Greenwashing Alert! Deceptively Disposable Nappies?

“Disposable Nappies” – as we know, they aren’t – they sit around in landfill for decades, and more.

What is greenwashing, and does it get applied to disposable nappies?

In a society that’s increasingly aware of its own negative impact on the natural world, it’s no surprise corporations compete for consumer approval by promoting themselves as environmentally friendly or green. Such promotions might be as simple as sprinkling product packaging with leafy logos or as involved as publicizing investments in emerging technologies. Organizations spend billions of dollars each year in an attempt to convince consumers that their operations have a minimal impact on the environment. But can you believe the claims? How much environmental marketing is simply greenwashing?

For today’s topic we’ve asked our Nappy WAHM’s about the perceptions of the general public when it comes to disposable nappies and the green movement. “Green washing” is alive and well, and the myths quickly permeate general knowledge, but are often just a case of creative advertising and clever marketing, not environmental care at all…

I’m pleased to have contributions from many friends of My Green Nappy included in this article. We have Emma from Brindabella Baby, Melinda from Avanappy, Mel from Little Para Pants, Louise from Scamps Boutique, Eva from Oz Baby Trends, Inge from Earth Kidz, Cassandra from New Age Nappies, Annette from Iish Fly, Michelle from Issy Bear Nappies, Alisha from Baby Safari, Cindy from Ticklefish Tots, Ashley from Cheeky Creations, Carli from MiniLaLa, Tracey from Flattery, Bec from Baby Chilli,  Julie from Cloth For Comfort, Chris from Baby Bullfrogs, Kate from Nappy Days, Michelle from Sustainable Hemp Products, and Karen from Baby Blossom.

Greenwashing as a term was originally related to a hotel chain that made claims about being eco-friendly in the way their towels were washed, yet it was found to be nothing more than a promotional ploy!  According to Wikipaedia:

The term is generally used when significantly more money or time has been spent advertising being green (that is, operating with consideration for the environment), rather than spending resources on environmentally sound practices.

Let’s see what they have to say:

“What’s 1 aspect of using disposable nappies that you find is often ‘green washed’ in the minds of the general public?”

Emma of Brindabella Baby:

“It’s OK because they make biodegradable disposables now.” Green wash – most people don’t use biodegradables. Of those who do, most use the ones readily available in supermarkets that are only 70% biodegradable – so there’s still a large quantity of nappy not breaking down in landfill. And even if you use a 100% biodegradable nappy, it won’t break down in landfill if it’s in a non-biodegradable plastic bag.

Melinda of Avanappy:

The chemical makeup of the absorbency layers.

I keep hearing about the study that found cloth nappies use more water than disposables.  I think the study was assuming that you’re always washing your full stash at the same time.  I don’t know about anyone else, but the only time that’s ever happened here was before my son was born and he wasn’t wearing any yet!

Eva of Oz Baby Trends:

Eco Disposable brands. They still take a long time break down and only then under the right conditions. No matter how eco-friendly they might be (compared to normal disposables), they are still contributing to our disposable culture.

Inge of Earth Kidz:

That they are breathable. Duh, try putting plastic underwear on yourself!

Cassandra of New Age Nappies:

No worse than cloth re water use etc.

Annette of Iish Fly:

That using disposable saves on water in Australia’s arid environment. I find a baby in nappies tends to add an extra 2 loads a week, which in a front loader is around an extra 40-60 L a week, which is less than 1% of the average households water consumption. Another aspect  it promotes is that “It is ok to send hazardous body waste to landfill!”

Michelle of Issy Bear Nappies:

The words ‘eco-friendly‘.’

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

Well, no mention of the hundreds of years a disposable nappy takes to break down is certainly one thing …. Do you think companies who thrive from the sale of disposable nappies would stay in business if they publicised the fact that their product was not as eco-friendly as they would have us believe?

Carli from MiniLaLa:

Lots of people argue that cloth nappies use so much water, without realising how much water (amongst other things) goes into the production of disposables.

Tracey from Flattery:

There was a study done into the environmental impact of disposables/cloth (they came out on par with each other) the thing that frustrates me is that this study was carried out when cloth nappies were terry cloth squares – that required soaking in napisan (which is not used for nappies now) and water usage was based on pre-soaking and water guzzling top loaders and electricity usage included drying in a dryer not on the line!

Bec from Baby Chilli:

The amount of water it takes to make disposable nappies, plus of course the crude oil, trees and plastic consumption that goes into each and every disposable nappy.

Julie from Cloth For Comfort:

I have found speaking with hundreds of people in my experience at the markets, one aspect which is ‘green washed’ is the amount of water used in the making of disposable nappies compared to cloth. I can understand this from the point of view of those who have not had any education regarding modern cloth nappies as the clever disposable nappy marketing campaigns can insinuate that less water is used in the making of disposable nappies.

Although this is true for only one nappy, it is much more when you add up the thousands of disposable nappies used for each child compared to the environmentally sustainable crops such as bamboo which is commonly used in modern cloth nappies and also the water it takes to wash and clean the nappies too!

Chris from Baby Bullfrogs:

Just how toxic the chemicals are that are used in them – blerghh!

Kate from Nappy Days:

That disposables are actually really good for the environment and that parents need to be more worried about spending time with their baby instead of doing mountains of washing.

