On this page:

• What do parents want in a nappy?
• Disposable vs reusable nappies
• How to choose more eco-friendly disposables

What do parents want in a nappy?

Our ÌÇÐÄVlog Consumer Insights team conducted an online survey of 500 parents of children aged under two. When it comes to what’s very important in a nappy:

• 75% are looking for a nappy that avoids leakages
• 72% want an absorbent nappy
• Around two-thirds think it’s important that a nappy fits the baby well, and is comfortable and gentle on the skin.

Among the survey’s respondents, Huggies was the most popular brand followed by Mamia (Aldi) and Babylove. However, keep an open mind when it comes to choosing the right nappy – other brands you may not have considered have performed well in our lab tests.

Disposable vs reusable nappies

Before you can choose the right nappy for your family, you first need to decide what type you’re going to use. There are two main categories of nappies – disposable and modern cloth (reusable) cloth nappies.ÌýThey’re very different products, each with their own pros and cons. Here’s what you need to know.

Disposable nappies

Disposable nappies are made of a number of layers using a combination of fibres and chemicals to achieve absorbency.Ìý

The top-sheet (closest to the baby’s skin), is commonly made of polypropene which works to pass the baby’s urine through to the other layers. The next layer is usually made of cotton and polyester to absorb the urine away from the baby’s skin before reaching the absorbent layer that usually contains some cotton and sodium polyacrylate, a super absorbent polymer that turns the urine into a gel to prevent the wet feeling inside the nappy.

There are generally six sizes, depending on the child’s size and weight, starting from newborn through to junior. Here’s a guide of the sizes and general weight ranges.

• Newborn – Size 1 (up to 5kg)
• Infant – Size 2 (3–8kg)
• Crawler – Size 3 (6–11kg)
• Toddler – Size 4 (10–15kg)
• Walker – Size 5 (13–18kg)
• Junior – Size 6 (16kg+)

Pros

• Absorb moisture quickly to prevent leaks and ‘lock it in’ to keep your bub relatively dry.
• Easy and quick to fasten.
• Stay closed during use.
• Fit various shapes and sizes.
• Are very convenient, especially when out and about.

Cons

The environmental cost associated with the manufacturer and disposal of disposable nappies are their biggest disadvantage. A staggering 3.75 million disposable nappies are used each day in Australia and New Zealand. That’s a lot of waste going into landfill and, once there, conventional nappies can take up to 150 years to break down due to their antibacterial properties.

Biodegradable disposable nappies

While no nappy is 100% biodegradable, in our testing, the Ecoriginals, Pandas, Bamboo Behinds, Velona Cuddlies and Tooshies nappies claim to have biodegradable components. However, nappies still need to be disposed of in landfill, making it difficult for them to actually biodegrade. Nappies made with plant-based materials are another option to consider if you’re looking to be more ‘eco’ conscious when buying nappies.

While they’re likely a better option for the environment, they can be at the more expensive end of the scale, a factor you’ll also need to take into consideration. Their results for absorbency, leaks and wet feeling can also be a bit hit and miss, so check our results before buying.

Modern cloth (reusable) nappies

Reusable nappies have grown in popularity as sustainability becomes a more important consideration among parents. More manufacturers are offering reusable options, in a range of designs, so we’ve included a range of these in our testing.

They feature a water-resistant cover, leak-proof elasticised leg holes and an absorbent padding and liner.

This type of nappy is usually a one-size-fits-most sizing scenario, with adjustable velcro/tabs, so there’s no need to invest in various sizes as your baby grows.Ìý

Their environmental impact is much less than disposables and in the long run they’ll save you money.Ìý

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The absorbent materials (shell liners, pads and boosters) include bamboo, cotton, hemp or fleece, with breathable polyurethane laminated fabric (PUL) or lanolised wool often used for covers.

The type of fabric affects drying time. Natural fibres usually take longer to dry than synthetics, and you’ll want to make sure you have enough nappies to get through a few days of wet weather if you don’t have a clothes dryer.Ìý

Paper or fabric nappy liners make your laundry life easier by keeping solids off the nappy.Ìý

The different stylesÌý

• All-in-ones have a moisture-resistant outer layer sewn together with an absorbent inner to form the nappy – they can take quite a while to dry.Ìý
• ´¡±ô±ô-¾±²Ô-³Ù·É´Ç²õÌýconsist of a lined waterproof outer layer and absorbent inner layers, which ‘snap in’ with press studs. They can be taken apart for laundering, so they dry faster than all-in-ones.Ìý
• Pocket nappies have a waterproof outer layer sewn together with a soft inner lining, which forms the shell. Between these two layers there’s a pocket for the absorbent inserts. These are removed for washing then replaced, which can be a bit fiddly, but on the plus side they dry quickly.Ìý
• Traditional terry-towelling square nappies are also still available. They can take a little practice to fold and fit right, but they’re a cheaper reusable option, and modern fasteners mean you no longer need to use safety pins.Ìý

All the reusable nappies we tested are all-in-twos, however, they can also be used as pocket nappies.Ìý

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• Kinder on the environment.
• Ideal for ‘eco’ conscious parents who want to reuse and recycle rather than throw away.Ìý
• They can save you money over time.Ìý
• Using one set of cloth/reusable nappies with a cold wash cycle and line drying is about half the cost of using disposables.Ìý

ConsÌý

• There are power and water costs associated with washing cloth nappies.Ìý
• The process of cleaning cloth nappies (soaking, washing, drying) takes time and some may find the thought of cleaning a dirty nappy unpleasant.Ìý
• The initial start-up cost associated with reusable nappies is high – you’ll need to make sure you have enough nappy covers and absorbent liners.Ìý
• Our testing finds that generally, reusable nappies can struggle to compete with disposables in terms of absorbency and leakage.

The verdict: Disposable vs reusable

For environmental and financial reasons, you can’t go past modern cloth nappies. For ease of use and convenience, disposables are the way to go. Despite the environmental costs of fabric production and nappy laundering, cloth nappies that are dry pailed and mostly line-dried still come out ahead of disposable nappies.

Of course it doesn’t have to be one or the other: you could use a combination of cloth and disposable nappies. You may find cloth nappies work when you’re home, and disposables when out and about, going away, at nights, at daycare, and during long periods of rain when cleaning and drying is time consuming.Ìý

If you’re unsure:Ìý

• Buy a single nappy of each type to try out.Ìý
• Some MCN companies sell trial packs with samples of the different styles.Ìý
• Hire a trial pack from a nappy library, a service offered by nappy companies and community groups – search the internet for ‘modern cloth nappy library’ to find one near you.

How to choose more eco-friendly disposables

Disposable nappies really don’t have the best green reputation with millions of nappies ending up in landfill every day, but there are some ways you can reduce their impact.Ìý

• Look for brands made using plant-based and/or biodegradable materials.Ìý
• Some products have compostable or recyclable packaging. There are two Australian Standards that define compostable materials – Home compostable AS5810 and Compostable AS4736.
• Buying locally-made nappies, rather than imported, saves on transport carbon costs.Ìý

How do you know you’ve chosen the right nappy?

Whatever you’ve decided on, here’s the checklist for a good nappy.

• No leaking around the legs.
• No liquid seeping through the cover.
• Not too tight or too loose around hips and legs.
• No rubbing or chafing from the nappy or fasteners around the legs or hips.
• Your baby’s skin feels reasonably dry when the wet nappy is removed.
• The nappy holds enough liquid to be practical (i.e. you don’t have to change too often).
• Your baby can move their legs freely and, at later stages, crawl and walk without being bothered by the nappy.

Words of wisdom

In our survey, we asked parents what advice they’d give to first-timers. Here are some of the useful tips and tricks they dished out.

