Advice please!! Researching MCN's but very lost.

[newtocloth]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to nappycino and to MCN's. I have browsed the boards for a few weeks looking for answers to which nappies will be the best for our baby (due in Nov) and which would be the best for us to be using. MAN it's a hard decision!!!!!!!!!!! I'm kinda getting the lingo/acronyms and getting there but wanted to ask for your advice!

My daughter who is nearly 4 was 8pound4 when born but was always a long and slim baby/girl with a slim waist and slim legs, i'm guessing the next one will be similar so am trying to find nappies that will suit that.

Also- I am looking at the pocket nappies with covers or is that fitteds? and the OSFA/AI1's....to make it as easy as possible. Yeah...I know i'm a lazy bugger!

In your experiences are pocket nappies with covers/fitteds? or OSFA's/AI1's okay to use from birth, considering I have fairly decent sized babies? I really don't want to have to do the whole folding bit for a few weeks at the beginning so trying to find a stash of nappies that will fit from newborn and last for a good year! Is there such a thing?

Sorry for all the questions!! I really feel quite lost!!

P.S Do the nappies every get smelly when on the baby? Obviously I will be changing the baby as often as needed, but a friend mentioned she could always smell wee around her baby when she used MCN's.

Thanks SO MUCH in advance for anyone's advice/opinions!!!!!!!

P.P.S Maybe someone could explain to me what the difference is between a fitted/pocket nappy/AI1 is? My brain has malfunctioned! Wahhh to pregnancy brain.

[SB]

Hi NtC

I don't know all the aussie brands but I'm sure lots of non-imposters will be able to help you there.

I can explain the difference between fitteds etc though i think

A fitted is an absorbant nappy. It needs a separate waterproof cover.

A pocket nappy has the waterproof layer and the 'against skin' layer sewn together, with space in the middle (the 'pocket') for you to stuff with removable absorbency.

And AI1 is all in one. The waterproof outer layer, the absorbent internal layer/s, and the 'next to skin' layer, all sewn together. This is the closest to a disposable.

Sounds ideal, but can take longer to dry due to (depending on design) not being able to pull it apart for washing/drying, and - again depending on design - harder to adjust the absorbency level to cater to your baby's needs and whether it's night/day/etc.

I think you would struggle to find a one size fits all nappy that genuinely fits from newborn right through. But that is where i will stop talking since I don't know aussie brands well yet

[Vicky]

Sarah pretty much covered the differences between nappies
as for smelly it does depend on what they are made of hemp tends to smell (especially in night nappies)

most people prefer fitteds or prefolds with covers for neborns then AIO's or pockets after a few months when you are not changing so often.

as for brands i tended to stick to the well known most popular brands at first just to see what i liked and what suited my bub

it is a bit of trial and error but so worthit once you get it worked out

good luck and welcome to NC

[newtocloth]

Thanks Sarah!!! That helps a lot with explaining the difference. Hmmmm......I wonder what ''system'' then is cheaper in the long run to do. My mind is boggling!

ETA- Thanks for your advice Vicky

[SB]

No prob - my perrrrrsonal opinion, for what it's worth, is that it's not a great idea to decide what type of nappy you want to use and stock up on heaps of them ahead of time.

Much as I like to be organised ridiculously far ahead of time... with nappies I really think it pays to wait and see what ends up suiting your baby. Their pee habits ( ) their size & build, your mood at the time... it all varies You can usually pick up odds and sods second hand cheapishly, to have a play and see what works for you and your baby before you splash out on a stash. My 2 cents worth.

That said, for both my boys I've liked fitteds with covers (mixture of covers - wraps, pull ups ie bummis whisper pants, and woollen soakers/longies) for newborns, then prefolds and wraps for small babies, and then pockets once they're mobile Complicate the issue, much? I'm good like that.

But yeah, I'd have a play if you can, before you stock up.

As for cheapest... I reckon using wrap covers, with flat inserts - even old school square cotton flats, would be the most economical. And you know what? They work totally fine
(uh, as long as they're good quality MCN covers, like Bummis or similar, not the crappy rubbish department store type of wrap covers )

[monicat]

Now my two cents worth!

I use fitteds and wool covers (or PUL) at home. Most of my stash are Baby Beehinds, and have recently got some cute tooshies.

When go out (or am feeling lazy) I use either pockets or all in ones. AIO's are the ultimate for lazy use, as they don't require stuffing when they come out of the wash (although I find snapping together and stuffing nappies quite a soothing past time!). I have Bubblebubs, blueberry, bonnibuns, babyhosen, they are probably my favourites, but every one is different.

I totally agree try a few first before buying a whole stash. And my nappies never smell like wee when they are on the babies. Hemp nappies can sometimes do this but I have had no issues with bamboo ones.

[MichelleP]

Hi always nice to see another Perthie around!
If you are keen to look at some MCN in real life and talk to some cloth users we have a great bunch of Perth girls here and occassionally get together but also the Australian Nappy Network will have an advocacy stall at the Living Smart expo that is on in Mandurah on Sunday. The details are:

Mandurah Living Smart Expo

Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
Sunday 7

th June 2009

10.00 am – 4.00 pm

We'll be at stall 31 if you manage to come down.

[melchpeppi]

Sarah said it all, however as you know fit is just as important, if not more so for a baby/toddler (when it comes to MCN)

I can only say that some nappy brands that you come across actually are OSFM only without the 2000 extra snaps . Generally once you get beyond a certain weight (for some brands it is 4-5kg, some are 8kg) and depending on the nappy you might be pleasantly surprised . Its not so scary - your baby grows in different ways and some nappies just keep fitting .

FWIW, I am not a fan of the OSFA or OSFM term whatsoever

[sweetpee]

Hi,

Welcome to NC you certainly have come to the right place for help and advice with MCN's!

Unfortunately I do not have any words of wisdom to help you just yet, but give me a few weeks and I should. I just wanted to say stick with it, I was in your position just a few months ago and it can be very confusing with all the jargon and terms out there... keep asking quesitons the ladies here certainly do not mind answering, no matter how silly you may think your questions are!!! It will be worth all of the confusion in the end I am sure!

I would take MichelleP up on her offer if you can, speaking face to face with mums that are using cloth will help you no end!

My bub is due in a few weeks and like Sarah suggested I have held off buying a whole heap of nappies before bubs arrives as each baby is different!

FWIW I will be using mainly bamboo and cotton prefolds with my bub until she can fit into mediums/OSFM (sorry melchpeppi). I have some already that I have been patting (especially the yummy soft bamboo ones) and there is hardly any folding involved!

HTH

[MorgsinPerth]

Hi always nice to see another Perthie around!
If you are keen to look at some MCN in real life and talk to some cloth users we have a great bunch of Perth girls here and occassionally get together but also the Australian Nappy Network will have an advocacy stall at the Living Smart expo that is on in Mandurah on Sunday. The details are:

Mandurah Living Smart Expo

Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
Sunday 7

th June 2009

10.00 am – 4.00 pm

We'll be at stall 31 if you manage to come down.

I would love to go to that but I will most likely still be in hospital with the baby. I would like to get together with other mums in Perth who like cloth, I'm still new to it and any advice is great! No one I know is interested in cloth and I keep getting mocked for having cloth flats ready to go.

*Ner* to them!