I bet you all saw that post title in bloglines and rolled your eyes right? You're thinking to yourself 'is she still going on about her post preggie body?'. Well I'm actually talking about this little one:
I finally finished sewing up the nappies for the second time and they work great. I don't think they last as long as disposables between changes, but since nappies should be changed frequently anyway to reduce the potential for nappy rash its not a problem. I'm glad I made the pattern with leg gussets because these are still a little big around the legs even with those chubby little thighs, but Anna will grow into them so they should last for longer this way. I used the Wee Weka pocket nappy pattern sized S-M but from what I've read from other users of this pattern they are big enough to fit until toilet training.
I was a bit worried that Anna's clothes wouldn't fit over the cloth nappies because they are a little bulkier than a disposable but since Anna is mostly in 00's for the length it's fine. Actually here's a question for all you cloth nappy users out there - how many layers of absorbent fabric do you use in your nappies? I've got four layers of microfibre in the pocket nappies, but I'm not sure whether I should use less or more. She still fits her bodysuit, it just looks a little lumpy:
Thanks for all your feedback on sleep habits, it seems lots of babies don't like to sleep each day but I guess each baby is different and changing all the time. Anna in fact had three short naps today, even after sleeping in until 9.30am after her 5am feed! So I had a little sleep in this morning myself, then also had time to shower, have a cup of tea and hang out some washing. I just hope she sleeps well tonight since I'm on my own - my husband is off at a work conference for a few days which just happens to be at a golf resort and his golf clubs just happen to be still in car after his usual Saturday golf.....
Seriously, cutest. baby. ever.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a while to get used to cloth nappies, and they don't last as long as disposables (IME), but then if you go back to disposables they seem so thin, as if they won't protect little bums when they sit down at all (I'm a mother, I can worry about ANYTHING. Seriously.). We are back to disposables now, three kids and full time work didn't leave me enough time to keep up with them unfortuneatly :(.
Well done on the sewing though, they look great!!
tg33
Cloth nappies are bulkier and they don't look so cute under legless bodysuits...but there are plenty of other fashion choices anyway. The cloth nappies I made had 4 layers of towelling in the middle, but the design had a longer middle so that it folded up to provide 8 layers of towelling in the front section...especially good for little boys. My babies never slept throught the night, so I never had to worry about cloth nappies being absorbent enough to last a night! Mine never had a waterproof outer layer, but living in NQ, my babies only needed a nappy and singlet anyway. Yours look way more professional than mine. Great job!
ReplyDeleteNo help on the diapers from here, but I have a friend who uses similar and yours look slimmer than hers, I think she used more or thicker. Not sure, for all my kids, used disposable and still do. She is cute and the diaper looks a good size, not too bulky.
ReplyDeleteAwwww...just TOO cute !
ReplyDeleteYou have the cutest most adorable daughter!
ReplyDeleteAnna = Adorable!!
ReplyDeleteI used cloth after around 3 months of disposable, but I didn't make them! They purchased ready made... but since they were made more of a gausy type fabric it's hard to tell how many layers there were. She looks fine though. Looks like she doesn't mind the camera either! Our oldest grandson has gotten so that you take a picture and then he says..."I wanna see". Too Funny... You couldn't do that unless you had a poloroid when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job... bet your glad the un-picking and re-sewing is done!
I love seeing pictures of your daughter. She is so adorable.
ReplyDeletewww.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
I used cloth with my crew--the youngest is six, so its been a few years. My experience:
ReplyDeleteCloth is bulkier. Enjoy it.
You NEED lots of layers of fabric in the nappy. It absorbs. My crew could pee thru a double (sometimes triple) nappy when they were toddlers, so watch out! She will grow and produce more.
Some brands of clothes did not fit over the big nappy. In the US GAP has a generous diaper-area cut, and those worked. I looked for those at OP shops all the time for that reason. Maybe ask around or experiment?
Babies should have big bums! Think of how cute her behind will be in a dress!
Disposables do absorb more, but with a bit of planning you can make it work. We are proud of you!
Oh my gosh, what a cute baby! You are doing a great job with the nappies too. Thanks for the pics so we can enjoy her too.
ReplyDeleteSherryV
I've come to love the big-bummed-baby look ;-) Disposables now look a bit skinny and strange to me :-)
ReplyDeleteI use pocket nappies with my son, day and night, and stuff them with a folded flannel nappy during the day, and add an extra layer of hemp during the night - Greenbeans also sells hemp.
