Birds Eye Cotton Flats at Baby Bare

If you are anything like me, the thought of flat nappies seems like a lot of work. Something Modern Cloth Nappies has made redundant.

Well, I've been on a bit of a journey into the world of flat nappies, and I'm really enjoying it.

As far as I know, Baby Bare is the only Australian brand of Birds Eye Flats to date! These hit our shelves about a week ago and many parents have been adding a couple to their orders. Our gorgeous flats are made from top quality cotton and are super absorbent. But best of all they are trim.

I am enjoying wrapping our 24 month old in a kite folded flat, securing with a snappi and she is running free around the house. She is comfortable, her bottom is airing through the light fabric and the nappy sits like a little pair of shorts.

I read up on a few folds and I have found the kite is the best fit on Emma. It also gives us a folded pad in the front for the best absorbency.  we also end up with the sides being the right length to clip up and not too much fabric hanging around in the front.

I wish I had these with a newborn as I think they are a great solution. Many smaller newborns can take a couple of weeks to get a nice fit on their MCN. These flats can be folded down to give a lovely fit on a small baby. You can use your Baby Bare AI2/Snap in Cover over the top.

So what is a Birds Eye Flat?

A birds Eye Flat is a woven cotton fabric. Its named Birds Eye due to the weave. It forms dimpled oval shapes through the fabric. They are thicker then the muslin cloths you would wrap a young baby in, but similar in feel (though softer) and make up.

Why use them over MCN?

I use my flats in rotation with the modern cloth nappies. Mainly in the afternoon after a nap when its the hottest part of the day I put our girl in a flat. If we go out, naps etc, I use my modern cloth nappies. They are easier to do up when out and about, they are quicker to change (slightly) and if I'm going to use a cover, I'd rather just use our MCN.

But the benefits of the trimness, breathability, ease of drying and care, absorbency and also the cute factor of a baby in a traditional nappy are all motivations for flats. They are also a very cheap nappy. At $3 a piece, they make each change cheaper then an MCN. They also dry very fast meaning you do not need to allow too many extra for drying time. They make a great supplement to a stash as they can be folded up to go in pockets, used under existing covers or used with a snappi or pin on their own.

Don't Buy Second Hand Nappies until you read this!

Second hand nappies can be great. There are lots of great mums out there happily swapping, selling and buying in the second hand cloth nappy market. But it's not always great experiences. The points listed below are put down to help parents be better informed (not to dissuade anyone from buying second hand, just to help parents make good worth while decisions).

Let me go through some of the things I see and I know have been experienced. I hope this information will help you survive the second hand trade and get the best value for your money.

1. Know the product you are buying.

Are all the right pieces with the nappy?
This is so important. I constantly see parents with nappies and they cannot make sense of them. I have discovered, often the wrong pieces are sold with a nappy. Basically, a seller takes a cover and adds random boosters or inserts to it. Suddenly the nappy does not work as well, or the inserts don't fit properly.

I have seen our ruffle cubs sold with one rectangle booster insert and the combination called a nappy. It is not, and it will not work very well. Sadly, from my perspective, this then reflects badly on our brand as the unknowing parent believes they have 'tried' our products. This goes for any brands. A nappy is a combination of the cover design and the absorbency.

I have also seen our nappies sold as the nappy, and the second booster (which comes with the nappy standard), pulled out and sold like its an extra piece. So the listing would read for example '5 Baby Bare nappies PLUS 5 extra boosters'. You get the idea with where I am going - Make sure you know what you are buying!

My Advice: Before you buy something, make sure you know what you should be getting. If a nappy (for example our AI2) comes with two inserts, do not settle for the seller keeping one for them self and just selling you the snap in. Nappies are designed to work based on how they are sold.

Which version of a nappy are you getting? Is it a second or faulty?
Identify the product. I have seen people selling nappies we sold as seconds for more then they ever retailed in our store. Likewise I have seen nappies described as newer then they could possibly be, or a wrong version of the nappy. This is really sad, but it happens. Whether its on purpose or not, you are still paying for something that is not accurately described or for more then it was ever worth.

My advice: Ask the seller if they are seconds or have any faults. Do not assume because its being sold second hand that its cheaper.

2. Get Photos

Elastics? Stains? Pilling? Smells? Many of these factors you cannot see in photos (or they can be hidden). But you can get a good idea about the condition. Make sure you see pictures of a nappy inside and out. Unfortunately smells are very difficult to photograph, so you may not know about these until they arrive. I have heard of, and been told about plenty of nappies that have gone straight from the post to the bin because of the putrid condition they arrive in.

My advice: Ask for photos and ask specific questions about marks, stains, smells etc. This may give you a come back if you need to make a PayPal claim. Do not assume every one treats their nappies with the same love you do.