• Change frequently – “It’s a good idea to change your baby’s nappy at every feed or, if required, earlier. Leaving them in the same nappy for too long can cause skin irritations and nappy rash.”
• It’s all about trial and errorÌý– “Always buy a small pack first. You never know which brand and which size of nappy will fit your child best. Sometimes even the best brands can give the worst nappy rash to a baby. So never think that costlier brands are always the best.”Ìý
• Preparation is keyÌý– “Always unfold the fresh nappy and place it underneath the bum before removing the soiled nappy. Therefore you can just pull the soiled nappy away and slip the new one on without any accidents!”Ìý
• Sizing is important –Ìý“Choose the right size by their weight rather than their age/mobility. When they’re almost too big for their current size, move them into the next size up or else they’ll overfill their current sized nappy.”Ìý
• Shop around –Ìý“Be prepared to try various types, cloth nappies, disposable nappies, to find what suits your lifestyle. Always put them in scented bags when used and dispose in the outside bin so you don’t stink your house out.”Ìý

How much do nappies cost?

In our latest nappies test, the cost of a disposable nappy starts at 17c, and the most expensive is $1.11.

The reusable nappies we tested range in price from $9.90 to $35 per nappy.

The post How to buy the best disposable and cloth nappies appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• What are the absolute essentials?
• What to look for in baby clothing
• Fire-safe nightclothes

What are the absolute essentials?

• Six to eight singlets and jumpsuits will be a good start as babies can go through a surprising number of outfits – particularly with leaking nappies.
• Depending on the temperature, consider two long-sleeved tops or jackets for cool days and a couple of pairs of socks. Size 000 is usual for a newborn but you may find you’ll need some 0000 items in the first few weeks for smaller babies.
• Velcro, press studs, snap-crotch jumpsuits, and wide openings will all help your bundle of joy be dressed, changed and undressed with minimal fuss.

What to look for in baby clothing

Natural fibres

Wool and cotton breathe and have very good insulating properties while allowing perspiration to evaporate. Natural and synthetic mixes are also OK for most babies. Some babies’ skins can redden after contact with synthetic fabrics.

All-in-ones

Also known as jumpsuits or onesies, these little suits are not only very cute but keep the baby warm, stop nappy and singlet from drifting apart, and give you easy access to the nappy. Look for jumpsuits with press-studs (also known as snap fasteners) all the way up the front (and down both legs if there are legs).

These are easier than buttons or zips and you don’t have to pull the outfit over your baby’s head.

If the jumpsuit has feet, you can extend its life by cutting off the ends when the baby gets bigger, but don’t wait until bub’s feet begin to look squashed.

Pullovers

Boat-neck or envelope-neck pullovers or sweatshirts are easier to put on than those with a smaller crew neck. Jackets with press-studs or buttons at the front are another good option.

Hats

At least one winter hat is recommended for cool-day outings, as babies lose a lot of heat from their heads. A sunhat is a good idea if they’re in a carrier, but might get hot if they’re already shaded in a pram.

Socks

Make sure socks are not too tight, and avoid patterned socks; little toes and toenails can get caught on the looped threads inside. Shoes are not needed until children start to walk.

Bibs

The larger, terry-towelling bibs with a Velcro closure are best; strings will tangle. Plastic-backed bibs keep bub’s clothes dry, but may not be as absorbent.

Bibs with a close-fitting crew neck aren’t as easy to get on but help prevent gunge collecting in neck folds (ah, the joys of parenting!).

Fire-safe nightclothes

The most recent came into effect in 2019. After 1 January 2020, manufacturers must comply with these requirements, which are based on the voluntary Australian and New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS 1249:2014.

Clothes are classified into one of four categories dependent on the type of garment. For example, a Category 1 garment could be a slow burning wool, while a Category 3 could be a close-fitting onesie with a low fire risk. Category 4 garments have a high fire danger.

According to the , cotton and rayon generally burn more easily. Synthetic fibres may be slower to ignite but can melt and stick to skin once alight. Silk and wool are slower to burn.

When you shop, check garments for labels that indicate the clothing’s fire danger:

‘Caution: Keep away from heat and flame’

These clothes have a low fire hazard and are slower to burn. They fall into categories 1 through 3. 

‘Warning: High fire danger, keep away from heat and flame’

This indicates that the garment is highly flammable (category 4).

The ACCC continues to crack down on retailers that fail to display suitable safety warnings on garments.

In August 2016 the Federal Court ordered online retailer Ozsale to pay a total of $500,000 in penalties for supplying children’s nightwear which did not comply with the Australian mandatory safety standard, and for failing to have adequate compliance processes in place.

See the ACCC’s Product Safety website for an up-to-date list of .

The post How to buy the best baby clothes appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

If you’re a bleary-eyed brand-new parent, the nappy aisle can be overwhelming.Ìý

(Honestly, even getting to the shops is a superhuman feat. You should be proud of yourself!)

It’s hard enough just keeping a baby fed and clean on two hours’ broken sleep; how are you supposed to decode all the info on the nappy packs and make the right choice for your bundle of joy?

Never fear – we’ve done all the hard work for you. Here are the three top-scoring newborn nappies from our tests, plus the newborn nappies that took the wooden spoon.

Advice from one parent to another

While you might be a die-hard Huggies fan or a life-long Babylove lover, our experts suggest that you keep an open mind when it comes to choosing which nappy will grace your cherub’s bottom.Ìý

Our tests often reveal some lesser-known superstars that outperform the big brands (and are sometimes cheaper to boot).

Remember that every baby is different. Just because Beth next door swears by Huggies doesn’t mean that they’ll be right for your baby. Babies come in all shapes and sizes – and so do their, erm, bodily functions.Ìý

You might need something with excellent absorbency to deal with Junior’s over-enthusiastic bladder emptying. Or maybe a nappy with a high back and close-fitting legs will save you if you have a kid whose signature move is the poo-nami.Ìý

And of course you never know how your baby’s delicate skin will react to a particular nappy. Unfortunately this is simply trial and error.

Size matters, too: a nappy will fit a baby with gorgeous chubby thighs very differently to one with sweet, skinny little newborn legs.Ìý

So before you rush out and stock up on enough nappies to last you the entire first six weeks, try a few different brands to find out which one works best for you.Ìý

Our experts have tested 84 nappy products on the market, from newborn right through to junior sizes. Check out our disposable nappy reviews before you hit the shops.

A note about prices: The prices listed here are what we paid at the time of testing. Grocery prices fluctuate frequently, so double-check prices before you buy to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

The best newborn nappies from our tests

Coles CUB Newborn Size 1

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 89% (Recommended)
• Absorbency score: 84%
• Leakage score: 100%
• Price: 18c per nappy*

The top-scoring newborn nappy is also one of the cheapest, just beating well-known brand Huggies for the top spot.Ìý

If you’re worried about the cost of a new baby, these will help ease the stress. Plus, if you’re a nervous first-time parent you can be confident that they’ll do a great job.Ìý

They received a perfect leakage score, which means that nothing escaped them during our lab testing, and a rewet score of 96% means that your baby should feel dry even with a wet nappy. (They actually performed better than the more expensive Huggies nappy on this test.)

Read the full Coles CUB Newborn nappies review.

*Price paid at time of testing.

Huggies Newborn Size 1

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 88% (Recommended)
• Absorbency score: 90%
• Leakage score: 100%
• Price: 36c per nappy

The second-top-scoring newborn nappy in our tests is also one of the more expensive. But if you’re prepared to pay a little extra for peace of mind, then these are a great option.

They received excellent scores for leakage and absorbency, and their adhesive closures are moderately strong. They have a wetness indicator, which can be a boon to brand-new parents who are still learning when to change their newborn’s wet nappy.Ìý

Plus, if you want to stock up ahead of Junior’s arrival, some online retailers sell bulk packs of 160 or 216 which should last you a solid few weeks of regular nappy-changing.Ìý

Read the full Huggies Newborn review.

What about Aldi Mamia newborn nappies?

In our previous nappies test, Aldi’s newborn nappies were one of the top performers – and one of the cheapest at 17 cents per nappy.

However, since then the company has changed the way it makes its newborn size nappies, so we’ve removed them from our review until we can test the new version.

You can still check ourÌýreviews for Aldi’s toddler, walker and junior size nappies.