Alisha of Baby Safari:

They think they are saving water by using them, the don’t think of the water that has been used to manufacture the nappies.

Michelle from Sustainable Hemp Products:

Marketing not focusing on the negatives like landfill and pollution problems and chemical usage in manufacture.

Karen from Baby Blossom:

Disposable are biodegradable. Although many parts of a disposable may be, wrap it in plastic and put it in landfill.

It still takes hundreds of years to break down.

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners:

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If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

3 Recommended Resources about Greenwashing and reducing the impact of using disposables :

1. Greenwatch: All you need to know about Greenwashing.
2. “The Six Sins of Greenwashing.”
3. Make your eco disposables more environmentally friendly by emptying them.

- Your Nappy Doulas -

This is part of a regular series of articles that offer you an insight into the beliefs, concerns, knowledge and wisdom of mums making and selling modern cloth nappies in Australia and New Zealand.

Discover More from Your Nappy Doulas…

A question to you about the not so modern phenomenon called Greenwashing:

What is an example of  ’greenwashing’ that gets you going in any area of advertising?

You might even check out The Greenwashing Index and share it around, or simply get a feel for how we are being misled in our concern for the environment…

How do I wash my cloth nappies?

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #10

“How do I wash my cloth nappies?”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

Wash cloth nappies in warm water about 40 degrees. Don’t put too many nappies in one cycle and make sure the water level is set to high. Use 1/3 to 1/2 the usual amount of detergent and give them a rinse cycle at the end to make sure there isn’t any residue. For best results hang in the sun until they are completely dry.

Janine from Ninky Bear:

If they haven’t been rinsed before putting in the bucket, give them a rinse, wash them with a quarter of the amount of detergent than you would normally use, on cold or warm, whtaever you prefer. Try to use an eco friendly detergent, or something that is good for sensitive skin. (because other detergents may damage your nappies) Then hang them up to dry!

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

When changing nappies, I tip any solid waste in the toilet.
I do a pre-wash rinse to get rid of any solid waste left behind. Then wash with your normal laundry detergent (in cold water if the detergent is suitable), no fabric softener as it leaves a water- resistant coating on fabrics, and line dry.
I pull the inserts out of pocket nappies after the nappies are washed, when I’m hanging them out.
On a wet winter day, I hang nappies on a drying rack inside. If there’s not enough room or time, I tumble dry just the inserts and fitted nappies, and dry pocket outers and covers on a rack.
Line drying is worth the extra five minutes, as it fades light stains and helps give nappies a fresh scent. It also gives the kids an excuse for a little more fresh air, and they’re often happy to help.

Cassandra from New Age Nappies:

I dry pail then straight into the machine (I have a front loader) with 1/4 the amount of detergent required – try to get one without oil based products.

Kyra from E-Weez:

We recommend dry-pailing. Simply remove any solids into the toilet and put the dirty nappy into a bucket until you do a wash, make sure you don’t leave dirty nappies for more than two days.

You can wash your nappies on a normal cold, warm or hot wash, use a third of the recommended amount of detergent and don’t use any fabric softener, bleach, enzyme-based or ’soap’ products. An extra rinse at the end of the wash will help ensure all the detergent is removed. Stains can be removed by hanging your nappies in the sun – sunshine is a natural bleacher and sanitiser!

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

Washing Modern Nappies is easy. Simply dispose of any solid waste, give the nappy and booster a quick rinse, then dry pail your nappies (place them in a dry bucket) until you have enough to make up a load of washing. Put them into the washing machine, using about a quarter of the washing powder or detergent that you would use for a regular load and wash! Be sure not to use any fabric softeners of bleaches (including stain removers) as these can build up residue on your nappies, making them less absorbent and therefore less effective.

Kyra from Bubbalooba:

Washing is so easy – just throw in the washing machine with some half-strength washing detergent (you can buy many environmentally friendly washing “ingredients” such as soapnuts, soon to be available in our store) and hang on the line to dry.

The sun will get rid of any stains or odours! Try not to use fabric softener, vinegar, or Napisan, as these products can damage the nappy fabrics.

Nicole from Krap Katchers:

Gone are the days of using harsh chemicals and soaking for days with cloth nappies. If anyone tries to tell you different Pfft to them, times change! The process is really simple:

1. After use, remove any chunky bits and flush down the toilet.

2. Take stuffing out of the pockets and stick them both in a dry nappy bucket. Soaking of MCN is not advised nor necessary.

3. Cold/Warm wash the nappies with 1/4 to 1/2 the detergent you would normally use.

4. Dry out in the sun, with the lining facing towards the sun. The sun is great at removing any stains!

A few extra tips

• Do not use bleach, vinegar or other soakers as with continued use it can cause the nappy materials to weaken, as can dryer use.
• To keep your nappies in beautiful show off condition, before you wash, do up the side straps and then turn the lining to face outwards.

Jacquie from Cheeky Cherubs:

Washing your nappies shouldn’t be hard at all. If you have rinsed them, placed them into a dry bucket, then all you need to do at wash time is tip the bucket into the washing machine, add a little washing powder or soapnuts and press start!

I highly recommend using Flushable Bioliners to make cleaning poo nappies so much easier. All you need to do is place the whole flushable liner along with the poo into the toilet. It is a good idea to give your nappies a ‘double rinse’ occasionally too.

