KSF Special Feature: Modern Cloth Nappies – A Beginners Guide
Posted: November 26th, 2008Today’s post written by Miki
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Modern Cloth Nappies (MCNs) are becoming more and more popular as parents start to look for sustainable and easy to use options rather than disposables.
While the good ol’ flat white squares of cotton are still a viable option, the new breed of MCNs require no folding, are less bulky, don’t involve scary pins and – let’s face it – just so much more attractive! Have a look at some of the beautiful options below and you’ll see what I mean.
There are multitudes of options when it comes to MCNs, and without all the information it can seem quite confusing. There is an excellent and easy-to-read guide explaining the different sorts here at Oz Cloth Nappies which I recommend reading. Each brand of MCN is different though, so make sure you read carefully on each manufacturer’s website to make an informed decision about which is the best for your needs.
Here are just a very few of the most popular:
bumGenius!
Nappies from bumGenius! – www.bumgenius.com.au – come in two varieties.
The All In One (AIO) cloth nappy, which has won industry awards for being so easy to use (put it on the baby, wash dry, put it on the baby again – no folding or extra bits to add in at all). These nappies are sized from XS for a newborn to L for a toddler/preschooler.
The One Size 3.0 cloth nappy is new and improved and, as the name suggests, is one size fits all from newborn to preschooler. It comes with two inserts to adjust the size, and is one of the most popular MCNs world-wide.
Itti Bitti
Itti Bitti nappies – www.ittibitti.com.au – are becoming hugely popular. In fact they have their own Facebook page with nearly 450 fans at last count!
Itti Bittis come in three varities:
- Classic Snap AIOs which are designed to be ultra trim, and thus fit like a disposable nappy under clothes. They’re sized to fit babies from about six months up to 1 year (size M) and 1 to 3 years (L).
- The Bitti D’Lish which features a soft waterproof outer layer, a stay-dry inner of suedecloth and optional snap-in or sewn in soaker pads. The Bitti D’Lish is sized S to L.
- The Bitti Boo which has an outer layer of polycotton velour, inner layers of cotton and bamboo and snap-in hemp boosters (which are topped with bamboo velour to make them soft on the baby’s bottom).
Green Kids
Green Kids nappies – www.greenkids.com.au – are an Australian-designed and made option which are renown for their ease of use and – I have it on good authority – their Minkytimes and Anytimes nappies are meant to be some of the best on the market for overnight. All Green Kids nappies require absorbant inserts which are sold separately.
Green Kids nappies come in three varieties:
- ‘Anytimes’ nappies are the most versatile of the Green Kids range, and can be used overnight. They have a waterproof outer layer and a stay-dry inner layer.
- ‘Funtimes’ nappies are designed for daytime use only and feature some great prints (see the image above to get an idea). They’re great for showing off – the nappy, a singlet and your baby is all set for a summer’s day.
- ‘Minkytimes’ nappies can also be used day or night, and have a lovely soft Minky outer layer, and inner layers of waterproof PUL and soft suedecloth. They have plain colours and some great prints!
Mini La La
Carli, who runs one of my favourite online stores La La Baby, now also has her own line of MCNs which are rapidly gaining in popularity, so much so that she has had to stop taking orders for the time being. She’s expecting to start again in the next couple of weeks though, so keep an eye on the site: Mini La La – www.minilala.com.au.
Mini La La nappies come in OSFM (one size fits most) pocket nappies – add bamboo or microfibre inserts, and sized nappies (S, M & L) which are an AIO design.
I’m told by a happy customer that Carli’s nappies are beautifully designed for a great fit and – the best thing! – come in the most delicious designer fabrics! Although they’re a boutique nappy at this point, watch for them to grow rapidly in popularity once Carli is ready to take orders again.
Please see individual sites for stockists, prices and postage details.
