Anyone using Nature Boy/Girl nappies?

[LizC]

I've just started using nature boy/girl nappies as I wanted to use something environmentally friendly (we use cloth nappies most of the time and just disposables when we go away) and I was quite happy with them. However, I've just bought another 2 packs and they've changed, to what seems like a more papery but slightly easier design to use - tabs are more easy to do up. BUT we've now had 2 nappies break - the tabs have simply ripped off while our dd has been wearing them and everything has leaked out (this was while she was having an episode of diarrhoea). I've never had this happen before with a disposable and to have 2 of the first something like 5 nappies we've used break seems like a design fault. Have other people experienced this with the new version of these nappies? I'm really annoyed as I feel like taking them back, but then I'll have to use ordinary disposables and I wanted to be 'green'!

I use Nature Boy and Girl, yes they have changed their design a few months back and they are now not as 'plasticy' (I know they are not made of plastic). The outer cover is now softer. I very rarely have tabs break (touch wood). I seemed to have more break with Pampers Active-Fit and Huggies were even worse!

I am very happy with Nature Boy and Girl and also use their Nappy Sacks (Though try to get 3 dirty nappies in one, so have to keep untying them, as they are a bit pricey!!)

I just felt that with the usual branded disposables, I could see not just the ones I used but everybody elses as well, piling up in some landfil site somewhere and so I took the plunge into the unknown and tried out the Nature B & G.

They are made of re-cycled natural products and 70% of them bio degrades, which has got to be worth thinking about. I do try to be as eco friendly as possible but re-usables weren't for me and these where the next best thing.

Anway I know you know all of that, so getting back to your problem. It might be worth writing to them and seeing what they say, they may even give you some freebies to compansate for the problems they are causing and would probably be interested to know of any 'design faults' for the future.

I've been using nature boy and girl for the last 7 months and didn't have any problems until this last bag. I've had one ripped off tab (luckily nappy was held in place by his bodysuit), and 4 nappies with one of the tabs missing completely. I've been using the new style nappies for quite a few weeks and this is the first batch to have problems, guess there's something wrong on the new production line.
However, I had much worse problems with leaking and mess the week I tried Pampers!
I've saved my tab-less nappies and intend to return them, but I'm sticking with nature boy/girl for now - can't stand the idea of adding to the undegradable nappy mountain.

Yeo, we've also had problems - 4 nappies in one pack had tabs which came off. Two before we'd even got them onto dd, and two more broke whilst she was wearing them (both times during her daytime nap, so no strenuous activity taking place!) I was fed up because our Sainsbury's had reduced them by about £1.10 a pack and so I'd bought a job lot of 10 packs and bunged it all on Visa, so I was worried that the whole lot would be duff. However, 3 packs later, we haven't had any problems. I have, however, saved the 2 unworn faulty nappies and plan to write and complain (I keep reminding myself of this every time I trip over the plastic bag in the middle of our bedroom floor!)

Is it a paticular size? We use Junior.

Think I will try and write to them and complain - it does sound like it's a problem with their production line, but perhaps just an odd pack from the sound of it? I bought 2 packs as Waitrose had a buy 2 get £2.50 off (or something like that) and in fact 2 packs will last me months (as I'm only supplementing reusables every so often), so I was rather annoyed. Don't think I'll try and send the broken ones back though as they were both used (and dd had diarrhoea)!! Wonder if it is a particular size - I'm using maxi (15-40lbs).

Has anyone tried any other eco-friendly nappies? I know there are 2 that you can get mail order, one from Lollipop (can't remember the name of theirs) and Moltex from Little Green Earthlets, which I thought I might try and order next time I get something from them. It's always a bit of a shot in the dark trying new nappies though, as I think with the Moltex you have to order at least 50 odd, or maybe more, which is a lot if you don't like them (and you hardly ever use disposables).

We are hopefully coming to an end with nappies altogether over the next couple of months but agree that the new Nature Boy/Girl are most emphatically NOT improved - we've had numerous tab tears and nappies undoing themselves during the night.
If we ever have another child we will definitely be trying Moltex next time.

Moltex are really really good nappies and i would rec them to anyone, when we've run aout and had to use nature boy etc... or pampers!!! the moltesx definitely outperform!!!!

i usually get mine from little green earthlets... definietley worth it... and much much more green then nature boy and girl...

Thanks Bea for the recommendation for Moltex nappies. I do need to place an order with Little Green Earthlets and when I got the catalogue out recently I looked at the Moltex, but thought they were v. expensive so was put off. If I know someone thinks they're really good then it's worth a try!

Hi, Liz. We use Moltex too, we buy them from Earthlets by the case as this is cheaper and more convenient. I found that Nature nappies leaked gel onto dd's bottom - I hate the things. Tushies are totally gel-free but are a bit leaky, Moltex do have the gel in but only a little.