3. Check the price - are you getting a bargain?

Can you get it on sale cheaper? Or for just slightly more?
The RRP on a product may be $25. But if you can get that item on sale for less, you should factor that into the second hand price. We are currently running a sale with our nappies at $16. During this sale I saw a mum be sold 5 of our nappies for more then the current sale price.

Will the cost of postage outweigh the savings?
Many business subsidise postage. We certainly do. We charge a flat rate $5 on post. Sometimes when you pay the full postage rate (say $13 on 3 nappies for a 3 kg satchel, thats $8 more), you are getting much closer to the price of brand new nappies. Keep this in mind, especially if you are buying from multiple sellers. Think if you buy from 2 sellers that postage is double. You may be able to find several brands in a retail shop and pay a lot less post. For example Apikali sells a range of brands and postage is only $5!

4. Consider what you lose buying second hand and factor it into the price

I am often asked what someone should expect to pay for one of our nappies second hand. My advice is, a nappy is worth to you what you feel the drop in value has been considering the following:

• You have no warranty. So even on a brand new nappy, excellent condition nappy, nappy that was worn once or twice - there is no warranty. If a snap falls off, if stitching comes undone, you have no warranty.
• You do not know the history of the nappy (whats it been washed in, was it bleached to make it look cleaner for selling. What stains, smells etc does it have)
• The nappies won't last forever. Some of the use is already gone. Like a car, they have a life of so many km's - so consider part of that life and use has already occurred. 
• It is a used item. As such, it is immediately worth less. 

So if you are saving just a few dollars a nappy, then adding in postage, then adding in the risk associated with the fact it may not arrive as described - what is the real value? Determine what you think the real value is and stick to it. 

5. Pay with PayPal

Do not pay direct deposit unless you know the person. This bit is in bold. Once you put money into someones bank account its gone. Think of the extra small amount of money you may pay to cover PayPal fees as insurance. Getting a PayPal account is extremely easy. If someone says they don't have one, well find someone else to buy from. 

PayPal will help you if your item does not arrive, if its not as described (hence why you need to ask all the questions before you buy it about condition etc) and they will give you your money back if you can show it is not as described. 

We all like to think other mum's are like us - fair, generous, honest. The sad truth is, they are not. I have seen numerous scammers, I've been scammed myself. It hurts - financially and emotionally. It is not limited to business because I've seen even the most savvy, cloth nappy connoisseurs admit to having been had by a seller. So please, protect yourself and your money. I am so sad when I see mum's tricked into buying nappies (or anything) that is unuseable, dirty or not as you thought. 

So there you have it. In a nutshell:

• Be Informed.
• Determine a fair value based on RRP, condition of the product, no warranty & post costs. 
• Pay with PayPal

Enjoy Shopping with these little thoughts under your belt,

Jenny

  

CJ's BUTTer is now available at Baby Bare

We have just added the fabulous CJ's BUTTer products to our site!

CJ's BUTTer is the perfect cream for your cloth nappies as it is safe to use, unlike many other creams that can adversely affect your nappies.

CJ's BUTTer is all natural (except some scents are from synthetic ingredients). It comes in tubs, a stick and a spray. The stick and spray make nappy changes very easy as you can use it without putting your hands in the product.

We are offering the full range of CJ's and it can be combined with your Baby Bare purchases to save on shipping. So grab some sample pots to try it out with your next nappy buy.

Cloth Nappies and Nappy Bags

We get asked a lot about the best nappy bags for your cloth nappies.

Most nappy bags can cater for cloth nappies. But I have found some pretty stylish Leather Nappy Bags from Boowiggie.

Now, we all know I started Baby Bare to offer parents the best value in cloth nappies. Well, the bags from Boowiggie are also what I consider to be the best value in leather nappy bags (and I am a big lover of good value!).

These genuine leather bags retail from $169.95, right up to $249.95 for the most premium, the Arizona in Saffiano Leather. They are amazing value for the quality and design of the product.

I asked the owner, Caroline about using the bags with my cloth nappies. She told me that her range of bags can easily fit cloth nappies (and she has the pictures to prove it!). There is plenty of room for a few nappies, your CJ's BUTTer, a bottle (in the insulated pocket), phone, comforter and wallet with space to spare. They even come with a waterproof change mat!

These bags are a great size with lots of pockets for all your bits and pieces.

Ella Duo with 4 Baby Bare Nappies

Lily Bag with two Baby Bare nappies

Arizona with 3 Baby Bare Nappies. This is the most premium bag. Beautiful Saffiano Leather and a gorgeous lining fabric.

Did I also mention how stylish they look on the outside?

Arizona Leather Nappy Bag - Looks just like a hand bag!

