'Chinese Prefolds' vs. Fitted / 'Shaped' Nappies

[hub2dee]

Hi all,

Was hoping for some experienced advice...

I've been e-mailing Erica at Simons Custom Cloth about her nappies and wraps - to learn more about how they're made and whether they might be good for our new (first) baby. Love the fabrics, prints, customisation options, design etc. etc. Gallery here.

She mentioned that although her nappies would give excellent containment for breastfed explosive poo, that for economy, it might be as wise to consider Chinese Prefolds (or 'Diaper Service Quality' as they're called in the States which are basically an elaboration on the flat Terry / muslin, but with much improved absorbency because they are 4 layered to the sides and 8 layered in the middle... you just fold them to make a rectangle, spread out the top if you need to, and pop into a wrap of some description.

I get the impressions loads of people use this, particularly in the States, as they're so effective and cheap - about $25 for twelve -that's just over a quid each ! 'Bummi Super Whisper Wrap' was suggested as a great, basic wrap too.

So.... I am specifically wondering if there are any experienced cloth users who have used 'Chinese Prefolds' (which isn't the same thing as a Terry done with a 'Chinese' origami fold, but in the same spirit IYSWIM), and fitted nappies (Tots Bots, Motherease, kissaluvs etc. etc. etc.)... do the prefolds leak more and give so much more grief that the more expensive fitted nappies are really worth it, or is it essentially all marketing elaboration (aside from cuteness factor - which I can still achieve with a wicked wrap ) ?

[bloss]

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[starlover]

OMG i want a little squirt!

hub2dee... i can rave about fuzzi bunz if you like?

[hub2dee]

starlover, go on, have your rave. BTW did you know they're sold on some kind of (to my mind) slightly strange pyramid marketing scheme. (Info on Mother of Eden's Web site. I started a thread about that once)...

bloss: great points. I have seen a similar spray head on US nappy sites and may order one to attach to our cistern feed. From what I've read, I get the impression this might also be dw's 'new best friend' after birth too.

Yes, the wrap appears key to happy life with prefolds, and that does mean you can't always 'reuse' them in the same way as you might reuse a lovely wool wrap / pair of Aristocrat soaker pants etc. if one was using fitteds...

More Hmmmm....

[misdee]

oh where can i get a little squirt here? or does anyone know of a company that will send one over, and will they be compatable with Uk pipework?

[Maisiemog]

beg to differ Bloss, but I have twill prefolds and DO use a nippa with no probs -and I've got that poo licked . Er, I mean beaten.

[starlover]

misdee... that site does say they will ship to other countried if you contact them for shipping prices.
It may be worth it as the exchange rate is pretty good for Aus$ at the moment!
I may get DP to have a look when he gets back!

Hub2Dee... i am in LUUURRRVE with my fuzzi's. For the following reasons
they are SO soft
They dry incredibly quickly (i have no tumble drier/central heating)
They are quick and easy to use (no folding)
They are VERY slim fitting (not much between them and disposables)
They are marginally cheaper than buying a shaped fitted nappy and wrap
I have had no leaks as yet

oh yeah, and i think they're fab! LOL i have been raving about them all over the place!
I use a microterry insert with a booster for nighttime. DS doesn't get changed in night so is in it for 9 hours approx... not had a leak yet!
the micro inserts are very thin, but hold a LOT of wee!

I really wuold recommend them. I have sold a load of my shaped terries to buy more fuzzi's!

[hub2dee]

misdee: I'll see if I can track down a squirty style shower thing for us. UK pipework to a cistern will be 15mm copper, often with a handy compression isolator to screw into. Give me a few days. I imagine there are loads of products for people who prefer to wash that way rather than use toilet paper IYSWIM... it might have to be gold-plated of course.



Maisie and Bloss: Could it be down to chubby-thighed / skinny ass ? Play nicely now, ladies.

starlover: does one use Fuzzis without a wrap then, or did I misunderstand ?

[Maisiemog]

hub, I keep some travel wash in the bathroom and rinse the wrap after every change, regardless of nappy type. That's why I recommend about 5 wraps for one day. I say have more, and an easier life. The Bummis wraps I got with my B to P pack have been great, because they are super adjustable,so I can use two sizes at the same time. It has meant I have had up to ten wraps on the go at any one time. So I never worry about wraps, life's too short.
I'm sure there are lots of recommendations for wraps.
It's handy to have a few cute wool wraps while you're buying. The Americans are hot on this, so have a scout. Much healther for the baby bum than PUL.
If you fancy it you can actually make them from old jerseys. I didn't get around to that yet, but look at these
Fitteds are good for the old bf poo, but they can be a bit bulky, so prefolds are handy for slimness when you want it.
Speaking of bf poo, my ds was a bf baby, and only pooed every other day, so the poo wasn't that much of a prob. Mind you now he's being weaned POOOO!
I use paper liners, which are fiddly, but they do seem to work a bit better with the prefolds, because they stay flatter inside, but get kind of scrunched in some of my fitteds.
I agree with Bloss, Tots are nice, cute nappies as are Little Lambs, I use the Tots at night (quite bulky) and L'Lambs in the daytime (neater). But as you say, they are covered up most of the time? It's just like having nice underwear, you know you're wearing it, but noone else does, still nice though .
Another consideration in the longer term is that babies go through a wriggly stage, when I think prefolds might be trickier than a fitted (haven't reached that yet).
Apparently, later on babies allow you to change their nappy ,to be helpful(bless), so I suppose any nappy would do then.
Confused yet?

