Bamboo - the MUST have nappy fabric! Here's why...

Bamboo Nappies are one of the most popular natural diapering options available right now. Why are bamboo nappies so popular? Bamboo has a lot going for it. Bamboo is naturally antibacterial, soft, absorbent, easy to care for and better for the environment than synthetics or conventionally grown cotton.

What is so cool about bamboo?

Bamboo grows very, very quickly. Up to one foot a day! It does not require pesticides or chemical fertilizers, making it much more environmentally friendly than conventionally grown crops such as cotton. Because it grows so quickly, bamboo is a sustainable resource. Bamboo also helps prevent soil erosion and can absorb up to 40 percent more carbon dioxide than a similar growth of trees.

Bamboo is naturally antibacterial. Studies in Japan show that even after 50 washes, bamboo fabric retains it's antibacterial properties. When scientists attempted to grow bacteria on bamboo fabric, they found that 70 percent of the bacteria did not grow.

Bamboo is highly absorbent - about 60 percent more than cotton. Bamboo is able to absorb about 3 times it's own weight in water.

Bamboo is very breathable, making it a good choice for use against sensitive skin.

Does processing bamboo hurt the environment?

All fabrics impact the environment in some way. The only way to completely avoid environmental impact is to go naked. We feel that the impact of bamboo is worth the benefits it provides, although we are supportive of efforts to reduce the impact of all fabrics on the environment.

Because bamboo is grown so sustainably, it starts out as a much "greener" crop than most textiles. Processing the bamboo into fabric does require the use of chemicals. One of these chemicals is sodium hydroxide (lye). Sodium hydroxide is also used in making real soap. It is created naturally when water is run through wood ash, as our great, great grandparents did to create homemade soap. While you don't want sodium hydroxide on your skin in it's pure form, it is less dangerous than many other chemicals used to create textiles. Further, the factory that turns bamboo into usable fiber uses a closed loop system that retains the sodium hydroxide for reuse.

While creating bamboo fabric is not perfectly environmentally friendly, we feel that it is still a sustainable fabric that is better for the environment than synthetics made from petroleum or conventionally grown cotton. Until a perfect textile is found, we are very happy with the benefits and sustainability of bamboo.

Tell me more about bamboo nappies!

Bamboo nappies are now available from several top nappy makers. In addition to our own luxurious bamboo velour Wipes, we carry bamboo nappies in the form of our Couture and Basix range!

***Info copied and modified to suit Australian terms from http://www.littlefornow.com/pages/bamboo.php***

The Benefits and Advantages of using wool

Sounds too hot next to the skin? Think washing and caring for wool is too complicated?

Wool is very comfortable and is the only fiber that can absorb up to 1/3 of its weight in moisture without feeling wet or clammy as the moisture immediately starts to evaporate into the air.

Wool is an amazing insulator - when the weather is hot, wool can keep the body cool and the heat out, yet when the weather is cold, wool will keep the body warm and the cold out!

Other benefits of wool include resilience, as well as easy care. Wool maintains its shape virtually forever, and it’s very easy to clean -as long as you know the basic rules for cleaning wool.

Advantages to wool: It’s a natural fiber so it’s very breathable, it has good leak control (especially good at night time!).

Disadvantages: Needs little bit extra care, can be bulky under clothing, some people are allergic to wool.

If you want to have a go at trying wool nappy covers there are few rules to follow:

- Get a cover with high wool content - it’ll perform better. Cushie Tushies Woolen Soakers are made with 8py 100% Australian wool. Anything under 8ply will not be suitable for night time use.

- The nappy underneath has to be absorbent enough otherwise the wool will let moisture through if the nappy becomes saturated. A Cushie Tushies Couture with an extra Bamboo Night booster is perfect for nights where as I would advise leaving your Basix for day time use.

- The wool nappy cover may smell a bit after use but you can just air it and the smell will go.

Remember: wool is NOT waterproof, rather it is water-repellent when treated with lanolin.

Lanolin? That surely sounds complicated…

Initially I too was put off by the treating with lanolin thing, but it is not at all complicated, and actually quite quick.

Before you first use your wool nappy cover, it needs treating with lanolin few times before it becomes properly water-repellent. (Lanolin is the wax produced by sheep to keep their fleece in good weatherproof condition).

Treating - You can buy pure lanolin or lanolin treatment (wool cure) -both work the same way. If you use wool cure, the instructions are on the bottle - just add enough hot water to cover the cover, wait for it to cool down and put the soaker in overnight, then squeeze out excess water very carefully (you can wrap the wool wrap in a towel to do this), lay out to dry -it’s done!

If you use pure lanolin (cheaper in the long run), it needs to be emulsified in the water as it has a thick wax consistency. You need to add a small amount of wool wash to very hot water and add a teaspoon of lanolin. The lanolin will melt and the soap emulsifies it into the water. When the water has cooled down, treat it the same way as with the wool cure.

I have also come across Spray on Lanolin on the www which sounds like an even easier process so something to look into.

Washing: Wool nappy covers only need washing about every 2-4 weeks (unless it’s soiled) as long as it’s aired after use as wool cleans itself with oxygen. If it smells after airing, it needs a wash. Natural soap such as wool shampoo or washing detergent for delicate items are good.

It’s advisable to hand-wash wool nappy covers, especially the ones that are 100% wool as hot water and agitation in the washing machine can cause felting (wool fibers shrinking -you’ll end up having a wrap half it’s original size!). Most washing machines do have a wool or hand wash cycle so you could try it out if you’re brave enough! Felted wraps can be washed in the washing machine. You will need a very small amount of soap -just enough to clean the wrap without stripping too much of the lanolin out of the wool. Lanolin treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 washes.

Drying - Knitted Nappy Soakers (that are non-felted) should be dried flat to prevent them losing their shape. You can roll them up loosely in a towel to soak up drips and put them on the airier.

***Source - http://www.babiesnappies.co.uk/2009/05/31/the-benefits-and-advantages-of-using-wool/**