Weehuggers?!

[26scooby]

Hi, Im expecting my first in March and wish to cloth diaper him, and after wading through tonnes of info and opinions I think I have finally decided to use weehuggers.

So that is the simple bit but I am confused on a few things and hope you can help with a few questions please:-

what inserts / liners do you use to stuff them? - for full absorbency and suitable for a newborn.

What do I need to add as he gets older and at night?

Has anyone tried the flip / gdiapers disposable inserts in them? are they realiable?

Thanks in advance

 

[Rachel_C]

I think 99% of cloth nappy users would advise you not to buy more than a couple of any one brand of nappy until you've tried them on your LO. Just like disposables, not all brands suit all babies and it could be a very expensive mistake if you bought a full stash and then they didn't work for you. I would get a couple to try and also a couple of a few other makes and types for comparison. To avoid wasting any money you could buy preloved, then you can resell what you don't like with little to no loss.

With any nappy, I would say use what they're designed to be used with at first and only modify that if you find you need to. So for Weehuggers, I would try the Weehugger inserts. They will have the best fit and will work well with the outers.

As LO gets older you may find you need to boost them with a booster of some kind. Bamboo is very good but there are lots of options depending on your requirements when you get to that stage.

I wouldn't actually use a Weehugger overnight. They have cotton outers that can wick when the nappy is full so you could end up with baby in a puddle. They would probably be ok for a newborn but once LO is older, most people find that proper night nappies work better than day nappies boosted.

 

[MrsMils]

I couldn't get on with wee-huggers really, I preferred others in my stash (like you, I initially thought I wanted just one brand - ittis, but fortunately took on some very good advice from everyone on here and bought several brands to try, I don't really like Itti AIO/SIOs at all, just Tuttos. Weehuggers were one of the brands that I bought a couple of to try).

If you're looking for something similar, try Flips or the new GEN-Y covers on fill my pants. The staple of my stash are BG v3s or 4s, Flips, Tuttos, GEN-Ys with either flip inserts or over a fitted such as a Tots Bots Stretchy and TotsBots Easyfits.

I have Ecobubs, Issys, Mini LaLas etc which I love to look at, but when it comes to reliability, I can't beat my main stash, which was found through trial and error. Definitely give a few different brands a go.

 

[26scooby]

Thanks, well I was going to try bumgenius pocket diapers too but read lots of bad reviews about them on breastfed lil babies and they only have one elastic round legs so was worried about leaks.

With the weehuggers and wicking, I thought the solid colours were pul so did not wick and were recommended for night?!

No wonder why people just use disposables, its so confusing. Anyway Im getting some organic biodegradeable disposables for his first couple of weeks - I think its either Moltex or bamboo nature nappies, as I think washing might be the last thing on my mind.

So if I was to try a few different ones when he arrives, what would be your suggestions?

 

[26scooby]

Oh and what is a 'proper night nappy' - just so I know

 

[Rachel_C]

In the ones don't have cotton on the outside you shouldn't get wicking but I still wouldn't use a Weehugger for overnight. They seem to be on the small side compared to other nappies (at least, my size 2 one is) - there's no way I could possibly put enough inserts in one to last more than a few hours. Night nappies really need to be bigger than day nappies unless you have a baby that doesn't wee very much (a light wetter). Young babies should be ok in day nappies for a few months though cos they poo so much that you'll be changing them overnight anyway.

Proper night nappies are ones that are specifically made for nights, so they will usually have Night Nappy or something about bedtime in their name e.g. Wee Notions Night Notions, Puddlekins Silent Nights. They are generally quite a bit bulkier than day nappies because they are a lot more absorbent. That's ok because baby won't be needing to move around as much at night. If you had a nappy that was absorbent enough for day and night, I think it would be too bulky for normal daytime use. With nappies that are really day nappies (manufacturers rarely call them this though, cos they want you to think you can use them 24/7, and some lucky people can), if you put enough extra boosters in them to make them last overnight it can often distort the shape of the nappy so that it leaks e.g. this happens a lot with pocket nappies, and with Weehuggers I just don't think the boosters would fit at all!

