Right, so, after 12 years, what's changed in the cloth nappy department?

[duchesse]

With the last three, we graduated from disposables to Kooshies at about 6 weeks of age with number 1, to more Kooshies and terries with number to, to large muslins folded kite style and home knitted wooly wraps and Kooshies wraps with number 3.

I'm still minded to stick with the flat nappies because of drying them, but what wraps would you recommend? I still have quite a few of the large muslins (80cm square)- at least the ones that were left ungnawed by the dormice looking for overwinter bedding in the loft! I also have some rather tired cotton terries.

I need some new waterproof wraps, and was thinking of buying some bamboo flat terries. What has people's experience been of them?

Also, have nappy nippas evolved since 1997? We tried them back then and reverted quite quickly to pins.

Also need a nappy bucket as the last ones have disintegrated due to age. Any recommendations?

Would welcome any advice.

Mother-ease airflow but if you are well versed with wool then Id go for that too!

Probably the best nappy bucket is the motherease one but it's extortionate.

Can't help with terry questions as I've never folded a nappy in my life

The bamboo flats I've got aren't square and a pain in the arse to kite fold, so I'm going to sew them into boosters for when he gets bigger. They also take longer to dry.

Motherease Airflow wraps are awesome and recommended by most.

I've only used nippas and find them simple to use. What was your problem with them?

wasting- they didn't grip well and were forever coming undone inside the wrap, with the result that the whole nappy fell off them once they were walking.

sasa- I love the woolen wraps but my husband sadly does not- he thinks the children were always a little damp, but my point was that that dampness was mostly water since the rest is neutralised by the lanolin. I might just have some for daytime...

wasting- did they lose shape after the first time you washed them? Cloth often shrinks differently in each direction. That is a very good tip indeed, thank you for that.

They came that way and are supposed to wash into a square but never did.

I've only had a nippa undo a couple times. New ones need stretching out a bit before they grip brilliantly I've found. DS isn't walking yet though, but I've bought some pins for emergencies. I don't fancy my first pinning experience being on a wriggly toddler, but hopefully I won't need them.

wasting- have you complained to the company? Might be worth contacting them about it... If you can't fold them into nappy shapes, they're not fit for purpose and should be replaced by the company!

Didn't really think about it tbh. And can't remember where I bought them from. I'll have to look through my emails.

I got my nappy bucket off ebay. I used motherease sandys shaped terry nappies, quite slim fitting, then moved onto pockets later.

I've tried most nappies (sorry if that sounds jaded ) but I prefer the shaped ones. Yes, more expensive but less in the leak department.

Wraps -- Tots Bots Flexiwrap is probably the best, along with Motherease airflow.

I really like Thirsties wraps, though tend to use wool.

I like the OneLife buckets (think these are motherease), got mine online somewhere that didn't charge an arm and a leg for postage. I have two though so it worked out ok. I think the Bambino Mio ones are the same style but different colour.

the junior joy buckets are ok, inexpensive too, but any lidded bucket would do.

I second the thirsties wraps, great colours too!

They do look nice! Are they clothy on the outside or plasticky?

I am loving the Little Lambs wraps - they are very good at containment as they have good gussets at the legs. I have used these with small bamboo terries folded as prefolds without nippas and they are fine for the day. I have also tried a couple of the little lamb shaped nappies, which are good too but thanks to DH moaning we have gone for pocket nappies instead (Bumgenius) as there is less for him to get wrong!

The wraps only come in white but this actually looks quite cute I think. THey are nice and clothy feeling on the outside and they dry quickly too. I personally don't get on with the Motherease Airflow, not sure why but the fit seems tricky to get right. Must be my baby's chubby legs and big fat tummy!

I don't know about 12 years but all in ones and pockets have evolved beyond recognition in the five years since DS1 was in nappies. Back then we always had horrible leaks.

Now I think anyone who loves cloth owes it to themselves to try at least one BumGenius, an Itti Bitti D'Lish, a Tots Bots Easyfit, a Pocket Tot and a Blueberry (one size or side snap - or both).

The other thing, I almost never use cotton nappies any more - now it is always bamboo, hemp, or microfibre...

Oooh we had Kooshies ultra they were considered state of the art nappies 10 -12 years ago, they still make them exactly the same just different prints. Everythign else has moved on!
Re wraps: The most reliable (and were around 12 years ago so must be good) are the Motherease Rikki (velcro) and Airflow (was called AirRikka back then), but instead of the paw prints and whales they've new prints and blue pink yellow colours.
Re the wollen wraps: personally I think you can't beat the Disana pull on wool wraps - especially in the colours now, very cute - call them 'shorts' or shorties and hey presto they're an undergarment not a nappy cover. Or knit your own!
Re the Nappi Nippas, the 'knack' is to make sure they're in a distinct Y shape when on, not a T - pull the middle tab right down as tight as you can and they really won't come off unless they're old old Nippas and gone blunt.
Re the bucket: I'd suggest Wilkinsons or a DIY store for something prettier than your average plain white bucket. When you buy online a large proportion of the cost is for the postage cost

Ariela- thanks for that! Will investigate everything you'ev all mentioned. Do you think those pull on woolen trouser type overpants are a little warm for an August baby? Also I worry about too much contact between baby and wool as my mother is allergic (severe skin reactions) to lanolin and rubber precisely for that very reason (rubber overpants in the 40s + knitted woolen liberty bodices).

Now that I think about it, you could well be right about the shape of the Nippas.