Are Prefolds any good? What about inside Flips? For a newborn onwards

[bumbleclaire]

I am hoping to use cloth nappies soon after birth for my first baby. I was keen on the Bumgenius Flips, or a similar system where you can keep the cover in place for several changes, and not carry too much around when you go out.

At a nappy demo in a local shop I was advised to use Prefolds rather than the Bumgenius inserts, as the Prefolds have much better containment, and are less likely to slip. We were shown a fold for a newborn secured with a nappy nippa, and it looked really straightforward, and like it would have better containment. Then you could pop a waterproof cover over the top, or a Flip.

I checked the Nappy Lady website for Prefolds and she has written a negative review about them overall, saying that many parents are disappointed with them, they often leak, many brands are overpriced etc.

Can anyone give any advice about whether they found Prefolds helpful? If I go with some Flips, would it be worth buying some Prefolds to try inside too, or are most people happy with the standard inserts?

I suppose the best idea is probably to buy some of each and see, but I'm a bit overwhelmed by the different brands- are Bummis Prefolds a good choice?

Hi claire, there a so many different brands of nappies it is a minefield! I tried prefolds with my little girl when she was tiny but I didn't get on with them, found them a bit of a fiddle although they are very absorbent. I found they were brilliant for folding up and stuffing into pocket nappies when when she was bigger, as the pocket held the prefold in place. I'm not sure if there is much difference between the different brands of prefolds, although some are made of cotton, some bamboo (bamboo is more absorbetn but slower drying). I can't compare with the Flip inserts as I haven't tried those.

Personally I found fitted nappies to be the best for us. These are the type which are 'nappy-shaped' rather than flat like prefolds or Flips, but they still need a waterproof cover over the top. Easier to use because no folding, but slightly slower drying. I love bimbles and bumbles by Easy Peasy Nappies. Bimbles come in small sizes for newborns and bumbles are birth to potty. Both need a waterproof cover over.

You could always buy a couple of different types, so you have flips to use when out and others to use at home? I wouldn't spend lots on a full set of nappies before trying them out first. Do you have a nappy library near you? There is a Facebook page called UK Cloth Nappy Libraries which has a link to a map of all the nappy libraries round the UK, if you contact your nearest one ou should be able to borrow a trial kit to hire so you can decide which you like before buying more.

Try cloth nappy tree and get a few prefolds second hand (they are usually pretty cheap) I tried every nappy under the sun with my son, mostly ended up with birth to potty pocket nappies (like the bumgenius ones but mostly ebay cheapies and a few weenotions and Little Lambs).

I was given some bambino mio prefolds but they're pretty rubbish for poo containment, especially for runny poo - I think they were a bit too small (size 1s). Having said that they are great boosters later on, so glad I held onto them.

This time round I am going to give the fitteds as mentioned up thread more of a go, as I can't be bothered with stuffing pockets endlessly! I'm also going to use flat (bamboo terry) nappies more this time too now I've got the hang of them.

Also just thinking with the flips the insert doesn't cover like a whole nappy if I remember rightly, just a pad in the middle? So you may end up with quite a few poo covered wraps...

We started with Flips from 11mo, so weaning well established. DS is now 16mo and still in the Flips, we boost with Little Lamb bamboo triples during the day under the Stay Dry, at night he has the organic night with a Stay Dry. We also sometimes use Bamboozles and will probably stock up on these as he is drinking much more water now and wetting much more heavily.

I didn't have a newborn in reusables, but based on newborn experience and then DS teething which makes his poop very runny, like others have said a nappy underneath with wrap on top maybe be easier as squishy newborn poop will go everywhere so wraps will need to be washed after one use as they'll likely get smeared, whereas weaned solid poop is fine with just inserts. Depends on how much your baby ends up pooping!

Having said that I know someone who used Flips for 2 DC using inserts and not full nappies and she thought they were great like that. She used the organic night during the day.

I would try some of both style - nappy and prefold - they'll probably both end up being useful and then when you know which works best for you, you can increase your stash. I've found Babi Pur to be great for Flip stock plus other brands and quick delivery.

Fwiw I think we have around 10 or 11 wraps, about 20 stay dry, 6 organic night, 15 LL bamboo boosters, and 3 Bamboozles. We also use fleece liners.