(Side note: There’s a risk that if you shop at Aldi while severely sleep-deprived, you could end up coming home with a reciprocating saw or night-vision goggles, so proceed with caution!)

The newborn nappies that performed worst in our tests

Kit & Kin Hypoallergenic Eco Nappies Size 1

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 57%
• Absorbency score: 38%
• Leakage score: 60%
• Price: 62c per nappy

They might claim to be better for the planet, but these nappies certainly won’t be good for your laundry.Ìý

They’re leaky, not especially absorbent, and they have weak velcro – a bad combination when you’re dealing with a full nappy!

They’re also one of the more expensive nappies in our newborn nappies test, proving again that price isn’t always a good indicator of quality. Unfortunately there’s not much to commend these nappies on, regardless of their enviro credentials.Ìý

Read the full Kit & Kin Hypoallergenic Eco Nappies review.

Beyond by Babylove Size 1 Newborn Nappies

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 57%
• Absorbency score: 64%
• Leakage score: 40%
• Price: 50c per nappy

These newborn nappies experienced heavy leakage in our testing and weren’t especially absorbent, despite the pack claiming “up to 12 hours absorption”.Ìý

They also didn’t score well on the rewet test, which means that your baby could feel uncomfortable if their nappy is wet.

Since absorption, leakage and wet feeling are the three most important things we look for in a nappy, this product was scored down on all fronts, hence its low ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating.Ìý

Read the full Beyond by Babylove newborn nappies review.

Tips for saving money on nappies

There’s no two ways about it: children can be expensive. And new babies go through nappies at an alarming pace, so you’re likely to see your grocery bills grow as your baby does.Ìý

To help minimise your nappy spend, here are a few tips for new parents:

• Check unit pricing whenever you’re buying nappies – it’s a much better indicator of cost than the overall pack price. And it’s much easier to understand when you’re sleep deprived!
• Buying in bulk can save you money – while a large pack will cost you more than a smaller one, you’ll pay less per nappy.Ìý
• Reusable nappies are far cheaper in the long run than disposables. They might cost more up front, but over time they’ll significantly reduce the impact on your wallet, and the planet. If you don’t want to commit to cloth nappies full-time, you can always alternate with disposables.Ìý
• Check prices from online retailers as well as at your local supermarket. You might be able to find a good price on special, and as a bonus they’ll be delivered to your doorstep so you won’t have to lug them home from the shops.Ìý

How we test nappies

We send nappies to be tested in a state-of-the-art laboratory where we test for:

• Absorption: We measure the amount of time it takes for synthetic urine to disappear into the nappy
• Leakage: A visual assessment of whether any leaks come out the side of the nappy
• Rewet: We assess how wet the nappy is five minutes after the absorption test
• Velcro strength: We measure how strong the nappy’s adhesive closure is

Want to know more? Learn aboutÌýhow we test nappies.

The post The best newborn nappies – and the ones to avoid appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• The best toddler nappies from our tests
• The toddler nappies to avoid
• The best walker nappies from our tests
• The walker nappies to avoid

All of a sudden they can – and do – get into just about everything, and you can’t take your eyes off them for even a moment.Ìý

And nappy changes become near-professional level wrestling matches, usually preceded by a chase around the house to catch the nappy-wearer.Ìý

With this much going on, the last thing you need is to be worrying about whether your little one’s nappy is going to do its job.

So, to make life a little easier for toddler parents and carers, we’ve tested a range of disposable nappies from major brands to save you having to research and trial nappies for your little ball of energy.

To help you choose, here are the best and worst toddler and walker nappies from our testing.

The best toddler nappies from our tests

While we can’t help you get more sleep at night, you can certainly rest easy knowing that these nappies will help keep your baby dry.Ìý

They’re all recommended by our experts, and all scored a perfect 100% on our leakage test.

If you’re on a budget your best bet is the Pampers Baby-Dry nappies, which cost 33 cents per nappy.Ìý

But if you just want to put all worries about leaks and wetness out of your mind, regardless of cost, the top two Huggies nappies performed well on every single test and scored at least five percentage points higher than their rivals – however, you’ll pay extra for peace of mind.

Huggies Ultimate Nappies Pure Care Size 4

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 92% (Recommended)
• Price per nappy: 67 cents*

*Price paid at time of purchase, based on the largest pack size available at the time.

Huggies Essentials Size 4 Nappies

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 90% (Recommended)
• Price per nappy: 50c

Huggies Ultra Dry Nappies for Girls Size 4

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 85% (Recommended)
• Price per nappy: 45c

Pampers Baby-Dry Size 4

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 83% (Recommended)
• Price per nappy: 33c

Rascal + Friends Premium Nappies Unisex Size 4

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 83% (Recommended)
• Price per nappy: 42c

The toddler nappies to avoid

This list is a tale of highs and lows – low scores and both high and low prices.

On the one hand, the cheapest nappies we tested in this size were a total washout.Ìý

And on the other, one of the most expensive nappies was actually the lowest scoring product of all. These bombed out on our absorbency, leakage and wet feeling tests, and they have quite weak tabs.Ìý

So not only will your toddler potentially soak through these, they could also get out of them quite easily. Not a great combination for your peace of mind – or your carpets.Ìý

Tooshies Toddler Unisex Nappies Size 4

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 52%
• Price per nappy: 72c

Woolworths Little One’s Ultra Dry Nappies Toddler Size 4

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 54%
• Price per nappy: 23c

Beyond by Babylove Size 4 Nappies

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 56%
• Price per nappy: 74c

Velona Cuddlies Bamboo Nappies Size L

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 59%
• Price per nappy: 92c

The best walker nappies from our tests

It’s all about Huggies again in walker-size nappies, with the brand taking out the top two spots again – and by a fair margin.

And once again the top scoring product is a little more expensive than its peers: Huggies Ultimate Nappies Pure care are the highest priced of all the walker-size nappies that our experts recommend.Ìý

And once again, if you’re on a budget, Pampers Baby-Dry has got you (or rather your baby’s behind) covered at a reasonable price.Ìý

This time, though, there’s an ‘eco’ product among the top performers: Haléco Eco Super Thins. The company claims that the nappies are 68% plant-based and therefore “68% biodegradable”.Ìý

Unfortunately, we can’t validate the environmental claims of all the nappies that come through our test labs, so all we can go on is what the manufacturers say about their products.Ìý

What we can tell you is that Haléco nappies were one of the top scoring products in the walker category.Ìý

But we digress. Here are the top scoring walker nappies from our test. They’re all recommended by our experts and scored 100% in our leakage test, which means our testers observed no leaks during the testing process.

They also all scored well for absorbency and wet feeling, which hopefully might buy sleep-deprived parents a few more hours’ shut-eye overnight since they’ll keep your baby dry for longer.Ìý

Huggies Ultimate Nappies Pure Care Size 5

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 92%
• Price per nappy: 75c

Huggies Essentials Size 5 Nappies

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 91%
• Price per nappy: 52c

Pampers Baby-Dry Size 5

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 86%
• Price per nappy: 41c

Rascal + Friends Premium Nappies Unisex Size 5

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 86%
• Price per nappy: 47c

Haléco Eco Super Thins Walker

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 83%
• Price per nappy: 71c

The walker nappies to avoid

The more mobile your baby is, the more mischief they can get into. You’ll have your hands full just keeping track of where they are – you don’t need to add concerns about the state of their nappy to your already-heavy mental load.Ìý

So to take one more thing off your to-do list, we’ll tell you which nappies not to add to your cart when you’re stocking up on supplies.Ìý

If you’re too short on time to read the full list, at least read this one sentence: Tooshies and Woolworths Little One’s walker nappies leaked heavily, scoring just 40% on our leakage test, so unless you’re a fan of doubling your laundry load, give these a wide berth.Ìý

Tooshies Walker Unisex Nappies Size 5

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 56%
• Price per nappy: 81c

Woolworths Little One’s Ultra Dry Nappies Walker Size 5

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 58%
• Price per nappy: 26c

Babylove Cosifit Nappies Size 5

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 69%
• Price per nappy: 33c

The post The best nappies for your toddler or walker – and the ones to avoid appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test disposable and reusable nappies

Here’s what you told us is very important in a nappy:

• 75% of you are looking for a nappy that doesn’t leak
• 72% find it very important that a nappy is absorbent.