A simple explanation is on my blog here: How should I wash the nappies? Is it hard?

To wash, simply:

Drypail – clean/wash off solid matter first into the toilet before storing in a dry pail

Cold pre-rinse – dilutes urine

Machine wash between 40º-60ºC

Line dry (recommended) or use dryer on low setting

Pre-stuff pockets, match boosters to nappies and they’re ready to use again

Thank you to all our nappy doula’s for their contributions,

I am sure you have gained new insights from their experience.

- Your Nappy Doulas -

This is part of a regular series of articles that offer you an insight into the beliefs, concerns, knowledge and wisdom of Mums making and selling modern cloth nappies in Australia and New Zealand.

Discover More from Your Nappy Doulas…

P.S There is a question at the bottom of each of these features. Join in the conversation and share your own experiences and stories with us…

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Partners:

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If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your cloth nappy washing routine:

What do you do? Do you have any extra tips or ideas to share?

Disposable Pull Up Pants: Sales Are Dropping Down…

Disposable Training Pants

Often called “Nappy Pants”, “Pull-Ups” or similar, disposable training pants may have re-sealable sides, and special ‘wettness’ liners to help the child sense their elimination patterns. The fact is, using a pair of knickers under a regular disposable nappy would serve the same purpose and be a lot cheaper. Using the washable cloth training pants is the other option to save a vast amount as your child is moving out of nappies. Training pants do have the benefit of little bulk, and easy on and off that can aid in your helping your child make the transition to independent toileting – with the psychological back-up they may need for confidence when out and about. Around the home though? Cloth trainers or a nudie bum is your best bet.

For today’s topic we’ve asked your Nappy Doula’s about the reported 10% drop in sales of disposable training pants in the US during the global recession.

I’m pleased to have contributions from many friends of My Green Nappy included in this article. We have Emma from Brindabella Baby, Melinda from Avanappy, Mel from Little Para Pants, Louise from Scamps Boutique, Eva from Oz Baby Trends, Inge from Earth Kidz, Cassandra from New Age Nappies, Annette from Iish Fly, Michelle from Issy Bear Nappies, Alisha from Baby Safari, Cindy from Ticklefish Tots, Ashley from Cheeky Creations, Carli from MiniLaLa, Tracey from Flattery, Bec from Baby Chilli, Kelleigh from Miracle Baby, Julie from Cloth For Comfort, Peggy from Fluffy Bubs and Kate from Nappy Days, Sasha from Green Kids and Michelle from Sustainable Hemp Products.

Let’s see what they have to say:

“There’s been a 10% drop in sales of disposable training pants in the US during the global recession. What’s your comment?”

Emma Davidson of Brindabella Baby:

I’m not surprised. They’re expensive, and not as good as cloth undies when it comes to children learning when to use the toilet. For nights or in the car, I use Bumwear pull-up toilet training pants as I don’t have to throw them away if there were no accidents overnight, and they’ll still absorb a full wee if they let one go.

Melinda of Avanappy:

I tried them with my son and found them to be another disposable with different packaging and appearance (not to mention more expensive than regular disposables). They do nothing to help toilet training or help kids be aware that they need to/have just soiled their pants.

I find it really amusing that companies have worked so hard to make disposable nappies with ‘stay-dry‘ lining, only to turn it around with ‘feel-wet‘ lining when it comes to toddlerhood and toilet training a few short years later!

Louise of Scamps Boutique, NZ:

Not surprising, used these a couple of times and realised that there was no point to them, they are just a disposable in a pull up style – does nothing for toilet training expect prolong the use of nappies. A clever but environmentally damaging marketing ploy from disposable manufacturers.

AWESOME!!! They’re the biggest waste of money on the baby aisle shelves. SO unnecessary.

My all-time favourite product to replace sposie pyjama pants are Mother-ease bedwetters. A little on the pricey side, but worth every cent, and they work out cheaper in the long run.

http://ozbabytrends.com.au/store/WsDefault.asp?One=729

AWESOME!!! They’re the biggest waste of money on the baby aisle shelves. SO unnecessary. My all-time favourite product to replace sposie pyjama pants are Mother-Ease Bedwetters. A little on the pricey side, but worth every cent, and they work out cheaper in the long run.

Inge of Earth Kidz:

Of course, ‘Pull Ups‘ are bullocks. They are just a nappy. They still don’t know whether they are wet or not. Go the hard way let them be in knickers and do some washing – it saves money in the long run.

Cassandra of New Age Nappies:

People are probably keeping them in nappies longer or maybe they have discovered undies or cloth trainers!!!

Annette of Iish Fly:

I think I find it hard to comment as I have never bought them myself as most of my children were trained by the age of 2. I do see why people use training pants, but the disposable ones I have seen are more like a nappy than training pants so I personally can’t see what the purpose is.

Michelle of Issy Bear Nappies:

Fantastic. I am releasing new Issy Bear reusable toddler pants very soon. Visit my Facebook page for more information…

Ashley of Cheeky Creations:

I don’t think disposable training pants are needed. If I was a disposable user I would see toilet training as a good way to stop buying them! So I think it’s a bit silly to stop buying disposables but start buying disposable training pants! I think they’re more expensive anyway!
Cloth training pants or even just plain undies do the trick!

