My personal thoughts on MCN’s vs CCN’s by Jenna (Mum of 5 month old baby girl).
Everyone has heard the hype over cloth nappies, particularly the current trend of Modern Cloth Nappies. Sounds great right? The most complain complaint, however, is the price. Modern Cloth Nappies (MCN) can be a very expensive outlay, with most basic units retailing for at least $12 on sale when you consider that you will need at the very least 10-12 nappies this can be quite a stumbling block. Our resident Guinea Pig Mum,�Jenna�has used both modern cloth nappies and a much cheaper version (let’s call them CCN, cheap cloth nappies) The CCNs were sourced on eBay from an overseas retailer for roughly $3 per unit, including postage.
Nappies have been compared�by highlighting the various pros and cons with regards to the most prominent concerns washing, wearing, absorbency, quality and durability.
Washing
The biggest drawback for MCNs is the extensive, time consuming washing process. They’re quite fiddly, and each brand has a different preferred method for washing. Most of these involve soaking at particular temperatures, aren’t dryer friendly and require specialised products in the wash. And for the price you pay, you wouldn’t want to risk doing anything except the express instructions.
Cheap CCNs can be thrown�in a large nappy bucket with Napisan. They then get thrown in the washing machine with soap nuts (helps keep the costs down even further!) and then through the dryer. Here is an example of a pink CCN nappy that hasn’t been used in comparison with the blue CCN that has been soaked, washed and dried at least once a day for the last 5 months. Can you tell the difference?
Wearing
The MCNs come with clip in inserts that you are required to buy separately to the nappy, significantly increasing the cost of each unit. While the clip in idea sounds great in theory, it is not so much fun poking your fingers through baby doo-doo to unclip them. These liners however, are tailored to fit the nappy perfectly and keep it all looking neat and tidy. MCNs are very bulky, and�you may�find it hard to get�your baby into pants and onesies when he is wearing them.
The CCNs also require the purchasing of an insert. Bamboo fibre inserts are absolutely brilliant for the price (around 45cents each), and after being washed a couple of times were incredibly absorbent and soft. These inserts can be used�in MCNs too,�you may�prefer them to the clip in method. CCNs are thinner in comparison to MCNs and many find it�easier to dress�their baby when they�are wearing the CCNs.
It is worth noting you can buy disposable inserts for cloth nappies. It does up the cost factor, but still cheaper than buying disposables. Our guinea pig Mum used these recently when she was travelling with her bub; they made life so much easier!
Absorbency
This is where the MCNs come into their own. In terms of absorbency, they can’t be beaten.
The CCNs are great to use during the day when they can be changed more regularly. CCNs usually require 2 liners�as opposed to the MCNs that only require a single liner.
Quality
You will be pleasantly�surprised as to how the CCN’s can hold up to the�toileting routine of a little one. While they are not as soft, nor as absorbent as the MCNs, they are still perfectly suitable for a baby, as long as you’re willing to change them more frequently than the MCNs.
Durability
“Both types of nappies are used on a daily basis in my house, and each remains in tip top shape. I have been using both types of nappies for close to five months now. I am much rougher, and take less care with my cheaper nappies and they are still in fantastic condition. I wouldn’t rate one nappy over the other each has held up well”
So it comes down to personal preference as to the type of nappy you choose to use for your baby.�You might�prefer a combination of MCNs and CCNs, using the MCNs at night time for their superior absorbency and the CCNs during the day as they are easier to wash and maintain.�Our Guinea Pig Mum�would be confident to recommend either type to a Mum looking to try cloth nappies.
Note: This is the expressed opinion of one Mum and is not the opinion of Stay at Home Mum.
Responses to “MCN’S vs CCN’S”
We bought MCN. But a non clip in version. We really liked them, had a few leaking accidents but otherwise brilliant. However our baby quickly outgrew them. Not width wise but length ways. So we never made the money we out laid back (comparing to disposable nappies) very upsetting, and really soured us on the MCN.
I use them both. I dry pail all of mine. Not a problem so far. Different shapes fit different babies – this is probably the most complicated part of MCN’s. My cheaper ones help pad out my stash. I think you can get a vast difference in quality even from 1 CCN company to another. They’re thinner but so far still work okay. I just prefer the thick plushness of the more expensive ones (like those made from work at home mums – also supporting other mums). All that I’ve bought so far have included inserts in the price too.
