Eco-friendly disposables for newborn

[FlirtyThirty]

Ok, I've decided to use reuseable nappies for my baby, but also decided that in the first few months, DHa dn I willahve enough stuff to learn and do, that we'll use disposables until we get used to having a small person in the house.

So...can anyone recommend any good disposable nappies that are at least a little environmentally firiendly?

Also, how many and what size should I buy in advance of the arrival?

I used the nature babycare ones on my DS when he was born. I still use them occasionally and have never had any leaks. You can get them from boots (sainsbury's have stopped stocking them).

Don't buy too many packs in the smallest size - my DS grew out of the newborn sizes within a few weeks.

I switched to cloth when DS was about 10 weeks I think - it was much easier than I thought. In fact, apart from a few extra loads of washing it wasn't any harder than using disposables.

Hope all goes well with your new arrival!

There's a brand called Moltex which are really good. We have a vegan supermarket where you can buy them, but they're probably available on-line.
Good luck

i use moltex and they are good - you can order them from spirit of nature or naturebotts. sainsbury eco dispos are good too, very leakproof, although who knows how eco they are.

God, being a vegan really is restrictive if they're prepared to munch on a nappy!

I would second how easy reusables are, I wash every couple of days, I started using reusables after 3 weeks and was expecting a lot more work than it actually is. the only difference I found is that it takes a bit longer to put a real nappy on due to poppers and possibly the use of wrap as well.

We used Bamboo ones as Moltex have just changed their nappy it is no longer unbleached and contains more gel than previously. We got on really well with the bamboo and they absorbed BF poo well and no leaks then into washables at 6 weeks. Got my bamboos from Spirit of Nature online.

Thank you so so much for all the replies ladies! Huge help! And very glad to here of smooth transitions to reuseables - bodes well for the future!

PMSL at the vegan quip, lollipopmother!

Just to add you can get free samples of most reusable types from many sellers. Try spirit of nature - I got a free moltex and a free bumbo (I think it was called that anyway) there. I bought nature babies for DS - they were very good but I didn't use them for a long time as he went into cloth from day 1 because he was a big boy and not my first cloth bum.

I think you are doing the right thing by not rushing into using cloth from day 1 - esp with your first baby. You could order a trial kit of different cloth nappies to try out on your baby once you are ready to help you decide which type you like best. You might be able to get a trial kit locally or you can get one online. Plus I think cloth nappy shopping is more effective when you know what size and shape baby you have

sorry - free samples of most environmentally friendly disposables.

Thanks BigBadMouse! Will look into the trial packs...practicality aside, it seems a bit too surreal to make a decision on nappies and wraps before I've even had/seen my baby! Can just about cope with buying a pack of disposables though!

Molotex, ime, are dreadful. As effective as putting a muslin cloth on bottom...

We're using the Nature Babycare ones which are really good. DS is five weeks now and we're just starting to try reusables - we have one trial one which we used yesterday! Seemed good but he didn't poo much in it, so we'll wash it and try again to see how it copes with that before putting a big order in!

The Nappy Lady website is really good (www.thenappylady.co.uk) and has a questionnaire you fill in to see which nappies would be best for you. Recommended Motherease OneSize for us which is what we're trying out at the moment.

Ooh, and forgot to say, DS was 7lb2oz when born and the size 1 nappies fitted him until he was about 4 weeks, and we went through about two packets a week (56 nappies).

I used Motherease nappies x2 girls and got on fine with them (an extra load of washing every other day). They are a bit more bulky than disposables so I keep eco friendly disposables for holidays and outings! I use the ones from www.mama-earth.co.uk

I used cloth on my dd from day 1 and she was my first. I have no experience of disposables but have to say its a complete myth that cloth nappies are difficult or cause any additional hassle from the start.
I was recommended to use disp at first by NCT course leader, which I ignored, and glad I did.
I love love love my cloth nappies

Hi,

Spent hours researching re-usables.. what a mind field!! I want to try and use a one size nappy from birth to potty and plan to order a couple to try out (due in April). Has anyone used Nature Babies Big Softee (popper fastening)or nature babies micro pocket, these both seem to have good reviews and good drying capabilities.

thanks for any feedback.

Hi RedHairedGirlie you might be better off starting a new thread or popping onto the general chat thread where there are lots of experts!

thakns - will give that a go :-)

Actually my breastfed baby leaked through every disposable until he started food at 6 months and had more solid poo. We used cloth nappies with wraps and they were the only thing that kept the poo in. Holidays were a nightmare as I seemed to spend all my time washing clothes from leaky eco disposables (he has eczema and is allergic to commercial disposables).
However, when he started walking the clothies kept falling down so we switched to a mixture of Tushies (gel free and lovely but contain cotton and imported from the states, so bad carbon footprint); Moltex (great but need to change them more often and mostly only available on the net, but gel free and probably the most environmentally friendly) and Nature babycare which we use at the moment as available in Waitrose up the road. Hope this helps. Nature Babycare do really good biodegradable nappy bags too.

There are some nature babycare ones on offer here

littlepants.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=40

Might be expensive on postage though! Depends where you live I guess!