Carli from MiniLaLa:

I’m surprised there is a need for these at all! But it is a fantastic thing to see that sales of disposable nappies or pants are dropping. That makes a massive impact on landfill rates, and therefore on our planet.

Tracey from Flattery:

I’ve never used disposables but Ii guess to me the Pull-Up ones look like a non-necessity – even for disposables users. And they cost more don’t they?

Bec from Baby Chilli:

I’m not sure why?

Kelleigh from Little Miracles:

I would never used disposable training pants. Cotton training pants have an advantage over them in every way. They help children toilet train much faster than disposable ones, which are too much like disposable nappies. They are better for the environment as they can be washed and reused again. They are more like little underpants. When toilet training is finished, they can still wear their training pants for years afterwards as they look and feel just like regular underwear. Even waterproof ones are handy longterm as they can be used when going out in case of accidents. Little Miracles Toilet Training Pants

Julie from Cloth For Comfort:

Assuming this means there has been an increase in cloth use, not people leaving disposables on their children for longer, this is a positive.

Peggy from Fluffy Bubs:

Pull up pants aren’t necessary. It is more of a ‘want’ or convenience rather than a need. Essentially, in my experience, if a toddler is ready for toilet training, then fewer accidents occur and the process is quicker and less frustrating. They go straight into undies and skip the need for pull up pants.

Kate from Nappy Days:

Parents are moving to reusable pull ups instead of disposables because they can save so much money. Also I believe parents are becoming more concerned about toilet training earlier and also many daycares are becoming more welcoming toward cloth nappies.

Alisha of Baby Safari:

Good!

Sasha of Green Kids:

It’s pretty hard to justify paying upwards of $1 per pair of training pants, then to just throw them in the bin! We just used nappies when toilet training, rather than buying a set of training pants, and these worked really well for us.

Michelle from Sustainable Hemp Products:

Yippee !!!

Well, there you go – a range of complimentary ideas, and some toilet learning perspectives in there as well! With that experience, you’ll no doubt join the trend away from expensive disposable training pants. As someone who enjoys combining cloth with Baby Pottying, cloth training pants are my absolute faves from about 6 months on when out and about.

Thank you to all our nappy doula’s for their contributions,

P.S There is a question at the bottom of each of these features. Join in the conversation and share your own experiences and stories with us…

- Your Nappy Doulas -

This is part of a regular series of articles that offer you an insight into the beliefs, concerns, knowledge and wisdom of Mums making and selling modern cloth nappies in Australia and New Zealand.

Discover More from Your Nappy Doulas…

3 recommended resources for shopping for modern nappies:

1. Visit My Nappy Style Window for Training Pants
2. Visit My Nappy Style Window for Toilet Learning Resources
3. Visit My Nappy Style Window for Sources of secondhand modern cloth nappies and training pants

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!A question to you about reusable training pants:

What have you found helpful about using cloth training pants? Do you avoid them, find them a helpful aid in certain situations, or love them as a transitional aid for youngsters building their confidence and independence?

What wool ’soakers’ can I use over my baby’s cloth nappy?

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #9

“I would like a simple explanation of the wool soakers to use over a baby’s cloth nappy. What do I buy?”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

To be quite honest the only wool covers I have tried are the Baby Beehinds and I love them, unfortunately they seem to be discontinued. There are some great WAHM wool soakers if you go to OzeBaby or WAHMnaps.

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

I look for soakers that are machine washable, and fit well – Cushie Tushies are my favourite.

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

A woollen soaker is a knitted pair of pants, and can be long or short. An effective woollen soaker will be closely knitted with 100% pure wool. Wool is another material which wicks moisture away from bub without leaking. Wool soakers can be made more effective by lanolising (dissolving a blob of lanolin in hot water, letting the water cool then soaking the soaker in the mixture), which simply reinforces the natural water resistant nature of the wool. There are many WAHM’s who knit and sell wool soakers, including Ticklefish Tots from time to time.

Rebecca From Bean Sprout Bubba:

Wool covers can be either sewn from a wool fabric or handknit from wool yarn.

They can be either triangluar wraps or pullup covers.

Wool pullup covers are either soakers (covers the nappy snugly), shorties (like a pair of shorts) or longies (like a pair of long pants).

There are also capri-length wool pullup covers, and skirties that have little skirts attached to the pullups.

To use, you will need a cover or two (or more), some lanolin (lansinoh nipple cream or anhydrous wool fat from the chemist), and optionally some woolwash or baby shampoo. Also need a good set of wool care instructions and instructions on how to relanolise your woollies.

Thank you to all our nappy doula’s for their contributions,

- Your Nappy Doulas -

This is part of a regular series of articles that offer you an insight into the beliefs, concerns, knowledge and wisdom of Mums making and selling modern cloth nappies in Australia and New Zealand.

Discover More from Your Nappy Doulas…

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something useful in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your search for the best baby shower gifts:

What would you like to receive as a baby shower gift?

Australian made cloth nappies? – I don’t want ‘Made in China’!

