calling misdee or any other cloth experienced mums.....

[chatee]

i have a ds aged 18 months and am at the moment trialling some cloth nappies....any advice gratefully received...TIA

nappy lady is a business, not an organisation, but agree they're (she's?) good

My main tip would be do NOT use fabric conditioner! It totally messes with the absorbancy. We use Ecoballs for washing the nappies which makes them lovely and soft, and very absorbant. We use Cottonbottoms nappies which we love but many others don't rate. We've never used any other type of cloth nappy so maybe we don't know what we're missing.

We occasionally use disposables if out for the day or on holiday, and we absolutely detest them. All the leaks we've had were with disposables, and the only time she got nappy rash was when we were away for a few days using disposables all the time. Although Cottonbottoms look bulky dd really doesn't care a jot. She hasn't started to crawl yet but she pushes herself about on her back, waves her bum in the air and kicks the hec out of her baby gym with no problems!

I used cottonbottoms with dd1, and am now reusing them for dd2. must be honest do use disposables at night
DD1 toilet trained really easily and quickly as she was aware she was wet. Only ever had nappy rash once - when we went away and had to use diposables.

missd why do u use disposables at night?

don't know any more really. Originally when dd1 was born did it as I thought it would be easier to change a disposable in the middle of the night. The cottobottoms were a little bit fiddly to get used to, and in the dead of night could be a bit awkard. But now have no excuse as DD2 is 19 months old. However after reading some of the info here might give some of the other brands a go. 4 years ago there wasn't as much choice.

I reccommend a stuffable nappy with integral wrap or aplix nappy and wrap for ease of use for a wriggly baby.

I make no secret that my fav is Slinki Minkis - just stuff them and pile them up beside the changing station ready for use

I use Yummy wraps - grip better than cotton bottoms as they have side gussetts (sp?)and use cotton bottoms laundary - which has just chnaged hands and is being managed by the nappy fairy in southampton. Use disposable at night.

I use disposable at night as it is on from 6pm - 7 am and have found that cloth just doesn't hold water for that long - sometimes those gel crystals coem in handy - my main objection to disposables is landfill

I've not had a chance to read the thread so this is probably information that you already have but we bought some night-nappies from this place:
www.borndirect.com/
and have found them really good. DD is 18 months now and we've been using them for over a year now and they have only leaked once or twice in all that time (generally when I put them on wrong I fear).
I think that they're mother-ease

mekgreenmum, some cloth nappies do hold for that amount of time unless bubs is a very heavy wetter. i have found tots bots to be the best night nappy.

agree with misdee. Tots will easily hold a night's worth of wee, and if they don't they can be boosted. No problem!

I use meos mostly during the day and a tots with a tots booster and a fleece wrap at night, still seems to work even now ds2 is over 2yrs.

Hiya Melgreenmum - I've got Cotton Bottoms too, I don't really use them for night now, but I did used to. They definately can do the whole night (12-13 hours) if you boost them.
We used to put use put the the prefold in a disana tie on nappy and boost it with a hemp booster (like the ones you get from Ellas house). We either put a Bummis large wrap over the top or a wool wrap.
It worked a treat.
I've got a tie-on nappy if you want to try?

I have been inspired to try cotton bottom at night - also discivered that one problem is that I am still using the small nappies not the medium - doh! Did ask for a change months ago but discussion with new suppiler revealed that I was still getting the smalls

Hi MGM, the mediums are the same size, but thicker with blue edging, just so you can check.
DOn't forget to boost the nappy.
Do you have any microfibre cloths, they are excellent. A couple of them between the outside of the nappy and the wrap make a big difference to the absorbency (to the size as well )
If you are going to boost, you may need the next size of wrap, those night nappies are biig, and you don't want any leaks.
The medium is good as it has a wide size range 15-30lbs, so it should be ok for you.
I have loads of sized nappies, but I still go back to my prefolds, I find them easier to nippa onto my very wriggly boy than flipping poppered nappies.
And the poop comes off easier too.
(except dizzy diapers - which I have got down to a fine art now)

I've also been inspired to try real nappies at time. Really glad this thread was started. Loads of really usefull info

Excellent news missd.
I have started a nappy review blog, which is a website type of thing, where people who have tried different cloth nappies have written their opinions.
This is it here
Hopefully, it will help new people like you, to see how others have got on.
Of course when you are an experienced clothie mum and you have tried all the new nappies, you can write reviews as well.