By Lena W. from Lübeck, Germany —
When we were preparing for the arrival of our newborn, choosing the right nappy system was one of the things we spent quite a bit of time researching about. We loved the idea of cloth nappies, but we also had lots of questions and concerns. First thing we decided on was that we wanted to go for wool – and we found Jovoh!
At first, it was exciting to explore all the different products. We went back and forth for quite a while. First, we added the individual products we thought we might need to our basket. Luckily there are quite some information on the website on how to start. Then we reconsidered everything and finally decided to go for the Basic Package. But would it really be enough (looks so little on paper)? And would everything work as expected?
Was the Basic Package really enough?
It seemed like such a small amount of nappies and accessories! I was particularly unsure about the number of absorbent inserts. Would we really have enough between washes? To feel a little more prepared, we decided to order six extra muslin cloths as well. I simply prefer having a few more clean nappies ready to go rather than worrying about running out.
The short answer is yes – the Basic Package is enough, as long as you wash regularly.
Once we got into our new routine, we realised that the package was well thought out and covered our basic needs. However, there was one small detail that made a big difference for us: the washing.
I have to admit, I really don’t enjoy doing laundry. And when I say I don’t enjoy it, I mean that washing can sit in the laundry basket for quite a while before I get round to it!
That’s why our extra muslin cloths turned out to be a great decision. They gave us a little more flexibility and meant I didn’t have to worry quite so much if the washing wasn’t done straight away.
For a family that washes regularly, the Basic Package should be perfectly sufficient. But if, like me, you’re not the biggest fan of laundry, having a few extra cloths can make everyday life easier.
A Few Weeks Later: We needed more absorbency
After a few weeks of using our nappies, we noticed another change. Our baby was getting bigger, and the amount of wee was increasing.
The cotton flat inserts that had worked well at the beginning were no longer quite absorbent enough on their own. We wanted to keep using our cloth nappies comfortably, without having to worry about leaks.
So, we ordered another eight hemp boosters.
The extra absorbency meant we could continue using our nappies with much more confidence. Nappy changes became more relaxed again, and we felt that we had found a setup that worked well for our growing baby.
Of course, every baby is different, and how much absorbency you need will depend on your baby’s age, individual needs and how often you change their nappy. For us, adding hemp boosters was the right solution.
Would we recommend getting extra nappy covers?
Looking back, I would also say that four nappy covers can be more convenient than three – especially if you don’t love doing laundry. But we managed with three covers during the first months. Now we use three covers in size 2 and also have two covers in size 3, which we especially use during the night together with the hemp flats (got two more of those).
Three wool covers can work well if you wash regularly and manage your rotation carefully. But if you’d rather have a little more flexibility, an extra cover is worth considering.
Our Conclusion: Start with the Basic Package, adjust as you go
So, would I choose the Basic Package again?
Absolutely! It gave us a great starting point and was enough to get us going with cloth nappies. We didn’t need to buy everything at once, and we could add the things we needed as we learnt more about our baby’s needs.
Our six extra muslin cloths were helpful because I don’t always keep up with the washing. Later, the hemp boosters gave us the extra absorbency we needed as our baby grew. We are not done yet with our nappy journey and it’s probably now a good moment to also get some additional flats and boosters. Oh, and having an additional nappy cover can make life easier!
My advice to other parents? Don’t feel that you have to buy everything before your baby arrives. The Basic Package is a good place to start, and you can always add a few extras later.
For us, the Basic Package was enough – but having a little more made our everyday nappy routine more relaxed.