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #8

“On principle I try to buy products that are not made in China. I would love you to direct me to an Australian made cloth nappy that is not full of plastic.”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

We stock Sweet Tooshies nappies that do have an inner layer of PUL for waterproofing, but there isn’t plastic anywhere near kiddies skin. Cloth nappies need an inner waterproof layer or a cover to keep clothes dry.
Genesa Forge stocks nappies with a polar fleece inner but they are a little bulkier. The bigger companies like Baby Beehinds, Itti Bitti, etc that get their products made in China do so ethically and are Australian owned companies all started by WAHMs too.

Janine from Ninky Bear:

There are some fantastic work at home mum brands out there – Bonnibuns, Genesa Forge, B Cheeks, Flattery, Green Bums, the list goes on!

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

There really aren’t many Australian made cloth nappies available to retailers anymore. The market price means that most cloth nappies are now made in China, India, and Pakistan.
But most of the modern cloth nappy brands in Australia are still owned and run by Australian work-at-home mums. Some are one-woman businesses, where manufacturing is the only thing that has been outsourced. Others have employed other work-at-home mums to handle order processing and marketing.
If your reason for avoiding made-in-China products is manufacturing ethics, you can be assured that every brand stocked at Brindabella Baby has been checked out to ensure their manufacturers provide workers with a fair living wage, and safe, clean working conditions.
Before we stock a product, we ask detailed questions about pay and working hours, and often have copies of inspection certificates or photographic evidence to back up their claims.

Cassandra from New Age Nappies:

Have a look for a wahm nappy but remember that the majority of the raw materials are probably made in china anyway. As long as the product is ethically made I think we as Australians need to get past the made in china issue. I always say if people are so concerned about products being made in China then how come so many people have iphones, TV’s etc.

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

Ticklefish Tots nappies are proudly handmade in Australia by a WAHM of 4 (almost 5!) The waterproof layer that I use in my day time (AI2) nappies is polyurethene laminate (PUL) which is a breathable yet waterproof fabric. Most of my nappies have this layer hidden between the microfleece inner layer and the decorative outer layer of the nappy shell. In my night nappies, I use a durable water repellant 300 weight fleece (usually also hidden, with an extra layer throughout the wet zone), which wicks moisture away from baby’s bottom, where it then evaporates, rather than leaking outside of the nappy.

Marnie from Noonee Wilga:

All Noonee Wilga products are custom made in Australia. If you have particular requirements, such as special sizing or fabrics, contact me to make up something just for you.

Fiona and Catherine from Darlings Downunder:

It’s getting harder to source cloth nappies that are made in Australia.

- Bubblebubs and Green Kids are two that spring to mind, but there are others. There are still plenty of WAHMs who make nappies to sell as well. But don’t reject the Chinese made nappies out of hand. Many of the Australian nappy business that have their nappies made overseas actively source organic and fairtrade raw materials and have their nappies manufactured in ethical conditions – thereby actively contributing to the development of third world countries. It’s an important consideration.

Nicole from Krap Katchers:

I’ve also tried to live by this principle and I love supporting fellow work from home parents in various fields with our hard earned dollars.

Krap Katchers is Australian Made with me as the little workhorse and I hope to expand my workforce to include other work from home parents in the near future as well.

Jacquie from Cheeky Cherubs:

For the New Zealanders (and Australians who don’t mind buying NZ made – still not China made!) we stock Ecobubs Wool Pocket nappies which have an excellent reputation for being a great nappy. They are a Wool Mix product, lined with microfleece, which will help keep baby warm in Winter and cool in Summer.

Rebecca From Bean Sprout Bubba:

There are a few around, and if resin snaps, velcro, PUL, polar fleece or microfibre is not considered ‘plastic’ then there would be many more options open to you.

Otherwise, there are quite a number of Australian makers who make fitted nappies out of bamboo or hemp, and covers that are either sewn out of wool fabric, or knit with wool yarn.

Bean Sprout Bubba has Bubba J bamboo or hemp fitteds, and wool covers, these are made to order once current stocks run out.

Michelle from Sustainable Hemp Products:

Thank you to all our nappy doula’s for their contributions,

P.S There is a question at the bottom of each of these features. Join in the conversation and share your own experiences and stories with us…

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Partners:

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If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your search for the best baby shower gift:

What would you like to receive as a baby shower gift?

Why do wet nappies smell so bad some times? (What can I do about it?)

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #7

“The Smellies! My husband is worried about the smells associated with piddly nappies. What are my options, and why do wet nappies smell so bad some times?”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

If you quickly rinse your nappies before pailing them or wash them within 48 hours of wearing then they shouldn’t smell. Every month or two give them a wash in warm water without detergent and hang in the sun to dry. We have Rockin Green Nappy Detergent coming soon which is also great fo stinky nappies.

Janine from Ninky Bear:

Nappies can smell bad for a few reasons.
If babies are teething, their urine tends to be very ammonia smelling.
If cloth nappies are not quite dry when they are worn and the wee hits them, they can smell.
It’s a good idea to rinse nappies before throwing them in the bucket, so they aren’t sitting around in wee all day.
There is a fantastic new product on the market called rockin’ green, which will eliminate this problem for good! It’s an eco friendly washing powder, made especially for cloth nappies.

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

They don’t smell as bad as a rubbish bin full of disposable nappies with solid waste rolled up in them!
Washing every couple of days will help. When washing, use a detergent that won’t leave a residue to build up on the fabric, rinse well, and line dry. This washing method will help get all the smells out.