This has helped shape our nappy testing and means we can deliver useful results that help you buy better.

Our expert testers

For this test, we bought brands within the newborn, infant, crawler, toddler, walker and junior sized nappies and sent them to an external laboratory for testing. With the rise in popularity of reusable nappies and with more options available, we also selected a range of reusable nappies to test.Ìý

In-house, we worked out the value for money of each product by determining the cost per nappy (based on the largest pack size available) and we also looked at any labelling claims on the pack, such as whether the nappies are latex free or suitable for sensitive skin.

How we choose what we test

As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the most popular models on the market and what you’re most likely to see in retailers. In the case of nappies, our buyers purchased all of the products they could find on supermarket shelves in the newborn, infant, crawler, toddler, walker and junior categories. For reusable nappies, we chose a selection of products available from major retailers.

How we test disposable and reusable nappies

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating is our overall score that determines which products we recommend. For disposable nappies this is made up of:

• absorption (40%)
• leakage (30%)
• rewet (20%)
• velcro strength (10%).

For reusable nappies, the ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating consists of:

• absorption (50%)
• leakage (30%)
• rewet (20%)

Absorption test for disposable nappies

Using synthetic urine, gushes of the liquid are dosed into the centre of the nappy using a pump.Ìý

• For newborn nappies each gush is 30mL
• For infant nappies each gush is 40mL
• For crawler nappies each gush is 50mL
• For toddler nappies each gush is 55mL
• For walker nappies each gush is 60mL
• For junior nappies each gush is 65mL

This simulates a child wearing the nappy overnight. We measure the amount of time it takes for the liquid to disappear, and this is repeated four times with a five-minute gap between each gush. The total time taken for all four gushes to be absorbed is the absorption speed.

Absorption test for reusable nappiesÌý

For reusable nappies we use an immersion method to assess absorbency. To do this, we weigh the insert of the reusable nappy (also called the absorber) before immersing it in a pool of synthetic urine for two minutes. The excess liquid is gently squeezed out and hung for 10 minutes to remove any liquid not absorbed. The final weight is measured and the difference between the two weight measurements is the amount of liquid that has been absorbed.Ìý

To prepare the reusable nappies for testing, we soak the absorbers overnight in plain water before washing them three times with a mild detergent. We do this because most manufacturers give instructions for washing before first use, claiming that performance improves after a few washes.

Leakage test

This is a visual assessment. We check if any leaks come out the side of the nappy.

Rewet test

Five minutes after the last gush from the absorption test, six pre-weighed dry filter papers are placed on the wet nappy and held down for 30 seconds. The filter paper is then removed and weighed. Ideally, the filter paper should remain relatively dry.

Velcro strength test

We attach one side of the velcro to the nappy, then we place a pin through the tip of the velcro with an empty container hanging off the pin. The container is slowly filled with water at a constant rate until the velcro breaks free. The total weight required to make the velcro break free is converted to force in Newtons. We test both the left and right side and then create an average across both sides, then we repeat the test five times and our final velcro strength score is calculated.

This test is not carried out on reusable nappies.

The post How we test nappies appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• OPTION 1. Modern cloth nappies (MCNs)
• OPTION 2: Using 'eco' disposable nappies
• OPTION 3: The hybrid model: Modern cloth nappies (MCNs) and disposablesÌý
• The top-performing nappies with eco claims

Even ‘biodegradable’ disposable nappies take many years to break down in landfill.

If you have a child in nappies and you’d like to reduce your reliance on regular disposable nappies, you have three options:

1. Use modern cloth nappies (MCN)
2. Use disposable nappies with ‘eco-friendly’ claims
3. Use a mixture of both.

As a parent who used a combination of MCNs and disposable nappies, I’ll share my experiences to give you some ideas to reduce your environmental impact. I don’t claim to be an expert on the topic – just a regular parent who’s been in the trenches and found a way to use cloth nappies part-time for my child.Ìý

(My daughter is now eight, so I survived and made it out the other side – you will too!)

OPTION 1. Modern cloth nappies (MCNs)

“The best way to significantly reduce your environmental impact when it comes to nappies is to opt for modern cloth nappies,” saysÌýRebecca Ciaramidaro, ÌÇÐÄVlog’s expert on babies’ and kids’ products.Ìý

“While they lack the convenience of disposable nappies, they’ve come a long way from the simple terry towelling squares of the past, so let go of any thoughts of baggy, leaky terry-cloth nappies and huge tubs of laundry soaking in Napisan.

“They’re also far more simple to use than old-school nappies, and they have absorbent padding and liners, water-resistant covers and leak-proof elasticised leg holes so they’re more reliable.”

And MCNs are hitting the mainstream, with more and more retailers than ever before stocking them. They come in all shapes, colours and styles – not to mention price points, with even discount retailers like Aldi and Kmart are jumping on the MCN bandwagon.

You might be put off by the upfront cost of MCNs, but they can work out cheaper than disposables over time since you only pay for them once. And if you have a second child (or more), the cost per wear becomes even lower.

There’s also quite the trade in secondhand nappies online. (Don’t worry – you canÌýsanitise them before use!). This is a good way to try out a range of MCN brands and styles to find what works for you and your baby without spending lots of money, especially if you’re not completely sure you’ll be able to commit to them. And since some people only use MCNs briefly before switching to full-time disposables, you can often pick up nappies that have only been minimally (or even never) used.

If you’re not sure you want to commit to MCNs, a nappy library is another good place to start. You can hire a range of nappies from a nappy retailer for a test run, which gives you the opportunity to learn how to use them and decide if you want to continue.Ìý

At the end of the hire period, you can either return them all to the retailer, keep the ones you like, or use the hire fee as a credit for the retailer’s store. (This may differ depending on the service you use.)

MCN laundry services also exist, which can ease the laundry burden in those first intense weeks of bringing your baby home. This can give you a bit of a breather until you find your rhythm using MCNs. (I didn’t use one of these, so can’t comment on how well they work.)

OPTION 2: Using ‘eco’ disposable nappies

Claims on nappy packages range from vague to absurd. It can be hard to make sense of all the claims, let alone work out how much of a difference the claims actually make.Ìý

“We’re noticing more brands enter the market with ‘eco’ claims,” Rebecca says.Ìý

“In our recent test of newborn, infant and crawler nappies, we tested five new brands with sustainable and eco claims: Velona Cuddlies, Kit & Kin, Joonya, Bamboo Behinds and Babylove’s latest range, Beyond by Babylove.Ìý

“These are tested alongside other brands like Eco by Naty, Ecoriginals, Pandas and Tooshies that we’ve seen in our tests before. When it comes to performance, these nappies can be a bit hit and miss in terms of absorbancy, leaks and wet feeling.”

Unfortunately, we can’t validate the environmental claims of all the nappies that come through our test labs – the cost is prohibitive and spending all our money on chemical tests would mean we couldn’t test other products for our members and other shoppers.Ìý

This means that all we can go on is what the manufacturers say about their products. We report what’s included on each pack to help you make a decision about which ones to purchase.Ìý

These are some of the claims we found on nappies we tested:

• “Planet and baby friendly”
• “No added nasties”
• “Non-toxic”
• “Non-GMO cotton”
• “Only certified bio- and plant-based material on baby’s skin”
• “Plant-derived liner wrap from renewable sources”
• “Natural ingredients”
• “Made with no harmful chemicals”
• “Biodegradable and compostable packaging”
• “Sustainably sourced plant fibres without any added harmful chemicals”

Regardless of what the manufacturers claim, disposable nappies are far from an eco-friendly product.Ìý

“Some products claim to use some biodegradable materials, but nappies need to be disposed of in landfill, making biodegradability difficult to occur, or even occur at all,” says Ciaramidaro.

