Eco-Mom Sophie started the debate on cloth diapers (or nappies as she calls them – it must be a UK thing). She continues her argument for why parents should switch over to cloth. Stinky khaki buckets aside, her arguments are in favor of making this earth a little bit greener.
“The Cloth Nappy Reigns”
It certainly does! Today we will be looking at what’s available here in Israel; you’ll be amazed at what we have got, also cloth nappy care routine with tips to get you started. But first, again just to show how important it is to your baby as well as our environment, here’s a few more unfriendly facts about disposables:
- That gel that sucks up and holds all the pee pee is sodium polyacrylate; it’s a real nasty, it has been linked to allergic reactions & toxic shock syndrome, it is a lethal chemical.
- Very nice and just to reassure you, to make those nappies nice and white chlorine is used which has been linked to dioxin, a known carcinogenic.
- The thing is disposables have only been around for the last 40 years or so, just like the majority of chemicals used in everyday products which means there really is no long term data about their health effects, so when you choose between cloth and disposable you are looking at a known and an unknown, well I know what I would choose. You?
So where to start: The great news is that all the suppliers in Israel have websites where you can take a look, have a read, ask all your questions, get advice and order the nappies straight to your home.
Siach Teva sells Kushies that have an excellent all in one nappy for the hard to convert, just put it in the laundry instead of the rubbish; they also have the classic which is used with a cover, prefolds and a swimsuit nappy.
Prices start from 32 NIS for the basic up to 69 NIS for the Ultra.
Bishvelnu sells Motherease & Sandy’s.
Motherease is a big favorite, literally, as it is a onesize nappy and by folding it up it can be used from birth to potty, this is the most economical option in the long run as you do not need to buy several sizes, prices start from 65 NIS.
Dahlias Diapers offers Happy Heinys which are pocket diapers, this is also an easy to use all in one option, and Bummis which work with flat & prefolds, prices start from 65 NIS.
Robyna this is a local company manufacturing pocket diapers from fleece, prices start from 75 NIS.
All of these companies offer discounts for multibuy packs for further savings and also offer trial packs.
So what do you need to get started? Checklist:
- It’s recommended between 18 to 20 nappies/diapers
- 4 nappy covers
- you can also buy extra booster pads for extra absorbency – ideal for the nighttime or heavy wetters
- and a roll of liners, biodegradable & flushable of course, to keep it super easy with the khaki.
Top Tip – Do not use fabric softeners on your nappies and your towels and if we are really talking about it, not at all. First of all, it coats the fabrics with oils which affects its ability to absorb and there is nothing natural about it and can irritate your baby’s delicate skin. Use vinegar, an essential in every green household. About 1/2 cup of white vinegar will leave all your washes soft & fresh. It’s cheaper too!
More green baby tips:
Organic Babies and Babes from Israel
Author: Sophie Ohana
Being a mum at the best of times can be quite a challenge, so much to learn and so quickly, so when everybody is talking about being an eco-mum it can seem just like one more thing that is too much to take on. Well I am here to help and to show you how it can actually make being a mum just that little bit simpler. I grew up on an organic farm in England and in a slightly crazy eco-house, later studying conventional farming and learned all about agricultural chemicals, which was a real eye-opener. I first became pregnant just under three years ago and felt it was not a question of what but of how; there seemed to be nothing available to keep up with my idea of giving my baby the healthiest environment. During my first few months I found it ever more frustrating: the idea that I had to send to England for the basics, such as organic cotton clothes, bedding, nappies & toiletries. Hence Tinok Yarok was born. I started with a basic collection of organic cotton baby clothes for the first year and spiralled out to bring together everything green & eco for...
would love you to call me… sharon 0542283407
Miriam,
Send us more about what you do and we can feature you here on Green Prophet. –
[email protected]
Karin
HI! I’ve just moved to israel and make cloth diapers… I made them to sell in the US and now that I am here I am looking to get into the market of cloth diapers. I make pocket fitteds and regular pockets. I also make wool covers to use for night time.
Any ideas how I canbreak into the market ofselling my diapers?
Miriam
Miriam, you should leave your contacts in the comments section and we can feature you in a future article.
Hi Ruth,
Gdiapers can be purchased at beetle.co.il The Eenee-liners are useable in the Gdiapers-pants, as they come from the same company.
