Nappy detectives please...

[Dr Spouse]

I've just been given a load of reusable nappies by a friend, I seem to have:

A load of prefolds? I think? They look like they are folded, sewn up muslins with purple zig zag on two sides - pretty sure they are like these but the picture is pretty bad. I use these with nappy nippas, right, and with a cover on? yes? Would these be the right size for now (7 weeks)?

A couple of what are basically flannels - I think she used these when her daughter was tiny - I will try folding these but Baby S is now probably too big for these (her daughter was also quite small and quite early but Baby S is now 10lb!)

Some things that TBH look like sanitary towels and I'm guessing are pads, they are shaped with extra width in the back, hard to describe, they are white. Do these go IN the prefolds? Or in another type of nappy?

Then stacks and stacks of Popolino Snap to Fit, and some pads that seem to be inserts for these (they are the same colour/fabric, an unbleached cotton, and they are just rectangular). Would these fit now, or be too big? Do you attach the pad inside or just shove it in? Do you need a cover with these too?

Then I've got only 6 covers (wraps, right?). Four are Motherease, two M, two L, these will be too big for the baby now, right? Then two are medium size but are Earthwise Baby and look a lot smaller. Would those be right for now? The web says Motherease M are from 10lb but they do look big for him, though I'm not sure how big they should be.

My friend's daughter is now 11 so she's basically forgotten what to do with these and just handed them over in bulk!

[Dr Spouse]

Ooh yes some additional questions:

Are all the disposable liners flushable? My friend gave me some on a roll but she thought they were not flushable, but said that she'd had a septic tank at the time so couldn't be sure.

And how many wraps, approx, will I be needing? I seem to have stacks of nappies compared to wraps.

[redhed]

Well.

In reverse order, from what I remember, wraps - you get through one, maybe two, a day. Depends on if you have A Catastrophic Poo or not. So yes, you will have way more inners than wraps. The nappies will go through the tumble dryer but the wraps will not. So you need enough wraps that you aren't waiting on them drying in the airing cupboard, but other than that 1-2 a day will do you, whereas you get through as many inners as there are changes.

Disposable liners - well. They claim to be flushable, but so do those kids' toilet wipe things, and they are notorious for blocking the plumbing. If you have good plumbing, flush them. If not, it's a bin job. What I used to do was flush them if there was poo, and if there wasn't, they'd get washed along with the nappies. They are reusable several times.

Can't comment on the wraps you've got - we mostly used Fuzzis, which are a stuffable, and prior to that we used prowraps which at the time got the best reviews for use with prefolds: they are gussetted so less leaks.

Re: the shaped pads and the prefolds: you are supposed to fold the prefold (again) lay it inside the wrap and the whole thing in theory secures just with the wrap. Ditto for the shaped pad though obv without the folding step. This never, ever, worked for us, and imo is entirely dependant on the dimensions of your baby for success. My kids were just the wrong shape! So we used prefolds and a nippa (nippas are really designed for towelling nappies and don't hold as well on prefolds because of the tight weave, but it can be done with a bit of practice and makes a very snug nappy) and then once that is secure we put the wrap on on top.

[scatterbrain]

For prefolds I just folded them into 3 and put them into the wrap (kind of like a sanitary towel) with a liner on top. So no nipper - the wrap keeps it in place. Not all disposible liners are flushable. I tended to prefer fleece liners anyway as they keep the baby dry.

Prefolds suited E right from small to potty training. With A I used a combination of prefolds and terries.

I do remember Motherease wraps seeming large, particularly when using prefolds. They're better for bulky shaped nappies like totsbots. I think the wraps I used were naturebabies (or something like that) and were sold as being good for using with prefolds as they have a gusset between the legs where the prefold goes.

S

[Cerise]

That shaped pads that you have - could they be boosters? When babies sleep longer at night then you can boost the nappy by putting an additional pad in. It might seem too bulky for daytime, but lasts longer overnight.

[Skipping Girl]

I've just been given a load of reusable nappies by a friend, I seem to have:

A load of prefolds? I think? They look like they are folded, sewn up muslins with purple zig zag on two sides - pretty sure they are like these but the picture is pretty bad. I use these with nappy nippas, right, and with a cover on? yes? Would these be the right size for now (7 weeks)?

Yep, prefolds, wrap these around bubs and fasten with a nappi nippa and cover with a wrap to keep newborn poos in; if you don't have too many explosive poos then use the boyfold with more absorbency at the front. Prefolds are usually sized so they may be too big but you'll know that if folding them still doesn't make them fit. I can send a vid link to both of these if you need it.

A couple of what are basically flannels - I think she used these when her daughter was tiny - I will try folding these but Baby S is now probably too big for these (her daughter was also quite small and quite early but Baby S is now 10lb!)

You might be able to use these as boosters later if they don't fit, otherwise use on the changing mat for now or when he pees in the air when you're changing him. (handy hint re that, loosen the nappy and let the cold air in before taking the nappy off, he would usually do the wee when the cold air hits him with the nappy still on, can't guarantee it, though!)

