I’m working on reorganising my nappy FAQ pages in this blog ‘Nappy 101‘ on the top navigation bar.
I think I have gotten the hang of FAQ-Tastic, the plugin I’m using for ‘Nappy 101′.
I intend to make the ‘Nappy 101′ section one of the first points of contact for prospective cloth users and current cloth users alike, to share tips and tricks from experience. The only downside is the lack of picture support, but I will find a way to make things work.
Progress is painful but I’m getting there: Slow and steady wins the race.
If you have any questions or tips about using cloth nappies at all, feel free to ask them away by commenting on this post, and I will draw a winner for either an ecoBumba minky nappy or $30 store credit at Bean Sprout Bubba. Promotion ends July 31 2010.
Don’t forget to become a fan/liker on the Bean Sprout Bubba Facebook page, where you can find first-look photos of upcoming products and stocking announcements.
Take care and have a great weekend!
I would love some tips on using cloth at night!
cloth had always scared me, not knowing how to fold them when shown briefly, looked like hard work, then bought a couple mcn after discovering them for my son not knowing if and when toilet training would begin, had another baby so bought more mcn, and trying to build a collection up now for the boys, i love them! if only brochures of mcn were in those bags we get when pregnant or also with that paper work and brochures we get after baby is born, i think more parents would be aware! i saw and had no info on these
they are happy to show disposables in these bags!
Hi I would love some cloth nappy info about night time? And also getting the faint smell of wee out OH and also, does using liners affect the way the moisture is wicked away from bubs skin by the microfleece?
Emma: Noted
Fantastic Sarah!
They work so much better hands-on than in the head
Sometimes I think my mind overcomplicates matters when things (like MCNs) are really very simple and quick to do.
Well done on taking the plunge into the world of MCN
Melissa: Ah you’re the second person who’s asked about nappies at night!
I will definitely look into a post on night nappies.
I need to clarify a few things:
What does OH in ‘faint smell of wee out of OH’ mean?
And did you mean disposable liners, or reusable liners? and microfleece I’m assuming is the stay dry lining already in, say, a pocket nappy?
Hi BSB,
Are there benefits of using cloth nappies when toilet training? Are there better styles suited to the toddler once they become a bit more dexterous with press studs and such?
can i join ka..would love the get one of your nappy.been using CD since Sona was born. That was about two years ago. Been promoting them to everyone I know but somehow some people just can’t get the idea of it being cheap (long run) and we are helping to protect the environment.Some people still think this is for those who has money and some people said they are too lazy to wash.In short, the second type of person rather throw money by buying disposable than washing the washable diaper. Please share your experiences.What is your view about this?
Tips on using cloth nappies during wet weather without using a cloths dryer (we don’t have one). I’m worried about nappies not getting dried enough and leaving a smell. Also, is it hygienic if they are not dried directly under the sun?
What to do when a nappy with a sewn in microfibre soaker pad has a smell after it has been washed and dried in the sun?
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I’m just trying out a few different nappies at night so am eagerly looking forward to your info on night nappies!
One area I would like to know more about is wool covers, soakers, shorties and longies… I have heard all of these terms but am not sure of the difference! Why is wool a good cover at night and how do you care for wool covers? Thanks!
Nicola: This is a good question and a great topic to cover in future. Wool has the unique property of pulling moisture through it and then dispersing it into the air. It doesn’t feel moist until it has absorbed 30% of its weight in water.
Why is it good for nights?
Wool helps to disperse moisture evenly throughout the whole nappy, and helps keep baby drier all night so the nappy will last longer, while giving bub a great night’s sleep.
There’s more info about wool than I can cover in this comment, so it’ll be a future post to elaborate further
I recently made a youTube video on how to wash and care for wool, I will find the link and edit this reply.
Editted to add: Hey I *have* written about wool before!
It’s here (link below), though I didn’t really mention too much about wool at night, I’ll include a blurb when doing my night nappy write-up, thanks for asking 
http://www.beansproutbubba.com.au/blog/2009/12/17/appy-jargon-all-about-wool-nappy-covers-lanolising-and-wool-care/
SL: During wet weather without a clothes dryer, I would hang the nappies on an airer and turn a fan on at night, it makes the nappies dry faster.
