My nappy stash – AIOs and AI2s

Welcome back to littlegreenchicken and my latest post in the cloth nappy series. This post reviews the all-in-one (AIO) and all-in two (AI2) nappies that I’ve tried on my little chicken.

Just to refresh your memory, AIOs are the closest thing to a disposable. The nappy has an inbuilt waterproof cover, a soft wicking fabric against baby’s skin and absorbent padding in the middle. Putting it on your baby is as simple as positioning it correctly and fastening the snaps or velcro. This style comes in the sized or one-size-fits-most variations.

AI2s are similar to AIOs, but some or all of the absorbent padding is held in place with snaps and is removable. This means that you can snap out the insert if it is wet and snap in a fresh one if the outer shell is not soiled. AI2s may be either sized or one-size-fits-most depending on the brand.

All-in-ones

Bitti d’lish all in one (Itti Bitti)

The Bitti d’lish was one of the first nappies I tried. It’s such a cute nappy that comes in lots of bright colours and funky designs and the outer is a beautiful soft minkee fabric. This is a sized range (S 3.5-7.5kg, M 6.5-12kg, L 10-17kg) that prides itself on a trim fit so I thought it would be perfect for my tiny newborn.

This nappy is really easy to put on your baby, just fasten the snaps and that’s it. The soft outer minkee fabric is waterproof and breathable and the lining against baby’s skin is a soft suede cloth to wick away moisture. No natural fibres against baby’s skin, but there are some bamboo layers inside the nappy for extra absorbancy. You can also purchase extra snap in boosters for heavy wetters, and the boosters can be folded to the front especially for little boys.

I was dying to try this nappy on my newborn and I had high expectations of it, but no chance that it was going to fit my tiny baby for a number of weeks after she was born as she was just too small. And then when she did tip the scales at the minimum 3.5kg for the small size I was disappointed to find wee leakage after getting her up from a nap. I think the leakage problem was due to her skinny legs because as she grew a bit we had less leakages, but I still discovered the odd leak if she wore this nappy while napping. More recently we have reserved this nappy for awake time and I make sure that I change it after a couple of hours, and if we do this we usually don’t have any problems. This nappy does look really cute under a summer sun dress or even just with a little singlet!

Bitti d’lish AIOs are $27.50 from the Itti Bitti online store. Itti Bitti started its life in Newcastle and the nappies are designed by a real Aussie mum. The nappies are manufactured in China and they are now sold all over the world. Great job Itti Bitti! My only gripe with this is that these nappies are substantially cheaper to buy in the States! You can pick up a d’lish AIO from Fluff Envy for $18.99 ($14.99 on sale) – I just don’t get it…

BumGenius Organic

The BumGenius Organic is a slightly different version of the AIO. The absorbent organic cotton inner bit is attached at both ends to the inside of the cover and it’s not attached in the middle, so like a couple of strips of material running the length of the nappy. This means that you can fold the absorbent liner and place the folded bit where your baby needs it most.

It’s a one size nappy, so it grows with your baby and it has snaps and elastic at the waist to fasten it for a snug fit.

My sister has a few of these nappies and I’ve tried them too. She initially had a few problems with leaks on her little boy until she figured out how to fold the liner for maximum absorbancy. I also initially had problems with leakages on my little girl but after a few tries and different folds we too figured it out. My sis also finds that these nappies take ages to dry, even though the liner isn’t fully attached to the shell.

These are another expensive option, so be sure you test them out before you go out and buy a whole stash. Cloth My Bot has them for $45, but they are on sale at the moment for $31.50. Again, these are cheaper in the States if you can get around the expensive shipping costs.

Kissaluvs - Marvels One Size All-in-one

I have already reviewed this nappy in my pocket nappy post because to me it’s a cross between a pocket nappy and an AIO. This nappy has an insert attached at one end to the inside of the nappy that you stuff into the nappy. When washing, you throw the nappy into the wash as is. During washing the insert agitates itself out of the shell and the nappy turns itself inside out. When it’s dry, all you do is turn the nappy back the right way and presto, there you go.

Anyway, it’s quick and easy to put on and appears to be fairly leak resistant – I say fairly as we nearly had poo leakage the other day, but I caught it just in time! Kissaluvs Marvels AIO are $22.99 from Fluff Envy in the US.

