Or just misinformed? I am shocked that disposable nappies have gel crystals..

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..in them that I have been told are highly toxic and potentially lethal to babies (is this true?)

Several of my friends have been complaining lately about how often their LO nappy disintegrates at night and they find gel crystals all over their bottoms.

Given how stringent rules are about products for babies and children, some ridiculously so, I find it odd that nappy companies are allowed to use gel crystals if they are a) highly toxic and b) don't stay in the nappy so that the baby has access to them.

I use cloth but I'm not trying to be holier than thou here, I am genuinely wondering whether I am misinformed or over reacting.

Go on, do your worst (this is my first AIBU post and I expect to be thoroughly roasted).

dont knwo if they aare harmful BUT god help u if you ever put one in the washing machine!!!

'gel crystals' over EVERYTHING!!!!

I doubt that they're highly toxic/lethal to babies.

I remember when ds was younger, scooping him out of a paddling pool with a nappy that had swollen to three times its size. I hadn't realized that they were full of gel crystals until it split. That said, a nappy would have to be totally saturated for this to happen. I've never heard of one to split with normal usage.

Oh gawd I can imagine!

I don't think they are harmful but they enable the nappie to be quite thin as they suck up the wee. I don't think they really should leak out though. I remeber one brand did this alot with dd2 so we hcanged to cloth.

Desiderata two of my friends were talking about it yesterday - both children are 16m and must be heavy wetters I guess. It is the night time nappy apparently.

I can't think where I heard the thing about the gel being toxic. It may be an urban myth but I'd be interested to know.

The polymer gel stuff (sodium polyacrylate) is not toxic but may cause irritation if it gets into eyes, nose, or mouth as it will absorb water and dry out those tissues.

It was banned from tampons in the mid 1980s. Don't know on what grounds (?toxic shock syndrome?)

Just to add the special needs side of things...

"Is it better for the child to eat the crystals dry or wet??"

You can see we lead such exciting lives!!

better to eat them wet

i accidently put one in the washing machineit went huge but didnt split ds is a very heavy wetter at night so much so we have to change him in his sleep once during the night because the nappy gets so full it occasionally leaks but ive never seen one split mabey it depends on the brand?

I'm remembering more of what I heard now - it was that the crystals would continue to absorb huge amounts of moisture from the body if ingested and would dehydrate the child as well as poison them. Hm. Does sound a bit hysterical now I come to think of it!

I had no idea tampons used to contain anything except cotton wool.

I have used ones that split very easily. Can't remember what brand they were though. Probably Tesco I expect?

if the nappy is left on too long and gets too wet you get awful crystals.

Gel crystals in nappies were introduced about 20 years ago - when DS1 was a baby. He's still alive despite them though I have to confess that I haven't had to look at his nether regions for many years.

pampers don't split in the wash and I've put a fair few in there!!!!!

I doubt it was Tesco - never had one split in nearly 7yrs of using them (continously!)....did have plenty of Huggies and Pampers splitting/leaking on us though in the early days with DS1

I use boots these days - but only because we don't shop at Tesco anymore.

neither do huggies kitty

And I won't have a word said against Sainbury's own brand ...

Have had plenty of pampers split on us aswell. DD is 6 but incontinent and still in nappies. I think cos she's bigger now they get much wetter much faster iykwim and we've had them split a fair few times over the last year or so - never when she was little though.
The gel crystals are a pita, they get everywhere and are a nightmare to try and clean up!

I have used various brands on DD1 - whatever was cheapest, on offer, or I had vouchers for (i.e. huggies and pampers carrying out their endless buy ours or your child will suffer from lack of sleep and be thick forever ) Many of them either split or leaked gel (mainly at night). Didn't ever use tesco or sainsbury ones - no local stores

The gels are permitted in nappies but are prohibited in 'feminine hygiene products' not sure why.

Now the bleach used in disposable nappies and the disposables heat retaining properties is also being investigated. Research into the effects of diposables on male fertility is in its infancy due to the fact that the oldest children who have been 100% disposable reared are now only in their late 20's

I complained to pampers about a month ago because my dd woke up 3 nights in a row because her nappy leaked and she was soaked.I got a nice letter back from proctor and gamble saying the gel wasnt harmful even if it was eaten.Also got £12 vouchers!

It was Pampers that did!!!

We have had this with Pampers too. It is a PITA. But to be honest it ony happened when ds1 had pissed virtually his own body weight over night. Now he has less milk it hasn't happened.

I also use the size up form what he needs during the day to try and stop leaking/ splitting

Can't believe for a second they are toxic though - this must be scaremongering from somewhere - there is no way they would be allowed in childrens nappies if they were so stop worrying!!!

once ds pulled apart his nappy & these gel bits were all over the room - a real mess. ds was just curious and not too sure about his nappy 'explosion'!!