Comments on: Week 32: Going Green

By: Aimie

Aimie — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:55:47 +0000

I’ve been using cloth nappies, i bought them off ebay, they are fitted and use velcro tabs, all i need is a liner and pilcher! They cost me $5 each (including postage) and because of the saving i only have to wash weekly if i need to during winter!

By: Charndra at Part Time Nappy Free!

Charndra at Part Time Nappy Free! — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:09:20 +0000

Hi Amber,
I’m glad you’ve discovered the modern cloth nappy – as Di says, there are heaps of Aussie sites that make GORGEOUS cloth nappies – there is a visual directory here: (I got tired of endless link clicking…)

http://www.parttimenappyfree.com.au/buy-your-cloth-nappy-stash.htm (HAs OZ, NZ and UK)

You’ll see the resource is also part of a site about part-time Baby Pottying, or ELimination COmmunication, a cumbersome word to describe an ancient way of helping your baby to use fewer nappies. We have practiced this gentle alternative to regular toilet training since the birth of both our boys. It means they wear nappies and training pants (they are easier than nappies I think) and also use a baby potty – so fewer pooey nappies to wash, throw into the bin and well, it’s just great fun and babies enjoy the special moments.

I’ll be interested to see the book review / interview you are going to cover next!

Thanks for covering cloth nappies. Each cloth nappy out there means hundreds less one-use throwaways festering in dumps!

Charndra

P.S Trent – yes, they are GREAT! We use one eco-disposable each day (for nights as my son wears a brace for his clubfoot correction) and we bury, empty them into the compost or actually pour the contents on the garden and cover with mulch! The contents are the same as the water saving crystals used in the garden shops, we only have wet ones to worry about as he does poops in the potty, and then very little goes in the bin, if any – sometimes I chuck the package. The important thing about the eco nappies is that they will not degrade if just binned to the dump like a regular nappy – the landfil environment does not facilitate decomposition of the waste. When we move to another state in a few weeks (back to our own home after 3 1/2 years in Canberra, I’m planning a worm farm to manage our night nappies – until I decide on a cloth solution.
Charndra

By: Trent

Trent — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:07:06 +0000

Thoughts on degradable disposable nappies? They don’t use water, or put harmful chemicals into the earth and of course, they degrade into the earth.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:52:57 +0000

Because we are geeks in this family, I kept a spreadsheet on the expense of keeping Lucy (baby #3) in modern cloth nappies. She has never worn a disposable, we even sent cloth nappies with her to childcare. We always had enough nappies to get through a few days without washing when required. I never was one to get the latest and greatest and fanciest nappy, but we also didn’t scrimp. We made sure we had quality brands that did the job well. In total, over her 20 months in nappies, we spent …. $1816, BUT we also went on to sell those nappies when she outgrew them for $1321. That $1800 was not an initial lump sum, I bought stuff here and there from halfway through my pregnancy and then bought larger ones as I sold off the smaller ones. She has just this week started going to bed with no night nappy on, so if we survive the next couple of weeks okay we will be selling off night nappies and woolen covers, which would see our total expenditure drop well below $500. Pretty good, yeah? And not a skerrick of waste sent to landfill – not even babywipes
Easily doable and you know where to come if you have any questions, Amber!

By: Carla Dixon

Carla Dixon — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:44:05 +0000

Try my invention: breast wedge to help with comfort while breastfeeding. You wedge it under your bra; or lay it on the mattress.. best use for the early days when you are sore all over. Washable/reusable.

By: Di

Di — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:20:06 +0000

We had cloth for all three – starting with terry flats for the oldest and through to most modern cloth nappies with the youngest. All of the terry flats we had for the first are still in use for the third child. Not quite all of the modern cloth nappies have lasted that long but some have lasted through at least two of the children.

I will point out that you have listed only overseas made cloth nappies. There is a large range of Aussie brand cloth nappies which are available. For details about modern cloth nappies in Australia a good site to check out is http://www.nappynetwork.org.au/. There are also several email groups and discussion forums for people interested in finding out more .

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:20:02 +0000

Modern cloth nappies are fantastic! I am currently adding to my stash in preparation for having two under two. Best of luck getting your head around it all. They are cheaper, cuter and nice and soft on baby bottoms.