All-in-twos

Bitti d’lish snap in one (Itti Bitti)

The Bitti d’lish snap in one is similar to the d’lish AIO except the absorbent bit snaps in and out of the cover. This is handy because if the insert is just wet, and the cover isn’t soiled, you can snap a fresh insert in and away you go. The nappy comes with one set of inserts and you can buy separate insert sets, which is a more cost effective way to go as the inserts are quite a bit cheaper than the whole nappy. So, effectively if you have two sets of inserts and one cover, it’s almost like having two nappies.

Again, these nappies are super cute in bright minkee colours and patterns. They are trim fitting and come in small (3.5-7.5kg), medium (6.5-12kg) and large (10-17kg). I experienced similar leakage problems (with the occasional liquid poo as well) with this nappy as I did with the d’lish AIO, so I tend to use them for awake time only.

The d’lish snap in one costs $29.95 from the Aussie Itti Bitti store and the booster insert sets are $12.50. Again, it’s much cheaper to buy this nappy in the US where Fluff Envy has them for $19.99 ($15.99 on sale) and the booster sets are $9.99 ($7.99 on sale).

Pop-in original bamboo (Close Parent)

The Pop-in is a truly great AI2. It has a soft waterproof and breathable outer shell and soft bamboo inserts that you pop in and out. This means you can reuse the shell multiple times if you have extra sets of inserts on hand. It’s a one size nappy that grows with your baby, it’s easy to fasten with velcro closures for a snug fit and has snaps for adjusting the size. And it has my all-time-number-one-top-of-the-list feature – double leg gussets for that extra leak protection. Does it get any better than this!

Bamboo takes longer to dry than other fabrics such as cotton or synthetics. But the beauty of an AI2 is that you can pull it apart to speed up the drying time. So you can have the best of both worlds here – lovely soft natural fibres next to your baby’s skin and a nappy that doesn’t take forever to dry.

Oh, and the price I hear you asking… I guess great nappies come at a price and this UK engineering feat has a hefty price tag attached. One Pop-in from Owl Baby will set you back $36 or slightly cheaper if you buy a multi pack. If you like the sound of this nappy I suggest you try one first to test it out before committing to a large purchase. You may even be able to pick one up from a second-hand nappy site such as Used Nappies (they often have bought and never used nappies, used and also brand new nappies). But to put things into perspective, even the expensive cloth nappies will save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars over one or more babies.

My pick of the day? It has to be the Pop-in. The double leg gussets set it apart from the other nappies and it’s nice to know that the fabric against your baby’s skin is natural. But as you can see, AIOs and AI2s aren’t the most economical option for cloth nappies. So my advice is to try before you buy too many of these as you never know what will suit your baby best til you give it a shot.

That’s it from me for today. I hope you and your chicks are all happy and healthy and dabbling in all things sustainable. Ciao!

My nappy stash – pocket nappies

Hi and welcome back to littlegreenchicken as I continue to review modern cloth nappies I’ve tried and tested with my little one. This post is all about pocket nappies and then my next post will move on to all-in-ones and all-in-twos.

While I have been really happy with the prefolds and fitted nappies I’ve been mostly using, I have started thinking about how cloth nappies will be received when the time comes to start day care. I’m not sure that prefolds are the easiest option for day care, as they can be a little fiddly, so I’ve decided to try some pocket nappies, which are a one-step option, to see how they go.

Just to refresh your memory, pocket nappies look similar to a disposable nappy and have a slit on the inside at the back of the nappy where you can add or remove the inner padding. The nappies come with inserts to stuff into the pocket and you can usually also buy booster inserts. This means that you can add as much or as little padding as your baby needs. These nappies can either be sized or one-size-fits-most and the outer fabric is waterproof so they don’t need an extra cover.

The four brands below – Bumgenius, Rumparooz, Kissaluvs and 97k-cube are all made from synthetic fabrics which tends to keep moisture away from baby’s skin, but may not be as breathable as natural fibres, especially during sticky summer weather. This fabric does dry quickly though which is a bonus.

They are all one-size-fits-most and are adjusted via rows of snaps. Once you’ve adjusted the nappy for your baby’s size it’s very quick and easy to put on – just position baby and fasten, a disposable couldn’t be easier. You can keep the adjustable snaps at your baby’s size even when washing, so you will only need to readjust when your baby grows to the next increment.

Bumgenius - Artist Series 4.0 one-size

This pocket nappy is a limited edition nappy from Bumgenius.  Limited edition nappy! Whoever would have thought… A marketing ploy indeed, but a cute nappy none the less, and it works well with only one minor leak for us to date.

