Nappy Disposal: A Super Simple Guide

Article By
Rob
Published On
31 Mar, 2021
Read Time
2 minutes

You little one goes throughĀ a massive amount of nappies every day...Ā probably aroundĀ 50-80 per week. And there'sĀ really not a lotĀ (aka nothing)Ā you can do about the amount of nappy changing you'll have to tackle. But have you thought about how you'll be disposing of those dirty nappies?Ā Ā 

Dirty nappiesĀ obviously hold a good deal of human waste, so they could potentially be a health hazardĀ if anyone or anything encounters them.Ā Because of this, there are some things to think about when disposing of your little one's nappies.Ā Ā 

We're here to answer yourĀ burningĀ questions onĀ howĀ to dumpĀ your little one's big messes.Ā Ā 

Are disposable nappies biodegradable?Ā 

No, they're not.Ā Ā 

They're definitely not the most eco-conscious option on the market. If you're looking for something a little kinder to the planetĀ but still quick and convenient, you could opt for specifically biodegradable nappiesĀ orĀ 'half-and-half- nappies, which you still dispose ofĀ as you would normal nappies.Ā Ā 

Alternatively, you could go full cloth andĀ opt for washable nappies. This option will save you a lot of money in the long run and can often be kinder to your baby'sĀ bum. But it does takeĀ quite a bit more effort andĀ a lot more dealing with the... stinkier side to nappy changes.Ā Ā 

The choice is 100% yours to make.Ā Ā 

Can disposable nappies go out of date?Ā 

No, not really.Ā Ā 

Baby number 1 has grown out of their nappies and then baby number 2 comes along - you still have spare nappies in the cupboard, do you use them?Ā General consensus is - sure!Ā Ā 

Some nappy brandsĀ do have an expiry date on their packaging,Ā but normally that's due to theĀ expiration of theĀ colouringĀ on the nappies, rather than the nappy itself.Ā HealthlineĀ recommends using nappies within 2 years of purchase but there really isn't much info out there that suggests using expiredĀ nappies is at all harmful. If anything, they might be a little less absorbent or less stretchy than brand-new nappies -Ā but nothing to worry about.Ā Ā 

Can nappies go in general waste?Ā 

Absolutely.Ā 

Your nappies should go in your general waste bin, but there are a few things you can do before that, that make them a little safer.Ā Ā 

If you can, dump the contents of the nappy into your toilet before you wrap up your little one's dirty nappy.Ā It's always beneficial to get any excess human waste down the toilet where it's meant go before it goes in the bin.Ā Ā 

Ball up the nappy tightly into a ball so it doesn't come open in the bin.Ā 

Wrap it up! If you don't have a handy nappy bin, you can always wrap your baby's nappy up in a Ziploc bag or any bag you have lying around.