OK! You have a life and don’t intend to waste a minute of it washing nappies.  But at the same time, you would like to do something to help the environment.  Using cloth nappies and a nappy service will minimise your carbon footprint.  Your baby will use on average over 5000 nappies in their lifetime.  Given the number of babies born each year and the fact that over 90% of parents use disposable nappies, you can see how landfills are struggling to cope.  Councils are spending fortunes not just dealing with the landfills but also on projects aimed at educating people on the alternatives available for their offspring. But, if you just can’t face using real nappies then why not try eco-disposables?

What is an eco-disposable nappy?  These nappies work in a very similar way to the ordinary disposables.  They are available in most of the high street supermarkets and are only slightly more expensive than the premium brands. At the time of writing this, no budget brands have been introduced but with supermarkets becoming more aware of the money being spent by the "green" brigade this is bound to change.

The main differences between disposables and green disposable nappies are:

The manufacturers do not use the absorbent gel found in normal disposables, this gel can cause allergic reactions and being a chemical has an impact on the environment.

You cannot put a normal disposable on your compost heap or worse into your wormery.  There is no real option but to put them in your household bin and they will eventually be dumped by the council into some landfill. You can put eco-friendly nappies into compost heaps as they are made of biodegradable materials including the packaging which is usually made of cellulose, although it would be advisable to flush the contents down the toilet first!
Eco-disposable nappies are manufactured using recycled materials - every brand is different but some claim to use up to 70% recycled materials in the manufacturing process.  These nappies are also not subjected to the bleaching process employed with common disposables thus leaving them an off-white colour.

Finally these green nappies are not made using any lotions, perfume or other agents so are less likely to irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.

If you decided that you want to use disposable nappies, what not try out a couple of the eco-disposable brands and see how you get on.   You will have the obvious benefits of disposable nappies whilst also reducing the amount of waste produced by your growing family.

Want to use disposable nappies for their convenience but still worried about the environment?  Try biodegradable disposables instead.

Some parents just can’t face the additional hassle involved with using washable nappies.  In fact, they argue that no one is certain that reusable nappies even benefit the environment.  Yes, of course, they don’t fill up landfills.  But the extra washing uses water, power and chemicals and if you also add tumble drying to the picture or the petrol used by the collection services then perhaps the environmental saving is debatable.

But there is a middle road - some nappy manufacturers have begun producing more biodegradable nappies.  These new eco-friendly nappies contain up to 70% biodegradable materials as opposed to the 30-40% contained in ordinary disposable nappies.   These nappies still result in waste material and obviously contribute to the landfill problem but they are less damaging than the ordinary high street disposables.

They are made using recycled materials with fewer chemicals and no perfumes thus saving the environment in the manufacturing process and also when they eventually end up in landfill. Unfortunately, not all the nappy is biodegradable - the fasteners and the plastic wrapping around the legs are still problem areas with this product.

In addition, these green nappy manufacturers have incorporated highly absorbent cotton linings into their eco-nappies instead of the chemical filled gels favoured by most disposable nappy producers.  They argue that their chemical free nappies reduce the instance of nappy rash and allergic reactions common to the use of disposables.
The manufacturers use tea extracts and other natural remedies as a means of odour control.

If you decide to use biodegradable disposables, you will be able to avail of a wide range of eco-friendly accessories such as biodegradable nappy sacks and wipes.  You could also invest in a wormery, and convert your green nappies to compost (just remember to flush the solids down the loo first!).

These types of disposables are slightly more expensive than the high street brand names but you will find the supermarkets are slowly coming round to the idea of developing their own versions of these products.  You should check out the trial packs offered by these manufacturers when making your decision on the type of nappies you wish to use for your baby.

Your baby and your baby’s babies will thank you. Think about it, if we could get 10% of new parents converted to either real nappies or eco-friendly disposable the cost savings made by the Councils would be huge.  Much needed resources could be better utilised elsewhere.  So, for the sake of your family and your surroundings please consider adopting a "greener" approach to your nappy needs.

As babies gets older, they will no longer lie perfectly still on their backs, looking gorgeous, making cooing noises and giving you a loving smile. Oh no, they turn into demented wriggling creatures with a mind of their own!

Sometimes it can be very annoying and positively exhausting when you have to wrestle with a baby or young toddler who won’t keep still. Try and keep your cool though, it’s just a phase they are going through and they will eventually grow out of it. A lot depends on their character – some children tend to be more passive and easy to placate, while others simply want to get on and play.

However, it will make your life a great deal easier if you can adopt a few circus skills and try to tame them a little….

