Newborn options

[littlefrog]

I know a million people have asked about this before, but I STILL can't work out what to do!

Expecting baby no 1 in 9 weeks, and would like to use cloth nappies from the start. Friends who have done this either waited until the baby was bigger (6 months-ish) or have used terries (and found it quite tricky when the baby was tiny).

What do people recommend? The options we're currently considering (for the first little while) are:

1. Muslins (less bulky than terries)
2. Terries (more absorbent than muslins)
3. Totsbots size 1
4. Bimble

We don't have a tumble drier, and I'd rather not spend a fortune on nappies that will be grown out of really fast.

What do people recommend?

Thank you!

Message withdrawn

I was very pleased with the XS size Sandys I had for DD, they only fitted her for 5 weeks (8lb birthweight) but I sold them on for most of what I paid for them. They weren't bulky and didn't leak, but I did tumble dry them although I don't think they'd take forever to dry.

Out of the 4 you listed I'd probably try Bimbles, but I don't like nippas so would have to use a close fitting wrap.

We used Disana tie-ons from birth - v cheap and fit well although there's a short learning curve - they sort of form little shorts and contain all the runny poo. They also wash and dry really fast on a line.

I'm hoping to use muslins and bimbles (a friend is giving me hers), I've used muslins on a bigger child as they are a great nappy if drying is a problem ( you can fold the muslin with a terry pad folded inside it to boost absorbancy) and I found muslins very easy to fold and nippa.

I'd suggest getting your muslins out, buy a nappy nippa, go to www.thenappylady.co.uk for folds, find a suitable sized teddy and practice, it's way easier than it sounds (BTW my favourite is the Jo fold)

I bought one of just about everything to try out, and for the first month all I ever used was muslins and a rikki wrap. Everything else was just too big, and I find Moltex disposables awful for leaks.

Hi littlefrog - i used bimbles and diddy diapers. I've never used terries as I'm too much of a coward! I just sold my bimbles on ebay and got 1/2 my money back from the cost of them new. So there is that option. They lasted 4 months on my dd2 and I used them from birth. Tots size 1 i found enormous at the start.

That's really interesting, sounds like most people who have tried them recommend muslins. (or the disana tie-on - I had rejected this based on one friend's experience) I think we'll get a couple of bimbles for night time changes too.
Does that sound sensible?
Any favourite tiny wraps? Will 4 be enough? Has anyone used the Modern Baby ones (I like how they look!)

Prorap do a cheap newborn wrap with an umbilical cutaway and cotton bottoms do cheap newborn ones that come up on ebay alot too - they are both hardwearing wraps that can take alot of washing

I used disposable nappies for the first month, mainly I think until I rembered where my washing machine was!! I tried birth to potty with DS1 but for boys they are far too bulky under trousers so for DS2 I bought some size 1s (yes well DS1 was still in the BTPs), and used them from about 5 weeks. However tots bots take ages and ages to dry. If you don't like the idea of disposables for the first few weeks , and if you are watching the pennies, get birth to potty ones (nippa as these get a better fit) for later. Use muslins for the first couple of months, as muslins can be used for years as bibs and boosters and allsorts.
Look on the nappy lady website sellers corner, that way you can try lots of different ones and sell on the ones you don't get on with. For a tiny baby I liked the Sam I Am breathable pull on pants. Absolutely bomb proof for breast fed babies and cheap too.