Did anyone see Miranda's baby's bottom on Sex In The City? I thought the nappy pattern looked like Nature Boy and Girl....?

I know this isn't a discussion on the merits of Nature nappies per se, but I was just wondering about their environmental benefits. I know that they're not made with polymers & therefore in theory can biodegrade faster than disposables. But what difference does that make if it's going in landfill anyway? (I'm assuming you put them in the bin as normal). I'd be interested to know if anyone has any more info on this.

Interestingly I was doing the Sainsburys shop today and the Nature nappies appear to be the same price as the equivalent Huggies. This surprised me somewhat as I'd automatically assumed they'd be more expensive. Have bought a pack to try (never could bring myself to use reusable nappies even though I knew they'd be better for the environment).

you'd be amazed at the types and many styles of reusables you can get! (eliminate that terry square and pins from your mind! we're talking 21st Century here!) i use both and must admit that there's nothing like a disposable (moltex!) when you're in a rush.... but then again... clothies are sooo cute and watching dd waddle off in a fluffy nappy is the cutest thing ever!!!!!!!

I know bea and I really should look into them more. It's just the whole thought of having to be more involved with the smelly ones other than tying it up in a plastic sack and putting it in the bin is a bit unappealing. Plus I do a load a day in the washing machine as it is.

I realise I'm just making excuses and I do feel guilty, but not guilty enough... obviously.

georginaA .... oh no! don't feel guilty...!!! that you're thinking and aware about it is enough! i'm no saint! i love a good old disposie at the best/worst of times!

but environementally wise (in the case of disposies!) tushies i think are the most green (although i hate them! their tabs must be made out of superglue!)... then Moltex! ... then nature!

i apologise if my post made you feel bad!
have a nice sunday!!!!

I'm with GeorginaA - I feel guilty but not guilty enough. I've stopped putting every nappy in a nappysack though, shove as many in one as I can when necessary and non-smelly ones just go in the bin.

As a penance, I try to make sure we recycle everything else possible even though it's a pain going to the recycling bins.

I use naturegirl for the baby I look after and I have to say I think they are c**p. They leak all the time and she's not a heavy wetter.
used to be a pampers girl for my two, but find huggies the best now with the other kiddies I look after.

Lol bea no need to apologise! I'm really glad this thread has come up because I will now try the slightly more "envirofriendly" disposables - I'd not realised there was even this option before.

Maybe when we get around to baby number 2 I'll have built up enough courage to look at reusable systems. One thing I find a bit scary is the big initial outlay before you really know whether they're going to work for you and your family.

I used nature boy/girl (out of nappies for a while now) for hollidays etc when not using reusables. They changed the design back then and I had a couple of problems which I e-mailed them about. (web address on pack I think) They sent me 2 packs as a replacement, so well worth contacting them!

Keep up the Good "green" Work our children will thank us in the future!

meant to say -GeorginaA - Huge market in second hand reusables so give it a go, they are so much better now (motherease Totsbots etc) even if you don't fancy 2nd hand for yours you can get most of money back when finished!

Anybody interest in re-usables try

www.thenappylady.co.uk/

Word of mouth says she is the bees knees and will send samples of all different types (Although not FOC)

also, going back to my other thread about UKParents.co.uk there is a really good buy and sell board for cloth nappies, where you can get every kind of cloth nappy there is... useful if you wnat to try a few... and if they don't work for you, just re sell them! also quite a few posters on the cloth nappy board are very friendly and will lend you a nappy or two to try.. for cost of post and packing!

they're so fanatical they try to convert everyone to clothies!!!! (me not being so fanatical and a dabbler in the cloth nappy world! )

this is a genuine question, i'm not trying to be argumentative, but i've always wondered if it cloth nappies are really greener if they are being washed with an ordinary commercial detergent at 60 degrees or more and then tumble dried? anyone got any information on this? think i will ask friends of the earth about this and see what they say.

I am pretty certain that there is the info around. It can take over 100 years to break down the gel type nappy so that it works out pretty even, even accounting for the energy use to wash, for reuseable nappies. And that's accounting for doing a wash for because you have have enough dirty nappies for a separate nappy wash. Our wet nappies go into the normal wash and I do so much more of those just by having children. And a husband come to think of it. Where I live, we are very much encouraged to recycle etc and are told that our choice of detergent is very important too.

Putting disposables in the 'fragant' disposable bag doesn't help with their biodegradiation plus you have to add the transport cost of getting them into a shop withing driving distance of your own home.

Let us know what the answer to your search is.

I would be interested too Bossykate. I took on trust a friend who is very green telling me that there is actually little to choose between disposables and reusables in terms of environmental friendliness. I was a bit surprised to hear that because of the biodegradable business, but there are always other issues at stake and one of them, sadly, is that a lot of day nurseries will not use reusables for their little clients because of the hygiene/storage implications. Ofsted guidelines, apparently.