As well as having snaps for fastening, this nappy also has elastic fabric at the waist snaps, which helps to get a snug fit. It is also available with velcro closures and I think I would choose this option next time as velcro is quick and easy to fasten and it allows for the perfect fit every time.

The 4.0 comes with two inserts, so you can add extra absorbancy as your baby needs it. So far we have only used one and it’s been fine. You can just throw the nappy in the wash (after removing it from your baby) and during washing the insert makes it way out of the nappy. After drying all you need to do is stuff the insert back in and away you go. So all in all a good nappy and I can’t see how any day care provider would have a problem with using it, super simple to put on and a fairly leak proof option.

So now the kicker, the price. I bought my 4.0 from Fluff Envy in the US and I didn’t have to pay expensive postage to Australia as my sister-in-law, who’s currently in the States, played courier for me. I paid $19.95 US for it, and with the Aussie dollar doing so well at the moment, that was a good deal. However, if you plan on purchasing the 4.0 from an Aussie store, you’ll be up for $38 (Nurture Nappies, Cloth My Bot). I did find it on sale at one store - New Age Nappies for $28.50.

Rumparooz - one size pocket

The Rumparooz pocket nappy is similar to the Bumgenius except for one important difference – it has an internal leg gusset to provide extra protection against leaks. I love a good leg gusset as it gives that extra security and piece of mind. The Rumparooz leg gusset is built into the inner fabric and has worked well on my little chicken with no leaks at all.

Like the Bumgenius, this nappy also comes with two inserts, however so far we have only needed to use one at a time. It adjusts, washes and dries the same as the Bumgenius and you stuff the insert back in after drying. It comes with either snaps or velcro fasteners and I chose the velcro fastening option, as it is easier to fasten on a squirmy baby and you can get a really good fit every time.

This nappy is quite a good fit, even though it’s a one-size-fits-most and its only a little bit bulky at the front where you adjust it for size. I like the soft waist band as it sits flat against your baby and doesn’t tend to dig in like some elastic waist bands, but the same can be said about all the pocket nappies reviewed in this post. And I think it would be a good day care option, especially as it has the extra leak protection.

Price wise, it’s $23.50 from Fluff Envy in the US, but if you want to purchase it here you will be up for $32 from New Age Nappies, or it’s currently on sale for $28.50 at Rumparooz or Cloth My Bot.

Kissaluvs - Marvels One Size All-in-one

Kissaluvs market this nappy as an all-in-one, but it is very similar to a pocket nappy. The main point of difference is that the insert is attached at one end to the inside of the nappy, so technically it is ‘all-in-one’. When washing, you throw the nappy into the wash as is. During washing the insert agitates itself out of the shell and the nappy turns itself inside out. When it’s dry, all you do is turn the nappy back the right way and presto, there you go. So while Kissaluvs claim that there is no stuffing – like other pocket nappies, you still have to turn the nappy right side round and make sure the insert is sitting properly in place, sort of sounds like stuffing to me!

Anyway, it is quick and easy to put on and appears to be fairly leak resistant – I say fairly as I think we nearly had poo leakage the other day, but I caught it just in time!

Kissaluvs Marvels AIO are $22.99 from Fluff Envy in the US and I haven’t been able to find them in stock at an Aussie store, so if you do find them let me know!

97k-cube Ebay pocket nappies

A friend of mine and also a new mum put me on to the 97k-cube pocket nappy. She was keen to try modern cloth nappies and a friend of hers had tried these and liked them, so she gave them a go and also lent me one to trial as well.

The biggest advantage of these nappies is the cost. They are $65 for 16 nappies if you buy them from the Ebay site, so that’s only about $4 per nappy and they come in a huge range of colours and patterns. Or you can buy the same nappies for $7.19 each from the Giraffita site. Super cheap, but how do they measure up?

These nappies are similar to the other pocket nappies I’ve reviewed above in that they are made of synthetic fabric (so draw moisture away well and dry quickly after washing, but not as breathable as a natural fibre), they are adjustable via snaps, and washing, drying and stuffing is no different.

Unlike the Bumgenius 4.0 and the Rumparooz however, these nappies only come with one insert and my friend thinks that she will have to buy extra boosters down the track. This isn’t such a problem though as the Giraffita site sells separate microfibre inserts for $2.69 each or bamboo inserts for $3.78 each. Also, these nappies only come with snap fasteners, with no velcro fastening option.