Below are a few tips on how to help calm your little wriggler. The technique that works best will depend on your child and their specific stage of development.

Don’t Change On The Floor
Research suggest that if a baby, or small child, cannot physically escape anywhere, they will have to lie still. The floor presents multiple opportunities for the accomplished escaplogist! The more limited the space, the sooner they will learn that they have to lie still. Changing tables are great, or suitable survaces. But remember you must never leave your child unattended – not even for a second!

Distraction Techniques
Be prepared by having a little "surprise" immediately to hand for that crucial moment when the wriggling starts! This can be a toy, book, or anything else that you can summon from "up your sleeve" (as long as it’s safe). Babies like sound so try music, a special song or lullaby or other audio distractions. But remember – don’t get it out until they start to wriggle or they may get bored with it before you finish.

Be Organised
Make sure you have everything you need close at hand. This way you will be much quicker and your little escapee has less opportunity to make a run for it!

Be Firm First – Reward Afterwords
Make it quite clear from the beginning that at nappy changing times your child has to lie still. If you choose this method, it could save you a great deal of hassle later on, but you must be consistent and not allow your little one to wriggle one day but not the next.

To reinforce good behaviour, give your child a reward for being good and lying still. And be sure that everyone is consistent - Dads, Mums, Grandparents and other carers should understand the firm first - reward after rule.

Change Them Sitting Or Standing
Sometimes it is the lying down that they so detest – not so much the changing. If this is the case, it might be an idea to change their nappy while they are sitting or standing – be careful if you are doing this on a changing table! Take the dirty nappy off them and then put the new one on as they sit or stand. If you are using cotton knitted nappies, this could be a little challenging, but cotton shaped nappies and eco-disposables can be changed in this way.

Good luck!

Things you will need to get started…

Cotton Nappies
These come in several different shapes and sizes. You will be given the nappies as part of your weekly fee if you use a laundry service. The service’s representative will help you with sizing for your baby. If you home wash you can use websites such as the Fluffy Bums which will get you to fill in a questionnaire to help you determine what size and kind you will need for your baby.

Liners
These fit inside the nappy and catch the poo. You can get biodegradable ones, and also cotton liners that can be washed.

Wraps
These are the pants which fit around the nappies to keep them in place. They also provide a waterproof layer and stop leakages. Again they come indifferent shapes and sizes. If you use a laundry service, then the service’s representative will probably help you with sizing for your baby and recommend a wrap to suit.

Booster Pads
This is an extra thick cotton pad that fits inside the main nappy. You won’t necessarily need these, unless you baby pees a lot, especially at night.

Nappy Bin
A bin with a lid to store used nappies. If you use a nappy service you will be given one usually, on loan. Any bin with a good lid will do!

Wet Wipes
You can get biodegradable ones like the Nature brand from supermarkets. Cotton wipes are also available, which can be washed and re-used.

References:
Green Central - Times Online - WBLG: Why real nappies are best for the envi..
Have you Cottoned on Yet? : RecyclingSupermarket.com
Eco-Baby Store
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OzPowersellers » The Best Advice I Ever Got - Sally Lee $22.95 Parent..
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Cloth nappies are reusable and can be made from natural fibres, manmade materials, or a combination of both. They are often made from industrial cotton which may be bleached white or left the fibre’s natural colour. Other natural fibre cloth materials include wool, bamboo, and unbleached hemp. Manmade materials such as an internal absorbent layer of microfibre toweling or an external waterproof layer of polyurethane laminate (PUL) may be used. Polyester fleece and immitation suedecloth are often used inside cloth nappies as a "stay-dry" wicking liner because of the non-absorbent properties of those synthetic fibres.

Traditionally, cloth nappies consisted of a folded square or rectangle of cloth, fastened with safety pins. Modern cloth nappies come in a host of shapes, including preformed cloth nappies, all-in-one nappies with waterproof exteriors, and pocket or "stuffable" nappies, which consist of a water-resistant outer shell sewn with an opening for insertion of absorbent material inserts. Closure methods include snap closures, hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro).

Cloth nappies require dry storage as well, and equipment and supplies for cleaning. Cloth nappies place less stress on landfills as compared to single-use disposable nappies, but also require washing in water with detergent to be properly cleaned. The method of "dry-pailing" after removal of solid waste and washing on a cold or warm wash removes most bacteria. Sun exposure will kill any remainder and usually resolves any staining issues. As an alternative to at-home cleaning, some locations have a fee-based cloth nappying service that delivers clean nappies and picks up soiled ones, while parents in more rural areas often find that they must clean nappies using their own cleaning facilities.

