I've seen the light (dawn broke as I wrote this post)

[mrsbrown]

I've just joined clothdiapering. I would normally have just had a read, but it's a moderated community, so I couldn't.

I joined because I've been wanting to do another post (the last one is here) about how complicated those crazy Americans have made the whole nappy thing. Fitteds, All in ones, pre-folds etc. What's wrong with just taking your square of terry towelling cotton, folding it appropriately according to your child's age and then putting some sort of water proof cover over the lot.

I've read this post and this week I actually saw the hi tech nappies they are all talking about and I think I get it now.

1. Disposable* nappies are used by at least 95% of families, which means that most bought children's clothes don't fit over Rose's current cloth nappies. The hi tech nappies are shaped more like disposables landfills, so bought clothes fit better. Great, either I make nappies, or I make clothes.
2. The micro-fleece lining wicks moisture away from baby's bum
3. the micro-fibre (as used in bushwalking towels and cleaning cloths) absorbs a lot of moisture and dries quickly. This would be especially useful when I go camping in 5 weeks.


* that's such a bad/incorrect word, do you think we could mount a legal action to make the manufacturers be truthful in their naming practices and get them renamed "throw away nappies" or landfill nappies or plastic nappies?

Comments

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

I think sometimes you have to make the change yourself.

Calling them landfillers/landfill nappies/landfills is a good start. I like the middle option best.

5 weeks! aiie!

[anthraxia.livejournal.com]

"Great, either I make nappies, or I make clothes."

One of my friedns here has bought a whole lot (second baby due in April) from a woman involved in the Organic Foods community who is making them for sale. I can get the details (price, contact, etc) for yu if you wish.

Danni swears by them - her just-turned-2 toddler has them for nights, etc. she used them for him (and gave away the baby sized ones so needs to buy more now)

[wenchilada.livejournal.com]

I've just tie-dyed a stack of nappies...only because I could!

[mrsbrown.livejournal.com]

The appropriate thing to do is take photos and post them on clothdiapering.

Really. That's what they do.

recycling nappies

[(Anonymous)]

fyi, there's actually a great service that's picking up momentum around the traps called my planet recycling - they collect disposable nappies, clean and treat the materials and recycle the unused parts into hard plastic items like garden furniture, containers and the like. their website is at www.myplanet.com.au.

Re: recycling nappies

[mrsbrown.livejournal.com]

Thankyou, but recycling still uses a bunch of resources the planet doesn't have to waste - energy for transport and cleaning, plastics and stuff to make new nappies, energy to transport the new nappies etc.

Re-use is always a better option, cheaper too.