The UV rays in sunlight are germ-killing, so if the nappies can be placed near a north-facing window in winter (in the Southern Hemisphere) or outside even on a cloudy day, some of that UV light can still penetrate the nappies and keep them hygienic.
Another alternative is to do a rinse every 3-4 weeks using a little tea tree oil, dettol or canestan rinse just to freshen them up until the rainy season is over.
When I do use Dettol, I use much less than recommended or do extra rinses as my daughter’s skin is quite sensitive to any Dettol residues.
Just no chlorine bleach as it may shorten the life of the nappy.
KP: Interesting question.
Generally, nappies with snaps are more difficult to pull off than velcro, and side snapping or hip snapping nappies are a little more difficult to remove that front snapping nappies.
However depending on the child, the time of the day and the location, it may be a good idea to use velcro or front snapping nappies during toilet training, e.g. around the house and such. These are easily ripped off for the child to learn to use the loo. Maybe not so good when the nappy is already dirty…
My nappies have purple/brown stains on them (apparently from panadol), is there any trick way to remove this?
oh I’d love to win…here are my tips. Hanging any sort of nappy with elastic horizontally helps keep the leg elastic in good condition longer. I love modern cloth but it is a great idea to have some flats and a good cover on hand and know how to use ‘em: they dry SO fast and can be a real life saver during wet weather or a delay in wash day. Baby washcloths are my favorite wipes, esp. for newborns. Washing PUL covers with velcro tabs in a mesh/lingerie bag really helps the tabs stay nice. Last tip: don’t let a loathing of laundry put you off trying cloth! I hate folding laundry but nappy laundry is the easiest and dare I say most enjoyable laundry there is! I truly enjoy the experience.:)
Regarding using night nappies, would the baby/toddler feel cold from a wet nappy if they wee between sleep cycles?
@SL: It depends on the baby’s comfort level, and also depends on the nappy.
Some babies have a higher tolerance to wetness than others, while still other babies actually prefer not to wee in their nappy (and hence whinge, toss and turn until they have to!)
A lot of night nappies on the market these days have a stay dry layer touching baby’s skin, so that baby does not feel wet from the nappy.
If a wool or fleece cover is used, it dramatically reduces the overall wetness in the core of the nappy, as moisture is easily evaporated out through these covers.
PUL also does have this ability to a smaller extent (much better than PVC), but I think wool and fleece is the way to go at night for maximum dry comfort.
@Ruth: Fantastic tips, thanks for sharing your 5 top tips for using modern cloth nappies
I hear you on the last point: I don’t love laundry, with 2 kids the machine seems to never stop all day. BUt I LOVE doing the nappy hanging, sorting and folding, so therapeutic… can’t say the same about disposable nappies though
@Elizabeth: hmmm I haven’t a clue! I don’t have much experience with Panadol on nappies as my kids don’t stomach it very well. But I do remember seeing a Q&A on this very topic at ozclothnappies.org.au, maybe check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) there?
My biggest fear about night time cloth diapering… is Fear itself! I tried it for a while, but when we hit 18 months, and DD started to “reject” wool I sort of gave up at night. We are perpetually obsessed with DS sleeping through the night and somehow, I fear that I am not able to (1) provide a nappy which is comfortable enough and (2) that for some reason or other, cloth diapering will disrupt his sleep. Would love to hear about anyone’s experience in this area.. but understand that this is probably beyond the scope of a normal FAQ!
I’d like to know how to keep the nappy bucket from stinking too badly – it doesn’t bother me too much, but my hubby hates it.
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I think it’d be great to see some advice for getting started using cloth nappies, especially on newborns. Given that MCNs are a relatively new concept in the community, not many people have friends/relatives to give advice. So a few tips on how many to buy, what sizes and how to deal with newborn breastfed poo etc would be great
@Helen: perfect, I can see some blog posts coming. I will be having #3 coming this October as well so I will be revisiting Newborn nappies very soon.
In the meantime do check out some preliminary information for newborns on my ‘Newborn’ product recommendations page in my store.
I was suprised by how easy it is once you get started. And I was very skeptical about night time nappies but I have tried them and bub sleeps 13 hours in them.
I’m pregnant with my 1st and I’m madly trying to gather information on cloth nappies! Your site has answered quite alot of questions for me, but I’m still confused as to which cloth nappy to use from newborn to toddler? And insert? And do I need pilcher?