Disposables may seem less confusing but there's also less choice - if they leak for you, there's not much you can do about it, whereas there are always new things to try with cloth

I would try one of each main type of nappy, so a pocket nappy (like a bumGenius V4), an all-in-one (Itti Bitti AIO, BG Organic AIO) or an all-in-two (Wee Notions AI2, Itti Bitti, Cushie Tushie), a fitted nappy (Thirsties Fab Fitted, Tots Bots Stretch, Little Lamb) and wrap (Thirsties Duo wrap, Bummis wraps, Nature Babies) and a hybrid nappy like a Weehugger or Flip. You could maybe try a flat nappy like a prefold or terry with a wrap, but a lot of people don't bother with those. With the type you think you'll like best, I'd try a couple of different brands so if you think Weehuggers sound good, I'd try a couple of similar nappies, so maybe a Weehugger, a Flip and something like a Gen-Y Universal wrap with a prefold insert, or a Thirsties Duo wrap with one of their hemp inserts.

 

[MrsMils]

Thanks, well I was going to try bumgenius pocket diapers too but read lots of bad reviews about them on breastfed lil babies and they only have one elastic round legs so was worried about leaks.

With the weehuggers and wicking, I thought the solid colours were pul so did not wick and were recommended for night?!

No wonder why people just use disposables, its so confusing. Anyway Im getting some organic biodegradeable disposables for his first couple of weeks - I think its either Moltex or bamboo nature nappies, as I think washing might be the last thing on my mind.

So if I was to try a few different ones when he arrives, what would be your suggestions?

My LO is EBF and Bgs have contained all but one explosion (which actually came out the top rather than legs), I've had far more leakage problems with eco-disposables.

I would give some of the main brands a go - Rachel has made some great suggestions. My favourites (as above) are BGs (v3/4 and FLIPs), Totsbots Easyfits (latest version), and Totsbots Stretchys under a GEN-Y universal wrap. For a newborn, try Totsbots teenyfits - I loved them

 

[discoclare]

I haven't heard of Weehuggers before this thread so that's not helpful! I have about 15 different brands of nappy and BumGenius are amongst my most reliable (for day, they certainly wouldn't last us through the night). I would second trying a few different brands, babies are different shapes to each other. Having said that, I am surprised you have read so many bad reviews as on this forum BumGenius are very popular (amongst ladies who have usually tried many many different brands). If someone held a gun to my head and said I could only use one brand of cloth nappy (not sure in what scenario that would occur!) I would choose BG (even though they aren't pretty enough, and I am seduced by the pretties).

My DD was exclusively BFed. She is now being weaned so her poo has firmed up a lot. We used sposies for the first 3 months and had sooooo many poo explosions it was unbelievable. I had a couple in cloth too (one because I hadn't fastened the nappy tight enough and it was gaping on the legs) but nowhere near the amount I used to get in disposables.

It is a lot of information to take in, but you will soon get to grips with things! I also used disposables at the beginning whilst I was getting to grips with being a new mum nd then switched later.

 

[fluffpuffin]

I agree with the others on geting different brands to try. some of the most popular brands didn't work for Isla. now we get on best with BG V3's, flips,bambooty's and close parent pop-ins - trial and error really as not all work for baby's shape or depends on whether they're a heavy/light wetter as well.

I was at first also not keen to try BG's at first as they have mf inserts but now they're one of the most reliable in my stash. They're superabsorbant.

also flips are bombproof for us - Isla did an explosive teething poo the other day and a sposie would have leaked but this one didn't - it doesn't have a double leg gusset but the fit is so good that it doesn't need it. If you want one with a double leg gusset pop-ins are great. they are very reliable for us too.

Good luck!!

 

[26scooby]

Thank you for all that info, I will search through it and try and make some decisions. I will probably be back with more questions, its a shame I know no one near who uses cloth so I can have some hands on demonstrations

 

[discoclare]

Thank you for all that info, I will search through it and try and make some decisions. I will probably be back with more questions, its a shame I know no one near who uses cloth so I can have some hands on demonstrations

Where are you? In the UK there are often nappaccinos where you can have a look and play with nappies (depending on the brands the person sells). I went to one near where I live before I started CDing and it was useful to see what I had read about and be able to get a better idea of how things worked and what I wanted. It wasn't hard sell at all (in fact I didn't buy anything that day).

 

[26scooby]

Im in Norfolk, close to Kings Lynn and Downham Market

 

[Jetters]

I swear i've tried every brand of nappy out there in the last 6 months and BGs are the most reliable by MILLIONS. And I have very, very rarely heard bad reviews of them so not sure where you did?