The 97k-cube nappies are made in China, however, so are a lot of the other Australian and US designed nappies on the market and the delivery time is quite lengthy – 18-25 days. My friend has had one poo blow out, however this is no different to her experience with disposable nappies, but no wee leakage so far.

So how do I think they stack up? Pretty good actually, if you consider the price. They are very similar to the more expensive nappies around and they do the job most of the time. We did have some leakage the other day around the sides of the nappy, and I wonder if this is because the nappy seems to be a bit more baggy (even when adjusted correctly) than the other pocket nappies we’ve tried. And given that they are easy to put on your baby, they shouldn’t be a problem for day care.

So, all in all, I think that pocket nappies would be a good option not only for day care, but for full-time use as well. They are quick and easy to put on, the brands I’ve reviewed all dry relatively quickly and they are all pretty good in the leak containment department.The only draw backs being the higher cost per nappy and the fact that they aren’t quite as trim a fit on a smaller baby. If you did choose to solely use one of these brands of pocket nappies, you would also want to be satisfied that the nappies will fit your baby through to toilet training, especially if you went with one of the more expensive options.

I am pretty impressed with all of these nappies, however my top pick is the Rumparooz with velcro fasteners. This is simply because it has that extra protection against leaks with the internal leg gusset and it is  priced a bit more reasonably than say the Bumgenius 4.0.

So that’s the wrap on pocket nappies - as easy as using disposables, better on the hip pocket in the long run and better for the environment. My next post will review all-in-ones and all-in-twos, so happy sustainable baby raising (or planning) til then!

My nappy stash – prefolds

Welcome back to littlegreenchicken, and to a post you’ve probably been waiting for! This is the second in a series of posts about modern cloth nappies, with this post focussing on outlining my cloth nappy experience to date. It’s all about nappies we’ve tired, what I think of them and most importantly where you can get them.

I was planning to include reviews of all the nappy brands we’ve tried all in one post, but it was getting just a bit too long. So this post will start with reviews of prefold nappies and covers and then subsequent posts will go on to fitted nappies, pocket nappies, all-in-ones, all-in-twos, hybrid nappies and nappy liners. Then in future posts I’ll provide reviews about other cloth nappy brands and types whenever we try new ones.

I’ve been using modern cloth nappies full-time for a while now and I’m loving them. I’ve been surprised by how easy they are to use once you get the hang of it and the environmental and cost benefits are well worth the effort of getting started. I had a few problems with leaks when my little chicken was very young, as she was a small baby, so I was a bit disheartened to start with. But I haven’t had any problems at all once she grew a bit and once I found the right nappies for her shape and size. I started off by using a combination of biodegradable disposable nappies and cloth nappies and then gradually moved to cloth nappies full-time.

So far I’ve spent about $600 on nappies and covers, and I should now almost have enough sized and one-size fits most nappies to last this and future little chickens. I may need to purchase a few more day care friendly nappies, but then that should just about be it.

Most cloth nappy brands offer significant discounts if you buy sets of nappies with enough nappies to cover you from birth to potty. However, I think you really need to try a few different nappies first so you can find the best fit for your baby and for your lifestyle. Some brands offer trial packs, which include a nappy, cover and liner or a range of their nappies at a reduced price, and these are a great way to trial a particular brand before committing to a significant investment.

Prefold nappies and covers

Bummis

We use Bummis prefolds and covers the most and love them. We haven’t had any leaks at all with these (even with runny poo), they are trim fitting, dry quickly and are relatively cheap. As with all prefolds, they are a two piece system – a waterproof cover with Velcro tabs and a flat organic cotton pre-fold nappy that you fold into a pad to put inside the cover. There are no pins required as the nappy fits snuggly into the cover.

These are sized nappies, small (3.6 – 7.3kg), medium (7-14kg), large (12-16kg) and extra-large (14.5+) and I wish I had discovered these before I had my little one as they also come in Newborn size (2-4kg), and I think they would have been a great option for those early days.

The super cute Super Brite Bummis covers are my all time favourite covers. The material is nice and soft and they have leg gussets for extra leak protection (take a close looks at this photo to see the leg gussets for double the leak protection). Leg gussets equal no leaks and I now always look for leg gussets when checking out brands I haven’t tried, for me they are a must.