Cassandra from New Age Nappies:

Get a great nappy bucket and you won’t even notice – a wetbag is essential while travelling try an oilcloth one rather then PUL and you won’t notice the smells.

Kyra from E-Weez:

Smelly nappies are usually caused by concentrated urine, this is happens particularly with night nappies or when your baby is teething. Make sure you rinse these smelly nappies before dry-pailing them as the strong urine can cause the fibres to break down and will reduce the lifespan of your nappies.

To contain the smells, use a nappy bucket with a lid and sprinkle baking soda of a few drops of essential oil in the bottom of the bucket to keep it fresh. Your nappies shouldn’t be smelly after they’ve been washed and dried. If they do smell when they’re clean, try washing your nappies in hot water without detergent and use 1/2 cup white vinegar in the final rinse (no hotter than 60 degrees celsius and only use vinegar once every few months). If smelly nappies are a regular problem, try using Dettol Fresh or Canestan in the wash once a week to keep them smelling fresh.

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

To be honest, I have never had a problem with smelly cloth nappies. Back in the day when our parents may have used cloth terry squares and pilchers on us (or our siblings), alot of the smell then were associated with the fact that the plastic pilchers do not breathe, so everything was contained within them. These days, modern cloth nappies usually have a breathable waterproof layer, or a breathable cover which wicks moisture away from baby’s bottom. These factors, combined with the majority of natural fabrics most nappy makers use, help to eliminate the smells whilst your child is wearing Modern Nappies.

Whilst your nappies are dry-pailing, waiting for a full load, there are various ways to eliminate odours (which again, I haven’t found to be that common) …

• a quick rinse prior to putting the soiled nappy in the bucket usually gets rid of most of the urine contained in the boosters
• using a bucket with a lid will help contain any potential odours
• there are products on the market especially designed for using whilst dry pailing MCN (but again, in almost 2 years, I have never found any reason to use them!)

Sometimes, you may find that leaving a wet nappy on for too long will cause it to smell (and it’s not good for your baby either!) but this can happen with disposables too!

Marnie from Noonee Wilga:

Change nappies frequently and wash every day or two. If you rinse dirty nappies first, then you can add other items like towels and clothing to make up a full load, if you wish. If you find that night nappies are particularly pungent, then it may be wise to rinse them well by hand right after taking them off if you can’t immediately put them in the wash.

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Partners:

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If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your quest for the best smelling nappies around:

What tip would you like to share about keeping baby’s bottom fresh smelling?

Nappy Accessories that make Modern Cloth Nappies Easy and Convenient

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #6

“What accessories are most convenient to using MCN with ease?”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

Nappy bucket, a plastic container to hold wipes and a good wetbag.

Janine from Ninky Bear:

Flushable Liners!

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

Cloth wipes! Why separate disposable wipes for the bin from cloth nappies for the bucket, when you can roll it all up together and throw it in the bucket?
Cloth wipes use nothing but clean water to clean up sticky messes on faces, hands, and bottoms – you’ll use them long after you’ve finished with nappies. And because there’s no chemicals involved, they’re less likely to irritate sensitive newborn skin.

Cassandra from New Age Nappies:

Flushable liners.

Kyra from E-Weez:

I say Bio-liners! These are fantastic as you can just pick up the liner and flush away the poo!

Eva from Oz Baby Trends:

Flushable liners are fabulous, particularly if you can predict when your child will do a poo, then you need only use 1 or 2 a day.

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

Definitely a wetbag to store your used MCN while you are out and about, to keep the smells out of your nappy bag until you get home! Plus, you can never have too many cloth wipes on hand – not only are they good for a chemical free way to clean your baby’s bottom, you can also use them to clean sticky hands and dirty faces while you are out!

Marnie from Noonee Wilga:

Make your own nappy liners: buy 1m of microfleece and cut it into rectangles approx 15cm x 40cm (or suitable size for your nappies). Microfleece does not fray so there is no need to sew the edges.

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something useful in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your search for the best cloth nappy accessories:

What would you recommend as an essential cloth nappy accessory?

What’s the Best Cloth Nappy Gift for a Baby Shower?

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

Winter Green Promise Nappy Sponsors – Congo Advice #5

“My friend is having a baby. What’s a lovely nappy ‘gift set’ I could offer for her baby shower?“

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

I would give her a nappy of a couple of different brands, such as our nappy trial pack.

Janine from Ninky Bear:

Well, you have come to the right place! Ninky Bear has a brand new Unique Gift Range! Flower Pots and Lolly Jars, made from Modern Cloth nappies and baby clothes! A fantastic way to introduce new users to the wonderful world of modern cloth nappies!

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

Why not match a cute nappy (like Cushie Tushies Couture all-in-ones, or Bumwear print pockets) to organic cotton BabyLegs legwarmers?

Or choose a nappy and match it to a fair trade toy – like a finger puppet, small wooden toy, or soft toy.

Cassandra from New Age Nappies:

I buy my friends a GroVia day pack.

Eva from Oz Baby Trends:

The Pop-Ins are available in boxed trial packs ($38) which come with a nappy, mini wet bag and flushable liner. Or if you’re happy to spend a bit more, some of our retailers stock the Pop-In Day Pack ($169) which consists of 5 Pop-Ins and 1 dri-night booster.

