Planet friendly nappies

Full disclosure, we didn’t use reusable nappies until about 3 weeks in. We waited until the cord fell off as many nappies were rubbing against it on our baby. There is someone I know who is designing an option that will work around this but it meant we used disposable.

Also, my husband wanted to use them when out and about. So for the majority of the time, we used reusable nappies at home and disposable out and about. I definitely see the appeal with disposables, and can see how it makes it easier when out. I will also share my recommendations for disposable nappies below, as well as the reasons why we prefer cloth / reusable nappies.

We are now fully reusable nappies wherever we go except if travelling for multiple days which is rare. I am really happy with this and my husband is used to it now as well.

Did you know:

An estimated 3bn nappies are thrown away every year (8 million per day!) in the UK according to the Environmental Agency. That's about 2 - 3 % of all household waste. And 1 in 10 people are putting nappies in recycling bins, which contaminates the load. This means lorry-loads of recycling have to be thrown into general waste, and recycling workers having to pull out soiled nappies by hand from conveyor belts. North London Waste Authority (NLWA) ran a #BinYourNappy in 2019 based on research. When people who have put nappies in the recycling bin were asked, more than a third said “because the outer packaging shows the ‘recycling logo’, whilst a fifth say it’s because they are termed ‘disposable’.” 

reusable nappies

The positives far outweigh the negatives for using reusable nappies to me. But I am not going to brush over the negatives as reusables can be a lot more work and require extra planning plus upfront costs.

Negatives I hear (and experience/d!)

• All that washing

• Oh the smells…especially when real food poops come into play!

• Energy used with washing machine

• Drying time or use of dryer if needed bumping up costs

• Upfront cost of nappies can be pricey

Positives in my mind:

• No nasty chemicals up against my baby’s bottom. This is a BIG win for me.

• No overflowing bins with loads of single-use nappies

• Not experienced any poo explosions my reusables have had issues with

• Super soft

• Can amend absorbancy

• Last for multiple babies

• Cheaper in the long run, especially if planning on another child

• Better for the planet

• Grey water from wash used to water trees in garden

• Solar power for drying and cleansing - hang them up outside when possible, or inside to air dry

• Really cute patterns available

• Nappy libraries an option in the UK

• Second hand nappies possible to buy for cheaper and more eco friendly options

  
  I have about 25 nappies (mix of newborn and birth to potty training) and I spent about £175 for them vs ave of 4,000 - 6,000 disposable nappies costing about £800+ so saving money over the course of using them. I got 25 as babies will use about 6 - 12 nappies a day. This means I can rinse smelly nappies in a bucket but put a wash on every other day. I am also fortunate to live somewhere I can hang my nappies out to dry fairly quickly.
  
  For those wanting to try reusable nappies, second hand seller groups online are a fantastic resource - you can get some great quality second hand nappies for fab prices E.g The Nappy Lady UK PLUS in the UK there are nappy libraries in some councils. Simply check out The Nappy Network for more information. Also look up GO REAL for some fantastic information about using real nappies.

I would flag that if possible, buy natural materials such as hemp or cotton vs microfibre. Microfibres are released during washes which make their way into our rivers, streams and oceans. I would also recommend looking at installing a washing machine filter to capture microfibres from washes. Find out more about microfibres released in washes HERE.

Also something to note. The latest DEFRA government research on reusable nappies vs disposable nappies is available HERE. Overall reusables have better enviromnetal benefits but water / detergent / electricity for washing and drying are big factors in their use. You can reduce this impact further though by:

1. Hanging to dry vs tumble drying

2. Using natural detergent or homemade with no toxins to wash nappies

3. Washing on cooler washes and using the sun as a natural disinfectant / sanitiser

4. Using a water filter on your washer to capture microfibres for example PlanetCare

5. Buying second hand where possible

6. Saving them for future children

7. Reselling them once finished with

Disposable nappies

If disposable is still your choice, try to go for more ethical brands with less chemicals such as @ecoriginals or Eco by Naty nappies.

They will usually be a bit kinder to your baby’s bottom and health, and materials slightly better for the planet when being made. Disposing of them is the same for all brands though. In the bin.

While the more planet friendly options can cost more, you might want to read on…

Chemicals found in mainstream nappies can include dyes, perfums and dioxins as well as others. Why are these bad?

Some disposable diaper contains dangerous chemicals that can have long term effects on health conditions. The worst health problems caused by disposable diapers can be asthma and respiratory problems. Chemicals present in disposable diapers can cause allergic reactions to the sensitive and soft skin of the babies. 

To give an example, nappies are bleached with chlorine to give white color to disposable nappies. “The byproduct is known as dioxin, and it is leached into diapers and the environment.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to dioxins can result in skin allergies, impairment to the immune system, nervous system, reproductive functions, and can alter the liver function. So, continuous exposure to dioxins can result in serious health issues.”

Disposable nappies are great for on the go or travelling, when you can’t store dirty nappies for long. But no disposable nappy is completely biodegradable - you can test this out buy digging a spot in your garden and leaving one to decompose for a few weeks.

According to WRAP, a baby could have used 4,000 to 6,000 disposable nappies, or 20 to 30 reusable nappies by the time they are potty trained. This is a huge difference in numbers!

Just a reminder: Nappies must go in general waste bin. There are NO fully biodegradable or compostable versions available and they are not recyclable. So please dispose of them in general waste.

VERDICT

The best solution is the one that works for you. You don’t have to go all or nothing either. I just wanted to share information about both to help you with any decisions you have. As a result of the above research, I made my decision for using reusables, and I now have a routine for my washes. But this doesn’t work for everyone.

Good luck!