Prefold enthusiasts - your advice please

[Ceolas]

I know what lots of you think, but I have inherited a few of these (about 10) and I'd like to make them work. DD is 6.5 months and about 17lbs (I'm guessing)

Now I don't know what sort they are. They have navy blue stitching round the edges and measure about 33x47cm. Using paper terms, if I fold it in 3 'landscape' it's very wide in the crotch and doesn't fit inside the wrap. If I fold it 'portrait' it's far too long and reaches way past her belly button.

Are they just too big for her just now, or is there some sort of magic folding technique that will make them work? I tried this with a nippa, but the folded over bit at the front makes a huge lump which looks very uncomfortable.

Any advice would be great

if i remember right blue stitching on cotton bottoms prefolds mean a large prefold. Do you know what size wrap and make of wrap you are using. As a large prefold in a medium wrap wont go well.

OK, so a small Motherease Rikki wouldn't be a good match then?!

I thought there must be smaller sizes.

you would need to do alot of folding

do you have any medium rikki wraps? as that may work rikki wraps imo are larger than cotton bottom wraps and weight wise are for 12-20lbs approx so should fit your dd.

No medium Rikkis. I have a medium airflow.

How would you recommend folding? Do you nippa?

We have Cotton Bottoms and when I fold in three, I always make the first fold bigger - so it goes between a third and halfway across. That way you don't end up with a really wide pad which sticks out of your wrap.

i dont think an airflow would work you need the gusset to hold the prefold ime i have never used nippas, for my dd i use the same fold recomended for boys ie fold the front down on its self and tuck the wings in, but like many i am not keen on them and tend to use them to boost my nighttime nappies rather than as a noppy on their own or as burp/dribble clothes. or as changing mat/protecter if letting ds have no nappy time-i have 2 in nappies tis fun!!
sorry about spelling feeding ds as typing.

noppy = nappy

I've found Proraps are pretty good with prefolds. They're cheap and last a long time. See www.twinkleontheweb.co.uk/acatalog/Wraps_for_Prefolds.html

Hi
the prefold's i have got are too big like you said too.
this is how i fold them.
lay out in front of you like in portrait.
fold the bottom edge upwards to the desired length 0 - ie the length of the wrap, then fold it into 3 by folding the 2 long edges inwards.
so you end up with a long thin strip which is thicker at one end - so more absorbant, i then put the thick end at the front.
hang on just found a link here

Thanks bonnie. That's sort of what I did. The thick end you're referring to was the huge lump at the waist I think!

I might just put them away til she grows a bit [chicken emoticon]...

thanks you have described the fold far better bonniefromboot than my brain would allow.

have you tried folding them just into 4 folding the edges overtowards each other then over again but shortways rather than lenghways if that makes any sense

Good idea, jes. Just leave it as a pad rather than 'fanning' at the back? Might try that tomorrow.

fanning at the back helps contain poo but if the wrap is small it will still catch it hopefully got to be worth trying believe me im on dc no 4 and over the last 8yrs i have had lots of nappy experiments some far better than othersgood luck

sorry ceolas, i meant mine are like a pad, i don't fan them. ime as long as you have a really good fitting wrap you shouldn't get any leaks.
i have got a whole range of different wraps, motherease, kushie, imsi vimse etc... I would say that they are all equally good as long as you are really carefull to make sure there are no gaps round the legs and waist.
hope that helps
xx

OK I've tried it in a size 1 tots wrap. Will report back. Seems too simple and cheap to be effective!

Well it seemed to work quite well. Seemed about as absorbent as our Bimbles actually

Is it just the poo that's the problem then?

I agree with proraps - they give prefolds a really good fit.

Although I do prefer Diaperaps because they are 60% cotton with a waterproof lining, again, a really good fit.

I didn't find the Rikki a very good fit.

I fan my prefold at the back & they always catch poo. Well, the fleece catches it - I use a wide fleece liner. I bought some anti-pil fleece & made my own.

I've tried all sorts of shaped nappies & prefolds are my favourite. Its all down to personal choice I suppose.

Do you nippa, Jane?

No, havent found it necessary to nippa. I find that the prefold stays in place.

I think the secret of a good fit & to stop the prefold moving about is using a wrap thats especially designed for prefolds.

Hope this is of help.