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

There are a number of small businesses and work at home mums who now do “nappy cakes” (some even do cloth ones!) These often have all sorts of little things that one may need for a newborn, such as singlets, socks, facewashers, baby creams, bath washes and powders, baby wraps and of course nappies!

Ticklefish Tots has developed a “gift set” which is suitable, not only for newborns, but for any age baby! They consist of 4 complete AI2 nappies, 4 cloth wipes, and a wetbag, packaged in a teddy bear back pack! Of course, not everyone is a cloth nappy fan, so you’d need to know if this is the path your friend has chosen before bestowing cloth gifts upon her!

Marnie from Noonee Wilga:

Cloth breast pads are so soft against the skin and very absorbent. At Noonee Wilga I make several styles of breast pads for both light and heavy absorbency.

Jacquie from Cheeky Cherubs:

Depending on your price range, the Itti Bitti nappies are just gorgeous if you want a pretty gift. We can put together a gift set to suit you including any of our range of Bandana Bibs, Cloth Wipes, Merino Hats, Changing Mats, Wetbags… Send an email through and we’ll put something together especially for you!

Rebecca From Bean Sprout Bubba:

If she is going to use cloth nappies, buy a set with a nappy, wetbag and extra inserts for her to start off with.

Ask her what brand she likes, and whether she wants a keepsake nappy (usually newborn or small size) or a practical nappy (usually small upwards).

Or find out about nappy cake makers, some of them are made up with terry towelling nappies, and some even have modern cloth nappies included in them.

Thank you to all our nappy doula’s for their contributions,

P.S Have you seen the Modern Cloth Mini Trend of Nappy Cakes?

- Your Nappy Doulas -

This is part of a regular series of articles that offer you an insight into the beliefs, concerns, knowledge and wisdom of Mums making and selling modern cloth nappies in Australia and New Zealand.

Discover More from Your Nappy Doulas…

P.S There is a question at the bottom of each of these features. Join in the conversation and share your own experiences and stories with us…

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your search for the best baby shower gift:

What would you like to receive as a baby shower gift?

Starting Cloth Nappies with a Toddler…

The Sponsors of the first Green Promise Nappies are your Nappy Doulas for this series of ‘Congo Questions’.

The Winter Sponsors of the 100 Green Promise Nappies Initiative were invited to contribute to this series of Congo Questions. Each donated a special cloth nappy to go out as a giveaway prize to become an ambassador for ‘Nappy Change’ as it stopped a disposable heading to landfill each time it is worn. This seasonal giveaway strives to reach 100 donated nappies in a future round, and you can register at any time to either play in the current giveaway (they go for 6 weeks at the start of each season) or register to be notified when the next round is set to begin! You can enter into the draw for one nappy, or all of them!

#3. “I have a young toddler and want to make the switch to cloth nappies during the day to save money. Is that a good idea? What’s a good strategy – where do I start?”

You’ll see a wonderful range of responses, and no doubt will gain a perspective on the question that relates well to your situation and needs. No-one sees what anyone else contributes until it is published here. This is what your Nappy Doula’s have to say:

Amanda from Sweet Bubba Eco Store:

This is what I did. I bought a couple of second hand itti bittis, bumGenius, Green Kids and Baby Beehinds to see what I liked before commiting to a huge outlay.
Being on forums such as Nappy addicts and Essential baby, Bub Hub and Belly Belly etc you start to learn about other nappies and trial a few. These also have places or can tell you where to buy and sell second hand nappies.
Don’t get disheartened if a couple of nappy types don’t work – not all nappies fit all bubs and toddlers.

Janine from Ninky Bear:

Yes it’s a brilliant idea! I only started using cloth when my second was about 10 months old! And I am kicking myself for thinking it was too hard, and not doing it sooner! I have saved a fortune. I found it was easier to buy one or two nappies a fortnight, or layby, so I wasn’t paying out a lot of money all at once. The savings in the long run are incredible. You should start by buying a few different brands, until you find one that works best for you/your child.

Emma from Brindabella Baby:

Great idea! Many toddlers will develop toilet awareness faster if you choose cloth nappies that don’t have a stay-dry liner, so they can learn from the feeling of wetness.

Go for a simple prefold-plus-covers nappy system for a cost-effective solution that encourages toilet awareness. Mandy Mac bamboo prefolds are absorbent and quick drying, and Bumwear covers have two layers of leg elastic to help stop leaks.

Or invest in Bumwear pull-up pants instead, so you get the absorbency of a nappy with the grown-up underpants when they’re ready to use a potty or toilet.

Cassandra from New Age Nappies:

Toddlers are a great time to start using cloth as you have a large variety to choose from plus it will make you see how easy it is and hopefully put you down the cloth road with future bubs.

Kyra from E-Weez:

It’s definitely a good idea! Depending on your toddler, I would opt for either an All-In-One system (good for a toddler who won’t sit still long for changes) or a fitted and cover system (more cost efficient and some kinds can be used on younger babies if you are planning to have more kiddies). If you are short on cash you could start off by only purchasing one or two MCN’s nappies and then perhaps try to purchase another MCN every paycheck, this way you’ll build your stash slowly without the large upfront costs and save on disposables at the same time.