[misdee]

fuzzi's dont need a wrap.

[starlover]

no, no wrap needed with pocket nappies of any kind,
On fuzzis the outer layer is PUL and the inner layer is microfleece (you just shove something in between to soak up the wee)
minkis have a layer of PUL sandwiched between 2 layers of fleece...

that's also a reason why they're quicker, just one thing to put on rather than nappy and wrap.

[sweetkitty]

starlover i think me and you should start the we love our fuzzi bunz fan club]

I do like tots bots for night time as well. I do use a liner with my fuzzi quite a lot as you can't use cream on just the fuzzi's liner and DD's bum has been quite sore recently.

The micro inserts are great too!

[hub2dee]

Thoroughly confused but pleasantly informed.

One last (related) q: Is it worth waiting for baby before buying / ordering, particularly custom from WAHMs... I'm thinking fat / thin / all in the tummy / all in the tush etc.... different ones sometimes seem better for the chubby-thighed and others for the skinny-minnies ?

[misdee]

i'd wait as you are a 1st-timer. i bought loads of tots bots as was very comfortable already with them due to dd2.

[Maisiemog]

I don't know about that????
Most nappies seem to fit Pog (ds) - they are pretty adjustable. He's kind of chunky, with a long back and little bum.
Some popper nappies don't have quite the right popper, like it's either too tight (wah!) or too loose (peee). We have some excellent Peeweez for nights, really thick and funky designs, but the poppers are a bit random. I end up using a nappynippa (like on my twill prefolds )
Velcro is more adjustable, but Pog has worked out how to undo it now, so we have to tape his hands to his sides
We actually had newborn size prefolds, which was lucky, because he was three weeks early and I don't think much would have fitted him then. (5.8lbs)
I think I would get some muslins for the next one when he/she is little. There are some lovely patterned ones around. More excuses to buy things ladies??

[hub2dee]

LOL @ you lot. BTW hope 'ladies' incs. me... it's just that I'm a big hairy bear grappling bloke, just thought I'd let you know in case there is any illusion that I am otherwise. . When I posted that on my last nappy thread I killed it. LOL.

[giraffeski]

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[hub2dee]

I understand giraffeski. Just thrilled my admission didn't kill the thread.

We could run dispies / a trial pack and maybe even a laundering service in the first few weeks to keep everything simple and when we have our head screwed on and can see how fabulously plump dd is, we'll know what to go for...

[Cooperoo]

Hi Hub,
You have had some top advice here and I have nothing really to add. Just wanted to say glad you have found Erica at SCC to be so helpful. She is fab. Prefolds didn't work for us due to many explosive b/f poos a day and therefore leaks on the wrap so the whole thing had to be changed everytime which defeated the object... Also very sorry to say that we struggled with stuffables too (like Minki and Fuzzi's) due to dd's mammoth thighs causing wicking (Bummis wraps failed for us too).
I think it is a great idea to wait until baby is born as this thread alone is proof that different nappies suit different babies due to different demands and shapes etc. Ooohh Good Luck. Nappies are truly addictive!! I have bought some size 0 kissaluvs for my bump and am sooooo excited about using them . Hee hee. I wouldn't have bothered as I don't really think they will last long but the bump will be in dd's nappies for the rest of the time so deserved something new. (Not such a quick post after all....can't help but chat about nappies when I get started......)

[Cooperoo]

P.S. I did the Eco babes trial and it was the best investment ever. I recommend trying to prebook the smallest size kit though as I struggled to get it when I wanted it due to not giving them enough notice..

[Maisiemog]

All the bears in my house are hiding now! You scared them off Hub!!!

[hub2dee]

Maisiemog: R O A R !!!



woops... bears don't roar....

G R O W L !!!

Hi Cooperoo ! Was going to CAT you about what you had ordered and some questions on what to go for in Erica's long list of options re: diapers /wraps. Thanks for letting me know that eco-babes might be worth pre-booking. I think we'll do that. Delighted your bump will be treated to some wee kissaluvs. Awwwww.

[giraffeski]

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[hub2dee]

Hope you're not fluttering your eyelashes and twitching your horns in the hope of a discount, gski.

What subject are you studying that uses teaching dolls ? (Or are you working ? )

[Maisiemog]

I have some of these . Very cute and the wrap is lovely and soft. Pog sometimes cries when I put on the wrap, but not this one. Pog +

[giraffeski]

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