I've actually never had much success with microfibre - it's more trim, but I don't think it holds on to the liquid quite so well, IYKWIM. Flannel flats work best, I reckon, and they dry really quickly on the line.
Good luck - the nappies (and the model) are very cute!
Jen
I made the type of nappies with the attached inner flap - 4 layers in the nappy, 4 in the flap, so when you hang them out to dry there is only 4 layers, not 8 (probably not making sense, sorry!) For night I had extra inner flaps -making 12 layers. I liked cotton flannel.
ReplyDeleteI think choosing cloth nappies makes more traditional clothes for babies most suitable - rompers with roomy bums or dresses and bloomer pants. Using cute prints for the outer layer of the nappy worked for me too.
You have a beautiful baby.
Yes, your bum does look big in those...but what is a girl to do? Roll around and look very very cute. Just want to pick you up and snuggle you!
ReplyDeleteWe have put 2 kids thru cloth (one is still in them), and are abt to put a third one in. We used mainly shaped terry cloth nappies (Motherease), which is find during the day, but at night, we layered with a bamboo booster; easy enough to make your own (though available also from Baby Beehinds), they are squares about 20cm x 20 cm (or pick your size) and overlock the edges, fold in half or 1/3 (to fit into pocket nappies) and the last our kid(s) all night through (12+ hours), until they are ready to come out of them, toilet trained.
ReplyDeleteAnd unlike hemp, the bamboo actually STAYS soft after washing.
HTH. Very cute baby!
I also use the Wee Weka Pocket nappy for MCN's for my little one. Although I make it into a fitted All in One. I use 3 layers of bamboo fleece as an absorbant layer in the layer and also use a lay in booster of 3 layers of bamboo fleece. I cover this with a microfleece liner to wick moisture away from bubba's bottom. I have never had a leak from them and find that they can last for 3-4 hours (if bubba doesn't poo) There is a great NZ website for supplies- Greenbeans. Even with postage to Australia they are really cheap and so quick. Hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I agree, I've come to love the fat bottomed look of my little boy in his cloth nappies... I find the stuffing depended on how waterproof my PUL is... I bought some different types of PUL... the cheaper "breathable" PUL, I found needed quite a bit of stuffing (or he would feel wet really quickly). I used 5-6 layers of microfibre in those (consisted of two different inserts I made, one large and one small- 3 layers each) and with the 2 mil PUL (which I LOOOOVE) it's a bit thicker but SOOO much more waterproof, I only needed a 3 layer microfibre insert (during the day)... I wish I'd known about the different types of PUL before I started making my nappies (I basically learnt from buying from all kinds of places and trying their different types- fabrite 2mil is the best IMO)... I would just stuff depending on what you need... you will work it out (what level of wetness you find acceptable, how long before she starts to get a rash... it's a lot of trial and error to find the best for your bub)! It's so nice to see another mum making her nappies :D
ReplyDeleteAmy
Oh I forgot to mention I also occasionally use hemp and flannel (I have made inserts out of practically every fibre) but find microfibre works the best for my heavy wetting boy (during the day)... for night times microfibre plus hemp is REALLY absorbent- the microfibre goes closest to the bub in the pocket as it absorbs fastest (this really does make a difference), the hemp goes towards the outer...
ReplyDeletei made my inserts very similar to the bumgenius ones (on my overlocker and with a snap press), 3 layers overlocked together that fold down and grow with the "one size" nappy...
Amy
It depends on the fabric you use how many layers you need. I've made many, many menstrual pads and diapers (though I don't have children of my own) and I definitely recommend using hemp fabric--it's much more absorbent than the cotton so you can use fewer layers and get better coverage.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful baby!
I agree with Jen- I'm so used to bulky cloth diaper bum, that slim disposables look strange to me now. Anna looks adorable in her cloth diapers. One thing that I've found helpful is a onesie extender to get a little more life out of tops that are too short too soon because of the added diaper bulk.
ReplyDeleteI made nappies for the grandchildren and used 7 layers of hemp terry. My daughter assures me these last through the night.
ReplyDeleteHi there, I haven't been to visit for absolutely ages - my my. You're like superwoman! I can't believe how much you have been up to and posting since having bubba. She is looking absolutely gorgeous by the way, the house looks like it is going to be AMAZING, I love the garden beds you're building, and all the sewing! I can't believe you have time to blog as well. Truly inspirational ;)
ReplyDeleteFluffy butts are the cutest! We use cloth diapers too and I have made a few.
ReplyDelete