cloth nappies - it's a minefield!

[vmcd28]

I'm 32 weeks and have started considering reusable nappies. I used disposables with my ds, partly because I couldn't bear the thought of even more washing piling up, but also because the information on them wasn't great .
5.5 years later, I'm having the same problem! ! I'm struggling to find a "beginners guide" to them. All the websites seem to assume you know what liners, boosters etc are.
What I'm needing to know is, how good are birth to potty reusables? Are boosters and liners the same thing? Do they smell more than disposables? Do they stink between washes? If they're left to dry on a radiator, are they still soft ?

It seems to be a minefield, and it should be easier to find straightforward information on this type of thing! Any info /advice/warnings would be very much appreciated!
Many thanks x

Beginners guide here

Consistent advice seems to be not to invest in an entire BTP (birth to potty) set until the baby is here and you see what suits him/her.

If you want to speak to a real person, are there any nappucinos (google by area) near you? I can also heartily recommend the customer service from Jolene at BabiPur. She's very informed and lovely to talk to.

Shout if you have any more specific questions :)

Ok first things first a booster is what is put inside the nappy to help it absorb more liquid and to help prevent leaks. A liner is put ontop of the booster to prevent the nappy from staining or to protect the nappy from creams, its a lot thinner than a booster. Silver or silk liners are used to help nappy rash.

Birth to potty reusables are very affective once you find the right one for your baby. Ive found bumgenius are the best ones for us and many agree, coolababy are a good budget buy but probs wont fit until the baby is over 9lbs. Fitteds (sized nappies) tend to be better as they are more of a snug fit but not always.

I keep mine in a lidded, lockable bucket so no smells get out. I also sprinkle with tea tree oil to make it smell sweeter inside. Lockable lid also stops my 3 year old peeking inside haha. I wash every 2 days (just put it on before i go to bed) and this seems to be fine.

I dry mine on the airer or radiator and i must admit they are not as soft as when i dry them in the dryer at the launderette. I sometimes add a bit of white vinegar in the final rinse, this acts as a softener so they fluffle up a bit lol.

If you need to know anything else just ask :)

See The Nappy Lady too. There is a questionairre you can fill in about your lifestyle, laundry facilities, shape and size of your baby etc and they recommend a nappy for you.

Boosters are also used to make a nappy smaller.

I really like Swaddlebees pocket nappies. A pocket nappy is like an "All in One" (nappy and water proof outer as one, not seperate pieces) but the main absorbent bit is in a "pocket" in the crotch and comes out (easier for drying).

I dried mine on the radiators or washing line. No tumble dryer.

I disagree BikeRunSki a pocket nappy means you stuff the pocket with an insert (+/or booster) most all in ones have the bits attached and they flap out to dry although some like the Totsbot Easyfit/Real Easy have a pocket as well that can be boosted.
How does a booster make a nappy smaller? A booster is added to a nappy to make it more absorbant, this adds a layer, although bamboo or hemp can mean that it is a very thin extra layer.

Sorry vmcd28 I don't want to confuse you further.

As for smells, yes real nappies can smell bad but if you wash regularly (2-3 days) it's not that bad. I would rather deal with that than have a fortnight's worth of disposables hanging around.
Different materials cope with radiator drying better than others. Bamboo is very absorbant, but slow drying and can get a bit crispy if dried on the radiator but microfibre is very quick to dry and isn't affected by drying on the radiator.
Bumgenius are very popular birth to potty nappies that are easy to use and dry quickly.
They are pocket nappies there are v3 (version 3) which have been about for a while, you can get them second hand or some places are still selling them new at a reduced price as the v4 have been recently launched. v4 have been designed to fit larger toddlers but still fit from birth (approx 8lb)
Are there any nappacinos near you for you to have a look first hand at what's available. Your council may have an incentive scheme where you get cash back or a trial pack or something. Worth checking out.

Smacs, you've explained pocket nappies better than I was trying to.
Fleece isn't absorbent. I found that fleece boosters helped to "pad out" shaped nappies and give a closer fit. That's just my experience anyway.

Well I would only use fleece as a liner to stop the main bit of the nappy from staining, or to make poo removal easier or if you need to use a nappy rash cream.
A fleece liner can also work to keep the baby feeling dry if you are using a bamboo nappy.
You wouldn't use fleece to 'boost' (well I wouldn't)
Boosters would be made of microfibre, bamboo or hemp (or sometimes a mixture of fibres) or maybe even a cotton prefold. The term booster suggests that it is absorbant as it is boosting the absorbancy of the nappy.

With regard to smell when they're on, in comparison to disposables, which I think was one of your questions, I can never smell when dd has done a number 2 in her Bumgenius, even when sniffing up close! Only way I know is by the grunting that precedes it! Or by peering in the leg hole! Another fan of Bumgenius here, I love how slim they are, no need to buy larger clothes, and they dry super fast, which is great for having a fast turn around when washing (so you don't run out). You would need something more absorbent for night time though, I like Tots Bots bamboozle (bamboo - very absorbent), requires a separate waterproof cover (wrap). Cloth nappies are alot of fun, enjoy!