Cloth Nappy Info

Bubblebubs Candie cloth nappy review 2022

You have decided you want to use cloth nappies for your baby, great!  Now is the big decision – which one?

 

If you have already started researching cloth nappies, you will likely have heard Bubblebubs mentioned as they are a firm favourite in cloth circles due to their premium quality and limited edition prints – and for good reason!

Bubblebubs Candie Cloth Nappy Review

Bubblebubs are also the brainchild of a dedicated Aussie mum who endeavoured to spread the love of reusable nappies through attentive service and advocacy.

 

With the ever-growing availability of reusable nappy styles I decided to write this Bubblebubs Candie All-in-Two cloth nappy review to provide a nice in-depth discussion about this product. 

About Bubblebubs: The company

Bubblebubs was started in 2004 by founder, Vicki Simpson.  She decided to leave her corporate career when she had her first daughter, Abbi.  While at home, she started making cloth nappies as a way to save money.  Her friends quickly caught on to the benefits of cloth nappies and began asking her to make some for them as well and the idea for Bubblebubs was formed.  Vicki said she wanted to both stay at home and be able to continue to make ends meet and voila, her business was born.

 

According to Vicki, the other main motivation for Bubblebubs is the environmental impact of cloth nappies.  Initially, Vicki started the business making all products in Australia with the aim of reducing hundreds of nappies per child per year that would go directly to a landfill.  She also wanted a reusable product that would not end up in a landfill after just a couple dozen uses.  Her goal was to produce in Australia but as the business grew, outsourcing overseas was necessary to meet the growing demand.  To maintain the quality and the supply at a reasonable cost, production was moved overseas.  Vicki visited factories and met with workers and managers to witness for herself what the conditions for the workers who make her products are like.  She was satisfied with the working conditions, the treatment of workers, and that her product is being made in fair working conditions.

 

Vicki was known for her excellent customer service as well as a quality product.  Below I have listed some awards which demonstrate why this is one of the best cloth nappies in Australia.  In 2016 The Australian Nappy Association gave Bubblebubs four awards:

  • The Best Customer Service Winner
  • Best All-in-Two Winner
  • Best Newborn Nappy
  • Best Pre fold

Vicki’s customer service can be seen in almost every avenue of her reviews.  People found her helpful and attentive.  Vicki sadly passed away in 2021 and Bubblebubs is now run by her widower, Andrew, and sister, Karen.  Both strive to follow in her footsteps and continue to provide the level of excellence and quality she created.

 

About the Candie cloth nappy: features and product snapshot

Info Details
Designed in
Australia
Made in
China and Pakistan
Price (RRP)
$36.95
Nappy Type
All-in-Two (AI2)
Shell fabric
Either soft polyester PUL or super soft Minky laminated with PUL
Insert fabric
A suede cloth panel and an additional 3 layer lay in booster made from 450gsm bamboo fleece
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified
Not listed on the website
Sizing
OSFM (approx 4kgs to 15kgs)
Absorbency
Super absorbent
Warranty
6 months from either date of purchase, or from the birth of your child if after the purchase date

Summary of Pros and Cons

A quick overview of the main pros and cons of the Bubblebubs Candie nappy (keep reading for full review).

Pros

  • Award winning nappies
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Ethically run company
  • Cost effective (durable and not needing to be replaced frequently, also unlikely to need extra boosters as inserts are very generous)
  • Proven record of great customer service
  • Standard warranty as well as Nappy Guarantee
  • Versatile nappy (OSFM/night nappy)
  • Some parents really preferred the side snap option (others did not so this is a pro and a con)

Cons

  • The Candie is a larger and bulkier fit (some said this was only an issue for newborns and was not an issue once the babies were slightly older)
  • Some parents actually did not prefer the side snaps

Bubblebubs Candie nappy: What you should know

In the following sections, I will cover the Bubblebubs Candies cloth nappy review unique features:

  • Materials/design
  • Quality product
  • Versatility
  • Deals/sales
  • Purchase options
  • User reviews

What style is the Candie nappy?

The Candie All-in-Two cloth nappy is just what the name says it is, an all-in-two nappy.  

 

What does that mean? 

The nappy comes in two pieces that need to be snapped in together.  The two layers are the inner absorbent layers and the outer shell that is leak resistant.

 

What are specific advantages of the Candies All-in-Two nappy?

There are a few advantages to the two-in-one style and specifically the Candies style nappy, which contributed to it winning one of the best cloth nappies Australia awards.

