Hi - Im expecting my first baby in December,and am keen to use cotton nappies rather than disposables, but I dont know where to start! Can anyone give advice? - which ones are best? where do you get them? what should I look out for when buying?! Is it best to use a few disposables for the now and then occasions or can you solely manage with cotton?

Hi Charlotte,

Mummygoth is our current resident expert on cloth nappies. I don't know whether you've seen her blog on the topic, it's in the blogs section (look under 'find by site section in the grey part of the navigation bar at the top of this page) and also linked from the bottom of the homepage.

To answer a couple of questions. Yes, you can get by with just cloth nappies, but having a few disposables around for emergencies or travelling isn't a bad idea. If your concerns are environmental then you can get 'green' disposables (not as green as cloth nappies but not as bad as the others).

Which ones are best is a very personal choice for your baby. You can get cloth nappies that you have to fold or cloth nappies that are pre-shaped.
You can also get all-in-ones that don't need a wrap.

Things to look out for include the type of fastening (could be velcro, nappi-nippa etc.)

A top tip for cloth nappies is the liners, which should take the brunt of the 'impact'. You can either get disposable ones that you tip straight down the toilet along with the mess, or re-usable ones that you rinse out and wash along with the nappies.

There are several websites now that sell cloth nappies. I'm sure MG will have one to recommend.

A couple of well-known ones include:
http://www.twinkleontheweb.co.uk/
http://www.cottonbottoms.co.uk/
http://www.plushpants.com/
http://www.eco-babes.co.uk/

I'm sure MG will have lots more practical advice and I think there are a few other cloth nappy users on the site too.

Good choice.

Hey Hey!
Thank you Maria for that wonderful introduction - I only hope I can live up to it!

And Welcome Charlotte! Congratulations on being pregnant- I bet your champing at the bit to give birth! It'll go sooner than you think..

Mmmm.. so Cloth Nappies you say?
I was a bit cautious and used them from 5 months on when Jake had started weaning- and his poo was a bit more substantial, and less likely to explode everywhere!

First thing I would say, is do your homework!

Ask your Health Visitor/Midwife/Whoever runs your antenatal classes if they know anyone who uses cloth nappies, who might be able to come along and talk to your class- or be willing to give you some advice on them.
Along with the websites Maria has suggested, I looked on http:/www.kittykins.co.uk which I found a 'one-stop guide' to 90% of the nappies available on the market!

You can order them from the site too.

I'm using Tots Bots nappies, with Aplix fastening in Size 2. - That sentence will mean nothing to you now, but I guarantee you'll be up with the nappy lingo in no time!!

I got mine from a lovely lady on eBay- I bought mine new, but you can buy them second hand, and this might be a good way for you to try them out!
Some Councils offer a Trial Cloth Nappy incentive scheme, my friend Charlie has just started her trial pack of various different nappies for a week.

There is such a lot of information to pass on with cloth nappies- I think the best thing would be to have a browse via the internets sites, there are so many different types available on the market! I could type for hours telling you about them all!
For instance if you're not going to be using a tumble drier, and are on a budget- prefold flat nappies would be the most economical for you as they're not expensive to begin with, and because they fold out flat- dry quicker.
Or if you're after convenience whilst being 'eco-mum' then perhaps an All-in-One style nappy would be for you..

kittykins.co.uk have a little quiz thing to recommend 'which nappy?' for you, and I found their site the easiest to navigate!

But yes- definately keep some disposables handy- I would say that for the first few weeks maybe try out various cloth ones, and see how they 'cope' with newborn poo and regular changes, whilst mainly keeping baby in disposables. I was amazed at how often Jake needed changing!
Also means you have time to shop around, would a 'birth to potty' nappy be better as opposed to 'sized' ones, which depending on how big and fast your baby grows maybe expensive in the long run..

But cloth nappies in general have a surprising second hand value. I am confident that if Jake does grow out of them I will make a huge percentage of the money I spent, back if I decide to sell them. Other perks are of course- you can keep them for the next baby!

I think I may have rambled for too long- but you can check out my blog - via clicking on my name and then 'my blogs'. or Whichever!

But see what your council can do for you, and your antenatal groups!
And the websites..!

But you have time.. and definately try before you buy! It is a lot of money to spend in one go if you havn't tried them out enough- and then find out you don't get on with them!!!

Hope this hasn't been too much of an over-load of information!

I'm considering changing over too, so interested to read this thread.

Really useful tips there mg, I'll have to get in touch with my council. In the hospital at birth we weren't given the option of cloth nappies, we just got disposables and I suppose I never really thought about it. It's only recently that I've started to worry about all the extra waste we're creating, especially as I've been putting all the nappies into nappy sacks.

Hi Anna (I love the name Anna btw)

I hope you do!

It's easier than you think! Especially if you are using shaped ones.. You work out your own little changing routine- for instance now whenever I change jake I 'make-up' a new nappy for the next change so I know I have it to hand!

I really don't have a bad word to say about them.. maybe only the drying- I'm being spoilt at the moment and using mum's tumble dryer!

:o)

Hi MummyGoth and Maria!
Thanks for your advice and all those links - Im off to do my homework now! It is all a bit daunting when you dont know where to start, so your advice has been a real help. I will be looking for the most economical way to buy/and brands of cloth nappies - and as we dont have a tumble drier, knowing the flat folding ones could be the best is very useful - I think Im in for lots of fun!
How many cloth nappies is it a good idea to have so you dont run out?!

Hi Charlotte- Sorry for the late reply, we have been staying at Jake's daddy's house!
I would say if you don't have a tumble drier, but are going to use flat folding nappies, 15 - 20 would be fine!
But then I never used them from birth.. so maybe 20 would be a better idea??

In honesty, I find that once you have one- you want more and more and more!
I now have 30+ nappies!!