A great post, very well written.
While I quite agree that the cost can be an initial stumbling block, one must consider the longer term impact of buying cheaper products. I am a big believer in ‘you get what you pay for’.
We started out using the ccc’s (as you call them) and they didn’t last. My daughter is now 2 and the PUL has come lose or torn off most of them. The inserts are no where near as absorbent as they once were nor as absorbent as the replacements we chose which cost more. We needed up to 4 of the ccc’s inserts for my child whereas our newer nappies are much better quality and we need half that many. They have lasted beautifully and fit really well – the ccc’s stretched out of shape quickly providing a very poor fit.
Its great to use cloth nappies but if you outlay money for nappies then have to replace them in a year’s time, its not really addressing the waste issue at all.
Additionally, we own and operate a nappy washing service in Sydney and provide laundering for MCN’s. We are the only company in Australia who do. The use of Napisan and chlorinated cold water bleaches is dangerous for little baby’s bottoms.
From a scientific point of view, chlorine molecules get lodged in the fibres of the fabric and they are very hard to remove. You would need to strip the Napisan out after every soak to ensure you were not leaving chemical residue on the nappy.
This residue reacts with the baby’s skin, upsets their delicate pH levels and can cause chemical burns. Additionally, the Environmental Working Group have stated that chlorine based products can be absorbed through the skin.
Most suppliers of good quality MCN’s in Australia would never recommend the use of chlorine bleaches not least because of their environmental impact but also the chemical residue they leave behind.
Great post though. Always good to consider the other side of anything though 🙂
not sure what MCN nappies u are using. I use itti bitti tutto. I have NEVER had to soak them, all I do is wash the pooh off and chuck in a nappy pail and put the lid on, the same with just wet ones. Then every 2nd day I just put threw my washing machine. I just use the ECO STORE LAUNDARY LIQUID, that you can by at any supermarket (WOLLIES IGA COLES ETC).NO need for any whitening agencies or fabric softener. Then hang out on the line to dry and the sun works as the whitening and gets rid of any stains.
with my MCN they come with the soaker sets or clip in inserts as you referred to them and dont have to pay any extra. I have never had to put my fingers in poop to unclip them as the poop never goes up his back or front even with the poop explosion. One of the main reasons I was draw to Itti Bitti.
I still use onesie’s on my bubba (10mths) all I do is get the next size up, but I also find with the BONDS ONESIES there is enough stretch in them to not have to go to a biger size.
At the end of the day I find that I prefer to pay the cost of one nappy ($45 from the outlet store) then pay for the CCN and have to rebuy in a few weeks or months. I havent yet had to replace any of my Itti Bitti MCNs. Though another brand of MCN my son pees through it within 40 minutes, so I guess it is what works best for you and your child.
I use a mix of cloth and disposable, depending on the kind of week we are having. Two children in, my mcns are still going brilliantly. I simply dry pail and wash all together every 2-3 days and have never ever had a problem with staining that the sun hasn’t dealt with. For solids, I just flip the solids in the loo and don’t bother with any more rinsing and still no probs.
The only real rule I follow is no bleach, vinegar, fabric softener a or drier ever, and otherwise my mixed brands of MCNs ($15 – $30 each depending on brand and if they were on sale) all just get chucked in a normal load together with some cotton terry flats. Still going strong 🙂
Regardless of anything else, I think it is unethical to support cheap cloth nappies (ccns) which are generally made in Asia, presumably in a sweatshop type environment by underpaid, overworked people, possibly children. I don’t care how well they do or don’t perform, I try really hard to make sure the clothes, shoes and nappies my kids wear aren’t made by other (exploited) children!!
Sometimes, monetary. cost is not the only factor to consider.
I use a mix of cloth and disposable, depending on the kind of week we are having. Two children in, my mcns are still going brilliantly. I simply dry pail and wash all together every 2-3 days and have never ever had a problem with staining that the sun hasn’t dealt with. For solids, I just flip the solids in the loo and don’t bother with any more rinsing and still no probs.
