Please help a seasoned cloth user lots of probs with choosing nappy for new baby

[tutu100]

I used cloth with ds1 for 2 years so I thought I knew what I was doing. However ds2 has me a bit stumped (although that may just be the sleepless nights). I had all my cloth nappies ready to use, but through various problems we haven't got going properly.

Ds2 is a very heavy wetter soaking through things like a tots bots and nappy nation in an hour. I now have him in the only size 1 bamboo nappy I have to see how that copes. Is bamboo the most absorbant, I can't remember!

The other problem is that ds has a very distended tummy due to some health problems he has. This means that alot of the nappies I already have are no good as they don't fit him e.g Sandys. Things need to have long wings to go round his tummy and fastening is a bit of a pain because nippas don't seem to work (either because I can't get the hang of them or because his tummy changes shape too much), poppers aren't really adjustable enough so it seems applix is the only option. What reccomendations for nappies do people have based on this.

I do need to sort out something as he seems to be having some kind of skin reaction to disposibles, they leak all the time and we are having similar problems with fit on those to.

Any help would be appreciated although I know it's a long list.

Bumping for you.

Hmm, I like Tots Bots for their aplix, i've always found them a really good fit, they do Bamboozles which are made of Bamboo and are thin but I suppose you've already tried that? How old and what weight is DS2? Maybe a Pop-In would do it, it's BTP so would be large enough around the waist, aplix fastening, leg gussets give a good fit imo but I know some people have had leaks, but then I think every nappy has had problems, it's totally dependent on body shape.

I really like my Bambinex bamboo nappies for their thirstyness, we use them as night nappies with the extra booster. You can get them in popper, nippa or aplix closures (we used nippas). The wings are pretty long, they still meet at the front when fastening around my 23 month old DD. Combined with Motherease airflow wraps they were a pretty bombproof system. If your LO has sensitive skin then bamboo is a good choice as it is a natural fibre with antibacterial qualities (eco-friendly too).

Bamboo does take longer to dry though. They start off gorgeously silky soft, but in our hard water didn't take too long to go fairly stiff (like most terry type fabrics). Still worked just as well though.

Bambinex do a microfibre teddy nappy too which has some pretty good reviews if you don't mind using man-made fibres. Also I liked their paper liners on a roll.

I have tried bamboozles and loved then for ds1 but sold them when we thought we wouldn't be having any more. Are the wings quite long? Ds2 is approx 11lb and 7 weeks old, but it is the distended tummy that is causeing the problem. The nappies I have if I can get them to fit round the waist they are too gapy round the legs.

I have a wam bamboo which is what ds2 has on now (have just realsied though it's a size 2 not a size 1 which might explain the gaping!) are the bambinex a similar size? The reason I ask is that when they changed to bambineo I bought some and they were useless as nowhere near as big as the wam bamboo and a different fabric.

Sounds though like bamboo is the way to go though. Thank you.

I've used aplix bambinex and microfibre on ds. I doubt microfibre would cut it for your ds, they do soak through pretty quickly.

The aplix does deteriorate over time though, now that ds is 2 yo we have to use a nippa even on the aplix ones, as the aplix doesn't seem to hold on its own.

Nippas are a bit annoying on bamboo too ime.

Wambamboo became Bambineo which became Bambinex. I only ever tried the Bambinex so don't know if the fabric has changed in the meantime (thought it was just a namechange), but we have found them fine and absorbent. I forgot to mention we have the Size 2 because I didn't buy them until she was about 7 months. However I do know you can use the size 2 on smaller babies if you use a nippa by folding the front flap down before fastening the wings (and we did do this for a while initially). Don't know if this would suit you though because of the tummy problems.

Bambinex are the same as bambineo, mine were the same as wambamboo too (after a few washes).

Bamboozles have much shorter tabs.

there are also the budget nappies from here they have long tabs. They dont have any built in padding so would need boosting but you could then boost with anything you please. I have one and it is long winged. I could measure it if it would help? They are cotton though so if you have your heart set on bamboo then they would not do. Did you think of nappy pins? they are more reliable than nippas.
Hope you can be sorted out and hope your lo gets better.

ooh just thought though do you sew at all? You could put an extension on the tabs of the nappies you have maybe and then pin that closed?

Sounds like you need separate tummy and leg poppers, what size Sandy's have you tried?

I think you need a folded nappy rather than shaped on account of his tum- how about a plain terry with kite folded with an extra "pad" (1/2 teryy or whatever) down the middle.

Nowt worse than a too tight waistband!

I think that stands whatever our ages.
A folded nappy is a great idea. Go with a 60 or 70 square to give plenty of adjustability when folding and there are plenty of people on here who can point you to folding directions.

Thank you all for your suggestions. The bamboo nappy stood up very well so i think that's probably the way to go at the moment. I know exactly what you all mean sabout needing a loose waistband.

I have tried folding terries, but again because his tummy increases and decreases so much I have found it impossible to get a good fit either with nippas or pins so far applix nappies with a bit of elastic at the back seem to provide the best fit.

Thank you all for your help. I'm off to buy some bambinex nappies.

tutu I also use Bambinex bamboos as well as Teddies - they both have quite a good overlap. Also have you thought about Nature Babies Lovables? they come in bamboo and microfibre. It's a cloth pocket wit an insert inside (still needs a wrap) the wings are nice and long, you'd be able to put extra stuffing in. The one I have is nippa fastening. Actually it looks like it only comes in nippa - but it might be worth a try?
link here

I have to blow the trumpet for Baby Beehinds bamboos again! They are poppered but BTP so fit over a really wide range and they are sooooooooo absorbent.

Otherwise, Ella's House Bumhggers come in popper and aplix fastening and are lovely and thirsty too.