain types work for nappies - 'little additions fleece' from memory is the wicking kind. And the chances of getting anyone who knows what they are talking about are slim to none.
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 30 April 2008 at 3:45pm
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oh ok, so it's easier and cheaper to get off the likes of greenbeans? or is there someone else cheaper?
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Posted By: kiwivic
Date Posted: 30 April 2008 at 7:03pm
I'd say Greenbeans is your best bet. They have heaps of info and supplies there. That's where everyone I know goes. And pp said, the stock & staff at Spotlight are hopeless. Vic xx |
Posted By: Eppys
Date Posted: 30 April 2008 at 10:57pm
| I had a friend try to make her own, it really didn't seem worth it when she was finished, she bought from greenbeans too. We just bought 12 nappies from Nudey!Rudey! (http://www.nudeyrudey.co.nz) and for the money ($150 for 6) we bought them for less than it cost her for the material, also, and i dont know much about this, but our NudeyRudey nappies are 2 millimeter fabric, not the normal 1 millimeter available from greenbeans.(or other manufacturers i believe) |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 01 May 2008 at 9:10am
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taht's interesting. i bought the fabric last night, $98 coz $10 delivery. Stil need to get velcro and elastic, but my mum probably will have some. and i worked out that would make me 9-10 nappies -------------
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 01 May 2008 at 11:19am
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Eppys - I find that hard to believe as I know you can make nappies for around $9.
The fabric may have cost as much as $150 but she will get miles more than 6 nappies out of it. |
Posted By: kiwivic
Date Posted: 01 May 2008 at 12:51pm
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My mum has made nappies for my sister, got all her supplies from Green Beans, and it cost a fraction of the price of buying them ready-made. She made velcro pockets in a newborn size and they only cost her about $5 each!!! In the next size up (small-med) she invested in a stud press so the cost of each nappy went up to around $12 I think, but that's including a mf insert! She has made tons of nappies - I think my sister had around 15-20 newborn and the same amount in small-medium and she said she's spent around $240, but that includes buying the stud press! There's no way you could buy 30-40 nappies for $240.
Vic xx |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 01 May 2008 at 2:05pm
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Our first ever MCN's were made for us by a friend, it cost me $70 for the fabric which included the PUL, fleece and FOE as the pattern she used had FOE on it, plus a $20 voucher for her to say thank you so the actual nappy materials for my nappies were only $50. That got me 4 nappies and she had enough PUL left off each cut to make her daughter a nappy too, so 6 all up. I've since bought some minky/nylon ones from another friend for $11 each, so definitely cheaper than bought ones.
Haven't seen the Rudey Nudey ones, will have a look, but I also don't think $150 is that cheap for a 6 pack, my Fuzzis cost me less than that (without inserts). ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 01 May 2008 at 3:52pm
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so me paying $88 for material (not including velcro or elastic) for 9-10 nappies is about the right price then? -------------
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 01 May 2008 at 3:58pm
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Yep. It depends how you cut them though... some people are super cutters and can get a few more naps than others out of fabric.
Apparently it also depends on the pattern. A hip snap/side snap will use less fabric than a front snap. Greenbeans has good prices. It is just unfortunate that you missed out on their free shipping. They had to put it up a couple of weeks ago with the NZ Post changes - they have tried to counter that by lowering their product prices as much as poss though. You should also look out on The Nappy Network for co-ops - where lots of people buy in bulk to get cheaper fabric. I know they do PUL co-ops quite a bit. I got mine for $14 per metre. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 01 May 2008 at 8:43pm
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Trust Nikki Chonny, I have no idea! I didn't even know what it took to make nappies, my friend just gave me a list of things to buy ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 12:46pm
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i had a look on TNN but couldn't find anywhere talking bout co-ops. where do you haev tog o for that? my mum is a supoer sewer and i'm pretty good at placing patterns etc to get the most out of material so i would think we'l be able to get plenty out of what i bought. i bought a little extra microfleece to make covers for the pads. i am goign to use my old fashioned nappies as the pads and cover them in the microfleece to draw moisture away from the itty bitty bum. lol. that's right aye? that's how it works? and my old fashioned square nappies should do the trick? -------------
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 1:25pm
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well my material just arrived! it's so cute! ok just plain stuff coz was the cheapest, but looks so nice. mum is going to help me start cutting out the pieces this avo so once i buy the velcro and elastic, we can put them together and i can start using them. yay! i am so excited. what do people think bout velcro vs snaps? -------------
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Posted By: kiwivic
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 1:46pm
Glad your material arrived quickly, hope you have fun making them up!