“You would need to separate the biodegradable components from the rest and send them to a commercial composting facility for them to actually biodegrade, and this isn’t really possible once the nappy has been soiled.”

Plant-based will help

Even though you can’t reduce the environmental impact at the end of a nappy’s life cycle, by choosing nappies made with plant-based materials, you can reduce the impact at the start instead.

“Some manufacturers do make a conscious effort to lower their carbon footprint and use renewable resources like plant-based materials, bioplastics and organic materials,” Rebecca says.Ìý

So take environmental claims with a grain of salt, read the fine print to understand exactly what they mean, and consider the impact of all the materials in the nappy and packaging when looking for a more environmentally friendly option.Ìý

OPTION 3: The hybrid model: Modern cloth nappies (MCNs) and disposablesÌý

If using cloth nappies full-time feels overwhelming but you still want to minimise your environmental footprint, a hybrid model is one way you can reduce your disposable nappy use.Ìý

There are a few ways to do this:

• Use MCNs when you’re at home and disposables for convenience when you’re out and about.
• Use MCNs during the day and disposables at night. This can minimise the number of overnight nappy changes, as disposables are more absorbent.Ìý
• If your child’s daycare/grandparent/nanny isn’t on board with MCNs, you can always use disposables in care situations and MCNs when you’re in charge of the baby.Ìý

I switched to this hybrid model when I returned to work. This was partly to minimise the laundry part of the paid work/housework juggle, and because my child’s daycare struggled to use the MCNs correctly, so there were a lot of leaks in the early days and they weren’t keen on using them. In the end she wore disposable nappies at daycare and MCNs with me.

I also used disposables at night to minimise middle-of-the-night nappy changes and make sure we all got as much sleep as possible. (Unfortunately, my child had other ideas and started waking every hour when I returned to work – yawn!).

The top-performing nappies with eco claims

Huggies Ultimate nappies were the only product with eco claims that scored highly enough to be recommended by our experts, however other eco nappies performed quite well in our tests,Ìýso they’re worth considering if buying more environmentally-friendly products is important to you.

It’s worth noting that many of the lowest-scoring nappies in our tests were ‘eco-friendly’, so it’s best not to get swept up in the marketing if you want a nappy that really works.Ìý

Our nappy testing assesses each nappy for absorbency, leakage, wet feeling and velcro strength so you can tell which nappies will keep your baby dry.

“We’re seeing some better performing eco products but they are a bit hit and miss,” says Rebecca.Ìý

“Some would be worth trying, but others are poor in terms of absorbancy and leakage.Ìý

“To make sure you don’t end up with expensive eco nappies that leak, it’s best to look at our results to see which brands are worth trying out.”

Huggies Ultimate Nappies Size 3 / 4 / 5

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 92% (Recommended)
• Price: 54c / 60c / 67c a nappy
• Eco claims: Liner is wrapped in plant-derived materials sourced from renewable sugarcane.

Read the full Huggies Ultimate Nappies review.Ìý

Ecoriginals Eco-friendly Nappies Infant Size 2 / Toddler Size 4 / Walker Size 5

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 82% / 78% / 76%
• Price: 63c / 91c / $1.00 per nappy
• Eco claims: No less than 90% biodegradable; Home compostable packaging; Sustainably and ethically sourced materials; “Certified Plastic Neutral”; Sustainably-sourced wood pulp; Non-GMO cornstarch; More than 90% biodegradable; Biodegradable paper packaging printed with food-safe inks.

Read the full Ecoriginals Infant Size 2 nappies review.Ìý

Pandas Eco-disposable Nappies Medium Size 3 / Small Size 2 / Newborn Size 1

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 76% / 74% / 70%
• Price: $1.11 / $1.00 / 91c per nappy
• Eco claims: Made from 85% biodegradable plant-based materials; Take only 45 days to biodegrade; Back sheet is plastic-free and 100% biodegradable; Free from pesticides, GMO, harsh chemicals; Responsible forestry used for plant-based pulp; Compostable packaging

Read the full Pandas Eco-disposable Nappies review.Ìý

DIY baby wipes

If you’re trying to reduce your overall nappy-related environmental footprint, changing the way you use nappy wipes is the next step.Ìý

Making your own baby wipes will reduce the amount of plastic packaging you create, and give you control over exactly what they’re made of. They’re also much cheaper than store-bought baby wipes, and as long as you have a stash of paper towels at home, you’ll always be able to whip up a batch if you run out.Ìý

When I used these I found they worked well – even on particularly messy nappy situations. But make sure you use good-quality paper towels. (Believe me, I tried to use cheap ones and instantly regretted it.)

Here’s a basic recipe to get you started.Ìý

Homemade baby wipes

Ingredients:

• 1 roll paper towelÌý
• Plastic container with a lid (I used an Ikea one)
• 2 cups hot waterÌý
• 1 teaspoon liquid soap.

Method:

1. Cut the roll of paper towel in half using a serrated knife.Ìý

2. Put the paper towel in the container, with the cardboard tube standing upright.Ìý

3. Mix the hot water with the liquid soap.Ìý

4. Pour the mixture evenly over the paper towel.

5. Wait until the paper towel has absorbed most of the liquid, then turn the paper towel roll up the other way so that the paper towel is wet all the way through.Ìý

6. Remove the cardboard tube from the paper towel roll. (Don’t forget to recycle or compost it!)

7. Pull the wipes from the centre of the roll to use.Ìý

Notes:

• You may need more or less water depending on how thick your paper towel is.Ìý
• Please don’t flush these wipes – they’ll block your pipes!
• You can tweak the recipe by adding other ingredients, such as aloe vera gel, witch hazel extract, oils such as olive, coconut or sweet almond, vitamin E, herbal tea such as chamomile, etc.Ìý
• If you’re heading out of the house, you can pop some of these wipes in a smaller plastic container or reusable plastic bag.

The post How to be more eco-friendly when using nappies appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Babies may be cute, but they can also be wriggly, loud, and they can create some surprisingly foul explosions for such little people. There’ll be nappies, wipes and cream flying everywhere, and perhaps a few tears (from both of you), so here’s some tips to help make nappy time as smooth and stress-free as possible.

1. Use the floor, and your powers of distraction

It’s very handy to have a designated changing space or change table set up with all your nappies, wipes etc, but if you have a very wriggly little one, the floor or bed, or any flat surface will do. Just ensure you keep an eye on them at all times to avoid them rolling off where they shouldn’t. Somewhere under a baby mobile, a secure window or within grabbing distance of harmless toys that can distract them while you get them clean is another plus.Ìý

2. Pack back-up change kits and put them everywhere

Any new parent will tell you: you are no longer in control. A nappy change can be required anywhere at anytime, and being prepared will save you a ton of stress. It isn’t always practical to cart a huge baby bag around with you and there are times you may be caught short.Ìý

Get organised by packing little wallets, wet bags or makeup bags with mini nappy changing kits you can leave in your car, stroller or multiple handbags for back-up when you’re on the go. Include a few nappies, a mini pack of travel wipes, barrier cream, hand sanitiser and a fresh onesie or two.Ìý

3. Stock up on cheap square towels or muslins

“One of the most useful baby shower gifts I received was a huge stack of small square towels that were a godsend for nappy changing (and a million other things),” says another ÌÇÐÄVlog parent.Ìý

Laying a clean towel or a wipeable change mat under your baby when you change them each time avoids getting mess on the bed/floor or change table. You can use it to do a final wipe when you’re done and then just pop it in the wash.Ìý

4. Do the onesie trick

Had a particularly messy blowout? Most onesies have foldable/flexible shoulders which means that if everything is very messy down below, you can pull the onesie down over their body to take it off (rather than dragging the unpleasantness up over baby’s head and hair).Ìý

5. Avoid the wee issue

ÌÇÐÄVlog Mum Margaret has two boys so is well-placed to give this advice: “Boys will sometimes wee when the nappy comes off – something to do with the cold air. Throw a cloth nappy or towel over their bits while you’re getting organised, unless you want to wear it.”