The only real rule I follow is no bleach, vinegar, fabric softener a or drier ever, and otherwise my mixed brands of MCNs ($15 – $30 each depending on brand and if they were on sale) all just get chucked in a normal load together with some cotton terry flats. Still going strong 🙂
Regardless of anything else, I think it is unethical to support cheap cloth nappies (ccns) which are generally made in Asia, presumably in a sweatshop type environment by underpaid, overworked people, possibly children. I don’t care how well they do or don’t perform, I try really hard to make sure the clothes, shoes and nappies my kids wear aren’t made by other (exploited) children!!
Sometimes, monetary cost is not the only factor to consider.
I would like to say how interesting this article is. As a moyher of a 14month old we use MCNs and some CCNs. And while yes the CCNs do hold waste and are cheap, they are not of the quality of MCNs, many ofwhom are made either ETHICALLY or made in AUSTRALIA by work at home mums.
i do not find that the washing instrauctions are that different from one brand to another and many allow you to use the shell of the nappy mutliple times in one day because the inserts are snapped to the lining and not in a pocket.
I believe those looking into MCNs arr smart enough to see that there are CHEAPIES and real quality, support WAHMs MCNs.
I agree Leia, part of the appeal of using MCN is the fact you can support SAHM’s running small businesses around the care of their kids, ie. the backbone of this very page. This is one area that I will not compromise, where for other things I might buy the cheap made in Chinese version and replace it a couple of times as it’s still cheaper than the more expensive Australian designed label, with MCN paying that little bit more for a quality WAHM product is too important to me.
Having used both CCN’s and MCN’s from baby to toddler over 18 months I would argue that the guinea pig mums in this article are not a good source of information for anyone weighing up cloth nappies based solely on price.
I started with a 10 pack of cheap imported nappies when my child was born and added higher-quality MCN brands to my collection when they were on sale(basing my brand choice on word-of-mouth, mothers groups and review sites). The cheap nappies leaked more often, were thinner and more poorly made, less absorbent, and the biggest kicker is the durability; 18 months later and my CCN’s have delaminated, lost their elastic, torn in small areas or come unstitched, and failed to contain the volume of wee/poo an older baby/toddler can produce with their thin microfibre inserts. Adding more inserts of such poor absorbency bulks the nappy up but the absorbency still doesn’t approach that required for an older child.
My experience with cloth nappies has firmly followed the phrase “you get what you pay for”. If you want a short-term cheap option, with minimal waste handling and washing, then you will be better served with disposables rather than CCN’s which will be thrown out with no resale value after 6 – 18 months.
I’m unsure why MCN’s are ‘very bulky, and you may find it hard to get your baby into pants and onesies when he is wearing them’ and this is different to CCN’s HOW?? I have both MCN’s and CCN’s and the main difference is – you get what you pay for! Personal experience is that CCN’s will not last to your next child, MCN’s will! And the washing instruction in this article are way off, they are washed the same, and together at our house.
There is a reason CCN’s are only $3 a unit, ethically & quality wise. I would much prefer to spend over $30 on a single nappy from a WAHM then $3 from some factory in china. The quality is far better from a WAHM than a CCN not even a comparrison. Buying QUALITY AND ETHICALLY made mcn’s are still far cheaper then buying disposables.
I’m curious as to what MCN were tested? There are many different brands, with many different styles. The one I use don’t require soaking, or digging through poo to clip things. And Napisan isn’t good for MCN or what you call ‘CCN’ (which are really just cheap Chinese made MCN anyway – so essentially just another brand of MCN), it degrades the waterproofing fabric, which is exactly the same thing in both.
I have MCN’s and use them now and then,and don’t mind CCN’s at all. What I can’t abide is operators that claim they sell MCN’s but when you delve a little deeper you find out that they are ‘designed’ in Australia and produced in China. That is distasteful.
On the Ethical Front I am so sick of Well known nappy company’s lieing claiming their nappies are being made in so called Ethical Factories in China and its a load of crap and just a marketing Gimmick to make you feel better about buying them I looked into having my nappies made overseas and alot of the brands are made by the same factories.
There is no such thing and as Ethical factory in China sure there is smaller ones but they are still getting paid crap wages compared to Australia and mass producing garments , CCN Get a bad rap but fact is they are cheap get people into cloth that otherwise wouldn’t bother due to the cost ,
If you have an Issue about CCN’s I would hope your whole wardrobe is all tagged made in Australia otherwise all those clothes are probably made in the same sweat shop Factories.