Kids & family
Nappies
Introduction
You’ll change your baby’s nappies around 4000 times by the little darling’s second birthday. There’s not much you can do to make the task pleasant.
But cloth-nappy manufacturers are trying it make it easier for those who choose reusables.
In this report we look at cloth and reusable options, and compare the costs of cloth and disposable nappies. Plus, check out the feedback from our members, and have your say in our comments.
Member feedback
We asked Consumer members for their views on nappies. Many are converts to cloth and reckon the modern varieties are just as convenient as disposables.
The two main reasons given for choosing cloth nappies were: they saved money; and they had less environmental impact.
For those who chose disposables, convenience was the biggest factor.
Using a mix of cloth and disposables is also common, with the latter being used at night or when the family’s away from home.
In a sign of changing times, we also heard about early childhood centres that promoted cloth-nappy use. However, this isn’t universal – some centres insist on disposables.
Most members who use cloth have tried several brands before settling on their favourite. We also heard from people who make their own cloth nappies to keep down costs.
Our thanks to all who provided nappy feedback.
Have your say in our comments.
More information
- The Nappy Network: www.thenappynetwork.org.nz
- Info on making your own nappies: www.greenbeans.co.nz
Report by Jessica Wilson