CLOTH NAPPIES NO better for the environment than DISPOSABLES

[Eaney]

Apparently......Interesting study

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We had great fun tearing thsi report to pieces when it came out Eaney. Sure lots of people would enjoy a 2nd go tho Esp re te bits about ironing nappies and tumble drying them and buying brand new ones for each baby and washing at 90 rather than 60 and ........cant remember all the other holes that were picked in it tbh. twas a great debate tho.

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who cares, i'm not paying out between £5-10 a week on throwing away nappies.

in fact i made a profit on some i have sold on afterwards/

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WEN issued a good statement on this - WEN

Well apparently some of the people they questioned in the survey did (or said they did anyway).....Oh that was another thing they only used somethign like 200 real nappy users as opposed to 2000 disposable users (or something like that) and half of those used laundry services.

Disclaimer
Cant remember exact figures sorry but it was something quite small.

ironing nappies, dont iron my clothes gawd and I'm supposed to do the nappies too!!! I wash the nappies at 40degrees, I do wait until theres a full load and they are all line dried, have used same lot for both dd's (dp wont let me buy other brands, he's such a spoilsport).

They did, Pruni.
I am pretty sure they also left out disposal costs .
Lots of "assumptions" both ways.
I think that cost for cost basis, you can do cloth more env. friendly for a cheap cost much more easily than you can disposables (env. friendly disps are very dear). That's how I judge which is ultimately "better" environmentally.

This study came out a few months ago and I can't remember all the details, but I remember it was criticised because the numbers of real nappy users was small, nappies were washed at high temperatures (not necessary), tumbled dry (not necessary), included soaking (not necessary). I don't think it addresses the fact that cloth nappies can be used for more than one child, either, significantly reducing the impact.

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oops, was waiting for my computer to download the report, but it's 200 PAGES LONG, so I won't be reading it this afternoon!

I don't really know much about cloth nappies but am just curious whether you would use the terry squares from years ago.

ie good for enviroment but not so easy to use or fit clothes over?

my sis used terry squares for oldest nephew 17 years ago

There was one statement on the report that stood out for me.

"We believe that people should be free to choose whatever nappy suits them".

Amen and a big fat Hooray to that.

I use terries, work fine with Motherease wraps. My kids are skinny so never had a problem with fitting modern baby clothes (designed with disps in mind) over them, but admittedly some people do have that problem.

Something I notice... DS2 (14m) walks the same if he is nappy free or has a cloth nappy on, but he walks differently with a disp on. I can't say why.

Didn't use terry squres myself, but did have to choose dd's trousers carefully! Tracky bottoms are the best- nice and baggy, with elasticated ankles so it doesn't matter if the legs are a bit long!

sorry to sound dim but you put a wrap over the top of a nappy?

I thought the nappy was all you need, with liner sheet thingy to catch poo, and a plastic pants sort of thing.

I meant the 40cm x 40cm ones made of terry towelling

the ones you use pins for

oooooops sorry just realised I have hijacked your thread

You use a wrap instead of plastic pants (waterproof poly-something-artificial wraps much nicer than stiff plastic).

Yes, 40x40cm towelling squares, those be the ones.

and you don't have to use pins, either. I do but you can also get these little t-shaped things called nappy nippas to hold the terry into shape.

I have started a new thread cos I have hijacked this one

Oh I see, thanks

Do you think it is possible to be as kind to the environment using disposable which maintain they are environmentally friendly as using cloth nappies (assuming that you use the cloth nappies as suggested -low temp washing etc..)?

didnt this study wash them at 90C AND iron them, and allow like LOADS of nappies per child> (ie more than most people even own!)

it is thefore technically invalid and unreliable!
Bet it was commissioned by pampers or something!

when you consider the nappies can be reused.... ( i know of some kissaluvs that are now on their 4th child... with lots of wear for another few kids too) and arnt washed at 60 (and im sorry but WHO irons their nappies... there cleary IS environmantal advantage!