h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Never too late Mol Thanks! See, I don't think it sounds too arduous at all and it really is the landfil thing that bothers me - the thought that long after my little one has gone there will still be a bag burried somewhere with a nappy holding his poo in it...

I've seen a few job lots (if you'll pardon the pun) on ebay so I will be keeping an eye out for the next few months for a good bargain.

16 hours and counting...

Oooh, scan is tomorrow?? Best wishes, angelic thoughts your way etc.

To weigh in on the matter at hand - the old school terry / gauze jobbies were used on me when I was little. Mum then kept them and while she used disposables on my siblings, the old square things came in handy for anything else baby related, such as spew, dribble, cleaning botties etc. They'd been cleaned to within an inch of their lives so mum had no qualms about using them. Just a thought.

Have no actual experience with the modern version though.

cheers ismarah

Ahh...nappies, a subject dear to my heart. One thing we found when Mrs D was pregant was the worst source of information on this type of thing were the midwives themselves - they all had their own opinions, presumably based on the wisdom prevalent when they were educated.

We finally plumped for disposables, based on their calculated lower environmental footprint at the time (six years ago), as reported by New Scientist (which I tend to trust). However, it would seem difficult to compare the environmental cost of energy use derived from fossil fuels with the environmental cost of occupying space in landfills - the comparison is therefore pretty arbitrary; hence everyone is free to quote whichever impact suits them best.

There are some sources I definitely wouldn't trust:

1. The nappy manufacturers, who clearly have their own agenda, unless they can point to some serious evidence.
2. Any green organisation. No matter how scientific they claim to be they always support the recycling option; it is easier for Joe Public to comprehend.
3. The establishment, for reasons given above.

There are some other things to consider. There is a greater transport cost associated with disposables, but there is higher energy and water use associated with washing reusables. With reusables, you will considerably shorten the lifetime of your washing machine, so you need to account for the environmental cost of premature replacement.

If you're worried about nasty chemicals, think about the huge quantities of detergent you will be using (alkylphenols, phthalates, endocrine disruptors (oestrogen mimics), lead and arsenic as an impurities). And worse - you may be tempted to use bleach (inc chloroform) as nappies tend to be white. On the flipside, a lot of this stuff is also used in the manufacture of diposables.

Nappies don't weight very much, so the transport costs need to be considered on the basis of extra journeys. For example, driving to the supermarket and buying nappies has zero impact if you were going there anyway. Don't be tempted to employ a laundry service, who drive to your house once a week in a large van to collect your dirties.

I reckon it depends on what you're most concerned about. I figured that excess energy consumption and global warming was more of a problem than space used in landfill sites so went for disposables. I'd probably use the biodegradable ones today, although I figure they would release the same amount greenhouse gases as they degrade, just quicker.

I'm quite late to this conversation as well, sorry. I used terry nappies most of the time when J was a baby. You don't have to carry poo-filled nappies around - I used to dangle them in the toilet and flush it to wash solid mess off, which you can do while you're out. The hospital where I had J said they weren't allowed, I had to use disposables, but I ignored them and used the ones I liked. They said they had no way of washing them, but I did. Called a husband!

I wouldn't use shaped ones personally, because the squares last longer as they fit any size, and frankly once J was out of nappies I used them for other things (rags for use in the cars mostly), which I wouldn't have been able to do with shaped ones.

As for the environment, it's better not to landfill. Although there are still environmental impacts from washing them these can be mitigated at home if you're concerned by using environmentally-friendly washing powders, washing on a low temp - J never cared that his nappies weren't a bright white, and air-drying them. Plus, you can sign up for a green electricity tarrif if that's a concern and only wash full loads.

"I figured that excess energy consumption and global warming was more of a problem than space used in landfill sites so went for disposables." I have to point out that chopping down trees to make disposable nappies contributes to climate change. Not that I'm criticising anyone else's choice, but thought I'd mention it.

Landfill cannot be undone, whereas manufacturing processes may get better.

You can sell the shaped ones on again if you want to - I watched an auction on ebay and a lot of 17 of them went for just under £100. That is if they are still looking ok after at least two babies...

You can get some that are made from sustainable bamboo

Didn't realise people would buy them second hand! I did use some of my mum's old ones, but I don't think I would have used a stranger's. And I don't think anyone would have wanted mine after - as I didn't wash on 90 they never came properly white again.

It's a very exciting time for you - just be prepared to stay wet for a few months. I couldn't believe that I was wet all the time, if I wasn't washing something J was dribbling or something on me!

>>I have to point out that chopping down trees to make disposable nappies contributes to climate change. Not that I'm criticising anyone else's choice, but thought I'd mention it.<<

Only if they use fresh pulp and don't replace the trees. I doubt that the profit margin in nappies would permit them to use virgin forest. I'd hope they use recycled paper or pulp from sustainable forests in this day and age, especially for the "green" ones.

>>Landfill cannot be undone, whereas manufacturing processes may get better.<<

Likewise climate change cannot be undone, and will last a whole lot longer than a couple of hundred years. However I wouldn't criticise anyone's choice either; there is a vast amount of misinformation and outdated science out there, and materials and manufacturing processes are improving all the time. The accepted scientific view a few years back was there was very little in it. I guess choice depends on your priorities and who you believe.

I'm not 100% convinced about the apparently lower impact of disposables over reuseables.

Obviously I made the decision to go with the reuseables and most of it was to do with environmental factors. There is an awful lot of water and energy used in the production of disposables - not forgetting the packaging (impossibly stupid amounts of it, IMO) etc etc.

Each to his own - you have to do what's best for you.

Mina (is that you)? I didn't wash on 95°C either - what I do notice when I'm in the UK is that you (generally) tend to use hotter water for washing than most of the people I know here. We use 30° for most things and I never have a problem.

And I have to add that (and I know this sounds yukky, but it's perfectly ok) occasionally, after rinsing, I sometimes put the nappies in a boil wash (about every 2 months or so) if couldn't make a full load of aprons

*waves to Mol*

Yes it's me.