Eenee nappies review: a genuinely eco option, with a learning curve

Price per nappy pad insert: £0.29-£0.45 (£10 for pack of 34-22 depending on size) | Currently half price at Chimney Sheep

Hybrid cotton nappy pants: £12.50 | Currently half price at Chimney Sheep

Tummy band: £7.50 | Currently half price at Chimney Sheep

Read next: Best reusable nappies

The Verdict

Eenee performs well as a proper everyday nappy, with excellent absorbency, no leaks in testing and a secure fit once the pad and pants are in place. Its biggest draw is the waste issue: compostable pads and a reusable outer make it a genuinely appealing alternative to standard disposables, especially if you’ve ever winced at a bin full of used nappies. The catch is that it’s more fiddly at change time. Attaching the pad with a popper is fine in theory, less so when you’re wrestling a furious, half-naked toddler.

If you already use reusable nappies, you’ll probably get the hang of it quickly, and it could be a useful halfway-house option for travel, childcare or days when you want less washing. Cost is another sticking point, so I’d try it on offer first. I’d recommend Eenee if you want a stronger eco option and can live with a bit of faff; if you need a nappy that goes on in five seconds flat during a tantrum, you may end up reaching for an all-in-one instead.

Overall score

How do Eenee compostable nappy pads work?

Eenee is a two-part nappy system. You use a reusable outer (either the hybrid nappy pants or the tummy band) that fastens around your child with adjustable velcro-style tabs. Then you take a compostable absorbent pad and clip it into the outer with a popper so it sits in place.

Once it’s clipped in, you change them much like a disposable: lie it flat, pop your child on, and fasten the outer snugly round the waist and legs. When it’s time to change, you remove and dispose of the used pad, and reuse the outer (washing it when needed).

How I tested Eenee compostable pads and pants

I tested the Eenee compostable nappy pads with the reusable hybrid pants and tummy band over four weeks, with my baby, who was 15 months old at the time.

I also roped in a friend and her 18-month-old for a second opinion. My son was firmly in his “I will not be constrained” era, so I had a few challenges that our other tester didn’t have to deal with.

Between us, we used the nappies over several weeks during the day at home, out and about, at nap times and overnight.

What was the nappy absorbency like?

Absorbency is the headline good news here. I was genuinely impressed. For keeping everything contained, the pads performed as well as any disposable nappy brand we’ve used, and we’ve been through plenty: Peaches, Kit & Kin, Pampers, Eco by Naty, Rascals, Sainsbury’s Little Ones and Aldi Mamia.

We didn’t have any leaks during testing. I’m saying that with a small caveat, because this system does rely on you getting the setup right. With a standard all-in-one disposable, as long as the tabs are reasonably straight, you’re usually fine. Here, if the pad isn’t properly anchored or the pants aren’t snug around the legs, you could get slippage, which could then lead to leaks. Once we’d got the fit right, though, it held up well.

Another parent tested alongside me. They’re mostly a reusable nappy user, and they were impressed enough to use the Eenee pads and pants for overnight sleeps and naps, and were happy to report no nasty surprises

Read next: Reusable nappies not your thing? We've also rounded up the best disposable nappies and wipes

Here's how the Eenee nappy compares in thickness with other nappies L-R Sainsbury's Little Ones, Kit and Kin, Eenee

Are Eenie nappies actually eco-friendly?

This is where Eenee really stands apart, and it’s why I wanted to test it in the first place.

Chimney Sheep says the Eenee compostable nappy pads are 100% compostable and plastic-free. It also says the nappies and nappy pants have been endorsed by Compost Australia as suitable for commercial composting, with independent testing to Australian standard AS4454.

The brand also makes a clear point that the pads don’t contain petrochemical plastics, perfumes, solvents or other irritants, which matters both for skin and for the composting claims.

A lot of ‘eco’ disposable nappies do one or two good things, eg FSC-certified pulp, gentler processing, paper packaging or carbon-neutral factories. That’s all positive, but most still have plastic components, and for most families they still end up in landfill.

Eenee is pitching something different: a two-part system where the pad can be composted and the outer is reused.

Whether you can, or actually will, compost them in real life is another matter. Home hot composting isn’t the same as chucking something in your food waste bin and feeling virtuous. It needs the right setup, the right conditions and a willingness to deal with the admin. But even if you don’t compost, the brand’s argument is that you’re reducing plastic waste compared with a standard disposable.

Related: The best breast pumps and baby bottles according to mums

How was the fit of the nappy?

The fit is one of the best parts, once you’ve got your head around how the system works.

The reusable outer comes in two designs and two sizes, and fastens with velcro-style tabs. I loved the tabs. They felt more adjustable than most disposables, and more forgiving if you’ve got a toddler with a smaller waist and chunky thighs, or the other way round.

It meant I could get a snug fit around the legs and waist without doing the classic disposable nappy thing where you think you’ve nailed it, then spot a gap the size of a bus ticket.

The tricky bit is attaching the pad to the outer. You clip the compostable pad into the pants or belt using a small press stud, which takes a bit of practice. Once it’s clipped in, the pad sits inside the outer and you fasten the tabs as normal.

In day-to-day use, the leg fit felt secure and comfortable. There’s a ‘held in’ feeling that reminded me more of a reusable wrap than a disposable nappy, which is probably why we had no leaks.

Read next: Discover the best changing bags (that are actually stylish!) and the best sippy cups to pack in them

How easy was it to put them on and take them off?