I wanted to love weehuggers but they wicked far too soon and so I switched to Flips, which don't look as great but work a thousand times better. The organic insert was great for overnights till about a month ago, now we've switched to proper night nappies.

 

[26scooby]

I swear i've tried every brand of nappy out there in the last 6 months and BGs are the most reliable by MILLIONS. And I have very, very rarely heard bad reviews of them so not sure where you did?

I wanted to love weehuggers but they wicked far too soon and so I switched to Flips, which don't look as great but work a thousand times better. The organic insert was great for overnights till about a month ago, now we've switched to proper night nappies.

Not bad reviews about Bumgenius as a company but using pocket diapers on breastfed babies as they apparently stuggle at containing poop - and that 2 part systems were better, hence why I dunno but am definitly going to take my time and try a few different types when he arrives.

 

[Jetters]

BGs (especially the sized ones- XS at first then small) were the only nappy out of my stash of over 100 that kept in the breastfed pooplosions

 

[Rachel_C]

I swear i've tried every brand of nappy out there in the last 6 months and BGs are the most reliable by MILLIONS. And I have very, very rarely heard bad reviews of them so not sure where you did?

I wanted to love weehuggers but they wicked far too soon and so I switched to Flips, which don't look as great but work a thousand times better. The organic insert was great for overnights till about a month ago, now we've switched to proper night nappies.

Not bad reviews about Bumgenius as a company but using pocket diapers on breastfed babies as they apparently stuggle at containing poop - and that 2 part systems were better, hence why I dunno but am definitly going to take my time and try a few different types when he arrives.

I do find 2 part systems a little more reliable in general but pocket nappies definitely don't 'struggle' in any way as long as the fit is good. A poorly fitting 2-part system would be worse than a well-fitting 1-part system. Something else to bear in mind for the early days is that if you're a first time parent, it can take a while to get used to putting a nappy on a wriggling squealing baby and there's less fiddling around with a 1-part system.

Also, I'm not sure if this is what you meant but I wouldn't say that Weehuggers were a 2-part system. '2-part' usually refers to a flat nappy (terry or prefold) and cover, or a fitted nappy and cover. Nappies like Flips and Weehuggers, although they are technically in 2-parts, go on as one piece because you assemble them before putting them on baby so they're 1-part. You won't get the advantages of a 2-part system with Weehuggers as the insert won't catch anything round the waist and legs like a fitted or flat nappy would.

 

[26scooby]

I swear i've tried every brand of nappy out there in the last 6 months and BGs are the most reliable by MILLIONS. And I have very, very rarely heard bad reviews of them so not sure where you did?

I wanted to love weehuggers but they wicked far too soon and so I switched to Flips, which don't look as great but work a thousand times better. The organic insert was great for overnights till about a month ago, now we've switched to proper night nappies.

Not bad reviews about Bumgenius as a company but using pocket diapers on breastfed babies as they apparently stuggle at containing poop - and that 2 part systems were better, hence why I dunno but am definitly going to take my time and try a few different types when he arrives.

I do find 2 part systems a little more reliable in general but pocket nappies definitely don't 'struggle' in any way as long as the fit is good. A poorly fitting 2-part system would be worse than a well-fitting 1-part system. Something else to bear in mind for the early days is that if you're a first time parent, it can take a while to get used to putting a nappy on a wriggling squealing baby and there's less fiddling around with a 1-part system.

Also, I'm not sure if this is what you meant but I wouldn't say that Weehuggers were a 2-part system. '2-part' usually refers to a flat nappy (terry or prefold) and cover, or a fitted nappy and cover. Nappies like Flips and Weehuggers, although they are technically in 2-parts, go on as one piece because you assemble them before putting them on baby so they're 1-part. You won't get the advantages of a 2-part system with Weehuggers as the insert won't catch anything round the waist and legs like a fitted or flat nappy would.

Thanks, with weehuggers / flips can you not use them as a cover as well to go over a fitted nappy?

