Alternatives to Fluffies - easy peasy, right?

[Peach_Bums_Mum]

Not wanting to add anything further but to clarify my position- fluffies for me leaked, stained, and fell apart and disintergrated after a couple months. I have already written a review of my own experience with fluffies in the review section. I hope everyone else has too - I didnt see any good reviews on them there, so it might be a good idea for the people who have not had a bad experience with them, to also write a review to balance it out.

I think you tend to get what you pay for in nappies.

I hope that your friend doesnt get put off MCN by the fluffies (like I did )cause that would be an awful shame. Atleast she knows about this thread and some alternatives if she wants to explore them later. Good on her for trying something different anyway. And good on you Emma for helping her.

[johT]

the review section isnt working atm so the reviews here are helpful

[Peach_Bums_Mum]

[jessicas_mamma]

Good on your friend for at least wanting to give cloth a go
My Mum gave me 3 fluffies when I had dd, I hardly used them at all to be honest. They did leak but worked ok with a cover(I only had the cheapo plastic pants), they were a kinda strange fit on dd, she has boney hips so I think that may hyave been what the problem was. After several attemps with these I figured cloh nappies were to hard and gave up thus my using sposie's until dd was 9 months and I discovered MCN.
On a newborn absorbancy isn't really an issue so the fluffies really might be ok but after those first few weeks I would recommend opening them, pulling out the wading and restuffing with some towelling, face washers, tea towels, whatever's handy. I plan to do that with mine if I have a another baby and keep them as back-up. Since she already has the fluffies, re-stuffing them with old towels might be her cheapest option.
If the packaging isn't opened she could always get a refund (kmart and big w usually always refund if that's where she bought them) and use the money to get some prefolds, the wee wuns have infant prelods for $3.80, even cheaper than fluffies!
I know everyone knocks the fluffies but for someone on a tight budget that can't afford nice MCN, fluffies are still better than resorting to disposables

[Peach_Bums_Mum]

Originally Posted by jessicas_mamma

I know everyone knocks the fluffies but for someone on a tight budget that can't afford nice MCN, fluffies are still better than resorting to disposables

yeah but for anyone thats on a tight budget, flats and prefolds are cheaper than fluffies and so much more money wise.

[Eilleen]

I agree with you Hannah - especially in terms of absorbency. I can get 7-8 layers of terry in a good fold (like the Jo fold or the Chinese Bat fold). Link for some good folds: http://thenappylady.co.uk/Advice/Ins...nstructionID=2

The folds though I think can intimidate people. Fluffies, I think would be good for people who do not like folding a nappy AND for babies who are not heavy wetters. I consider them in the same category as "one-wee" training pants. Teamed with a good cover, they would also work well.

For people just starting out on cloth, I just point out how many absorbent layers there is and let them decide for themselves as to whether it is suitable for their own household habits (if they change immediately after one wee anyway) and their baby (if their baby is a light wetter anyway).

Pass on my "good luck" wishes to your friend Emma!

[*Tracee*]

I agree prefolds are a much more economical choice as they can be used later as pocket stuffers or boosters.
In my earlier post I was referring to 2 nappies I found in the op shop for 50c each, so for us that was great value but I could not justify buying them new and using them. They only worked well for us because I removed the wadding and used them as pockets!

[jessicas_mamma]

Originally Posted by Peach_Bums_Mum

yeah but for anyone thats on a tight budget, flats and prefolds are cheaper than fluffies and so much more money wise.

Oh, yes definatly! The (very) few times I used my fluffies I had to change her IMMEDIATLY after she did a wee. It soaked through straight away, the outside would be saturated,almost dripping and dd is an average wetter. It would be cheaper to buy prefolds but I figured since she already had bought fluffies she may as well rip em open and re-stuff. Or the refund idea if she hasn't yet opened the packaging.

[emd]

Fluffies would sell well on eBay, she'd probably make a profit if she got them factory-direct. Particularly with the new eBay nappy selling rules, she could sell some of the unopened packs and buy some good quality used nappies on Buyena.

[robbo3]

I have seen some small nappies on Ozebaby - Poppets Place (???) I think - that were $6 ish dollars.

I think that flats at home and a few fitteds for going out would be a good choice for someone wanting to use cloth on a very tight budget. You would need to buy some quality covers and to cut some fleece liners and then you would be set.

I love my MCN but I still use flats around the house sometimes - they are so quick to dry and easy to wash.

I cant remember if you said anything about her making them but if nanna, mum, MIL or anyone in the family knows how to sew and is willing to help - buying a pattern and sewing a stash from second hand clothes and terry nappies could be an idea.

I tried fluffies and found they leaked and the fasteners rubbed on the skin leaving big read marks so wouldnt recommend them. I contacted the company and asked what the "absorbant" part was made from and they told me that the wadding has air pockets which trap the fluids like a sponge - that is fine to say it traps the fluids but what happens when pressure is placed on a sponge?? the fluids leak out.

Good Luck to your friend - there is so much to look into and so many decisions to make.