Which is the most sustainable option for nappies?

It takes in average 2.5 years for a baby to be fully potty trained. During this time, a family uses in average 4,000 disposable nappies.

Disposable nappies are not recyclable, meaning that 4,000 nappies will be thrown away to landfill and creating CO2 emissions. Some of them will end up in nature, taking more than 500 years to break down.

In comparison, a baby needs in average between 20 and 25 reusable nappies before being potty trained. Reusable nappies can be reused if you have several kids, or given to charities, so the environmental impact is much lower.

What about the cost?

A reusable nappy costs around $15 (depending on the brand and of course), which means that the overall cost for a baby would be around $500, including washing costs (water and energy).

In comparison, the cost for 4,000 disposable nappies in average would be $750-$1,000 (depending on the brand), so more expensive overall.

How often to wash?

Wash your cloth nappies every two or three days with hot water, removing solids first into the toilet.

Is it easy to make the switch?

A lot of people make the switch progressively. You can start by using reusable nappies from time to time, just to get used to it, when you’re at home. Continue using disposable ones when outside or travelling, for convenience. If you like it, you can switch to 100% reusable and zero waste 😉

Environmental benefits of reusable nappies are great compared to disposable nappies, and if you can make some savings on top of it, why not give it a try? 🌿🌿🌿