Comments on: Real nappies - better for the environment than disposables? http://littlegreenblog.com/family-and-food/nappies-environment/ natural health, wellness and caring for the environment Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:34:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Mrs Green http://littlegreenblog.com/family-and-food/nappies-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Mrs Green Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:34:55 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/04/22/nappies-environment/#comment-143 Hi Lucie! Oh my, that statistic is shocking and totally amazing. I do wonder how there can still be a debate about cloth v disposable nappy if that is true. Thanks so much for sharing that with us. Mrs G x Hi Lucie!

Oh my, that statistic is shocking and totally amazing. I do wonder how there can still be a debate about cloth v disposable nappy if that is true.

Thanks so much for sharing that with us.

Mrs G x

]]> By: Lucie http://littlegreenblog.com/family-and-food/nappies-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Lucie Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:30:42 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/04/22/nappies-environment/#comment-148 One statistic that sticks in my head about cloth v disposables is the fact it takes the same amount of water to producs the paper pulp for one disposable as it does to wash one cloth nappy 500 times!!! Lucie One statistic that sticks in my head about cloth v disposables is the fact it takes the same amount of water to producs the paper pulp for one disposable as it does to wash one cloth nappy 500 times!!!

Lucie

]]> By: Mrs Green http://littlegreenblog.com/family-and-food/nappies-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Mrs Green Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:21:25 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/04/22/nappies-environment/#comment-147 Hi Folks, I'm glad to see this has caused some comment! Peter, about Henry VIII - I guess a statistic like that has more impact than 'disposable nappies hang around in the landfill for 500 years'; your way of wording it, really gives some perspective. Thank you! Hey Megan; I remember scraping those crystals off our daughter's skin too :( Her nappy was so full (we were stuck in traffic) that the thing just kind of exploded all over her - it was awful and those crystals just didn't want to come off. I'm not sure what the hospitals give out over here; I expect it is different in different areas. Your experience with cloth has been really positive; I'm so glad to hear it! Melissa, I didn't switch to cloth nappies until dd was nearly toilet trained, but I'm thankful for the time she was in them - I learned a lot. I now know that if I was to have my time again, I would use washables. but at that time I didn't have the money to invest, I could hardly keep on top of feeding myself and her, let alone manage the washing and I just didn't have the awareness I have now to make the switch. We live and learn. The fact is we take small steps along the way as our situation allows and our knowledge broadens. I'm sure I have made many faux pas regarding the environment, AND I continue to do so (you should see the amount of rubbish being put out this week <sigh>) but we are all on the path of evolution. Combine that with raging post-birth hormones and heaps of conflicting advice, these decisions and lifestyle changes are hard to make....... I'm finding myself moving naturally and sympathetically towards some of the Native American ways. They ask "How will what we do today impact seven generations from now?" I like that very much, but it can be terrifying and stop you doing anything at all :D Hi Folks,

I’m glad to see this has caused some comment! Peter, about Henry VIII - I guess a statistic like that has more impact than ‘disposable nappies hang around in the landfill for 500 years’; your way of wording it, really gives some perspective. Thank you!

Hey Megan; I remember scraping those crystals off our daughter’s skin too :( Her nappy was so full (we were stuck in traffic) that the thing just kind of exploded all over her - it was awful and those crystals just didn’t want to come off. I’m not sure what the hospitals give out over here; I expect it is different in different areas.

Your experience with cloth has been really positive; I’m so glad to hear it!

Melissa, I didn’t switch to cloth nappies until dd was nearly toilet trained, but I’m thankful for the time she was in them - I learned a lot. I now know that if I was to have my time again, I would use washables. but at that time I didn’t have the money to invest, I could hardly keep on top of feeding myself and her, let alone manage the washing and I just didn’t have the awareness I have now to make the switch.
We live and learn. The fact is we take small steps along the way as our situation allows and our knowledge broadens. I’m sure I have made many faux pas regarding the environment, AND I continue to do so (you should see the amount of rubbish being put out this week ) but we are all on the path of evolution.
Combine that with raging post-birth hormones and heaps of conflicting advice, these decisions and lifestyle changes are hard to make…….