One other question is buying one size in whatever type really a bad thing, compared to multiple different sized because I personally see so much more benefit but of course have'nt used any reusables yet

 

[lynnikins]

you can use flips and weehuggers covers as a wrap for going over prefolds and fitteds.

buying onesize does seem like a money saver and some people can get away with it but often not from birth as most all babies ive ever know arrive with skinny newborn legs no matter what their weight, even my 9lb and 10 lb boys had skinny legs which ment poo leaked out of disposibles for the first couple of weeks so btp nappies arent really built to cope with it even though they might fit a 8lb 4 wk old baby who has filled out a bit they may not fit a 10lb newborn caus of the skinny legs iyswim? most everyone who goes cloth from newborn uses specific newborn nappies for the first month /6wks till their baby rounds out enough to fit BTP nappies

 

[Rachel_C]

I swear i've tried every brand of nappy out there in the last 6 months and BGs are the most reliable by MILLIONS. And I have very, very rarely heard bad reviews of them so not sure where you did?

I wanted to love weehuggers but they wicked far too soon and so I switched to Flips, which don't look as great but work a thousand times better. The organic insert was great for overnights till about a month ago, now we've switched to proper night nappies.

Not bad reviews about Bumgenius as a company but using pocket diapers on breastfed babies as they apparently stuggle at containing poop - and that 2 part systems were better, hence why I dunno but am definitly going to take my time and try a few different types when he arrives.

I do find 2 part systems a little more reliable in general but pocket nappies definitely don't 'struggle' in any way as long as the fit is good. A poorly fitting 2-part system would be worse than a well-fitting 1-part system. Something else to bear in mind for the early days is that if you're a first time parent, it can take a while to get used to putting a nappy on a wriggling squealing baby and there's less fiddling around with a 1-part system.

Also, I'm not sure if this is what you meant but I wouldn't say that Weehuggers were a 2-part system. '2-part' usually refers to a flat nappy (terry or prefold) and cover, or a fitted nappy and cover. Nappies like Flips and Weehuggers, although they are technically in 2-parts, go on as one piece because you assemble them before putting them on baby so they're 1-part. You won't get the advantages of a 2-part system with Weehuggers as the insert won't catch anything round the waist and legs like a fitted or flat nappy would.

Thanks, with weehuggers / flips can you not use them as a cover as well to go over a fitted nappy?

One other question is buying one size in whatever type really a bad thing, compared to multiple different sized because I personally see so much more benefit but of course have'nt used any reusables yet

Yes you can use the outers as covers for another nappy, but when you use them with their own inserts they're not normally classed as a 2 part system. Just like AI2s aren't classed as 2-part systems even though they technically have 2 parts.

I think a lot of first time cloth users buy only, or mostly, BTP nappies for their LOs and then get frustrated when they are too big for their newborn. From speaking to a lot of people, I'd say that whatever size the baby is born at (well, anywhere in the 'normal' range from 5-10lbs), it takes about a month for them to fill out enough for BTP nappies. So if you want to just get BTPs, you might find you have to wait a month before they fit properly. You can use them before that but you might have a lot of leaks and it can get disheartening having to change LO's clothes every nappy change. Second time cloth users tend to go for some small/newborn size nappies for the first month or so and then move to BTP nappies later if they want. The only benefit I can see to BTPs is the cost, but you should factor in that you can resell sized nappies fairly quickly and if you bought preloved in the first place you can make your money back, so it's only a temporary extra expenditure.

 

[Rebaby]

We've never tried weehuggers (although i admit i am curious and i do love the prints ) so can't help there i'm afraid but just wanted to echo what many of the other mums here have said.

We decided on BG V3's as our nappy, this is when i was about 16 weeks pregnant and at The Baby Show, so we bought 10 at a discounted price and planned to use them as soon as baby was born and home from the hospital, however he was only 6lb 5oz, and then of course lost a little weight, and he was basically about 8 weeks old before his BG's actually fit him properly on the smallest setting. And then we did alright with them (as our only nappy) for a bit but then he grew and changed shape and suddenly we were having leaks and problems and i realised that it just isn't feasible to be full time in cloth if you only have 10 nappies, all of the same type of nappy in your stash and that nappy is a BTP (or one size) pocket. So we started to expand our knowledge of the different types and then expand our stash and slowly but surely got to know what worked for us. And it does changed too, as babies grow and change shape and their diets and level of activity change etc, what used to work for you might not anymore and vice versa.

So although initially it seems economical to stick to just one type of one-size nappy i'd say thinking long term it is better to get a few different styles and see what works and what doesn't. Also cloth nappies (especially preloved) have excellent resale value so if something doesn't work or your baby grows out of their sized nappies you can always sell them on and put the funds towards a different style or the next size up.

Hope that helps and good luck!