Bubblebubs Candie cloth nappy review trifold inserts
The Candie trifold snapped in with the stay-dry layer on top. Together with the extra insert - that's a thirsty nappy!

 

One unique feature of the Candies is a ‘side snap’ style. While not the only side-snapping nappy on the market, it isn’t quite as common as the front-snapping nappies and it does seem to divide opinion. 

The side snap makes the Candie a OSFM (one-size-fits-most) nappy, which is designed it to fit newborns all the way up to toilet training age.  The side snap has two rows which helps eliminate wing droop.  The double row of side snaps mean you can adjust the leg and waist width, so as your baby grows the nappy can be adjusted to fit.

 

The absence of front rise snaps together with the thicker inserts mean it is a larger- and higher-fitting nappy. I and many other reviewers found that it tends to fit better on older babies and toddlers. If you are used to front-snapping nappies the side snaps may also feel a little more challenging to put on when baby is lying down, however I find it a huge bonus on older babies and toddlers who like to stand up for nappy changes! I also find the higher fit at front means I don’t get leaks out the top (or poonamis out the back!), as can sometimes be the case with lower-fitting nappies.

With the Candie you have a choice of shells made of either soft polyester PUL (Polyurethane Laminate Fabric) or soft minky PUL.  PUL is highly water proof and made by laminating polyester to a film of polyurethane.  The minky is a very soft absorbent fleece that is laminated to the PUL. The polyester PUL is a smooth finish and does not have the additional layer of softness that the minky has, although it can be easier to wipe clean. The inside of the shell is lined with suedecloth which acts as a stay-dry layer.

What are the inserts like?

This nappy comes with one of the most generous and thirsty insert sets on the market – a trifold and a booster.  The trifold has a snap to hold it in place and is made from 420gsm bamboo and is highly absorbent.  The trifold also has a suede cloth panel sewn into the middle to help with absorption.  The trifold is, as the name suggests, intentionally designed to be folded to your liking and your baby’s comfort. For example, you may set it up with the suede cloth panel sitting against your baby’s skin to wick away moisture into the bamboo layers and keep your baby feeling dry. Or if you prefer the natural bamboo fibres against their skin, you can also fold accordingly. The trifold  also unfolds fully which helps in the drying process. 

 

The booster is also made from bamboo fleece and can be positioned where it is needed.  Together the total layers add up to 12 when using both the trifold and the booster, making it extra absorbent.  The design aim is to be very efficient which helps the Candies achieve the status of one of the best cloth nappies Australia and an excellent option for heavy wetters.

What sort of prints does the Candie offer?

The cover prints were commissioned by artists and can often have a limited selection of each due to licensing fees.  The limited edition prints have achieved a bit of a fan following, and there are even dedicated Buy, Swap, Sell groups on Facebook where people will pay above-new prices to get their hands on desired prints! Bubblebubs release some very cute collections such as a Christmas range and Australiana, and a few of their woodlands animals prints in Minky are some of my all-time favourite cloth nappy prints.

 

Sometimes designs that have not been renewed can end up on the ‘surprise me’ Candies packages, which are nappies that the license has expired so it cannot be shown on the display but you can buy at a discounted rate which is a fun way to give yourself a little discount and a little surprise.  If you prefer not to have a surprise design (nor the discount) the website displays the variety of colours and styles available.

What are Candies like in terms of quality and longevity?

I would also like to mention the Bubblebubs Nappy guarantee which is a fantastic opportunity to try the nappy out if you are unsure whether they will be suitable. Bubblebubs offer a 2 week guarantee, which means you may receive it, try it, wash it, and if you are still not satisfied you can return it with no questions asked within the first 2 weeks (if you bought several nappies then the guarantee is only valid for 1 that has been washed, if not used/washed all can be returned as new).

There are two small caveats:

  • If buying before baby arrives, make sure to include the estimated due date so that the return date starts at the correct time
  • The fit guarantee for the Candie is only valid if your baby is between 5kgs-15kgs (so may not cover you if you purchase in the newborn period)

Why does Bubblebubs have such a good guarantee?  Because they believe in their product and want to make sure customers are happy.

Overall the Candies nappies are durable and high quality but  I will also go a little bit more into depth on quality when looking at user reviews in the sections below.

Can you use Candies from birth?

In theory, yes, the side snaps allow for a range of sizes to adjust to your growing child.  The website boasts it fits newborns all the way through to toilet training or a weight of 4kg up to 15kg but this does depend on your baby, and it is definitely one of the larger-fitting nappies on the market.  As mentioned above I found they fit my babies better from a few months old, and in the review section I go a little bit more in depth on parent input regarding this topic.

