Cloth Nappies : Monk N Bear

Monk N Bear was started in Australia by Lisa that retails reusable cloth nappies. I started looking for cloth nappies when my daughter was starting toilet training and would go through nappies after nappies everytime she did a wee. So, off I went onto the Internet (it's a great place for information!) to search for cloth nappies. Had a few hits of local businesses that sell cloth nappies.

Finally settled on Monk N Bear after almost a week of researching, emailing owners with questions and just talking to friends who have used cloth nappies.

There are two main reasons why I chose them :

1. Very affordable - Instead of buying dozens of cloth nappies to last a day, I bought two to start off, with 4 more sets of inserts. If you have seen cloth nappies before, they come with a waterproof outer layer and absorbent inserts. Some brands have the inserts fitted into the waterproof layer, but Monk N Bears has their inserts buttoned to the waterproof outer layer. This saves a lot of money in purchasing nappies. All I needed to do was to change the inserts and the outer layer can be used again. Unless my daughter did a poo, I can usually keep to one nappy and 2-3 sets of inserts for the day.

2. One size fits all - I have seen a few brands where the sizes do not fit children as they grow up. This will only result in more nappies to be purchased and more money spent. To be honest, I cannot imagine a whole drawer of cloth nappies just for the specific weight or age. With only one size for all ages and sizes, it really helps to save more money.

Those two reasons above were the deciding factors in purchasing from them. Now that I've used it, I must add another three more to the list :

3. Secure adjustable size - Lisa, the owner, has the nappies sewed with buttons. This works better for me than velcro which some other brands do. No doubt it is more work when changing nappies, but it really is a secure feature of the nappy. I don't have to worry about fluff sticking onto the velcro or having the nappy drop in the middle of play. No matter what size my child is, I can adjust it with the buttons. They are designed such that they do look part of the cutesy look.

4. As toilet training pants - It works great as toilet training pants too! Monk N Bear has their inserts designed such that you have two layers of soakers to attach to the waterproof nappy. When I use it as a toilet training tool for my daughter, I only use one soaker layer with the waterproof outer layer. It helps my child to feel the wetness faster and enforces the idea of going to the toilet. To use it as a pull up, I have the nappy buttoned up first and have my child pull it up like a pair of underwear. The only downside is that I had to adjust the one insert slightly to make sure it sits properly.

5. Great absorbency - I was and still am impressed at the absorbency of the bamboo inserts. This is the first time I am using cloth nappies and honestly, I was not very convinced of cloth. Until my daughter had diarrhoea. Those watery flaky stuff that swirls around in the nappies. No leakages. I only had two sets, but it stood the test.

Monk N Bear Cloth Nappies