Frugal Nappying

[Eilleen]

Woah Beth, I wish I lived near you! There are no MCNs in the Op Shops around here (and believe me, I've looked!)

I've now made boosters by cutting up old clothes around here - as long as its absorbent, it can work as a booster.

[betty]

-ask for flats for a baby present
-use 2nd hand jumpers to make longies and soaker - I have made longies from the arms and a soaker from the body
-go without a cover when at home - they aren't really needed
-buy 2nd hand
-get use out of all your nappies - don't just buy nappies to pat and look at

[johT]

consider one size options. they might not fit as trim for a newborn, but by 3 months they should be fine.
i used greenkids pockets as covers. inside was a pad folded flanellette flat with microfleece on top. this meant the pocket could be used more than once like designed
i also did the same with a fleece cover which i got cheaply secondhand as i dont sew.
was very surprised to find terry flats were good

[rollergirl]

Originally Posted by betty

--get use out of all your nappies - don't just buy nappies to pat and look at

pmsl.

[ruthieroo]

Originally Posted by Fimail

- Wash sensibly: Wash full loads where possible, wash in cold water most of the time, don't use a dryer, and don't use sanitisers, use small amounts of detergent, use a water and power efficient washing machine. These efficiencies will cost less in the long run, and are luckily also the reccomended care for most nappies.
- Don't dis the flat: Have mostly flat nappies with supplements if you feel you NEED them (ie we have mostly flats with fitteds for car rides etc, pockets/AIOs for out and fitteds for night). Flat nappies work fine - modern cloth may be easier for people converting over from disposables, but really flat nappies are no big hassle, and you will never have the elastic break, or the PUL die like occasionally happens with modern cloth and they dry very quickly.
- Buy decent quality: With covers (don't buy the PVC ones they WILL break and you WILL spend more in the long run). With flats (we like our canningvales) and they won't stretch out of shape or wear threadbare so soon, and with fitteds and they will have good workmanship, strong stitching, reputable design and a well researched sizing guide. You save money by not experimenting with quality, as mistakes can cost money. It is not that hard to find out what is reputable - ask people who have been using cloth for awhile - preferably on more than one child - what has stood them in good stead.
-Learn to knit and sew your own (especially recycled fabrics) if you have the time and interest.

I don't do all of these things but generally follow these principles.

Fiona

This is a great post and exactly how I went about starting with cloth. Prefolds and flats with good quality covers. Still using them but along the way have been able to get "treats". (i.e. actual MODERN modern cloth). And yes, sometimes I have felt VERY out of the loop in the world of modern cloth. But hey, to my mom's generation just using a Snappi makes me modern and cool.

[mummygeorgie]

Freecycle! I got a WHOLE bunch of terry flats by posting a wanted ad, some only washed and never used. Some I used as flats, others (generally the older thinner ones) I cut up and used in my own home-made nappies or boosters.
And then I have passed on some of my home-made or cheaply acquired nappies & covers via Freecycle.
Whenever I offer advice to newbies who want to be very frugal, I suggest flats and good easily-acquired covers (like Bummis SWW) with a few pockets for giong out/babysitters (pockets because they can be stuffed with just about anything so wind up pretty frugal).

[mykiddiesmama]

If ppl ask how to cloth with a limited budget I suggest starting out in flats and knitted soakers (if u can knit or someone can knit for you). That is what I did. When I discovered soakers I knitted a couple and used them with the 8 flats I had bought years before.This was part time cloth while I waited on fitteds. Gradually adding to the stash is easier than buying out right to me, if you can't afford it.

[Ali]

When I had my first lad, I was the queen of frugal LOL
I had the old terries that my mum used on all three of us, and the old flannel flats too!
I bought a roll of second-quality terry flats (yep, still all joined together on a roll) from the fluffies second's factory here in SA, and hemmed them all myself.
I used the PVC covers from the supermarket.
Since the latest two arrived, I have used the same flats a lot. Almost all my modern cloth purchases have been second-hand, or swaps. Or made by me!

ALi

[tikki]

I like this site for some ideas

http://fernandfaerie.com/frugaldiapering.html

[Candice]

ohh this is a grea thread.. would be nice to do up an inro page from this info for the main site

for a baby shower (if the ladies coming are handy) have a sewing bee.. ask ladies to bring a bunch of fabrics (nappy suitable, give them a list) their machines / ol and have a pattern or 2 ready and have a sewing day..

if you spend money on anything. make it you covers.. you can get away with a scabby fitted if it has a good cover over it

make thing quick dry. lower drying times means less are needed

swaps. swaps are great

dont feel you need to get the higher priced hyena items.. have a look at the smaller lower priced wahm. if they have good feedback

and most importantly self control when monitor shopping