Archive for the ‘Cloth / Reusable Nappies’ Category

The all new Wonderoo V2 Cloth Nappies fit from birth to potty training age (8lb- 35lb). This Pocket Nappy features poppers which can alter the size and fit of the nappy according to the child’s requirements. Not only does the nappy itself alter in size but the all new three stage micro-terry/ bamboo insert can now be altered in shape and size using poppers. The absorbency/ padding can be altered according to activities/ times e.g night time/ day time using the Three-Stage absorbency padding:

• Stage 1: A small contoured bamboo terry insert (to be used alone for small babies)
• Stage 2: Large rectangular insert made from six layers of soft and stretchy bamboo terry (to be used for larger babies)
• Stage 3: The two inserts can be snapped together to provide extra absorbency for older babies, night times or heavy-wetters.

The Wonderoo V2 is the ideal cloth nappy for parents, Grandparents or carers who may find two part nappies difficult or overwhelming to use. The Wonderoo V2 Nappy is an ‘All In One’ Pocket Nappy which makes this nappy as easy to put on as a disposable nappy. Although, this nappy does need stuffing, this can be done once the nappy is washed and dry, making the actual changing process a ‘one step process’.

The Wonderoo V2 is now available in a wide range of colours with either a PUL or Fluffy Minky outer. This nappy isn’t only easy to put on but looks cute and is just as soft as it appears for little ones to wear. The Wonderoo V2 has all improved leg gussets with anti-wicking technology and is now trimmer and offers a more improved fit, making the nappy far more comfortable to wear.

The Outer PUL/ Minky cover is soft to the touch and is made from stretchy fabric, the inside of the nappy is made from micro-terry fleece which pushes any liquid into the pocket of the nappy where absorbent padding soaks up any moisture. The Micro-terry fleece therefore remains dry protecting babies skin. The moisture is locked in the pocket of the nappy keeping both clothes and skin protected and clean.

Upon product testing the Wonderoo V2 with Josh (15 months), Mums Baby Magazine found that the baby wearing the Wonderoo V2 was very comfortable and slept for far longer during nap time whilst wearing this product. Upon removing the nappy, the Micro-Terry fleece inside felt quite literally bone dry, the babies skin was therefore well protected reducing any chance of issues such as Nappy Rash (which is quite common for those children wearing disposable nappies). The outside of the nappy was still clean and dry as expected whilst the pocket contents were indeed soaked. Josh had no pressure/ wicking marks and seemed very happy whilst modelling and testing the Wonderoo V2.

 The stuffing/ inserts can be removed easily for washing. This nappy can be machine washed at 40 degrees Celsius, although can be washed at higher temperatures if required (perhaps if the nappy has been soiled and requires a hotter wash). To dry, hang out on the line or alternatively you can tumble dry this item on a low heat. It is suggested that children should not wear any creams such as rash cream which are greasy and can damage the absorbency of the Wonderoo V2.

Available from £13.99 from www.babykind.co.uk, The Wonderoo V2 is a popular choice of cloth nappy. Baby Kind offer this nappy for sale either separately or as part of a ‘Ready-Made Kit’ which includes all the accessories and items needed to begin using cloth nappies. Although this nappy may seem expensive to some, this is actually a very economic and cost saving nappy, considering that it fits from birth upwards and can be washed and reused as many times as you please!

Mums Baby Magazine were hugely impressed with this cloth nappy and see it as a cloth nappy which is the closest in design to disposable nappies which many parents may be used to. Therefore, this would be the ideal cloth nappy of choice for those parents starting out and wishing to ‘swap to cloth’. The Wonderoo V2 Fits well and is easily adjusted in length and width to suit the baby, therefore fulfils both babies and parents requirements.

 

Emma Russell speaks to Mums Baby Magazine about Cloth Nappies and answers some of the many questions relating to ‘Fluffy Bum’s’.

 

What made you decide to use cloth nappies?

I had always planned to use cloth nappies, long before I fell pregnant. I think my main motivation was the thought of all of those disposables filling up landfill sites and still being there long after my baby had grown up. Plus, cloth nappies look so cute! Money was another factor. Although the initial outlay can be expensive, I don’t have to budget nappies into the weekly shopping trip and these nappies can be used over and over for any other children we have.

How much did you spend on cloth nappies?

When I found out we were expecting, I spent a long time researching different cloth nappies and was getting a bit bogged down by it all.

By chance, a work friend had overheard me discussing cloth and had an unused starter pack of Bambino Mio’s gathering dust in her loft. She had bought them with every intention of using cloth but just never got around to it.

For the price of a bottle of wine, I was set up with 12 pre-folds and a handful of newborn covers. Since then, it has become somewhat of an addiction so I dread to think how much I have spent – probably a couple of hundred pounds.