I’m finding myself moving naturally and sympathetically towards some of the Native American ways. They ask “How will what we do today impact seven generations from now?” I like that very much, but it can be terrifying and stop you doing anything at all :D

]]> By: Melissa http://littlegreenblog.com/family-and-food/nappies-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Melissa Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:21:03 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/04/22/nappies-environment/#comment-146 Hi Mrs. Green! I love this article, but was hesitant to comment because ...well, I use disposable diapers... But I will say in response to Megan, that when my oldest son was born (in Canada) the hospital only had cloth diapers for him during our stay. My second son (born in the US four years later) they only had disposable. So some hospitals do hand out cloth diapers (at least during your stay), though it would be nice if they gave you a free sample. Why do I use disposable knowing cloth is better? Well, let's just say change can be slow. I like the convenience of disposable, my sons both tolerated them well whereas my oldest had huge boils and rash during our hospital stay (I'm guessing harsh detergents used in cleaning and not properly rinsed?). I'm looking into other options but they seem either so time consuming or expensive. especially since this child is likely our last... I know that's horrid, but it's simply the truth. Also I had read articles about the water usage for cleaning cloth diapers and how it wasn't as clear cut as to which is better. (But let's be honest, all those diapers in the landfill - forever - is a sobering thought.) Hi Mrs. Green!
I love this article, but was hesitant to comment because …well, I use disposable diapers…
But I will say in response to Megan, that when my oldest son was born (in Canada) the hospital only had cloth diapers for him during our stay. My second son (born in the US four years later) they only had disposable. So some hospitals do hand out cloth diapers (at least during your stay), though it would be nice if they gave you a free sample.
Why do I use disposable knowing cloth is better? Well, let’s just say change can be slow. I like the convenience of disposable, my sons both tolerated them well whereas my oldest had huge boils and rash during our hospital stay (I’m guessing harsh detergents used in cleaning and not properly rinsed?). I’m looking into other options but they seem either so time consuming or expensive. especially since this child is likely our last… I know that’s horrid, but it’s simply the truth. Also I had read articles about the water usage for cleaning cloth diapers and how it wasn’t as clear cut as to which is better. (But let’s be honest, all those diapers in the landfill - forever - is a sobering thought.)

]]> By: Megan http://littlegreenblog.com/family-and-food/nappies-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Megan Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:07:26 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/04/22/nappies-environment/#comment-145 The debate will continue to rage as to which is better for the environment. My common sense tells me cloth diapers are better, but disregarding all of that I do know my baby has fewer issues with diaper rash and smells way better with cloth! After making the switch, we had to use a disposable one day and it was AWFUL. He smelled strongly, had little chemical crystals stuck to him and the whole experience was just so unpleasant. I just love that I invested less on his entire cloth diapering lifetime than I would for a year's worth of disposables. And they'll work for our 2nd child too. Now if hospitals would just hand out a couple cloth diapers instead of a package of disposables, people might overcome their misgivings and see how wonderful cloth really is! The debate will continue to rage as to which is better for the environment. My common sense tells me cloth diapers are better, but disregarding all of that I do know my baby has fewer issues with diaper rash and smells way better with cloth!

After making the switch, we had to use a disposable one day and it was AWFUL. He smelled strongly, had little chemical crystals stuck to him and the whole experience was just so unpleasant.

I just love that I invested less on his entire cloth diapering lifetime than I would for a year’s worth of disposables. And they’ll work for our 2nd child too.

Now if hospitals would just hand out a couple cloth diapers instead of a package of disposables, people might overcome their misgivings and see how wonderful cloth really is!

]]> By: Peter http://littlegreenblog.com/family-and-food/nappies-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Peter Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:09:44 +0000 http://littlegreenblog.com/2008/04/22/nappies-environment/#comment-144 Hi Mrs. Green, I was once told that if King Henry VIII had used disposables then they would all still be in landfill! We used real nappies (diapers) for our son, top quality items and, when they were no longer, needed sold them to about to became new parents who lived nearby. The nappies lookes as good as they first did when we bought them. Peter. PS. "Give an unwanted nappy a loving home", terrific!!! Hi Mrs. Green,

I was once told that if King Henry VIII had used disposables then they would all still be in landfill!

We used real nappies (diapers) for our son, top quality items and, when they were no longer, needed sold them to about to became new parents who lived nearby. The nappies lookes as good as they first did when we bought them.

Peter.
PS. “Give an unwanted nappy a loving home”, terrific!!!

]]>