http://www.99union.org/nappy/ A modern woman, with the internet at her fingertips explores embarrassment of riches and technology that is the nappy in the new millennium. en-us Copyright 2010 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:52:45 +1000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Mother-ease one-size, but it does have many good features. The best feature is its stretchiness, which makes it easy to fit. It's quite soft and despite being a bit bulkier because it's a one-size, still fitted easily beneath the Rikki cover.
Mother-ease products are not presented as nicely as other brands (colour, style), such as BabyBeehinds, but their products are solid to use so I'm not surprised they've been in business since 1991. I can imagine there are many satisfied customers who swear by Mother-ease.
]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/motherease-onesize-nappy-not-a.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/motherease-onesize-nappy-not-a.html Nappies Recommendations cotton Mother-ease Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:52:45 +1000 Sandy's nappy was the best.
Although it's bamboo, therefore very absorbent and slow to dry, it's nice and stretchy which makes it easy to fit. It's also a sized product, so more slimline and not as bulky as the one-size cloth nappies. So, if you can make it work economically, this nappy would work well with any cover (I preferred the BabyBeeHinds PUL wrap with it).
]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/motherease-sandys-nappy-pick-o.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/motherease-sandys-nappy-pick-o.html Nappies Recommendations bamboo Mother-ease Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:47:36 +1000 one-size Swaddlebees, but the Organic is a sized model so just didn't last long enough for our test subject. Great product on a smaller baby, or if you use this brand of sized system 100% of the time and not in combination with other products - to make it economical. ]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/swaddlebees-organic-velour-out.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/swaddlebees-organic-velour-out.html Pocket Nappies Recommendations organic pocket nappy Swaddlebees Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:36:58 +1000 Happy Heiny's because I liked the prints - I have a 'cheeky monkey' pattern - but it's been in regular use since then. It's 100% synthetic, so easy-drying, and easy to stuff. The only problem I've had with it is that it is not very flexible around the waistband and can be a bit leaky.  ]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/happy-heinys-onesize-not-bad.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/happy-heinys-onesize-not-bad.html Pocket Nappies Recommendations Happy Heiny's pocket nappy Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:31:49 +1000 Bum Genius one-size is a great product. It's very well-made and sturdy plus easy to use. As it's fully synthetic, it's quick to dry and easy to care for. As our test subject is a bigger baby, I've found the sizing more generous than some. It's well fitted and easy to adjust. It comes in a nice range of colours and can be purchased from a number of online suppliers.  ]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/bum-genius-one-size-definite-s.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/bum-genius-one-size-definite-s.html Pocket Nappies Recommendations Bumgenius pocket nappy Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:26:32 +1000 Peapod, but unfortunately it's not one of my favourites.
The microfibre lining is great, but the colour scheme I have it a light green outer with dark green inner and this means the dark green shows lots of fluff. And although bamboo is fantastically absorbent, this insert/ booster was always the last thing off the line. Lastly, I'm not a fan of the popper closures on nappies. It's probably just me, but I find them very hard to pull tight and fasten.
]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/peapods-pocket-nappy-no-thanks.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2010/01/peapods-pocket-nappy-no-thanks.html Pocket Nappies Recommendations Peapods pocket nappy Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:22:03 +1000 Tots Bots Easyfit is nearly the perfect nappy. It's a generous size, cheerful colour, strong but easy to use velcro close, and highly absorbent bamboo core (it also comes in microfibre).
It's only drawback is taking it apart for washing and reassembling. It has a bamboo inner that slots into a 'tongue' that folds into the pocket (yes, hard to imagine) but it's quite difficult to get the inner back into the sleeve.

]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/10/tots-bots-easyfit-nappy-nearly.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/10/tots-bots-easyfit-nappy-nearly.html Pocket Nappies Recommendations pocket nappy Totsbots Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:33:01 +1000 However, their main drawback is they are too small. Our test subject is only 5 months old, albeit on the 97th percentile for weight (he was 8.7kg at 4 months!) but he has outgrown the Rumparooz. I don't see how you could make it last into toddlerhood.
Not recommended.
]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/10/rumparooz-too-small.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/10/rumparooz-too-small.html Pocket Nappies Recommendations pocket nappy Rumparooz Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:23:55 +1000 How?
When we use disposables, any wee-only ones are kept in a separate nappy bucket. When it's time to compost, I make a cut with scissors at the top of the nappy near the leg edge, then tear down the leg seam. This allows the pulp core to fall out, into the compost. The plastic wrapping is then put into the regular rubbish.
This is a controversial thing to do for 2 reasons:

• human waste treatment
• water-saving chemicals

It is not recommended to use human, or pet, waste in compost. Why do we do it? Because the volume of waste is relatively small, and the composting process itself should break down the urine. And like greywater, you can use the resultant compost in such a way as to avoid contact with the edible parts of plants. It is recommended not to use greywater on leafy veg, for example, so I'd use this compost as a soil conditioner to plant tomatoes in - which don't come in to contact with the fruit.

What about the nasty toxins in water-saving chemicals? Well these are effectively the same chemicals used in water-saving crystals anyway, so I figure, 'what's the difference?'. I'd like to hear from anyone with a different view.

So far, all the nappies are still composting, so I'll let you know when we start using it.

I'm very happy with this approach as it helps us deal with one of the two significant issues with disposing of nappies - volume of waste in landfill. The result of removing the pulp core is that more than 50% of the bulk is removed.