Eva from Oz Baby Trends:

I would recommend toilet training. Invest in some waterproof undies or specific training pants and use them instead of nappies (cloth or disposable). Refuse to look back! Once you’ve started toilet training, don’t put a nappy back on your child except for nights, naps and going out. The best way to do this is to only buy 4-6 cloth nappies so you’ll have enough for nights/naps, but never enough to fall into full-time use.

Cindy from Ticklefish Tots:

This is exactly what I did! OK, I had a newborn as well, but my toddler was 2 years old, and spent the next 2 years in cloth! This amounted to a HUGE saving compared to having him in disposables for the same period of time! Ultimately, it depends on your child, and how close they are to toilet training. My youngest has been toilet trained at home since he was 18 months old, but is still in nappies whenever we leave the house, mostly for my own sanity, but also because he is still very unsure about public toilets.

If you do decide to cloth nappy your toddler during the day, work out how many nappies they go through each day and how often you’d be prepared to wash (in my situation, I wash nappies every 4-5 days!). There are quite a few stores and sites online that do Modern Cloth Nappy hire (Ticklefish Tots is one of those!) Some even hire out a variety of different brand nappies to you at once so that you can compare and see what you like and what suits you – and this saves money in the long run because you are not buying nappies that may not be right for your child!

Once you know what nappies suit your needs and how many you require, you can either start off slowly, buying one or two at a time (as your budget allows) or you can buy a bulk pack which usually gives you substantial long term savings compared to the retail price of single nappies!

Marnie from Noonee Wilga:

It is a great idea to begin the switch to cloth. Toddlers come in all shapes and sizes, so first buy several nappies of different brands or styles to see what suits you and your toddler before investing in a large number of all the same type. The Australian Nappy Network has sample collections of nappies in most capital cities (need to check that!!!) and it is a great opportunity to see what different ones look like.

Fiona and Catherine from Darlings Downunder:

Unless your child is toilet trained it is almost never too late, economically speaking. At 12 months the average child can still have 4,500 or more nappy changes to go! At 2, they can look forward to another 6 months of nappying – maybe 1,000 nappy changes.

Where to start might depend on whether you are planning another baby.

If so, choosing a onesize nappy system that can be used for both children can be great since you know you’ll get the wear out of them.

If you want a nappy that can double as training pants, it can be worth looking at pocket nappies that close with snaps. When your child is ready for toilet training, use a smaller insert to catch any accidents, and fasten the nappy on a looser snap setting, making sure it’s loose enough for the child to pull them down like undies (but not so loose they fall off!). The snaps also make it easier to clean up poo accidents:-)

Kyra from Bubbalooba:

Modern cloth nappies aren’t really that much extra effort, especially if you have enough so you can wash every 2nd-3rd day.

Have a pack of environmentally friendly disposables handy in case of emergencies, but you will soon see how easy it is to use modern cloth nappies!

Nicole from Krap Katchers:

Switching to Modern Nappies is always a good idea! If you plan on having more children perhaps look at buying one-size-fits-most nappies so they can be used earlier on with the new one. Also look at sites that sell second-hand nappies, often is fantastic condition and it’s a great way to break into cloth nappies without the initial outlay while still spending way too much on disposables. However you can always just buy sized nappies knowing that if they don’t quite work for you, mcn resale value is pretty good so you can sell and by others instead.

Jacquie from Cheeky Cherubs:

Changing to cloth is ALWAYS a good idea at any age or stage!

I converted to cloth when my 1st child was 16 months and I was pregnant with my 2nd. My motivation behind it was that I didn’t want to be buying disposable nappies for two children!

We trialled the Pop In Original with a Dri Night Booster over a few nights and with the success, having found a nappy that worked well, we then took the plunge into full time cloth nappying.

Rebecca From Bean Sprout Bubba:

Yes, it is a good idea. Starting ‘late’ can have its benefits.

Firstly, toddlers wet much less than younger babies, so you may end up not needing to buy the usual recommended 20 nappies for full-time day/night use. 10-15 nappies in total might be sufficient to wash 1-2 days, and less if your toddler is toilet aware and beginning to use a potty/toilet.

Secondly, there is no need to buy one-size nappies (unless intending to try for another baby), so you could just buy medium or large nappies, which tend to be cheaper than one-size nappies. Alternatively you could got straight into cloth pullup nappies/trainers, or use side snapped nappies as pull up trainers if your child is ready to be toilet trained.

Thirdly, by starting ‘late’ your nappies would be in better condition than most after your child toilet trains. Second hand nappies that are in fantastic condition can attract a high resale value, can’t go wrong with that!

Thank you to all our nappy doula’s for their contributions,

It is also helpful to be reminded again that the modern nappies you buy can be re-sold again to a hungry market! Second hand cloth nappies are very popular - mums are experimenting with the nappy styles and brands to find the best fit for their baby, budget and lifestyle needs. You can re-coup half, at least a third, and maybe even more of the cost of your nappies when you are done with them.

P.S There is a question at the bottom of each of these features. Join in the conversation and share your own experiences and stories with us…

Thank you to My Green Nappy’s Sponsoring Partners:

The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..

If you are just visiting for the first time today, and have found something new in this article, be sure to register & receive My Green Nappy Guide, you’ll be both relieved and excited at the things you will discover!

A question to you about your search for the best way to start using cloth nappies with a toddler…

Did you start using cloth nappies when your baby was a toddler? (many mums do!) How did you get started?