This is where I have to be honest: the design made changes harder than I wanted them to be.

With the pants system, you first attach the disposable pad to the pants using the popper. Then you lie it all flat, get the toddler on it and fasten the tabs. In theory, fine. In practice, because the pad isn’t fixed all the way along, a wriggly toddler can kick, shift and move the pad away from where you need it.

If your child lies there like a serene baby in a nappy advert, it’s easy. But I tested these during a period of strong protests about nappy changes. I was also very tired. This system added a layer of complexity I didn’t always have capacity for.

That said, I don’t think it’s unworkable. It just demands either a calmer child than mine, or a bit of strategy.

If I were doing it again, I’d pre-clip several pads into the pants in advance so they’re ready to go. Once you’ve done a few changes and found your preferred tightness and technique, it gets easier. I just don’t want to pretend it’s as quick as ripping open a standard disposable and slapping it on mid-tantrum.

How did you use the tummy band? How does this work with the nappy pads?

The tummy band is actually a little easier to use: you attach the pad using a velcro tab, then wrap the band around the waist.

I used it as a lighter alternative, but I found it less reassuring than the full pants. There’s simply less structure. With the pants, you’ve got leg elastic and a more contained feel. With the band, I felt more reliant on perfect placement and a bit of luck.

Chimney Sheep sells the tummy bands as part of the same system. At the time of writing, the product page shows them as reduced by 50%, from £7.50 to £3.75.

Are Eenee nappies suitable for overnight use?

Yes, in the sense that they performed similarly to other nappies we’ve used. We tested them overnight and didn’t find them noticeably better or worse than other options.

If you’re expecting them to be some kind of miraculous “no night nappy ever again” solution, that wasn’t our experience. But they did the job.

Are the nappies suitable for sensitive skin? Did your baby have any reaction?

We didn’t have any skin issues during testing, and the materials are one of the reasons this system appeals.

Chimney Sheep describes the pads as being made without petrochemical plastics, perfumes or irritants. That matched what I liked in use: no heavy fragrance, no plasticky feel and nothing that made me worry about a toddler sitting in it for longer than ideal.

From my own testing, the outer pants felt comfortable against the skin. The waistband was wide and secure, and the velcro stayed strong. After several washes, the pants held their shape well, so even though it’s a bit of an upfront investment, they should last a long time. 

What are the stand-out features of the nappy and tummy band system?

The standout feature is the concept itself: a hybrid system that aims to give you disposable convenience with a much stronger eco story.

In practical terms, the absorbency was genuinely good, right up there with brands we’ve relied on for busy days. The velcro tabs on the pants were brilliant for getting a snug fit quickly, and the pants themselves felt well made. They also survived regular washing without stretching out.

Overall, the whole thing felt like an innovative middle ground for people who can’t face full-time reusable nappies, but feel increasingly fed up with landfill disposables.

Chimney Sheep also promotes a free pack offer using the code EENEE100 when you buy Eenee pants, tummy bands or wet bags, which is worth knowing if you’re trying the system for the first time.

Would you continue using them?

I was really excited to test these because I’ve struggled to go fully reusable. I want a better option than standard disposables, but a lot of ‘eco-friendly’ nappies don’t feel that different in real terms. Eenee, at least, is trying to rethink the whole thing.

But the learning curve is real. My toddler’s dramatic resistance to nappy changes made it harder to persevere with something that needs a bit more patience and precision. On a calm day, fine. On a day where you’re counting the minutes until bedtime, it can feel like too much.

I’ve kept the pants and I do intend to keep trying. I’d also recommend them to people who want a more eco-friendly alternative to disposables, especially if they’re already comfortable with reusable nappies and don’t mind a two-part setup.

Value for money was my other sticking point. At the time I tested them, a medium pack of 30 pads was £10, which is more than Kit & Kin at around £8 for 30, and miles away from supermarket basics. I can’t pretend price doesn’t matter when you’re getting through nappies at toddler volume.

That said, the Chimney Sheep product pages often show the pads and outers discounted, including a 50% reduction on the pads page and the pants page at the time of writing. If you’re curious, it makes sense to try them when there’s an offer on, rather than paying full whack and then resenting every change.

How do they compare to other nappies you’ve used?

In absorbency terms, they’re broadly comparable to everything we’ve used, including premium brands and budget supermarket ones. The difference isn’t performance. It’s how they work.

Compared with a standard disposable, Eenee is more fiddly to put on, but more adjustable once it’s on. It also has much stronger eco credentials, if you can compost the pads and if the plastic-free claims match what you’re looking for.

Compared with full reusable nappies, Eenee means less washing overall, because you’re not washing a bulky nappy every time. It’s also more convenient for childcare, travel or the days when you just can’t deal with the full reusable routine. That said, it’s still a bit technique-dependent, especially with a wriggly baby or toddler.

If you’re already happy in the reusable world, this could be a practical bridge option for busy days. If you’re firmly disposable-only and want something that behaves exactly like a disposable, you might find it irritating.

About the author

Tina Williams is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, a rookie home renovator, an amateur gardener and mum to a toddler with a keen interest in Duplo and kitchen knives. Over the years, she’s tested buggies, travel cots, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers and washing machines to see if they really stand up to manufacturers’ claims and, more importantly, whether they actually make parents’ lives easier.

When she’s not working at Mumsnet, you’ll find her in the park trying hard not to be a helicopter parent, or attempting to finish one of the many DIY jobs still left in her Victorian renovation.

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