Lily Leather Nappy Bag - comes in a range of colours. 

These gorgeous bags come in a range of sizes and colours (red, blue, beige, latte and more!), so you can choose something that suits your taste and needs.

I'm personally very in love with the new Arizona.

Where should you go for advice on your nappies?

I'm the first to admit using cloth nappies can be overwhelming at first. So many options, so many brands, so many different ways and opinions on doing things.

I started out like every other parent with cloth nappies. I knew nothing. I wasn't even convinced I wanted to use them (or that I would use the ones I bought). But I was interested in the benefits and I started on what has become a very long journey into the world of cloth nappies.

So now, knowing what I know, and seeing what I've seen, I feel I can try and help parents make the right decisions with nappies.

But, what I see all too often is parents asking other well meaning parents for advice, and then receiving the absolute wrong information.

My best piece of advice to you is, if you want to know something about a particular nappy, ask the maker. There are often different versions of nappies, so when you ask a question, some well meaning parent may be telling you about something that no longer even exists. Other parents make statements that are incorrect (not on purpose, just they don't know the product like the maker does).

What am I getting at? If you want the right information, just ask. Any cloth nappy business is going to be happy to help you. Do not feel like you are bothering them. I love hearing from customers and helping them through the fog to find a solution.

In my own experience I have seen parents be told our nappies are made with materials they simply are not made with, the wrong sizing details, the wrong washing instructions, mixing up information between the different styles. I have seen the same with other brands.

So if you ever want to know something, whether you are an existing customer or a future customer, or never become a customs, I'd love to help. Just ask me.

And if you want to peruse a website for lots of cloth information and help, check out cloth nappies central - it's been written just for you!

Choosing between the Baby Bare Nappies

I often get emails asking me how to choose between our different styles of cloth nappies. I am asked which is better, which is more popular and what the customer should choose.

The decision is really a personal one. It depends on the person.

My advice to parents, is always to consider how you want to use the nappies. This advice goes further than choosing from our range too. Most parents when they start out are so overwhelmed. My advice is always to stop and consider what style of nappy is appealing to them the most. Because it is then that they are best equipped to start their search.

When I give that advice I am usually met with a sigh of relief. The fog is clearing and suddenly it seems easier. Once you know the style you are after, you can sort through all the option easier and focus on the cloth nappies you want.

When looking at Baby Bare, you need to go through a few steps.

First Step: Do you like PUL or Minky Covers? This is the division between the Bare Cub or the Silky Bare. Whats even better is, if you feel no preference either way, you can grab both purely choosing on the colours or prints you like. This decision is purely cosmetic. One is not less breathable or cooler. It is simply if you like the smoother feel of the PUL, or the fluffier more fabric like feel of the minky.

Second Step: Consider your style. Do you like the idea of no assembly or do you want the flexibility and ability to change out the absorbency and use the shells for more then one change?

All in one is very easy. You pick up the nappy and its ready to go.

The inside of the all in one cloth nappy. The rainbow section opens away from the nappy for faster drying time.

All in two requires some assembly (3 separate pieces), but its versatile and can work out to be more economical. Many parents buy 12 full nappies, and then add an extra 12 soaker sets. They then have 24 changes. They know the cover can be re-used, or washed and used again quickly due to the fast drying nature of the cover. Our all in two is also 100% bamboo.

All in two cloth nappy. There is the snap in insert (top piece) and the rectangle booster (laying underneath). 

If you ever need help or have further questions, just send us an email through the contact us link on our website. We are always more then happy to help (we actually love chatting to you!).

The Baby Bare Trial is Back!

Last year we ran a hire programme on our nappies. You could hire ten brand new nappies for one month and decide if you wanted them at the end. You could return them and only pay the hire fee, or keep them and pay out the remaining cost of the pack.

This programme was enormously successful. I'm so proud to say of all the packs we sent out, we had zero returned. That is a testament to how much people loved our nappies.

Unfortunately, due to the time invested in the programme (and me still working in a normal job) we had to bring it to a stop. I've since received lots of enquiries about running it again.

So I have great news. You can now hire the packs again. You choose the ten nappies and we will do the rest.

The nappies are absolutely brand new. So you don't have any worries putting them on your child. It is just like buying upfront, except you can take your time to pay it off and if they don't work for you, return them.

So, let your friends know about this amazing and unique programme. It is perfect if:

1. You want to try cloth for a month and see if it suits you before purchasing a full set of nappies.
2. You want to try Baby Bare Nappies before topping up your stash.
3. You want to buy 10 Baby Bare Nappies and be able to pay them off over a 4 week period.

Oh, and every pack comes with a sample of CJ's BUTTer, just to say thanks!