Nappyneedz

When heading off on holiday, it’s sometimes quite difficult to decide whether you should take your cloth nappies with you or not.  After all a holiday is a holiday, wouldn’t it just be easier to do without the extra washing for a week or so?  There’s no reason that you can’t take cloth though, here is our guide to travelling with cloth nappies. Packing cloth nappies One of the downsides to taking cloth away with you, is trying to fit them into your luggage.  If you are travelling by aeroplane, then the amount of luggage you can take with you is limited, and even a holiday that you drive to, will limit the amount that you can take.  To get around this problem, try to take nappies that are quick drying, an insert that is flat like ecobots is a particularly good idea, as they dry quite quickly.  This means that you won’t have to take as many as you might with a nappy that is slow drying.  Having a separate cover also means that yo...

This is the first in a series of posts where we ask some of our favourite businesses to share their expertise with you.  Have a look at their suggestions, and take the time to check out their website. If you think we’ve missed anything, then please add your thoughts to the comments. Baby essentials and must haves for first time parents Kelly from Ecobots suggests that if you’re thinking of using cloth nappies, then a good place to start is something that drys quickly and is simple to use, like our prefolds.  Whatever you’re planning on using later one, they’re a great place to start, and the prefolds can be later used as burp cloths, for wiping up spills and to boost other nappies.  http://ecobots.co.nz/shop/ Louise from Scamps Boutique suggests a Onesie Bummsie. onesie extenders are an incredibly useful product to have! There is nothing worse than having bodysuits that fit through the body but you can’t do the domes up. Link: http://www.scamps.co.nz/ Racha...

Parents are often concerned about using cloth nappies in hot weather, or in the summer.  They worry that babies will become too hot in bulky nappies, and become uncomfortable. How can you ensure that your baby does not over heat? What kind of nappies are best when it is hot? Why are cloth nappies good when it’s hot? Although cloth nappies look thick and bulky, in actual fact they are a cooler option than disposable nappies.  Disposable nappies contain a plastic layer, which actually increases the baby’s temperature.  Cloth nappies are usually made from natural fabrics that are breathable, helping your little one stay cool when it is hot.  Even though PUL has a waterproof coating, it is still more breathable than the plastic in disposable nappies. Another alternative to ensure that the nappy is even more breathable is to use a cotton nappy with a woollen cover.  The wool actually helps your baby to maintain their body temperature and not become too hot.  If hot at night a woo...

Wondering what the best option is when it comes to Newborn cloth nappies?  What options should you consider when looking to use cloth nappies on a Newborn baby? What cloth nappies are best for a newborn? When looking for newborn cloth nappies, there are a number of things that you may want to consider.  First of all, try to find a cloth nappy that will protect against newborn blow outs.  Newborn poo, particularly if the baby is breastfed, can be very wet, and due to immature bowels will often be produced in an explosive way.  Having a firm fitting elasticated layer around the back and legs, helps contain this, and is less likely to lead to poo leaking up the back, down the legs, or even filling the socks.   A cover with ‘double gussets’ at the leg, helps to keep everything even better, making sure that the thin legs that newborns have before putting on a little weight after birth, don’t allow gaps. Quick drying Newborns tend to need changing often, sometimes you w...

Worried that you might be a cloth nappy addict? Or worse still; married to one?  Consult our easy guide to see if you are a cloth nappy addict.  (Thank you to some of our lovely facebook fans who have donated the photos here.) 1. Cloth nappy addicts have a HUGE stash of cloth nappies It goes without saying that most cloth nappy addicts are going to have a lot of cloth nappies.  Far more than they will ever actually need.  Ask to see their ‘stash shots’ their bound to have some.    2.They have every brand of nappy you’ve ever heard of And quite a few that you probably haven’t.  A delux-poop-a-catch-a? Never heard of it? Neither have I, but if it’s out there then your cloth nappy addict probably has one. (On layby if they don’t own it yet….) 3. They’re everyone’s go to person for cloth nappy advice Who’s the first person you turn to with a cloth nappy question? That’s right your cloth nappy addict friend lives, sleeps and ...

When faced with the array of cloth nappies that are on the market it can be a little overwhelming and confusing.  There are many different types of cloth nappy on the market, but one of the simplest to use, and one of the most reliable and tried and tested cloth nappies is the prefold cloth nappy.  But are prefold nappies? What are prefold nappies? Prefold nappies are flat nappies, usually (but not always) made out of cotton.  They are called prefolds, as unlike traditional flat cotton nappies, they do not require complicated folding and pinning.  Instead the nappies are ‘prefolded’ and then sewn to give a thicker, absorbent panel through the centre of the nappies.  Giving you more absorbency where you need it the most.   Do I need to fold prefold nappies? When asking the question what are prefold nappies, you might assume that they do not need to be folded at all.  This is not in fact the case.  Although they are ‘prefolded’ already, they will still need fo...