knitted nappy wraps

[mimififi]

Hi there,
I have posted about nappy systems before and was thrilled to find that you are all so knowledgeable. I hope you can help me this time.

I use terry squares with plastic pants and sometimes with a plastic nappy wrap for when I'm feeling posh.

I have seen on the net adverts for knitted nappy wraps and don't understand how these wraps stop the wet from the nappy seeping through onto clothes, soft furnishings, elderly family members, car seats and the like. Don't they just get wet through same as the nappy?

Many thanks.

and for those of you who don't believe me such a thing exists: www.woollywraps.com

[MrsJo49155]

check out:

www.pumpkinwraps.co.uk

On this the following explanation may give you some clue?

"Pumpkin Wraps are hand knitted wool nappy covers. They are the breathable answer to cloth nappy covers.
Wool is the perfect solution to nappy wraps as the lanolin which coats the fibres is anti-bacterial and waterproof. Remember, as they are a natural material from a renewable resource, they are also eco-friendly, and bio-degradable too!"

[Hellion]

You might be interested in this report from the environment agency about the impact of terry nappies and disposable nappies. Basically you can use either, environmentally it makes no difference because growing and producing cotton and then laundering it is just as bad for the environment but in a different way!
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/8 57406/1072214/

[mimififi]

well, Hellion and mrsJo, very enlightening. I did read the jolly explanation about knitted wraps before but I use terry squares already and when you take the plastic wrap off, the nappy is dripping wet, even if it hasn't been on that long. I really can't believe at all that wool would remain anitbacterial and waterproof past a few washings and I can't stomach the thought over something like that that you don't wash, so I just can't get my head round it. I just think that after a while, the would leak terribly getting the child and her clothes and anything else soaked.
It was an interesting article re the disposable/reuseable arguement. I have been using mothernature nappies this week which are 70% biodegrable disposables and I really like them. Also they look nice. I used them for this week as I haven't been very well and I just thought I wanted a break. This article has made me think that maybe I'll continue with them.

Sorry to sound like I'm having a go at you; You didn't invent the things so I really am not. I'm just irritated that these things must be so confusing for new mums who are investigating reuseables and perhaps go into it in with a bit of a falsehood. If knitted ones worked, surely they would have used them 100 years ago and i can't find any historical evidence of this. Reusuable nappies is not a cheap mistake to make either if you buy the wrong system.

thanks for your help, I really appreciate you spending time for me on this. Im tempted to buy just one so I can try and see if it really is waterproof. The thing that doesn't really convince me is that I have jumpers and blankets that are knitted from pure wool, and they arn't waterproof at all! Even sheep aren't waterproof as I've seen a wet sheep up close and it aint pretty!!!!!!!!!!

:-)