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Original poster

Real Nappies aren't worth the hassle??

228 replies

Magscat · 19/05/2005 07:13

This was on the BBC news this morning.

As a cotton nappy devotee I can't believe they are saying that disposables are not much worse than cotton - just doesn't make sense.

Any other thoughts

OP posts:
beatie · 19/05/2005 10:44

There is something lovely about a line full of nappies drying in the wind

Original poster
Magscat · 19/05/2005 10:45

Yep - seems to me that the sample is not a typical one. I don't know anyone who washes that much on 90 degrees or anyone that uses a laundry service (cos there isn't one where I live) but I do know loads who uses flushable/reusable liners and who line dry as much as poss.

Would have been better if the report had found a wider more varied sample but better still if the media had reported the issue differently. I.e. more in-depth not just headlines about there being 'no difference'.

OP posts:
hub2dee · 19/05/2005 10:45

Ameriscot: re temps - not saying I don't believe them, I'm saying it doesn't seem to reflect current usage as the popularity of fleece and non-Terries has increased, fewer loads are being washed at such high temps, that's all.

Ameriscot2005 · 19/05/2005 10:46

Yes, as they refine their assumptions in future years, they can feed them back into the super-duper computer to see how important these variables really are.

sweetkitty · 19/05/2005 10:47

I live in flat and don't have a tumble drier which put me off cloths to start with but I've found it no great hassle. I have Fuzzi Bunz which I love, the nappies dry in about a hour and the inserts overnight. Tots bots take 2 days bumbles and MEOs about a day over the radiator/airer.

Fuzzis cost more but you can get away with less. Number 2 will be in cloths from Day 1 practically!

I was on holiday at the weekend and it felt so wierd putting DD is disposables.

sweetkitty · 19/05/2005 10:48

oh I do a prewash wash mine at 40deg

beatie · 19/05/2005 10:50

I don't/didn't find it a hassle either. Using cloth is something you sadly get addicted to and it just becomes part of your nomral routine.

popsycal · 19/05/2005 10:55

I am a recent convert too...gradually getting ds2 who is 11 weeks into cloth. Have almost a days worth now but deciding what we get on with best then buying more. DS1 is also in cloth for night nappies - potty trained in the day.

For me, it was a combination of environmental/cost/chemicals that made me change......but slowly becoming addicted too )

I plan to wash every other day. Don't soak the nappies. Do a cold rinse instead of a prewash then wash at 60 degrees with other whites (eg towels). I do tumble dry though but plan to line dry when the weather is good.....

Can't believe the news paper report either

acnebride · 19/05/2005 10:57

Magscat, having had a look, it seems reasonable to report this with a headline saying 'there is no difference' because that's exactly what the report does say.

I must say that my mum bought me sterilising solution when she found I wasn't using it, and I did then start using it - don't think I'll do that again...

and I drifted into tumble drying because they are sooo much softer afterwards - but I will stop. So the report's helpful to me.

I think it's an excellent piece of research - the sort of thing I wish governments would do much more of. Hope in the future they look at the detail of different types of disps and cloths, esp hemp as somebody else mentioned.

PinkFluffPudding · 19/05/2005 10:59

(Just a quick note to Magscat and Acnebride for answering my question. And all others who have done inadvertantly! I'm off out now.)

pixiefish · 19/05/2005 11:05

can anyone give me a link to this report???? can't find it anywhere

pixiefish · 19/05/2005 11:05

can anyone give me a link to this report???? can't find it anywhere

throckenholt · 19/05/2005 11:06

its further down this thread - tarantula posted it.

Suuzywong · 19/05/2005 11:06

Has this thing kicked off yet?

pixiefish · 19/05/2005 11:09

that link doesn't work for me
I just get a blank page

Original poster
Magscat · 19/05/2005 11:12

Acnebride - I guess you're right that they are technically correct in reporting what the report says. I just think it's sad that there's so much more they could have said to make a really informed debate/feature - like pointing out some of the things that have been said on here.
Credit though to BBC for interviewing reps from both 'sides' of the debate.

OP posts:
MrsDoolittle · 19/05/2005 11:12

Have you got adobe acrobat?

Gwenick · 19/05/2005 11:13

Children up to 2.5 yrs, who are in nappies, use an average of 6.1 nappies per day,

6.1 nappies a day - who are they kidding?? DS2 - nearly 18 months genrally goes through 3 or 4 nappies a day - 2 'bowel movements'! Ds1 was pretty similar!

Gets changes in the morning (after he's filled it ), once after lunch (generally having filled again) and then once before bed!!

Fennel · 19/05/2005 11:14

Well even if they were no better for the environment (which I just don't believe) then we've still saved about £5,000 with having 3 children in the same 28 nappies. and it's been nice having early toilet trainers too. I would use them for those reasons alone.

anchovies · 19/05/2005 11:14

Have to admit to only 3 changes here too gwenick!

anchovies · 19/05/2005 11:16

What does your £5000 include fennel?

(Just wondering as have long been debating giving up disposables but have no garden or dryer)

Ameriscot2005 · 19/05/2005 11:18

How can you save £5000, when it costs, on average, £600 per child for disposable. Even in my family, with 5 children, that only works out to £3000.

pixiefish · 19/05/2005 11:19

it's downloaded now- took ages though

Gwenick · 19/05/2005 11:19

and it's been nice having early toilet trainers too.

Sorry don't buy that argument - I know lots of dispoable babies who've toilet trained early - in fact most of DS's friends who are girls trained around 2yrs old - some earlier¬

Fennel · 19/05/2005 11:23

OK I knew people would come back to me on that. I posted this with the justification for the 5K on another thread a while back. it's based on a Which magazine way of reckoning the cost (and they are not particularly pro washable nappies). They estimate 2000 for disposable nappies for each child. I know people are saying it's less than that but that's what they estimate people use in 2.5 years. and then you subtract cost of washable nappies (about £300) and then cost of washing them, which depends on your washing method. we don't tumble dry or wash more than every 3.5 days and wash low with ecover. so that's how I came up with that figure.