I have read that for "eco" disposables, you can compost the entire nappy as some of the other construction materials are biodegradable - but we have not yet tried this. If you do this, you need to remove the non biodegradable (plastic) parts of the nappy from your compost. Or leave them there I suppose ... they won't hurt.

One thing to note is that all the urine makes the compost acidic - you may get 'vinegar flies', so add basic garden lime to counteract the acidity.

Here are a few websites on different approaches and opinions on composting nappies.

Nature's Child - disposable nappies, use and disposal
Sydney Morning Herald - Child's play: turning nappies into compost
EnviroComp Ltd - NZ joint venture between Huggies and EnviroComp to commercially compost nappies

This does not resolve the other significant waste problem of disposables - human waste in landfill. All the pooey nappies are still going to landfill ....

]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/10/composting-disposable-nappies.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/10/composting-disposable-nappies.html Disposables Recommendations composting disposables Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:47:41 +1000

• Huggies
• Moltex
• Bambo, and
  
• Pampers

I'd classify them into 'Huggies' and 'the rest'. The Huggies appear to be the best-constructed with the stretchiest elastic and best velcro-like tabs. However 'the rest' were all equally as efficient.
We have used disposables consistently for night-time and outings plus my husband prefers the Moltex when he does changes (he has a free pass on cloth nappies).
I have read in multiple places 'not to bother' with cheaper brands, but anecdotal evidence from mothers' group plus using these four products suggests there isn't much difference between them.
When choosing an 'eco' disposable, we slightly prefer the Moltex over the Bambo but given the Bambo is slightly cheaper, I would definitely recommend either. However, if you use 'eco' disposables you need to compost them for any real environmental benefit. See the Moreland Energy Foundation 'Energy for Babies Kit'.



]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/09/disposable-nappies-compared.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/09/disposable-nappies-compared.html Recommendations disposables Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:20:06 +1000 BBH wool wrap is a good choice for a wool cover. They come in BBH's great range of cheerful, fun colours, and as you would expect, works well with their range of fitted nappies.
I've mainly used it in conjunction with the Mother-ease Sandy's nappy.
Now that our test subject is approx 8kg he's grown out of the wool cover, which is recommended up to 7kg. However, the PUL cover still fits and I note BBH recommend this product to 8kg. So, although the wool is also a small, it's a smaller fit than the PUL.
The cover is nice and soft, with elasticised legs and waist, laundry tabs, and an extra panel of wool sewn down the centre . 
The only thing I noticed about the BBH velcro closing is that I instinctively close the nappies right-to-left (as a right-hander) but the velcro fastens left-to-right.

]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/09/baby-beehinds-wool-wrap-review.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/09/baby-beehinds-wool-wrap-review.html Recommendations Baby BeeHinds cover wool Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:52:20 +1000 AIO from Bumgenius is another very well-constructed product, like their others, but its main drawback is how slow it is to dry. The two layers of organic cotton are sewn in, but directly in contact with the baby, rather than underneath a cover (like many other AIOs). When wet, it is very noticeable (to baby).

As much as I generally like the Bumgenius products, they may have been better off doing an organic cotton insert to their pocket nappy to be able to offer an organic cotton alternative, like Swaddlebees.

]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/07/bumgenius-organic-all-in-one-n-1.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/07/bumgenius-organic-all-in-one-n-1.html Recommendations all-in-one Bumgenius organic Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:33:13 +1000 BBH product is an excellent choice is you're doing a sized AIO system. Besides all the convenience of an AIO, it also has a pocket and comes with a hemp booster for nights and heavy wetters. It's also reasonably priced, compared to alternatives, and comes in velcro or popper closures (I used velcro). Quite fast-drying for AIO.
This would be my choice of an AIO ....

]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/07/baby-beehinds-magicalls-allino-1.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/07/baby-beehinds-magicalls-allino-1.html All In Ones (AIOs) Recommendations all-in-one Baby BeeHinds Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:28:51 +1000 Mother-ease AIO when I first purchased it, as Mother-ease primarily do two-layer systems of nappy and cover, and the AIO looked somewhat like an after-thought. I was also not convinced about the popper closure system. However, it's actually quite a good product and easy to use. The poppers close at both the waistband and leg, so the nappy is more adjustable than one that just has a single set of poppers to close. There is plenty of elactic, so no leaks, and it has a reasonable drying time. This is a definite contender is you were using an all-in-one system.
The nappy is not 'extensible' in any way, i.e. you can't add inserts or boosters, so for heavy wetters or night-times you might reach the limit of the nappy.

]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/07/motherease-allinone-surprising.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/07/motherease-allinone-surprising.html Recommendations all-in-one Mother-ease Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:15:12 +1000 organic velour nappy (sized) and the econappi  I have purchased more of the econappis with the 'hook & loop' i.e. velcro closures.
This is quite an expensive option, I assume because of the organic cotton content, but have chosen more of them because it's an easy-to-use pocket system, has velcro closures, is a multi-fit system (so they will last longer) and has a natural fibre next to baby's skin which is more absorbent than microfibre.
The insert itself is quite good, as it can be adjusted to 3 sizes. It has a velour top and basic organic cotton body.
Unfortunately, they're quite hard to come by as most of the Australian stockists have limited product selection, so I have purchased direct from Swaddlebees in the US who offer good colour packages and some package bonuses.

]]> http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/07/swaddlebees-one-size-econappi-1.html http://www.99union.org/nappy/2009/07/swaddlebees-one-size-econappi-1.html Purchasing Recommendations organic pocket nappy Swaddlebees Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:09:39 +1000