6. Try a spatula… for your nappy cream

Nappy cream gets everywhere: it’s thick, white and impossible to wash off, and you’re now going to be dipping your fingers in it multiple times a day. Some parents opt to pop a small plastic spatula or clean foundation brush in the tub (or keep one on hand) so they don’t have to make contact with the white stuff.Ìý

But ÌÇÐÄVlog parent Julia says: “We were given the spatula tip by some friends who swore by it, but we just found it to be quite messy and annoying once our little boy decided it was a toy and loved to try and grab it out of our hands all the time.”

7. Save money, buy in bulk

Storage space may be at a premium but make way for huge boxes of nappies. Our top tip for new parents is to buy in bulk.Ìý

Your newborn can go through 8–12 nappies a day in those early weeks then you’ll need about 6–8 a day up to around nine months. Then it might reduce to about 4-5 a day (although we’ve all had those situations when you put a fresh one on and, bam, they need a new one straight away).ÌýThat’s about 3000 nappies or more, just for the first year. If you’re buying nappies in small packets at the most expensive unit price, it adds up.

If you compare unit prices on a leading brand sold in the supermarket, the price per nappy can vary from about 28c each to 33c each, depending on the pack size you buy. If you opt for the smaller pack size of the same brand, you could be spending an extra $150 or more for the first year on nappies alone.Ìý

We testÌýa range of nappy brands in our labs here at ÌÇÐÄVlogÌýand we usually buy the biggest pack size available – we have found prices per nappy ranging from 16c to $1.76. And the cheapest newborn nappy we recommend is from Aldi and comes in at 17c.

ButÌýÌÇÐÄVlog parent Alice recommends holding fire before you rush out and buy a million of the cheapest nappies you can find: “Babies come in all shapes – try a few different brands to find out which one works best for you and bub.”Ìý

8. Get nappies and wipes delivered

Those huge boxes of nappies and wipes are a pain to lug around – get them delivered straight to your door by adding to your weekly shop or buy nappies cheaply online from stores such as Amazon or specialist retailers. While you’re at it, create a standing order for wipes and nappy cream so you never run out when you have a messy situation on your hands. Brands such as Thankyou and EcoOriginals offer monthly subscription boxes so you can set and forget – one less thing you have to worry about as a new parent.

9. Reconsider the nappy bin

Some parents swear by their nappy bins and high-tech nappy disposal systems – those contraptions that you pop the dirty nappies in and they twist them into individual plastic bags to keep the smell and mess contained. Although it might be useful if you live in an upstairs flat without easy access to an outdoor garbage bin, some parents maintain they are a waste of time, space and money.ÌýPlus, it’s just one more thing you have to buy.Ìý

“I just use those scented nappy bags and pop it in the bin after each change – I didn’t have space in my baby’s room for a bulky bin,” says one ÌÇÐÄVlog parent.

The refill bags come in ‘cassettes’ that can be very expensive (prices on a leading brand’s product can range from $14 to $20 per cassette if you buy individually and it will only last you around 2–3 weeks depending on nappy changes).Ìý

The post Nappy-changing hacks for new parents appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Red, raw and inflamed skin
• What Kimberly-Clark says
• Multiple investigations
• Kimberly-Clark declines to share its product safety testing methods
• ÌÇÐÄVlog tests Huggies nappies
• Is there a chemical culprit?
• What can consumers do?
• Argument for a general safety provision

It’s been a rough few months for Huggies – rougher still for the customers who have condemned the nappy giant.

More than that recent batches of Huggies nappies have caused severe skin irritations on their babies and toddlers, but the multinational manufacturer, Kimberly-Clark, insists its products aren’t the problem.

Although the company has been quick to announce following an onslaught of complaints, it says the products on shelves now are safe and that nappy rash is a common condition.

But for many parents, the wounds on their kids don’t look common.

Red, raw and inflamed skin

Amber, a nurse from Cairns, took her seven-month-old daughter to the doctor after days of attempting to heal a blistered rash that flared up while the baby was wearing a new Huggies Ultra Dry nappy.

She tried creams, breast milk, hourly changes, nappy-free time and soap-free baths. None of it worked.

Amber took her doctor’s suggestion of switching nappy brands, “just in case”.

“She never had a rash before and hasn’t had a rash since I stopped using Huggies,” Amber says. “That says to me, well, something in the nappy must have been doing it.”

It’s a view shared by thousands of other parents, who’ve formed where they’ve posted a long trail of photos of red, raw and inflamed baby skin.

They want the recent Huggies products recalled, with most of the attention targeted at its Ultra Dry nappies, newly embellished with Minnie and Mickey Mouse cartoons.

They claim the nappies are different beyond the replacement of the previous Winnie the Pooh cartoons.

Courtney Lummis says she had to keep her daughter home from daycare for a week while her rash healed. She claims the skin was broken and bleeding after a second night in a new Huggies Ultra Dry nappy.

“I had never experienced anything more than a heat rash on her before. I was so shocked,” Courtney says.

“I posted my daughter’s experience and photos of her injuries to [Huggies’] Facebook page mainly out of great concern that the nappies were still available and injuring other children,” she says. “Huggies gave a generic response… They then deleted my post.”

The brand is replying to customer complaints on , saying: “The health of your baby is our number one priority and we take product safety and quality matters very seriously”.

But it’s done little to quell a sense of injustice among parents.

Skin reactions can flare up when nappies aren’t changed often enough, but the packaging on Huggies nappies claim they provide “Overnight leakage protection for up to 12 hours”.

The parents we contacted for this story said they changed their kids’ nappies sooner than that; most said they changed them at least every few hours.

What Kimberly-Clark says

Along with rashes and sores, parents have said their recently bought Huggies are thinner and leakier than previous batches.

Kimberly-Clark maintains there have been no changes to its Huggies Ultra Dry range that would account for the skin reactions. They say the Ultra Dry products have remained the same – apart from a switch in outer covers from Winnie the Pooh to Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

However, our own lab tests showed differences in performance between the old batch and new.

As for Huggies Ultimate nappies, which have also been the subject of complaints, the company says the range was updated in October 2018 with a new ‘drytouch layer’. We’re not sure how useful this drytouch layer is, though – our tests comparing it to the previous batch show little change in performance.

Multiple investigations

Kimberly-Clark says it hasn’t discovered any quality issues with its most recent batch of Huggies.

The Queensland Office of Fair Trading (QOFT) also led a product safety investigation into Huggies nappies.

In a statement released on 5 April, the QOFT acting executive director, Craig Turner, says the investigation, which included independent testing, found no evidence of any systemic safety issues in relation to the design or manufacture of Huggies Ultra Dry nappies that posed an unacceptable risk to consumers.

“The nappies were within safe tolerances for all the aspects they were tested for, including known allergens, pH values, absorbency and breathability,” he says.

There are no mandatory standards that apply to the supply of nappies in Australia, but the QOFT says it relied on international safety standards to assess the nappies.

Kimberly-Clark declines to share its product safety testing methods

In response to complaints, Kimberly-Clark says it’s been reviewing its manufacturing processes, assessing products returned by parents, cross-checking data from suppliers, and running in-home trials.

But when asked to explain the testing methods it was using to make sure its products were safe following complaints, the company declined to do so.

“But we can confirm that results so far support our confidence in the performance and safety of the current Huggies Ultra Dry nappy,” Julia Schembri, Kimberly-Clark’s head of public affairs, tells ÌÇÐÄVlog.

When we asked how many complaints about skin problems Kimberly-Clark received after the Ultra Dry cover images changed in late October, the company declined to provide any figures.

As for complaints about quality, Kimberly-Clark would only say the number “represents approximately 0.2% of total Huggies Ultra Dry nappy packs sold”.

ÌÇÐÄVlog tests Huggies nappies

We recently ran our own construction and design tests in the ÌÇÐÄVlog labs on old and new batches of Huggies Ultra Dry and Ultimate products sent in by parents.

