Washables
|
|
Washables |
|
 
|
|
An Overview
If you are reading this, you are probably already interested in
cloth nappies, prepare to be even more convinced!
Environmental reasons to choose cloth nappies One of the most popular triggers for parents considering real nappies as opposed to disposables is the obvious benefit to the environment. Our landfill situation is in crisis and many councils around the country have nappy schemes to encourage parents to choose washables, some even offer refunds for the cost. Research has shown that * 8 million disposable nappies are thrown away in Britain every day. Disposables take from 200-500 years to decompose. In fact the first disposable ever worn still exists! * Before potty training, about 6,000 disposable nappies will be used by one baby as opposed to re-using the same 24-50 "real" nappies * Every £1 spent on single use nappies costs the Council Tax payer 10p to dispose of them. The total cost nationally for the disposal of nappies is £40 million each year * Disposables use 90 times more non-renewable material, for example, one cup of crude oil is needed to make one disposable nappy * To keep one baby in disposable nappies for two and a half years, four and a half trees will be cut down to produce the nappies * Disposable nappies make up about 2.6% of the average household rubbish in a year, which is equivalent to the weight of nearly 70,000 double-decker buses. If lined up from front to end, the buses would stretch from London to Edinburgh! (that was from the waste and resources action programme www.wrap.org.ok, who else would have the time to work that out?) * Disposable nappies (and other absorbent products) have chemical granules inside them that can absorb many times their own volume in liquid - an almost miraculous feat that only a totally synthetic material could do. This material was not designed to be disposed of in the environment so it is unfortunate (and irresponsible) that it is almost exclusively disposed of in this way via the disposable nappy and similar products. There is a yet more worrying aspect: this substance was removed from tampons some years ago because of its alleged link with Toxic Shock Syndrome. These granules turn into gel when wet and there has been no study to determine its effects on babies when kept against the skin for long periods * In the modern world we can access enough knowledge to enable us to make the right choice for our children, the environment and our children's children - so make the intelligent choice. Financial Reasons to use cloth nappies After doing a bit of research I have found that disposable nappies range in price from 10 pence to 28 pence each, depending on brand, size and special offers! A newborn baby will probably be changed about ten times a day at the most, this will gradually decrease to about six times a day as the baby gets older. A baby will probably be in disposable nappies until they are fully potty trained at two and a half. Taking an average of 17p per disposable nappy and six changes a day. You will change your baby approximately 5475 times at a cost of £930.75. Depending on the cloth nappy system you choose you will spend around £200-£300 on washables for your baby. And any future additions to the family will also be able to use the same cute washables their big brother or sister had! Other cloth nappy advantages * Nappy rash occurs if your baby is not changed often enough. There is always the temptation with disposables to keep your baby in them for a long time because they feel dry as the gel in the nappy absorbs liquids. Re-usable nappies are soft, cotton and breathable, which helps to prevent nappy rash. * A baby using washable nappies is more likely to potty train earlier and have better bladder control. This is because your toddler will feel wet in their cloth nappies and therefore associate weeing with the wetness they feel in their nappy. Babies in disposables don't make this association as the gel in the nappy absorbs the liquids. * Most parents find real nappies are less likely to leak than disposables as different styles and ways of folding can be tried for a better fit. * There is a very great feeling of satisfaction in knowing that your baby is getting the best in nappy care and that you are involved in this part of their world. How many types of cloth nappy are there? This is where newcomers to real nappies can be overwhelmed with choice! There are basically three main types of washable nappies 1. Flat Nappies Such as the traditional terry square or the increasingly popular cotton prefold. These can be folded into a pad or a kite shape and secured with a nappi nippa and wrap. 2. Shaped or fitted nappies As the name suggests these are shaped so require no prefolding. Some styles, such as the dizzy diaper, go from birth to potty. These are usually made of terry towelling and also require a plastic wrap on the top. 3. 'All-in-ones' As close as you can get to a disposable nappy. These have the cotton or terry nappy attached to a waterproof wrap. The most expensive choice but can be more convenient for bleary-eyed nighttime changes! How many nappies will I need? This will depend on the style of nappy you are choosing and the frequency that you will be washing the nappies. I would recommend 20-24 nappies with four plastic wraps if you are going for the prefold or shaped nappy option or 24 all-in-ones. Please note that I am quite happy to sell nappies singly or in small quantities so you don't have to commit to a huge expensive order. Many places sell birth to potty packs which are useful for some families but I have found that most of these contain some things which are never used by the parents (and also not enough of the essentials so you have to buy more anyway). You will need a sturdy nappy bucket for your dirty nappies. This doesn't have to be anything fancy as long as it has a lid and is easy to clean, a lot of my customers use those plastic lidded crates, which you can get for a few pounds. How do I wash my cloth nappies? After a nappy change, shake soiled nappies into the toilet. If you are using biodegradable paper liners they can be flushed down the toilet. Throw the dirty nappy into the bucket. There is no need to soak the nappy, as a washing machine will do all the work. The cover can be used again unless it is soiled (light soiling can be wiped off). Place soiled covers into the bucket too. Every other day (or whatever you prefer) do a nappy wash. Cloth nappies can be washed at 60 or 90 degrees (most people wash at 60). Use a non-biological washing powder. DO NOT use fabric conditioner as this coats the fabric and affects the absorbency. The covers can be washed at 60 degrees, so can either be washed with baby/family clothing or in with the nappies. Dry in the tumble dryer on low heat, on the line or on the clotheshorse. A little tip is to pop the nappies into the tumble dryer for 10 minutes when almost dry, the nappies become very soft and fluff up very nicely. Please note: New nappies will arrive flat and have to be washed at least twice before use in order to quilt up and gain maximum absorbency. Laundry Services - There are an increasing number of laundry services that specialise is real nappies and these can be a godsend to families without the time or inclination to do their own nappy washing! Find your nearest nappy laundry service by calling the WRAP real nappy helpline on 0845 850 0606 or looking on www.nappyline.org.uk The Nappies
How do I fold my prefold nappies? If you are using cotton pre-folds, you will notice
that the fabric has a thicker strip in the middle and is thinner down each side
like this You can fold them however you like but here are my suggestions;
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Megababe Maternity, 151 Park View, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear NE26 3RF Tel 0191 280 2522 sales@washables.co.uk |