I've recently bought a couple of the 'stuffable' nappies, which I found great for overnight, I went for the 'Minki' nappies, because they're 'all in one' in their design. You literally just stuff them via the pocket at the back of the nappy to the desired abosorbancy level. Using whatever you like! They're fleece lined, with a PUL waterproof inner too!

Anyway, must dash- let us know how you get on!!

Hi Mummygoth

Thanks for that info - and for telling me about 'stuffable' nappies - I didnt know about them at all! more things to investigate!

Hi Charlotte-
that's Awesome, Glad I'm being useful! And it can be a bit over whelming I must say!
So many products available .. it's like choosing a mortgage! (or so I'm told)

Now my trouble is finding clothes to fit over Jake's often quite chunky bum!
I've just taken to putting him in dungarees! Which I love anyway.. but it would be nice to find some trousers he can wear comfortably.. the only website I've found is www.cut4cloth.com but they're super expensive!

Apparently it's easier to dress girls in Cloth bums.. dresses and wooly tights etc etc!

Do you know the sex of your little one-to-be ??

Oh, and the site for the stuffable Minki nappies is : http://www.nappiesbyminki.co.uk/

But they are listed on the www.kittykins.com site !

So many nappies, so little time!

Well, after all that MG I've decided to take the plunge with some shaped tots bots and see how we go. Would like to hear of other recommendations if people have them.

Now just trying to choose between designs of wraps!

I think I'll mix them up a bit to start off with as don't want to end up stuck with one type of nappy if there are better ones out there.

Hi Anna!
Yay! Well done- it's a big step!
But you get used to it so quickly! I think mixing them up is the best idea, see which ones work best for you and your baby!

There's a cloth nappy for every bum!

Good Luck and let us know how you get on!

Hi Anna & Charlotte-
How're you both getting on?

Hows the research going Charlotte- any decisions/preferences yet?

And how you getting on with the Tots Bots Anna ?

Hope you're both well :o)

Well, we're less than a week in but all is going well so far. I'm really impressed by the nappies so far. They're surprisingly easy to use. Thanks for all the useful tips!

The only real problem is drying space, as we don't have a huge place. Also OH is less enthusiastic about not being able to just chuck the nappy in the bin afterwards, but I think he'll get used to it.


I love your new pic MG.

Hi Anna!
Glad you're getting on with them- I was also pleasantly surprised at how easy they were.
My OH was a bit sceptical at first, but now he insists on using them!
In the summer the tots bots dry super-fast on the washing line! Even in september when I hung Jake's out they were surprisingly close to dry after only 2 hours!

Hi there everyone!

I have been really lucky to meet someone who came round at the weekend and has given me all sorts of useful tips about using cotton nappies - and several ones to try which her baby has grown out of! so I spent a happy sunday surrounded by piles of different nappies I can experiment with - now I just have to wait for baby to arrive in December! (inc some of the tots bots everyone is talking about!)
A top tip from her to avoid nappy rash was to be really careful about wipes you buy - the ones with alcohol in really upset her babys skin - also she uses bits of fleece material between the nappy and the nappy liner to draw away moisture which seemed a great idea. She also said to avoid fleece wraps, which can get wet - even though they are pretty!

Hi Charlotte!
Yay- glad you got some freebie trial ones!
I use fleece liners with Jake, they're fantastic! We have loads in fab funky designs ! I would say if you can find some cheap fleece material, cut the liners yourself, there is a big money-making scheme on eBay and such sites where people will charge you about £4.00 for 10! Which is apaulling- it's about the cost of 2 metres of the stuff from the market!!

The fleece wraps I found are fine for overnight, because baby isn't moving around- and they allow any gathered moisture to be evaporated. But I don't use them on jake during the day. Because he sits up, it causes a 'wicking' of moisture and then yes, they do get a bit damp!

You can get all sorts of funky PUL wraps anyway- the Tots Bots 'Strawberries & Cream' wrap is gorgeous! Nature Babies also do a fab range of wraps..
You can become addicted!

Hi mummygoth,u are so wonderful i think u should fit in as a special adviser on baby matters.reading the responses was wonderful,i'm due september but i've veen able to make make up my mind before then as to the many benefits of the cloth nappies but i won't use it from Birth because of the dirty stuff that comes out first.its been really educating.i learnt some councills offer laundty services for cloth nappies by picking them up and returning at an affordable price.

Hi my daughter has been in Bambino Mio nappies since birth (now toilet trained at 2) and I found they were fine. The all in one types take a lot longer to dry, and nappies can get a bit "crunchy" if dried on a radiator (give them a good scrunching up before folding). It is best to try different kinds though, cos every baby is different. I certainly found no more problems with leakage than friends using premium disposables. Do buy extra wraps/outers as it makes life so much easier - I found that 5 was the minimum for an easy life. I fold all the nappies as soon as they are dry and put a liner around. I then make up as many as I have wraps for so that hubby/childminder can sort nappy changes with ease. Do look at www.thenappylady.co.uk for advice, and www.peachycheeks.co.uk (found via ebay) for supplies & excellent service. I use flushable liners which have been fine (can get these at Tesco). As has already been mentioned, check out what's available through your local council. In Kent there's a cloth nappy network, with an advice booklet, regular coffee mornings and nappy libraries for testing. You also either get a discount when you buy nappies with particular suppliers or vouchers (Boots, £30) if you get them elsewhere - midwife/health visitor signs a form to say you're using cloth. Don't expect any support from health professionals though: I asked midwives and my health visitor for any advice about cloth before my daughter was born and they either thought I was mad or didn't have a clue!!
Good luck with whichever you go for - I've just folded up all my newborn ones ready for number 2 baby due in 5 weeks...
All the best, Claire :)