Nappies & Changing

No, regular nappies aren’t biodegradable, but there are biodegradable nappies on the market that can be disposed of in a way that’s better for the environment.

However, in some cases, not all of the materials used to make biodegradable nappies are eco-friendly.

They’re certainly an improvement on regular disposable nappies, but nappies that don’t have to be destroyed at all, like cloth nappies, are the best choice if you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact.

It depends on personal preference - some parents choose reusable nappies because of the environmental impact, or disposable ones because of cost and convenience.

There’s a lower upfront cost of disposable nappies and they’re more convenient to use - you put them on your baby and simply dispose of them after they’re spoiled, a good choice for parents who don’t have a lot of time on their hands.

Reusable nappies will be cheaper long term, but they can be time-consuming as they will require washing each time they’re spoiled.

Some parents like to use a mixture of both, for example using reusable nappies at home, and the disposable kind when away from home.

Even though you might not want them to, babies grow fast, which means they’ll grow out of their nappies fast, too.

If your baby’s nappy is leaking or doesn’t last as long between changes, it’s probably too small; this is because a larger nappy will offer an increased absorbance.

You might notice a rash on their bottom, or around their tummy and thighs - this might be due to them sitting in a saturated nappy, or that the waistband is too tight and is causing irritation.

Nappy rash can be caused by many things and it’s usually nothing to worry about - in fact, most babies will develop a nappy rash at some point.

It can be caused by not changing your baby’s nappy for a long period of time, not cleaning the nappy area properly, certain soaps, detergents or bubble baths, alcohol-based baby wipes, teething and certain medicines.