Has your little one ever worn disposables and if so what would your comparison between cloth and disposable be?

When we first brought Tom home from hospital, I had a whole wardrobe full of disposable nappies. I don’t know how but you just seem to accumulate them during pregnancy from all kinds of places.

We worked our way through that stash which probably took about six weeks. As first time parents, we also wanted to make sure that we knew what we were doing before trying out the cloth. Now Tom is in cloth full time during the day but often wears a disposable nappy at night.

I have tried a variety of cloth night nappies but find that they are all so big and bulky. From Tom’s point of view, I don’t think he really cares at the moment whether he is in cloth or a paper nappy. I would like to think that he finds the cloth more comfortable, especially as the inside is soft and there are no crinkly paper bits around the legs!

What are the positive aspects of using cloth nappies ?

• They can be used for more than one child – making them even more cost effective
• They come in so many wonderful designs and styles
• They look extremely cute!
• They are better for the environment
• You don’t end up with a bin full of stinky nappies
• They are softer on the skin
• They contain no chemicals which ‘lock away wetness’

Are there any negative aspects of using cloth nappies? 

• It can be expensive to get started
• They need changing more often than paper nappies
• They need washing

How easy do you find using cloth nappies?

Like everything in life, once you know what you are doing, it is easy. You get into a routine to make life easier for yourself. I find using cloth no more difficult than using disposable nappies. The dirty nappies go in the washing machine every two to three days and the covers get washed when they need it. The art of changing a cloth nappy is no different from changing a disposable!

How do you wash your nappies?

We have a nappy bucket where we throw the soiled/wet nappies. We dry pail, meaning we do not soak the nappies. I usually put a couple of drops of tea tree oil or lavender oil on a washable wipe and hang it over the netting in the bucket as this keeps it smelling fresh and also has anti bacterial properties.

When the pail is full, they go in the machine on a normal 40 degree wash. The only difference is that I only use the smallest amount of washing powder and I do an extra rinse cycle. This prevents a build up of detergent in the fabric which can cause the nappies to lose absorbency. For this reason, fabric softeners are also not advised.

Many people use a splash of white vinegar in the wash to act as a softener but I haven’t really found this necessary. Many ladies use more eco friendly methods of washing nappies, using soap nuts.

My nappies get hung up on the line to dry as the sun is the best way of bleaching out any stains. In winter, I put them on airing rails in front of windows in order to get the same effect. I love looking outside and seeing fresh white nappies blowing on the line.

What nappies do you use during the night time?

I love the Wee Notions nappies and have spent many a creative hour pouring over their web site designing the next nappy that I would like to buy. I have several Wee Notions Night Notions nappies which are a separate nappy and wrap. Although they are very effective and easily last the twelve hours I find that like most other night nappies, they are rather bulky. We use a disposable nappy at night for this reason.

If your chid goes to nursery/child minders, do they also use cloth?

Tom started at the child minders after Christmas when I returned to work. Before returning, my child minder said she would give cloth a go but didn’t seem too keen. I feel happier sending him with disposables as they can be worn for longer periods. Cloth does need to be changed more often as the wetness stays against the skin and unless you are used to this, it could be easy to forget which could lead to nappy rash.

I also feel awkward about asking anyone else to sort out dirty nappies. In a disposable, you just wrap it up and bin it without thinking about it. With cloth, I tip the poo down the toilet and flush it away. I would not expect anyone else to get that intimate with my child’s poo!

Are there any particular Cloth Nappies that you would recommend to our readers?

There are so many different types of nappy on the market, trying to work out what is best for you and your child can be very confusing. Once we had got the hang of the Bambino Mio’s, I bought several different types of nappy to give them a go. This can be expensive but lots of cloth users sell on or swap nappies. Places like the www.clothnappytree.com are good for finding bargains and likeminded mums.

We tried pocket nappies such as Wonderoos, Bumgenius and Fuzzi Bunz, all in one nappies such as the close parent pop ins and shaped nappies such as Thirsties and Petit Dessous that require a separate wrap. We still use these nappies. Some of them are sized and some of them are designed to last until we potty train.

Our absolute favourite nappy is the Itti bitti d’lish snap in one. It has inserts which popper into the waterproof wrap. When the inserts are wet, you just replace them and reuse the wrap. I also use our Bambino mio prefolds in these if all of the inserts are in the nappy bucket and they work great. The thing I love about the itti’s is that they are very slimline so you don’t struggle to stretch trousers over the top of them. We have never had any leaks with them either.

MBM would like to thank Emma for her time and hopes our readers consider ‘binning the disposable’ and ‘keeping to cloth’.

