How many nappies do I need and what's better - aplix of nippas?

[Stefka]

I was wondering how many cloth nappies I will need to get started with. Also I was wondering if I should go for aplix of nippa - I am not a very practical person so the nippa makes me a bit nervous although I have read that it can give a better fit.

With dd (9 months) I get through around 8 nappies each day, but for a newborn baby you will probably need more. I wash them when I have around 18 nappies, and need enough extra ones for another day until they dry (they only go in the dryer for 20 mins to air them as I have no airing cupboard). So I find I need about 30 nappies.

Nippa nappies do give a better fit, and some people say they last longer because applix gives up long before the nappy does. Nippas are really easy to use, and the only nappy I struggle with the nippa on is an imse organic which I think is something to do with the type of terry it is made from. However, dd has recently turned into a wriggly squirmy octopus at changing time, and with the best will in the world, I can't do up a nippa when she is on her hands and knees! I have mastered the art of doing applix up when she is upside down, or putting the nappy on with her in a sitting position, and if all else fails, I have occasionally resorted to putting the nappy on back to front, which doesn't seem to bother her any or affect the nappy's performance. The flip side of applix is that however careful I am to make sure the tabs are done up in the wash, some always come undone, and I end up with nappies stuck to my laundry net, which is beginning to get rather trashed.

just to confuse even more i always go for poppers!

yep I agree 20-30. If you nappy from newborn then towards the higher end of that amount or you will be washing every 5 minutes. If you start nappying from a few weeks old then get about 24. If you buy newborn nappies then nippa is usually better as there is a bit bigger range of adjustment available. On an older baby aplix or popper work well though popper is harder for baby to take off themselves and generally more durable.

Some people who use mostly pocket nappies get away with about 18nappies as they are so quick to dry.

Personally wouldn't choose nippa one size nappies as its hard to fasten a nippa on a big baby that wants to run away, though if you are crafty you could add aplix or velcro yourself at this stage.

Nippas are great though to be honest I've never had aplix or popper nappies. I prefer popper wraps to aplix though and I'd prob go for popper over aplix nappies.

I had 20 nappies from newborn. They were fluffles so really quick drying but I did wash every night at first (just bunged them in overnight and hung in the morning).

Currently have 18 terry squares at 5 months.

Do get a variety of nappies then work out your faves. You'll regret it if you get a load of one thing. Especially if your LO grows out of a size way before he is 'supposed' to.

Yep I use poppers as well (MEOS) because those Nippa things look so complicated and I could never get Applix ones (Totsbots) looking symmetrical on a wriggly baby. I get away with 18 nappies but it involves washing about every day and a half and I have a tumble drier for when weather is bad.

I'm sure I read somewhere that a good wrap can really make up for minor deficiencies in nappy fit so I'd recommend Motherease Rikki or Airflow (I prefer Airflow again because it uses poppers rather than Applix) but then I've never tried any others so I'm biased

Popper wraps are less bulky than applix wraps, too, especially over an applix nappy. Dd can undo applix, but as it hasn't been warm enough for her not to have a vest on, she's foiled as soon as her vest is done up . Which reminds me, you will probably need a size larger vests than you would usually get to accommodate a bigger nappy.

velcro for dh and nippas for me.
or, a nippa over velcro if thats all i have left as ds1 canundo his now, very easily. one wee and he whips it off!

My favourite wraps are Nature Babies. I like Mother ease too but sometimes I wish the Airflows has leg gussets as they would be better over bulky nappies. I see so many people trying to use ME airflow over Terry squares with huge chunks of nappy sticking out at the leg and then trying to cope because they leak. They can be a bit gappy over really thick nappies too. but depends a bit on build of baby.

i vote for nippas. they re far far easier than they look and they really do hold the nappy shut. babies and toddlers can undo applix.

I haven't chosen yet no - I emailed the nappy lady the other day because to be honest I am feeling completly overwhelmed by the choices.

poppers or nippas, harder for toodlers to undo, also seem to get a better fit .

How often are you intending to wash? If you want some advice feel free to email me info @ snugglebumnappies . co . uk and my mumsnet ad is here with a link to my site, but there is no pressure to buy, it is sometimes just easier to get info via email when you can ask questions about your needs and reasses what may suit you and your baby best

forgot to say, no spaces with the email address of course

I always manage to rip my index finger open with nippas lol!! You do get a better fit though i agree. Im an aplix or popper chick myself.

Nippas here every time.

i prefer nippas but you might want some poppers or aplix for fast changes or for when other people will be looking after lo.

oh and poppers are ideal for when they get a bit independant and decide they want to stand up for nappy changes

Oh yes, the odd popper or aplix is very helpful (well, not odd ones... you don't want odd nappies...)

I make do with about 15 nappies but they are mostly fluffles (which dry in seconds). DS takes about 5 a day now (he is one) but needed nearer 8 when he was smaller so I was washing every day pretty much. Depends whether you are prepared to supplement with the odd disposable or want total cloth.

I like nippas as they improve the fit and mean you can stretch the nappies over a bigger size range. But I also have some applix and they are handy for out and about if you are changing between cloth and disposable, as the nippa always seems to get lost on the way home (or is that just me?)

I found all my nippas at the bottom of my changing bag, after going on a hunt for the things

I thought I read somewhere that people sometimes use nippas with an aplix nappy to help the fit or did I imagine that?

From what people are saying it might be best to go for a combination of different types? It seems that this is the best way to go in general for getting nappies. I had kind of hoped to get some kind of pack as they seem to be cheaper.

I use nippas with a lot of aplix ones - size 2 aplix bambineos ain't gonna fit my little dude in a million years!

I have a variety of different nappies: I have some prefolds that I can use on their own or inside pocket nappies (the latter are great when dd wriggles like mad because there is only one thing to put on), some applix and some nippa, in a combination of fabrics: some are cotton and some are bamboo. Bamboo is lovely and soft, but it does take longer to dry.

I'm looking at newborn nappies too. Have read on here that a muslin might be sufficient for a newborn in the early stages (I think!)?

Can you use nippas with muslins?