Amazon.com also ships Gdiaper-liners with a 15% discount when chosing to let them be delivered by “subscribe and save”.
I wonder whether Bambo Natural diapers (www.bteva.co.il) or purchasable at Eden Teva market, are a good alternative to Gdiapers? Or are Gdiapers still more environment-friendly?
Lydia
Hi Lydia,
Can you get gdiapers in Israel? Or do you import them from the US? I have looked into gdiapers before and would love to use them but can’t imagine paying their shipping to Israel or relying on friends and family to bring diapers to me when they visit. If you use gdiapers now I would love to know how you get them! Thanks!
Ruth
Hi All,
Personally I’d advise Gdiapers (www.gdiapers.com). These diapers are perfect for nature and the sensitive skin of children, because:
– They are the perfect middleway: firstly, disposable diapers are very chemical and create a lot of waste. Furthermore, re-usable diaper, when made of regular cotton are produced with a lot of chemicals and the amount of water needed to wash them is immoral for Israelis.
– On the other hand, Gdiapers are a 100% degradable, and can be composted (only the wet ones!) or flushed through the toilet without any problems. Indeed, even when thrown in the regular garbage, their materials are much less harmful in landwastes.
Lydia
Eco-Friend is Israeli made I think it was formerly known as Tidy.
As regards to Kushies for nighttimes with an extra pad they will do just great.
Question: It just so happens that I have run out of plastic nappies (which I used at night only) and I have no energy to drag myself out in the rain to buy more.
Would it be uncomfortable for my 1.5 year old to spend 12 hours overnight in a classic kushies, with an extra pad and a plastic cover?
She tends to wake up quite wet in the morning even with a plastic nappy, and I have never been motivated to change her in the night.
thanks
Two comments:
1) the Ecological Fabric Softener that I use is by a brand called Eco-Friend and apart from totally decent prices (23NIS for 4litres), I have heard from a few people that they are actually Israeli manufactured…if this is so, it is my pleasure to support them.
2) With regards to a laundry service, I have mentioned it to Chagit at Siach Hateva and she is actually working on it as we speak, I will keep you posted if I know more.
As regards to laundry service, there is not the concentration of people using cloth nappies in one area to make it an efficient & ecological solution in this country. One idea is try to set up a system with a few other mums locally.
The 3 main importers try to keep the price to its minimum but costing in shipment & custom duties still keep the prices relatively high, as an importer myself and knowing the companies who do import the nappies we really do try to keep the prices as low as possible and still stay in business. Also all these companies are run by idealistically inspired people and would find it difficult to import quantities big enough that would at the end of the day only make a small difference. I also mentioned Robyna which manufactures locally, again don’t forget you are paying the true cost of these products and at the end of the day they are still more cost effective then disposables.
Ecological fabric softeners are an option for the “can’t do withouts” but really at the end of the day there really is no need for them, even ecological products have a fair size eco-footprint for manufacturing processes and plastic bottles, shipment etc, etc, so at the end of the day it is a expensive luxury when vinegar & essential oils can do exactly the same job.
I debated the cloth diaper issue [with myself] before child 2 was born. (Didn’t know they existed when child 1 was born.) The 2 most repelling things: the cost, and the extra laundry. I wouldn’t wash dirty diapers with a load of ‘regular’ clothes.
As for the cost, which is a pretty heavy expense in one shot, I’d like to challenge your faith [Sophie] in cloth diapers:
As an importer, what about doing one of the following: bringing over a bulk shipment (that you believe will eventually be sold), and seriously bringing down the prices. Also, possibly, finding a laundry service willing to deal with diapers.
Or- finding someone who is willing to make cloth diapers locally, to bring down the prices.
A pretty stiff challenge, I admit, but you raised the issue.
Hi,
I made the move to Cloth Nappies almost a year ago, which was a great decision.
After a few different types, I chose to go with Kushies from Siach Hateva and bought a combination of the ultra and basic (the ultra was essential for the Gan and my initially unwilling husband)
The change has been easy, and the extra work has honestly been avodah kefit.
Just a quick question, you mention that Fabric Softeners are bad generally (I use vinegar for my nappies). Fow do you explain ecologically friendly fabric softeners…are these any better- for clothes generally?