For those parents out there who wish to use cloth nappies rather than disposable ( a more ecological friendly method of keeping baby dry) is an excellent website to start finding the perfect product for your baby. Lollipop Nappies don’t only supply their own brand but others too, they have a user friendly website which is easy to understand and navigate around. You can also contact advisers from around the country for help and advice when deciding upon the particular type of cloth nappy that you wish to purchase.

When buying cloth nappies there are several options available and to be honest it can be daunting choosing which system to buy and understanding how exactly the nappies work. Jargon lingo such as ‘boosters, inserts, pop ups, all in one, two part, wraps and mesh’ suddenly seem to overwhelm you. DO NOT PANIC, Lollipop are there to save the day as their advisors are on the end of the line to guide you through each step.

Personally I chose to use the bamboo nappies (size 1) which were in a lovely mint green. My first question was ‘How many nappies do I need?’ The answer: it depends entirely upon how many nappies your baby uses in a day and how often you do the washing and drying! Thus, we bought twenty nappies as then we would be able to have a good rotation system.
My next question was ‘What else do I need?’. The answer: I required twenty fleece liners to put in each nappy to soak up the dampness from next to babies body and take it away to the nappy itself. I also needed around five wraps (plastic, waterproof wraps) to keep the nappy waterproof. This particular system is called a ‘two part nappy system’.
Along with the nappies I also bought a bucket with a mesh inside to put the used nappies into, two tubs of nappy sanitiser wash in a lavender scent (which you simply add to your own washing powder when putting them into your machine), a nappy bag to put used nappies into when I was out and about and some cloth wipes which I will evaluate and discuss in further detail in another article.
Upon arrival with the nappies we received two free magnets explaining the washing instructions for the nappies, inserts and wraps which is helpful if you ever become confused (it really is simple, just put your nappies along with any bits which go with them into the wash at 40 degrees for a normal cycle with some non-bio powder and a scoop of nappy wash).

Two months down the line we have been using the Lollipop Bamboo two part system and our little boy loves his ‘cloth bums’. However, we tried to revert back to disposable nappies for one afternoon when we were out shopping and our little boy screamed blue murder. After trying all the possibilities of what it could be that was upsetting him we wondered if it could be the different nappy… Indeed it was! As soon as our little boy was back in a cloth nappy he stopped crying and settled to sleep. Not only are they cute, fluffy, soft and appealing to the eye but babies know the difference too, it seems they are far more comfortable than hot, sweaty, plastic disposables and not only that but they are far more friendly to the environment too!
Josh has not once had nappy rash in these nappies, apparently this is yet another advantage of using cloth nappies as disposables tend to hold onto the liquid and keep it close to babies skin which results in rashes and discomfort. Although cloth nappies can often seem bulky and appear to be warm to wear, they are actually cooler than disposables as they allow more air flow.

We certainly will not be attempting to revert back to bins full of nappies and wipes. Josh (our little boy) certainly gives Lollipop the thumbs up and we will be purchasing his size 2 nappies in a month or so ready for the next stage of his growth.

SOME FACTS FOR YOU (Taken from www.nappytimes.co.uk)

Plastic ‘disposable’ nappies contain paper pulp, absorbent gel granules and chemical additives in the plastics and perfumes and concerns are mounting about the possible health risks.

• The gels and chemicals are claimed to be non toxic, however, no independent UK or European testing appears to have been carried out.
• The absorbent gels draw moisture up away from the baby’s skin, however, the effect of the extreme dryness on a baby’s skin and genitalia remains unstudied.
• A baby’s skin will absorb more than 60% of what is placed upon it.
• Recent research suggests that plastic disposables keep baby’s testicles at a higher than normal temperature, which might pose a risk to future fertility.

  Better for the environment
  

• Around 4% of all waste is made up by disposable nappies. In the UK we throw away around 3 billion disposable nappies a year, that’s 8 million a day that go to landfill site near you.
• Nappies may take hundreds of years to decompose in our landfill sites, that means every disposable nappy ever made still exists.  Even when they do decompose, they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
• It takes one cup of crude oil to produce the plastic for 1 disposable nappy.
• 7 million trees are forested to produce Britains nappies each year, around 70 square miles of forest. That’s approx. 4.5 trees per child. Some of this paper is derived from ancient Scandinavian forests which is being replaced with monoculture plantations, destroying habitats for a number of species.
• It is estimated that 1,796 tonnes of disposable nappies were disposed of in Dundee in 2004/05
• Ecological ‘footprinting’ is a way of comparing the impact things have on the environment. Taking into account the raw materials and energy required to make both disposable and cloth nappies, the energy taken to transport and use (including washing) the nappies, and the disposal and decomposition of them, the ecological ‘footprint’ of using cloth nappies is much smaller than using disposable nappies:
• These footprints represent the land required for each baby each year – bear in mind that an average football pitch is 7,500 m2.