Can Candies be used as night nappies?

Yes you can! It is advised to use along with the booster or with an additional night booster, depending on the stage your baby is at when using the nappy overnight.  Although I purchased dedicated night nappies for my boys, Candies were one of the few standard styles that I actually found absorbent enough to last overnight if my night nappies were still in a pinch.

Here is a link to the website, Night Nappies – The Final Frontier — Bubblebubs with recommendations for night adjustments but I have also highlighted the main points from the article:

  • A booster -this is the one that comes with the Candie and is recommended when babies just start sleeping through the night or at least waking less
  • A night trifold -this is the next recommendation after the booster when sleeping through the night is becoming more common and the amount of liquid is increasing
  • A boosted prefold -this one uses boosters inside the trifold and can be adjusted depending on where the additional absorbency is needed.

The article includes pictures which I found very helpful.

Where can I buy Candies cloth nappies?

Do Bubblebubs have deals and sales?

Bubblebubs sometimes do have sales of up to 40% for EOFY, Boxing Day and other events which is a great time to nab a bargain. Your best bet is to follow them on Instagram or Facebook to catch one of these sales.

As briefly mentioned before under style, you can get the surprise me nappy for a discount of $10 if you are happy with a little surprise in terms of design.

Candies user reviews and feedback

This section of the Bubblebubs Candies cloth nappy review focusses on user reviews and I highlight the main trends I noticed. While I personally am a big fan of the Bubblebubs Candie for both of my boys, I do feel its important to collate others’ experiences as well.  This is because choosing a nappy can be such a personal decision based on the size and shape of your children, as well as what you as a caregiver prefer when fitting and washing.  I looked at reviews from various sources e.g., manufacturer website, Facebook page, Product Review, Reddit, specific cloth nappy groups on Facebook and found a couple key themes that I highlight below.

.

What other parents loved:

  • Side snaps: Many parents reported liking the side snaps and the options it gives for a nice snug fit. It is longer through the waist and crotch, and the snaps can be adjusted to allow for a smaller or wider fit through the legs, which many parents found great for chunkier thighs.

 

  • Quality and value for money: On a couple websites users reviews gave on average 4 out of 5 stars for all the following, value for money, and cleaning/maintenance. Although the Candie is at the more premium end of the price-range, they are well worth it for their quality and longevity. In fact, Candies can really hold their resale value if you decide to sell secondhand, and limited edition prints particularly can be an investment!

 

  • The design and ease of use: Many parents loved the design which can be a lot simpler to put on with only the side snaps, and can fit very comfortably as a higher sitting nappy, particularly on taller babies and toddlers.

 

  • The inserts: The Bubblebubs Candie are one of the thickest and most highly absorbent inserts on the market, and with the inclusion of both the trifold and booster they are also very versatile. Most parents liked the eco-friendly bamboo inserts (better for the environment than other materials), and the option for folding the trifold with the stay-dry suede cloth layer on top is another bonus.

What other parents weren’t so keen on:

All babies are different and the reviews show that whereas this is a one of the best cloth nappies Australia it did not suit all.

 

  • Bulkiness: It’s an inevitable trade-off that such a highly absorbent nappy with multiple layers of inserts will be a bulkier fit. I do find that with the thicker layers, it is essential that I run my fingers around the leg elastics when putting them on to make sure the inserts aren’t peeking out which might make them prone to leaks.

 

  • The side snap: Whereas some parents love the side snap (hence we’ve also included it as a pro!), some parents did not find this system helpful for various reasons such as it did not make for a snug fit or was challenging getting it snapped on a wriggling baby.

Our verdict

My Bubblebubs Candies Cloth Nappy Review summary is that overall, the Candies All-in-Two nappy has a lot going for it. If you are a fan of the side-snapping nappy then I would definitely recommend the Candie, and if you are not sure then you could definitely take advantage of the Bubblebubs Nappy Guarantee to give it a try.

 

There is no doubt that you are getting a premium nappy that incorporates very eco-friendly, durable and highly absorbent materials and offers great versatility in terms of inserts and boosters. Most likely your nappies will last until toilet training and will still be in great condition for subsequent children or for secondhand resale, meaning they are excellent value for money.

 

 In addition, Bubblebubs is a great, ethically-run company with an excellent record of customer service.  With a product that is carefully designed with comfort, efficiency, cost effectiveness and ease of use in mind, it is easy to see why it has been awarded multiple times for the best cloth nappies in Australia.

 

Thanks for reading my Bubblebubs Candies Cloth Nappy Review, I hope you found it helpful!