Some things that TBH look like sanitary towels and I'm guessing are pads, they are shaped with extra width in the back, hard to describe, they are white. Do these go IN the prefolds? Or in another type of nappy?

Yes, these are def boosters. Not usually needed until at least post six months but may be useful for a boy earlier. They can go with any type of nappy as long as they fit in with wrap/pocket, etc.

Then stacks and stacks of Popolino Snap to Fit, and some pads that seem to be inserts for these (they are the same colour/fabric, an unbleached cotton, and they are just rectangular). Would these fit now, or be too big? Do you attach the pad inside or just shove it in? Do you need a cover with these too?

I've not heard of these from Popolino - do they have a wrap attached? I just did a search and they may come in two sizes, I guess you'll need to find out which size you have by trying them on him. I think they are a cotton shaped nappy without a wrap.

Then I've got only 6 covers (wraps, right?). Four are Motherease, two M, two L, these will be too big for the baby now, right? Then two are medium size but are Earthwise Baby and look a lot smaller. Would those be right for now? The web says Motherease M are from 10lb but they do look big for him, though I'm not sure how big they should be.

Six covers is usually fine for his age, less when he gets older, but you will need them to suit his weight. If they are Motherase Airflow then they are roomier and are not designed to hold the baby's nappy in place - so if he is 10lbs+ then the medium would be fine for prefold with Nippa or shaped nappy (which may be what the Popolino one is). Small is only until 12lbs. If you have the Rikki, then this is more tight-fitting, and holds the nappy in place so can be used with a prefold if not using a Nippa. These may be what the Earthwise ones are like, hence size difference from your perspective.

Hope this helps.

Kat
x

[Dr Spouse]

Ooh all excellent tips, thank you. So I think I will get a nappi nippa and try the prefolds for the moment with the smallest wrap, perhaps seeing if Mr S and I can walk through it together as he's keen on the whole idea but not sure about non-shaped. I will try the shaped nappy we have on him but it looks big, even if I fold it to the smallest setting. Then if he's not too wet we'll be OK without the booster. With the oblong pad in the shaped nappy, I cannot see any pocket it would go in, do these just sit inside and are held in by the nappy? If the smallest wrap is OK I can get some more that size. I won't buy too many at the moment as we are thinking about a nappy service anyway (Mr S is very keen on that idea but it depends if they cover our area!) Can someone point me in the direction of a good fold for the prefolds for a boy of this size? thanks!

[Islander]

Boosters just go either inside the nappy or between the nappy and the wrap, there's not usually anywhere specific to fit them, unless they are of the type which have snaps to attach them to the main nappy (sounds like yours aren't).

I've never really used prefolds, other than as a night-time booster or stuffer for a pocket nappy, so am afraid I can't really help with folds. With most nappies it really is a case of try and see what suits, all babies and different shapes and sizes and have different needs.

D x

[Skipping Girl]

Ooh all excellent tips, thank you. So I think I will get a nappi nippa and try the prefolds for the moment with the smallest wrap, perhaps seeing if Mr S and I can walk through it together as he's keen on the whole idea but not sure about non-shaped. I will try the shaped nappy we have on him but it looks big, even if I fold it to the smallest setting. Then if he's not too wet we'll be OK without the booster. With the oblong pad in the shaped nappy, I cannot see any pocket it would go in, do these just sit inside and are held in by the nappy? If the smallest wrap is OK I can get some more that size. I won't buy too many at the moment as we are thinking about a nappy service anyway (Mr S is very keen on that idea but it depends if they cover our area!) Can someone point me in the direction of a good fold for the prefolds for a boy of this size? thanks!

Just another thing I thought of - is the booster cotton? If so, fine to have against the skin. If the booster is microfibre (like the cleaning cloths) then it shouldn't be put against the baby's skin as it can be an irritant.

Here's a link to general boy fold (it's my old company but don't mind mentioning them on here now I'm just volunteering for them from here ) - it's a diagram but hopefully it makes sense. This is used when you need absorbency at the front which is where a boy wees and not so much for explosive newborn poos (it does help as the back fans out but not always successfully ).

Here's a link to the wraparound/newborn fold but using the wrap to hold the nappy in place - this is used if you mainly need to contain poos (stops the poo getting on the wraps so you don't have to keep washing them)

And here's a link I used to send my customers for the wraparound/newborn fold but attaching with the Nippa

As you can see from my old company's site, I ran a nappy laundry service in London, so if I can help you find one near where you are, then let me know.

Kat
x

[Dr Spouse]

The booster is cotton - we were just given two wraps with leg gussets (I couldn't see what people meant by gussets but now I see) so we tried them last night, with the prefold in but not nipped, we used this fold but not fanned out. Before he went to bed it was fine, but Baby S had a longer sleep for about 5 1/2 hours and everything was wet through, and Mr S was not impressed. I'm going to try the fanned fold later today and then the booster too possibly.

I will PM you about a nappy service - the one that is advertising on the web isn't answering their emails and their phone number goes to a gardening service!