Huggies Ultra Dry comparison

• Earlier batches of Huggies Ultra Dry size 3 nappies for boys scored 86% for overall performance in our tests, while the new batch of the same product scored 73% – still a good score.
• The biggest difference was in the leakage test, where the old nappies scored 100% (no leakage) and the new ones scored 70% (light leakage).
• We were unable to score results of the Huggies Ultra Dry products for girls as we were sent size 5 nappies, which we haven’t tested before, so we didn’t have enough data to make the call on whether they performed well or not.

In response to our test results, Schembri says “your findings are inconsistent with our comparative analysis” and offered to “meet and share further information with ÌÇÐÄVlog”. However, she wouldn’t provide details about Kimberly-Clark’s testing over the phone or by email.

Huggies Ultimate Newborn comparison

• The old and new batches of Ultimate Newborn nappies performed almost the same.

Is there a chemical culprit?

We spoke with scientists from the National Measurement Institute and the University of Queensland, who explained that nappies – along with everything else – contain lots of chemicals. Lab results would be unlikely to provide a conclusive link between a specific chemical and a specific skin reaction.

It’s possible that Huggies Ultra Dry nappies contain chemicals other than the ones tested for by the QOFT that could cause or worsen skin reactions.

There’s a plethora of chemicals that are potential irritants, and an increase in leakiness in the Ultra Dry nappies leaves open the question of whether anything else changed – including their chemical make-up.

In January, news broke that a range of chemicals were found in nappies by the health and safety agency ANSES in France – where Huggies is the brand.

ANSES found fragrances Lilial and Lyral, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PCB-126, DL-PCBs, dioxins and furans at levels that exceeded health thresholds.

The QOFT did not answer our question on whether these chemicals were tested for in its investigation into Huggies Ultra Dry nappies.

“We do not intentionally add those trace chemicals as identified in the ANSES study to our baby and children’s products,” Kimberly-Clark told us in a statement.

“Kimberly-Clark maintains a Restricted Substances List to ensure a consistent, global approach to safeguarding our consumers.”

Chemicals a concern to expert

Professor Peter Sly, director of the Children’s Health and Environment Program at the University of Queensland, says the chemicals found at risky levels in the French nappies are “nasties” that have no business coming into contact with skin.

“If the skin is being irritated by chemicals in the nappy, that will make the nappy rash from the ammonia in the urine worse, and if the skin is being irritated by the ammonia in the urine, it will make the absorption of the chemicals worse,” he says. “It’s a double-edged sword.”

He says the chemicals in the French nappies are endocrine disruptors and neurotoxicants that, once absorbed through a baby’s skin, increase their risk of obesity, premature puberty, and behavioural disorders associated with ADHD.

“The health effects we’re only just starting to understand, but we do know that exposures early in life … are much more likely to cause problems,” Sly says.

More evidence needed that nappies are at fault

Professor Paul Colditz, the president of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians’ Paediatrics and Child Health Division, says that urine is the main chemical irritant for a child wearing a nappy, and has the potential to cause a burn.

“Sometimes they can look really nasty, almost like a hot water scald,” he says, adding that rashes are more likely if the urine is concentrated, which can happen if a baby is sick or dehydrated.

The longer urine stays in contact with the skin once it’s irritated, the more likely it is to get worse.

Colditz says that as long as we have nappies, nappy rash or chemical burns caused by urine will inevitably occur in some babies.

“The question, before we start down the legislative approach, is whether the small number of babies who do have severe reactions are actually due to the manufactured nappies,” he says.

What can consumers do?

In their responses to our queries about Huggies complaints, the ACCC, NSW Fair Trading and Consumer Affairs Victoria – which generally don’t release details about individual brands unless they’ve been given a public warning or are being prosecuted – referred us to existing consumer protections.

Under Australian Consumer Law, if a product is hazardous, faulty or of unacceptable quality, customers are entitled to a remedy from the manufacturer. But that remedy could simply mean a replacement or a refund, not pulling the product off the shelves.

Parents who complained to Huggies received gift cards in the post, but many were dissatisfied by the response.

“We will continue to fight for our babies, for what is right, and for the nappies to be recalled,” wrote one affected parent, Loretta, in the parents’ recall group on Facebook.

In the meantime, parents can add their name to our call for a general safety provision in Australia.

Argument for a general safety provision

In February, two weeks after the that nappy manufacturers implement measures to limit children’s exposure to chemicals, the industry promised to eliminate the fragrance allergens in three months and to scrutinise their supply chains for possible contamination.

When Professor Sly was asked if Australia should follow the French example, he said: “Absolutely.”

“Our laws don’t require a demonstration that chemical components of products, whether they be designs for wearing or consumption, are safe before they’re on the market.”

Australia, unlike Europe and the UK, doesn’t have general product safety laws.

Sly says consumers shouldn’t have to prove that a product is causing a problem; the manufacturer should have to prove that it’s safe before it can sell it.

“It’s not possible for a family to make an informed decision about what they expose themselves or their children to in products that they buy because the labelling laws don’t require the manufacturers to put on the label what’s in it,” he says.

Perhaps the figure with the most to teach us about erring on the side of caution comes from the world of the much-mourned former face of Huggies Ultra Dry, Winnie the Pooh. “They’re funny things, accidents,” warns his melancholy friend, Eeyore. “You never have them till you’re having them.”

The post Kimberly-Clark denies claims Huggies Ultra Dry nappies are unsafe appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Potty training
• When should I start toilet training?Ìý
• Potty-training products
• How to start toilet training
• Setbacks
• Top 7 tips for toilet training

The good news is you’re not alone: toilet training is an area of raising toddlers that many parents get in a knot about. It’s a messy business that’s unlikely to be mastered overnight. Luckily, there are things you can do to make it easier.

Potty training

Unless you’re the lucky parent of a child that masters the art of potty training in a matter of days, chances are getting your little one to use the big kids’ toilet is going to take time, effort, and a huge amount of understanding and patience. You could be in for a long journey on this step towards independence, so bear the following three things in mind:

• Your child won’t learn to go to the toilet if she always has a nappy on. She will make the connection between the sensation of weeing and what is physically happening much faster if she can actually see the wee prior to potty training. So, before you’re even thinking about tackling toilet training, take her nappy off and let her run around without it.
• Some kids understand potty training in a matter of days, while others take a long time.
• Don’t expect your child to gain control over these key bodily functions without accidents. If you’ve got carpet, try to keep him outdoors or confined to non-carpeted areas.

When should I start toilet training?Ìý

Most toddlers are generally ready for toilet training somewhere between two and three, although some children are early starters and show signs of readiness to start using the potty at 18 months. Daytime toilet training is usually accomplished long before nighttime training, which may not happen until age five or six.

Your child is ready for toilet-training if you notice some of the following signs:

• They have dry nappies during the day – this indicates they are starting to learn bladder control.
• They tell you when they’ve done a wee or poo – if they start telling you in advance that they need to do a wee, they’re well on the way to toilet training.
• They try to take off the nappy when it’s wet or dirty, or complains about it being wet or dirty.
• They no longer do “baby” poo, but produce soft and properly formed poo.
• They are curious about what goes in the toilet.
• They are interested when you go to the toilet – by watching you go to the toilet, they’ll quickly learn what is supposed to happen there. They’ll also start to learn about basic hygiene practices.
• They are interested in completing tasks independently.
• They understand and can follow simple instructions.
• They can get their pants up and down independently.

Potty-training products

There are a lot of products available to help with potty training. Some are essential while others are optional.

Underwear

Yep, your child will need undies! But before you go out and buy expensive ones to celebrate their new life-stage, remember that you might be throwing a few pairs away if there are accidents. Buy at least a dozen pairs.

Potties

Potties of all varieties are on the market. You can spend a fortune or you can buy a very basic potty. The bottom line is that you want a potty your child likes and wants to sit on. So if a potty that plays music or features his favourite cartoon character will motivate him, do it.

