What's the Future for Cloth?

[Rover]

Hi all,

Just wondering about the future for MCNs. It seems there are some really amazing products out there, but most mere mortals can't actually get their hands on them.

What hope does a non-hyena (um, a zebra? a gazelle?) have of snaffling an itti bitti tonight? Or what about some poor innocent complete newbie, who wanders over to itti bitti tomorrow or the next day, when absolutely everything will be gone? How many people covet a Sandman? A Honeyboy? The Holy Grail - a VBSN?

Almost every WAHM site I've encountered is completely sold out of the most popular nappies, or those that have glowing reviews. I have actually stooped to ordering a couple of Honeyboys and VBSNs from the US (*blush*) though I'd much prefer to be supporting our own WAHM industry. I am starting out in cloth, and figure if I'm going to make it work I should try the nappies that are highly recommended (actually highly prized might be more apt!) by the mothers who know. Most of the info I've gleaned about nappies has come from the forums here, and the review section.

I assume that most of us feel that an important part of using cloth is advocacy - showing other mothers our cloth-bottomed babies and encouraging them to consider getting out of disposables. But how can the MCN industry grow to accommodate more and more cloth users if demand already so completely outstrips supply?

Is the aim of most WAHMs to become bigger businesses, able to supply cloth to an ever-increasing market? Or am I doomed to lonely nights in front of my PC, hitting the "refresh" button interminably?

Your thoughts much appreciated.

Rover

[KristyMum]

most of those fabulous highly prized nappies, were once upon a time 'unknown'... and there will be more of those 'unknown-soon-to-be-famous' nappies that come along.

I think there will come a time, remembering that MCN is still a growing 'thing', when supply and demand run fairly well parallel to each other, with the occasional dip on each side now and then...

The other thing is one day you'd reckon the hyena's would be fully gorged , and things will settle...

perhaps

I think there was a thread similar to this in the Steam Room, if it helps, will see if I can find the link (if your post count permits you to see it)

[Rover]

LOL Kristy - I'm sure when one hyena drops back another pops up to replace her. I'm just trying to keep up by spying on the "Stalking" thread ...

[kermi]

I think the demand for good quality nappies means that there will be more WAHMs willing to give it a go! The market will end up with more choice and more availability and eventually even out.
Just remember, someone had to take a chance and "try" a nappy first before the rest of the clothie world found out how wonderful it was!

[emmabrice]

This is such a good point! I am so glad the "industry" is booming just wish I knew more about it and knew where and when to look to try to find some knew nappies. One thing I was wondering is where do people get their PUL fabric from? Does anyone in Aust. do the laminating or is everyone importing this fabric or sending to the US to be laminated?

[Emjay]

I remember reading in the spotlight thingy about Davina a couple of months ago saying that for a time she had to close down Baby BeeHinds orders because the waiting list was 3 months long. Which i guess is what sparked her search for outsourcing someone to make her nappies. My hope for the future of modern cloth??? I truly passionately hope that one day i will walk into Big W or Target and spy MCN beside the Huggies. I think there will always be a market for the handmade things but i wish that 'basic cloth' (the good stuff though not the stuff with poly stuffing) was more readily available to the public. Gosh, how many people would use cloth if they knew how easy, cute, comfortable and affordable it is?

[tikki]

Ok, I really think the poor old hyenas are getting a bit of a bad run lately, so:

1. I could name at least ten sites where good quality nappies can be purchased right now. In fact, I could go and spend easily a couple of hundred dollars on my wish lists at these sites!! (DH would kill me though)

2. I have recommended sites for three friends in the last month and they have had NO problems purchasing some of the popular brands, my friends have purchased BBH and BBB and VBs.

3. The argument about VBSNs is beginning to frustrate me a little because most people new to cloth aren't going to start with a night nappy, heck they just want something easy to use like normal fitteds and AIOs ~ most wouldn't even know what a night nappy is. I'd been using cloth for 10 months before I even heard of VBSNs!!! Remember those who swap over generally take a while to give up sposies at night.

Please have a good look around before saying there is nothing available, there is plenty, look at the Ericas site, theweewuns, darlingsdownunder, cute tooshies, baby beehinds, best for baby, naturally mum, green kids, missymoonappies, twins in cloth, etc. (apologies to anyone i have missed)

Take a chance on one of the new WAHMs, everyone started out as a new undiscovered WAHM once. Three months ago who had heard about unique nappies and now everyone is excited about them!!! Sorry, getting off my soapbox now!!!

And to all the hyenas, good on you for helping to drive an emerging industry!!!

[Emjay]

Originally Posted by tikki

Take a chance on one of the new WAHMs, everyone started out as a new undiscovered WAHM once. Three months ago who had heard about unique nappies and now everyone is excited about them!!!

Exactly! I almost fell off my chair when i read the OP and it said, ...who is coveting a Sandman or something the like, because they literally only went on sale about 3 weeks ago. The 'hyenas' of the nappy scene are what has given the sandie the publicity for the OP to even know what it is, iykwim? I mean, come on, i've been inspired to try many a nappy based on what i've heard from people around here...in fact for a long time i'd tell my husband about a nappy by saying, "...and Genie reckons..." and he'd roll his eyes and say, "Great, another Genie induced purchase"

[alineanne]

rover, there are a few places you can check out who have in-stocks or pre-order facilities:
* lori usually has some stock on her website (ok not VBSN but other very baby and erica fitteds). www.ericanappies.com.au
* the wee wuns. http://www.theweewuns.au.com/
* bubblebubs. www.bubblebubs.com.au
* darlings downunder. www.darlingsdownunder.com.au
* cute tooshies. http://www.cutetooshies.com.au/
* granny jens. www.grannyjens.com
* green kids. www.greenkids.com.au
* nurture nappies. http://www.nurturenappies.com.au/
* sandras stuffables. www.sandrasstuffables.com.au
* pookey pockets. www.pookeypockets.com
* baby beehinds. www.babybeehinds.com.au

there are more - just check the business listings page - these come off the top of my head.

[Ying]

Just want to correct the web address of GreenKids. It's www.greenkids.com.au

No offense Aline. Didn't realise it until I clicked the link myself.