Velcro vs poppers really does come down to personal preference. I prefer poppers because I hate it when velcro sticks to things in the wash, or it loses it's stickiness, but you'll need access to a stud press if you want to put poppers on your own nappies. Vic xx |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:03pm
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thanks Vic, that's what i thought. as long as i make a habit of doing them up, i think i can live with velcro. at least for now anyways. lol. i have some sticky stuff that i think i will sew on. hoping mum has a bit of elastic so i can at least make up one full nappy today. lol. -------------
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:19pm
| My only gripe with velcro is when bubbas learn how to rip it off. Daniel has mastered the art of velcro which sucks so much! lol |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:24pm
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lol, Vincent knows how to take his disposables off if he wants to, but he doesn't want to, and usually has pants on anyways. so i don't have a problem there i don't think -------------
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:27pm
| We only notice it over the warmer times as he only wears a nappy and tshirt. I don't bother with shorts often lol |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:46pm
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fair enough. lol. totally understand that -------------
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 4:46pm
I would make pocket nappies - wee weka pattern on TNN is a good nap to start with. There is a side snap version which would use less fabric if you want to try that. I'd make that up with PUL on the outside as waterproof layer and microfleece as the stay dry layer - then you can use your flat nappies inside the pocket and you don't need to cover them with anything. Otherwise you could make covers and just lay the flat nappies inside the covers in a padshape and just cut the microfleece into liners and lay it on top. Get me? |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 4:50pm
| P.S. On TNN the co-ops are under trading post I think - or there might be a special co-op section. There may not be a current one... keep your eye out. |
Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 5:36pm
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that makes sense nikki! my mum couldn't understand why i would wanna sew it all up together and try to dry 6 layers of cloth nappy. but that makes mroe sense. Altho i may not need to worry and may just put the inners inside the nappy. I have cut out some material for the side snap wee weka nappy. Worked out will get approx 20 nappies of that s-m size from the 2m of PU Nylon i bought! and i have HEAPS of material for inners. If people make the nappies and then put the pads on the inside by the baby's bottom, how do you attatch it to the nappy? My thoughts for putting the pad on the outside of the cover/pocket is then you don't necesarily need to change the entire nappy every time. get what i mean? -------------
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 03 May 2008 at 10:39am
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If you are using a flat cloth nappy inside a cover then you don't attach it as such but just make sure the cover is firm enough that it doesn't slide around. I haven't actually used this system so can't comment from experience.
If you do that then you can re-use the cover if it didn't get covered with poo but I would air it between changes - so cycle a couple of covers over the day. Get me? And as far as pockets, you'll need to change the whole thing each time as the microfleece will get wees on it and it probably isn't nice for a babe to be sitting on damp fleece all day. (No matter how much it wicks - wees is quite acidic  )
I followed the photo tutorials when sewing my nap (oh yeah, my one whole nap - I am SUCH a fraud! haha) and they were really easy to follow. Sounds like you are doing well!
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Posted By: chonny
Date Posted: 03 May 2008 at 3:06pm
i agree about the pockets, that's why i was wanting to use inners, so i don't have to keep changing the whole nappy unles sit gets soiled. i'll see how i go. i like the idea of making a casing for the folded cloth nappy to sit inside. i like the idea of the microfleece on his little bum. he may b almost two, but it's still precious! lol  -------------
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