A bathroom step

Many kids do go straight onto the big toilet, in which case a bathroom step or stool will be necessary. If you don’t have one, you’ll probably find it a wise buy because he’ll need one to reach the sink and wash his hands, anyway.

Waterproof bed sheets

Waterproof sheets designed for potty training are very effective at keeping beds dry and can make night-time accidents a lot easier to clean up. They can simply be pulled off without the need to remake the bed.

Toilet seats

For toddlers who train on the big toilet rather than a potty, you might consider a toddler toilet seat insert which sits atop the normal toilet seat, making it smaller and less scary for little ones who can be afraid of falling in.

Books

Kids love to read about what’s going on in their lives; there are fun picture books available that can help them understand toilets and hygiene.

Videos

There are all sorts of videos available to help your child make the transition from nappies to the potty or toilet. But beware, most include chirpy and catchy songs about sitting on the potty, wiping and hand-washing which you could be hearing over and over again.

Toilet training reward systems

There are many toilet training kits on the market now. Many contain reward systems such as wall charts and stickers for each successful toilet/potty trip. Others include gimmicks such as targets for boys to aim at. You don’t have to spend a fortune – you can draw up a simple wall chart and buy some stickers for a cheaper DIY option.

Pull-ups

There is a lot of debate around the idea of pull-ups. Some people argue they are just an expensive nappy that doesn’t aid with toilet training because the child doesn’t feel wet just like with a regular disposable. Other people swear by them as a way to avoid accidents when out and about with a toilet training toddler.

How to start toilet training

Pick the right time

The best time to start potty training is when the weather is a bit warmer and your toddler is lightly dressed. Try to choose a time when you can spend a couple of days at home.

Start small

Begin by withdrawing nappies while he’s awake and while you’re at home – it’s fairly unrealistic in the early days to take him out in the car, shopping or visiting friends without a nappy on. Once you’re both more confident, start taking him on short trips away from home without his nappy, but take spare clothes for the inevitable accident.

Encourage him to sit on the potty (or toilet) regularly. By this age, many children are doing regular poos so you may like to take advantage of this and sit him on the potty then. If, however, he resists and insists that he doesn’t need to go to the toilet, don’t force him.

Water

• Make sure she’s drinking plenty of water and eating fibre-rich food, both of which will make the “going” easy and regular.
• If she’s hopping on and off the potty unsure whether she wants to go, try slightly turning on a tap so you can hear a gentle trickling and encourage her to sit for a couple more minutes.

Predict toilet trips

Ask him if he needs to go to the toilet throughout the day – but don’t bug him with it as he may just start tuning you out. Suggesting that he go to the toilet before you leave the house; before and straight after his nap are logical times to ask, too.

Number twos

You may find that if she’s frightened of doing a poo in the potty or toilet (and many children are), she may wait until you’ve put a nappy on him at bedtime to do his poo. While this is OK in the short-term, once he’s really bladder toilet-trained you may like to try having story-time in the bathroom while he sits on the toilet before bed. (See below for more on poo fear, which is very common.)

Night-time toilet training

There are a few children who throw away the nappies completely when they begin toilet training, but for most they will continue to wear nappies at night for at least a year after they have moved to underpants during the day to get used to night-time toilet training. Some children still wet the bed at six or seven, and beyond.

If you’re one of the lucky few who has a child who is waking each morning with a dry nappy, try a couple of nights without putting a nappy on and see what happens.

Have a good attitude

Toilet training your toddler can be a difficult and frustrating experience, but remember to be lavish in your praise when she gets it right. If she’s wetting her pants more often than she’s getting to the potty, don’t be negative. You may have to rethink your toilet-training strategies.

And importantly, don’t push. Relax and let nature take its course – for some, toilet-training can take weeks or even months. Always be encouraging and just quietly persist.

Toilet hygiene

• Leave teaching him how to wipe his bottom until he’s fully toilet-trained – under the age of three, he’ll only do a bad job.
• Show her how to wash her hands properly.
• The bathroom can get pretty stinky with all the little misses, so keep a bottle of bathroom spray handy, and give the toilet and the surrounding floor a quick clean each day.

Setbacks

Some parents find that after months of successful toileting, at the exact moment they are congratulating themselves on a job well done, their child begins to have the occasional accident.

This is often because as you relax your focus on toilet-training, so too does your child. Without the constant reminders to monitor his bladder and bowels, he will get distracted by much more interesting things and suddenly realise that he has to go to the toilet NOW, when it’s all too late.

Try not to be too concerned about this – all your hard work is not being undone! With a few gentle reminders, you child will be back on the right path and ultimately he has to learn to listen to his own body – even when he’s deeply involved in an exciting game – instead of relying on you to monitor his body.

Avoiding accidents

• If your child tells you she has to go to the toilet, act quickly! In the beginning, she won’t be able to hold on for long.
• If he’s busy in play, you may need to physically remove him from the game before you can get his attention and ask him if he needs to go to the toilet.
• If your child doesn’t seem bothered about having wet pants, try regularly taking her to the toilet rather than asking him if he needs to go – she may just say no regardless of how full his bladder is.
• Ask him to go to the toilet before you leave the house. If you make a point of going to the toilet yourself before a trip, he’ll see that it’s just part of a routine.
• When you are away from the house, make sure you know where the closest toilet is at all times (even if it is just a big tree in the park). You don’t want to get stuck trying to find a toilet when your child has 30 seconds before she’ll wet her pants.

Refusing to poo in the potty

So, your child is using the potty like a champ and proudly wearing his underwear. There’s only one problem: he refuses to poo on the potty or the toilet, so he holds it in and gets painfully constipated. This can often mean you find yourself involved in an epic power struggle, and you’re worried he’s in pain. What can you do?

Getting comfortable

First of all, remember that this is a really common toilet training situation and although it seems insurmountable, it is normal.

Your child’s reluctance may result from initial constipation, or the constipation may be a result of the reluctance. It can be difficult to tell what’s causing what. (Some small children withhold from having a poo for so long that they become impacted, which can cause involuntary leaking of faecal liquid; parents may misread this as diarrhoea or a child with incontinence, when really what’s happening is extreme constipation.)

Whether it’s a cause or an effect, constipation is something you can directly address. Try increasing the amount of fluid or fibre in your child’s diet. Talk to your GP about the situation; there may be a stool softener they can recommend. The first step is making sure having a poo is not painful – that might be an easy way to solve her problem.

But it may also take a little more work on your part. Here a few other things to try:

• Back off and offer him a nappy or a pull-up nappy when he needs a poo. Then, when he’s finished, empty the poo into the potty or toilet and gently remind him that poo goes in the potty.
• If she does want a nappy, encourage her to do her poo in the bathroom. At first, let her choose her spot in the bathroom. Then gradually encourage her to sit on the potty, even if she’s still using a nappy. From there, you might be able to undo the nappy as she poos and then eventually remove it. Some parents have even cut a hole out of the bottom of the nappy, so the poo goes in the potty, even though she still has the sensation of wearing it.
• Take a break from potty training and let him go back to his nappy or pull-up for a while. Not all kids are toilet trained at the same time, and yours may just need a bit longer.

Top 7 tips for toilet training

1. For boys, nothing beats pointing them at a tree when they start to do a wee. They love nothing better than to “water” the plants.
2. Girls are often more motivated to use the toilet properly. Try dressing her in a skirt or dress while she’s learning – that way she can easily manage her own clothes as well.
3. Move to using proper underpants as soon as you can – a large part of successful toilet-training is learning to manage getting pants down and back up and knowing how they feel.
4. Most children learn to control their bladder before their bowels.
5. Many children become temporarily constipated whilst toilet training because they hold onto their poo until they get a nappy on at night. Make sure he’s getting enough fibre in his diet so that he won’t be too uncomfortable.
6. At a certain point, you will have to begin leaving the house with your child dressed in underpants. Take plenty of spare pairs wherever you go – along with back-up sets of clothes and a towel – and don’t try going anywhere too ambitious on your first outings.
7. Keep a potty in the car for emergencies. You may never need to use it but you’ll always be glad it’s there.

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