To top it all off, they are a very economical option. Six prefold nappies cost from $35 (more for larger sizes) from Natures Cradle, and the Super Brite covers were $19.95 each. You will need four to six covers as you can reuse them if they are not soiled and you will need 12-18 prefolds, depending on how often you want to wash. The Bummis website also has a list of other online stores that stock Bummis prefolds.

I would highly recommend including at least some Bummis prefolds in any nappy stash!

Real Nappies

Real Nappies is a New Zealand brand and the cotton prefolds are every bit as good as the Bummis prefolds. They come in four sizes, newborn (2.5-6kg), infant (5-9kg), crawler (8-14kg) and toddler (13-18+kg).

The only point of difference from Bummis is the covers – the Real Nappies covers are quite stiff and they don’t have the all important leg gussets, and this has resulted in a few leaks for us. In addition, the covers don’t seem to have the range that the Bummis covers do as my little one grew out of her newborn size well before she reached the size limit, and we had leakage problems when she was really little even though this size is recommended from 2.5kg.

The Real Nappies prefolds pack of six start at $16.50 for premature size and go up to $28 for toddler size. Real Nappies have trial packs that start from $16.99 and this includes a prefold, a cover, a liner and an instruction booklet and DVD, which are really informative for those starting out with prefolds. There is also a stack of great information on the Real Nappies website. The covers are $17.50 each and you can purchase directly from the website.

I highly recommend the Real Nappies prefolds, but I prefer to use them with the Bummis covers due to the super leak proof leg gussets.

Thirsties

Thirsties covers are also great, and they are very similar to the Bummis covers, just a bit bigger in the sizing. They come in extra-small (3-5.5kg), small (5.5-8kg), medium (8-12.5kg) and large (12.5-18kg), they have the all important leg gussets and are a nice soft breathable waterproof fabric. They also come in a range of cute patterns. I’ve been using them with the Bummis and Real Nappies prefolds and again, no leaks. I purchased mine online from Nurture Nappies and they cost $20 each.

Weehuggers

Weehuggers covers are a slightly different type of cover that can be used with prefolds – they have flaps inside the cover at the front and back that you tuck the prefold into, which helps to keep it firmly in place. They are really cute with lots of lovely designs and also have good leg gussets and either Velcro or snap closures. I have the Velcro closures, and I prefer this system as I find you can get a snugger fit than with snap closures. And just for that extra cuteness, the Velcro tabs are shaped like little mittens!

Weehuggers have a wide size range that you can adjust with snaps for the perfect fit and to grow with your baby. Size 1 ranges from 2.7-8.2kg and Size 2 is from 6.8-15.8kg. They are nice and easy for dad’s to use as you can have the cover pre-stuffed and ready to go for a quick nappy change. They are a little more expensive though – about $27 for one cover, but a good one for the nappy bag when you are out and about and great for summer with just a singlet as they are so very cute! I have a couple of these and alternate use with the Bummis and Thirsties covers.

I purchased my Weehuggers covers from Nurture Nappies, but they don’t seem to have them in stock at the moment. The Weehuggers website lists Australian retailers and Cloth My Bot has them for $27.95.

You should check out the Weehuggers baby rap, very cute and made me giggle!

Bio Bums

Bio Bums are similar to prefold nappies and covers, but the insert is a T shape that you fold to a rectangular pad and then place in the cover. These are sized nappies and the covers have Velcro closures.

I tried a Bio Bums newborn (2-5kg) trial pack, which included a cover and an insert and cost $29.95. We didn’t have any luck at all with it though, as it leaked every time… I think the design of the cover isn’t quite right as it seems to gape at the legs, however this may have been because I had a skinny baby. I did try it again when she was a bit bigger but still no luck. I also emailed Bio Bums to see if they had any suggestions, but even though they got back to me with some ideas nothing I tried stopped the leaks.

So that just about covers the prefolds we’ve tried. In a nutshell, I highly recommend using prefolds as they have many advantages and I love the fact that they are not bulky on your baby. Prefolds seem to be a very popular choice in the USA and Canada, and Bummis, Thirsties and Weehuggers all come from there. Because of this, these brands are significantly cheaper to buy overseas. You can order from overseas online stores, but the shipping cost is usually high, so if you have friends or relatives visiting the States anytime soon perhaps they could pick you up a bundle.

My next post in this series will include reviews of fitted nappies and covers we’ve tried and maybe even all-in-ones and all-in-twos, so stay tuned and until then good luck on your search for the ultimate modern cloth nappy!