Poor Ed Miliband. He should have known better than to air his nappy knowledge with the Mumsnet matriarchs last week.
What they don't know about compostable baby wipes you could write on the back of a Jaffa Cake (his favourite biscuit).
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change got into deep doo-doo by admitting to using disposable nappies to swaddle the bottom of his six-month-old son Daniel, saying: "An Environment Agency report from 2005 said that when you take into account the use of energy in washing and drying nappies, it evens out."
Well, four years is a long time in the evolution of the diaper, Ed.
Real nappies are now not only markedly greener but a whole lot more desirable than in 2005.
In fact, mothers are now buying washables as a fashion statement - earning eco-points comes a poor second to the style status of baby's bottom.
There's a whole menu of nappies to choose from, with melt-in-the-mouth names like Cushie Tushies, which is launching a bumblebee-striped one in January, Swaddlebees, Lollipop Pop'*'gro and Bumgenius.
How do they measure up, convenience-wise, to their disposable counterparts? Forget all notions of scratchy towelling and big pins.
Today's real nappy is a cuddly, quick drying, all-in-one with popper fastening that you can sling in the washing machine without even soaking.
"They are as close as you can get to a disposable nappy while still being reusable," says Tom Scrambler of the Itti Bitti, which doesn't require outer plastic pants.
"They are slimmer than ordinary washable nappies and easier to fit under normal clothing. The pull-apart design makes them quick drying, but they're easy to reassemble, even for dads, as the poppers are colour-coded." Mr Miliband take note.
Find out about real nappy grants, laundry services, nappy demos and suppliers at www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/fashion/article-23780656-mums-cant-get-enough-of-coloured-eco-diapers.do