The days of nappy pins and intricate folds are history!  Today's washable nappies are easy to use. There are basically three ways to go in cloth nappies, with variations on each of these.

The most economical kind is the flat nappy. Flat nappies are the nappies that you mom or grandmother might have used and are basically multiple layers of cotton that wrap around your baby. Flat nappies are a two pronged system. You need to buy covers with your flat nappies to prevent leaks and keep clothing dry. You will have to buy bigger sizes of covers as your baby gets larger and around the one year mark you will probably have to either add an extra flannel liner for absorbency or buy a larger thicker flat nappy.

The second cloth nappy system is the fitted nappy with a cover. There are many brands available on the market of these shaped nappies. Make sure to check just how adjustable a nappy is - will you need to buy more than one set of nappies as your baby gets larger? This can add to the expense. Try to find an adjustable nappy that snaps or a Velcro fastener to accommodate your growing baby. You will still need to buy larger covers as your baby grows.

The third option is the all-in-one nappy system. This is the absorbent nappy part with the cover attached. These all in one nappies come in sizes according to weight and you will need to buy larger as your baby grows. Follow washing instructions carefully — if you wash incorrectly you could end up destroying the water repellant cover on the outer part of the nappy. All-in-ones offer the convenience of a disposable and the environmental friendliness of a cloth nappy.

A 1992 study from Franklin Associates estimated that producing a year’s supply of disposables, which are composed largely of plastic, consumes roughly 6,900 megajoules of energy, vs. around 1,400 megajoules for a year’s supply of cloth diapers. Yet the study concluded that cloth ended up being 39 percent more energy-intensive overall, given the electricity needed to wash load after load of dirty diapers.

That conclusion is now woefully outdated, however, given the major advances that have occurred in washing-machine efficiency (PDF). For a washing machine made in 1985, an 11-pound load of cottons washed in warm water used up 1.68 kilowatt hours of electricity and 34 gallons of water; for a machine made two decades later, the relevant figures are just 0.95 kilowatt hours and 12 gallons.

A 2005 study (PDF) by Britain’s Environment Agency took into account some of these technological advances. In making their calculations regarding cloth diapers, the study’s authors used average energy-consumption figures for machines made in 1997. They concluded that there was “no significant difference” between the environmental impact of cloth and disposable diapers. Keeping a child clad in home-laundered cloth diapers for 2.5 years emitted 1,232 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent, vs. 1,380 pounds for disposable diapers.

A brief history of a Nappy

Babies have been swaddled since time began.  In the olden days, mothers used to use grass and moss to keep their baby’s bums clean and dry. Thankfully times and manufacturing processes have moved on.

In the 19th Century, the explosion of industrial revolution resulted in plenty of cheap cotton.  The invention of safety pins in the 1840s saw the birth of the "diaper" as it was known.

After the First World War, the Germans began looking at ways of manufacturing nappies other than using cotton.  They developed a basic model which was adapted and improved upon by the Swedes and resulted in the birth of the world’s first disposable nappy.

The Second World War resulted in women having to go out to work in huge numbers.  As is often the case, necessity is the mother of invention.  In 1946, an American lady developed the outer waterproof covering complete with fasteners and in 1947, a British mother started selling disposable nappies to her local market.

In the 1950’s most of the well known manufacturers entered the disposable market and new inventions were constantly being tested and updated.  The nappy wars began and have developed in a rather dirty playing field with countless accusations and misinformation fed to the outside world.

In the 60’s and 70’s various improvements were made to the diaper model and some companies even introduced his and her ranges but these didn’t do well on the general market and were withdrawn.

The 80’s and 90’s were spent trying to develop a thinner prettier version of the disposables and his and her diapers reappeared.  Given that over 90% of parents in developed countries opt to use disposables, the market to these firms is huge so fortunes are spent every day trying to convince parents that their nappies are the best.

The 2000’s have seen more and more companies adopting a range of eco-friendly disposables and nappy wraps. Being cynical, I believe that this has less to do with the manufacturer’s worries on our environment and more to do with the fact that green markets are now very big business. The nappy producers are always looking for ways of improving their bottom line.  But if this financial consideration results in a range of reasonably priced green nappies then who am I to argue?  We parents get the convenience of disposables combined with the knowledge these eco-friendly nappies will have less impact on our children’s planet.  We can even put them in our wormery.

We have come a long way from the days of grass nappies.  I wonder what the next 100 years will bring in the world of the Nappy.