Weenees Nappy System (Weenees Waterproof Breathable Baby Pants)

Member Name: BabyPom

Product:	Weenees Waterproof Breathable Baby Pants
Date:	30/01/03 (862 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Flushable and Compostable, No smelly nappies in your dustbin, Can be combined with cloth nappies

Disadvantages: Can leak if not used properly, Contain gel, Can be expensive for full-time use

In another review, I've written about the problems I've suffered with my washing machine. I'm a cloth nappy user, so it is vital that my machine is working as I draw the line at handwashing piles of nappies, even if I have to handwash clothes! On previous occasions when I've been without a washing machine, either due to breakdowns or when on holiday, I've used regular disposables. Unfortunately, these create a huge pile of rubbish and smell horrible.

So, this time, I decided to try Weenees. They're an Australian product, available from Lollipop Children's Products (www.teamlollipop.co.uk) in the UK.

What they are: the system comprises two parts - a disposable pad, which is rather like a large sanitary towel and a waterproof wrap/cover. The wrap fastens with Velcro at the back, instead of at the front, and is available in a wide variety of prints, if you fancy coordinating your baby's nappy and clothes! The pads come in two sizes and are are sold in boxes of 40. The wraps come in three sizes and are sold singly. The system covers babies from birth to around 4 years old.

How it works: The pads are used inside the wrap. There are lttle pockets either end of the wrap to hold the pad and the wrap also has extra gussets around the legs to keep it secure. When the pad is wet, simply replace it with another. If the wraps are clean, there is no need to replace them each time, so they can each be used for up to a day at a time.

*Advantages:

The main advantage Weenees have over regular disposables is that the pads are totally flushable or compostable. You have to tear them in half and shake out the "filling" before disposing.

If composting, they apparently take around 150 days to decompose - too early to report on any results from my compost bin! - and less time than that if you use a wormery. I composted wet ones and flushed soiled ones - you can't compost huma
n poo anyway. The pads are safe to flush as they don't contain plastic.

You don't fill up your dustbin with smelly nappies which will end up on a landfill site.

The wraps are very cute and the back fastening means they are harder for toddlers to take off! They can also be used with washable prefold nappies as a combined cloth/disposable system.

The nappy is slimmer-fitting than cloth nappies.


*Disadvantages:

The first few times I had problems with wet leaks, but making sure the pad was securely inside the wrap helped considerably.

The wrap tended to get soiled everytime my baby did a poo, which meant changing the whole thing. I was also handwashing the wraps (no machine, of course!) but they dried very quickly. I managed very well just rotating three wraps - one on, one drying and one spare.

They do contain absorbent gel, although it is much less than standard disposables.

If you don't have a compost heap, you are limited to flushing them, which may not be suitable on some occasions.

Composting may be difficult if on holiday!

The pads probably work out similar in price to brand-name disposables, and you do have to initially buy three or four wraps on top of that cost.

In conclusion, despite some of the disadvantages, they are an excellent alternative to washables for anyone who doesn't want to or can't use them.

Summary: