All one type, or mix and match?

[ElleCloughie]

Me and DH are currently using a real nappy trial kit, and we are converted! We have started looking into exactly what we are going to buy in order to get set up for using them with our 9 week old DD.

The only person I know who uses real nappies said that it was a good idea to have a variety of different types of nappies, as some will be better at different times of day or at different ages.

We had been intending to buy a complete kit of birth to potty pocket nappies, as we know we like this style from the trial kit, and it works for us. However the only person I know who uses real nappies said that it was a good idea to have some variety, as some will be better at different times of day or at different ages etc.

I have a personlised recommendation from The Nappy Lady, but one option was 20 of the same nappy, and the other suggested two types (15 for day, 5 for night), so that doesn't help me decide which way would be best!

What has been your experience? Have you bought a complete kit of one type, or smaller quantities of various styles. Which would you recommend?

I use four different ones.

3 different birth to potty ones (Bumgenius freetimes, tots bots easyfits and little blooms) and a three part bamboo system for night (bambinex)

At night as you will leave your child for longer allot of people get a more absorbant one, normally bamboo.

As for the day. I have three different types because although I like them all, I brought them when they were on offer and because my husband prefers to use velco and I like poppers. But that's the only reason. And I have a variety of different styles to go which whatever my DD is wearing

Which nappies did she reccomend? And do you know that mothercare are selling all their nappies 3 for 2 at the moment and they sell tots bots and BGs. Also have you check with your local council to see if they will give you some money off?

Personally it would depend on how long you've been trialling them. If you've been using them for a little while, eg at least a few weeks, then you probably have a good idea of how they're working for you and buying a set of the same wouldn't necessarily be bad as you already know they work for you.

We got a council voucher and after a lot of research found a nappy we liked the look of (Flip, wrap with things you put inside) and we bought some to see how it went. Got on really well with them so added to the stash. They're all the same, in that they're all Flip, all wraps and inserts, but we do have 2 types of insert (they have 4 types available): the stay dry, which is a microfibre 'pad', and the organic night, which is a heavier cotton prefold. As the names suggest, we use the stay dry during the day and the organic night at night. The only other thing I have bought to go with them are some fleece liners.

I have considered looking into boosters, or all in ones, but to be honest it's all just out of curiosity and the silly joy I get out of buying baby stuff rather than out of necessity! What we have works brilliantly for us and we don't need any of those things, so I haven't bothered buying other types/brands.

If things change later and I feel the need to vary for some reason then I'll do the research and buy other things - you can always add to your stash later, you don't have to buy lots of different types at once!

One word of advice though, if it's a complete set sold that way it won't necessarily be the best deal (assuming you haven't already made out like the nerd that I am and compared the unit prices with buying things in different compositions...). There was a complete kit for the Flips available, but I actually got more wraps and inserts, and exactly what I wanted, for cheaper, by buying multiple small kits (something like 1 or 2 wraps with 3 inserts each in each mini kit). And for our organic night ones, it was cheaper to simply by all microfibre kits and then buy 6 night prefolds separately.

The recommendation was for a complete set of 20 sized Little Lambs, or a mix of 15 BumGenius for day, and 5 Bamboozle stretch for night. This was what worried me, because DH doesn't like shaped ones with wraps, but they were included in both kits. I was worried that an All in One might not cut it for night time use.

I think after much consideration and comparission (a chart may have been made at some point) we are going to get the bulk of what we need as BG Freetimes, which are definitely our favourite, and then a handful of BG Elemental and Close Bamboo Pop-Ins for night time. Hopefully this will give us enough absorbency. As has been said, we can always add to the stash in the future if we end up using one type more than others, or find another type that we like. And I will admit to buying a TotsBots from Boots the other day just because it has a pretty pattern on it

Thank you for your replies!

The bamboo kind are best for use at night (whenyou don't change your baby mid way through). As they are more absorbent so are less likely to leak. I know they are more of a faff.

I do find some fit better at times - growth spurts? We have BumGenius V4s, TotsBots Easyfits, Blueberry pocket nappies and Wonderoos. I like pocket nappies so use a variety of those. I realised the pocket nappies suited us best after using the council trial pack. We then bought one of each of lots of brands to see what worked best.

I quickly sold the ones that didn't suit.

You will need more then one type of nappy if only for this reason
And I will admit to buying a TotsBots from Boots the other day just because it has a pretty pattern on it

I started with one type (old school squares with wraps) and have got pockets and all in ones and all in twos, I've got some wraps just for Christmas:)

Even if you buy one complete set now and later decide, for example ,that you need a two part night nappy, you will still have saved a lot of money and made a massive reduction in the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

Oh and there is a pretty good market for second hand nappies so you can always sell on ones you don't like or test out other brands.