Nappies Cotton

Nappies Cotton

Cotton nappies / diapers - pros and cons from those who use them?

I am considering using cotton nappies when the time comes and I don't like the thought of putting so many plastic nappies into landfill. I can't see myself using the old terry towling type with pins, but I've seen the new types that are in the shape of normal nappies. Just wondering from those who use these (or the old type) what are the pros and cons and if when weighed up with all the laundering and wasting water, they are really any more environmentally friendly than the plastic ones anyway? Is there a good compromise somehow? Thanks

we have the bumgenius and happy heiny cloth diapers, which are amazing. I love them, they're cute and easy to use and doing the laundry is not bad at all.

the pros: I figured out the cost of doing laundry and it comes out to about 30 cents a load (including detergent costs). I do 2 loads a week, so that's 60 cents a week and an extra $31.20 a year for water. usually people spend about that every WEEK on regular diapers.

for laundry, we just throw them in a pail (we rinse the really bad poop ones) and then throw them in the washer. I've gotten into the habit lately of hand washing the just-pee ones so we can go longer between doing laundry. that only takes about 10 minutes at the end of the day. laundry water isn't wasted because it usually goes back around to the city water tanks and gets recycled (does in my city anyways).

they also hold leaks better than disposables, I've found. and to disposable diaper one child adds approximately 1 ton of diapers to a landfill. I do use disposables sometimes and I don't like them.

they clear up diaper rash quicker than anything, too.

the cons: some clothes don't fit over them. sometimes we have to size up.

handling a really poopy diaper is a little gross, but not bad (mine is breast fed so it's really not too bad).

actually doing the two loads a week takes up about a half hour of time (walking down and switching the loads, etc.).

that's it! I'd recommend cloth, at least part time. you could get a few diapers and try them out and I guarantee you'll stick with them.

5 reasons to consider cloth nappies

Disposable Nappies are the first choice of many parents, so why turn to those awful leaky, plastic pants and pins? Well times have changed, read on to find out why...

Reason #1: Easy to Use.

Modern cloth nappies are so easy to use, with no complicated folds and definitely no pins. They fasten with Velcro-type closures in exactly the same way as a disposable nappy, plus they come with a flushable nappy liner that can be flushed away in the toilet with the solids. No more smelly trash bins and no more rubbish to pay for!

Reason #2: Comfortable.

Real Nappies look like disposables, but are 100% natural, breathable cotton, soft and gentle against babies’ skin. Would you rather wear paper undies or cotton? Plus being cotton the air can circulate freely around baby’s skin allowing it to breathe. Your little one will spend 24/7 in a nappy for the next 2 ½ -3 years so a chemical-free nappy that allows baby’s skin to breathe is a great option.

TOP TIP: The best thing for baby is NO nappy time! Try and let your baby have time to kick around with no nappy on at all.

Reason #3: Save money.

Did you know that you will change your baby’s nappy over 6,000 times in their lifetime, multiply this by the cost per disposable nappy (aprox from $0.39 each) + nappy saks + wipes and you will quickly see that compared to spending $699 (based on Real Nappies Birth to Potty Pack) + $300 (washing) savings equate to $$$’s!

TOP TIP: Some companies (yes including us, Real Nappies) guarantee their products to last so you can use them on future children and save even more money!

Reason #4: Better for the Environment.

Did you know that EVERY disposable nappy ever thrown away still exists in landfill?? In actual fact there is no such thing as a ‘disposable nappy’. Your little gorgeous bundle of joy will create up to one tonne of nappy waste and where will all this end up? Our landfill sites.

Be you a ‘greenie mum’ or not that’s pretty shocking and the reality is that every time you use a single cloth nappy, you are doing your bit to reduce the mountain of waste, making a better world for your baby to grow up in.

TOP TIP: You don’t have to use cotton nappies all the time. If it suits you better, try using them at home and use disposables when you are out. Once you are confident you will use them all the time – at home or out and about!

Reason #5: Great for Potty Training

Parents tell us that their babies are potty trained earlier and more easily when they use cotton nappies, as they understand and know when they feel wet. Think about it, when we were little and were put in cloth nappies, ask our parents at what age we were potty trained, I can assure you it was a lot earlier than the average nowadays!

TOP TIP: Try reusable Potty Training Pants when you get to this stage, they are great and mean little one can pull them up and down themselves and you don’t get wet clothes with any little accidents!

Failing all the above and you just don’t know where to start, there are lots more great tips on-line at a certain excellent site.... LOL!

Real Nappies Australia / Real Nappies New Zealand

 

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