Here at Babi Pur Towers, we’re well and truly getting the Christmas tingles, but we got to thinking about the environmental impact of Christmas, as well as the ethical implications for many of the toys and gifts we’ll all be happily giving, and receiving.

We’ve made a pledge – that each Christmas will be more eco-friendly than the last. We believe it’s possible to have a fun, festive and green Christmas! And here are some of our top tips for a brilliant eco Christmas.

Decorations

For a real taste of a green Christmas, why not have a go at making your own Christmas decorations this year. Colourful, recycled paper chains make great festive garlands and kids can use last year’s cards to make fun tree decorations, along with home-made Christmas gingerbread or chocolate treats.  You can make beautiful garlands to hang on the Christmas tree using popcorn and dried cranberries. You’ll need a long piece of cotton with a needle at one end, simply thread the popcorn and cranberries on to the cotton and don’t forget to make extra for eating!  This year we’ve been collecting acorns and seeds to make a natural Christmas wreath.

As for the tree, some people would argue that a good artificial one is the best eco-friendly Christmas tree but only if it is re-used for many years. Despite being made of plastic, an artificial Christmas tree is not recyclable or biodegradable but they’re quite often made from recycled plastics.

There’s nothing better than the smell of a real Christmas tree! A real tree is carbon neutral, but it’s worth keeping in mind that most of the seeds for European Pine Tree plantations come from impoverished regions of Georgia where working conditions can be dangerous and very poorly paid.  If you’re thinking of getting a real Christmas tree this year why not try to get hold of a Fair Trade tree or purchase it from a sustainable local grower.  You will need to dispose of it properly – ask your council for details.

Presents

Of course, we think that every gift should be an ethical Christmas present and these days you don’t have to look far to find great fair trade, organic, handmade or recycled gifts. Here at Babi Pur we have a huge range of ethical Christmas presents for babies and children – from handmade sledges to organic hats, there’s something for every little angel.

A recent study found that over £650 million is spent every year on gifts that are unloved or unwanted, which we think is enormously wasteful. To avoid your present ending up gathering dust in the attic or even worse, thrown into landfill, why not consider gift vouchers or even a charitable donation? Oxfam for example, now have a range of ethical Christmas gifts that help families in poor countries – for example £5 will buy a family a share in a farmyard or £9 will buy enough safe water for 10 people.  Find out more here

 Food

Christmas is time for complete calorie indulgence, but there are small steps we can all take to help make our Christmas dinner a deliciously green one!

About 10 million turkeys are popped into ovens across the country on Christmas day, but of course you can help the eco Christmas cause by buying a free-range and organic one. So much the better if it comes from a local farm to reduce food miles. Fruit and veg can also be organic and local where possible and don’t forget that all that tasty festive chocolate should be fair trade!

And why not bake and make things at home to reduce packaging? The whole family will love getting involved in the kitchen – you can bake mince pies, Christmas cake and even edible gifts for friends and family.

Waste

Of course, there’ll be lots of extra waste at Christmas time – the cans, bottles, paper, food and glass should be quite easy to sort out; most local councils now collect all of this recyclable waste, check with yours for details if you’re not sure.

But don’t forget about all the other items that get chucked out at Christmas. Batteries need to be disposed of properly; they can’t go into landfill because they contain toxic waste. You can find battery disposal points at most electrical retailers or supermarkets. An even better eco Christmas solution is to use rechargeable batteries.

If you’ve been the lucky recipient of new electrical equipment such as a laptop, i-pod or mobile phone, then don’t forget that these should be disposed of carefully – they can’t go into landfill either. If they still work, then consider listing them on a “free-cycle” site so that someone else can use them.

 Those are just some of Babi Pur’s green Christmas tips. Send us your advice using the comments box below – we love to hear about your eco festivities!

And don’t forget to save some energy! Turn off the TV and head out for a frosty festive winter walk or a play in the park; it’ll make room for another yummy home-made mince pie!

Look what landed on my doorstep!

Being a good girl and pre-washing, more coming soon.

FuzziBunz Elite & Bitti Tutto

We’ve just come back from our holiday.

We stayed in a lovely cottage

Read more...

Christmas is an exciting time for babies. There’s so much colour, fun and excitement to capture their little imaginations, and they love the magic and sparkle of new toys and Christmas baubles; not to mention being spoilt rotten with heaps of baby Christmas presents from Santa!

If you’re wondering what on earth to buy your little bundle of joy this Christmas, then look no further. Here at Babi Pur we’ve put together a brilliant list of Christmas gifts for babies, so they’re sure to love the present just as much as the wrapping paper.

1: Crochet rattling Pixie Dolls

These bright and fun Crochet Pixie Rattles by Pebble make brilliant Christmas presents for babies, who will love the bold colours and soft and squidgy texture; They're a perfect size for little hands they’ll soon be shake, rattle and rolling!

Pebble are a fair trade co-operative in Bangladesh, who provide fair and steady employment for local women, so these lovely rattles are the perfectethical Christmas gift for babies!

Choose from six different colours – Pink, Red, Purple, Green Blue or Yellow.  Price: £8.99 each

2: Piccalilly Hooded Playsuit

Baby will be looking smart for Christmas dinner in this gorgeous Picallily Organic Cotton Playsuit. It’s a fabulous grey and zingy green colour and dotted all over with cute stars. Brilliant for looking cool and keeping warm, and because it’s made from organic cotton it’s a brilliant choice for an ethical Christmas baby present! Price: £29.99

3: Alphabet Watercolour Paintings

For an extra special Christmas gift for babies, these lovely Alphabet Paintings make great keep-sakes. They are brilliantly hand-painted to order by an artist local to Babi Pur Towers.

Choose from two different designs – one features tractors, rockets and fire engines and the other has fairies and flowers.

Price: £59.99 (mounted and framed)

4: Sophie the Giraffe

Gorgeous Sophie the Giraffe is full of cheeky fun! This beautiful handmade toy is made from natural, non-toxic rubber and is safe for baby to grab, bite, chew and chomp on. This is the perfect Christmas gift for a teething baby.  Price: £13.00

5. Totsbots Easyfit Christmas Printed Nappies

If your're buying for a lucky cloth bummed baby this year you can be sure that these gorgeous limited edition printed nappies will go down a treat!  These fun Christmas printed Easyfit nappies are available in three prints Robin, Gingerbread and Rudolph or you can save 10% by buying the trio pack which comes with a certificate and a lovely gift bag! Price £17.99 or £47.99 for the trio pack

6: Leather Baby Shoes

Who wouldn’t love some new shoes for Christmas? These beautiful leather baby shoes by Inch Blue are designed to stay on tiny feet while letting the delicate skin breathe.  They’re also made here in Wales, so while financial un-rest is being reported all over the world baby can sleep easily knowing he/she’s supporting the UK economy!  Price £16.99

Check out our whole range of Natural Baby Shoes.

7: Toddles Cuddle Rabby

This big, cute flopsy rabbit by Keptin Jr makes a perfect festive friend and a brilliant Christmas present for babies. The Toddles Cuddle Rabby is hand-made from super soft organic cotton with a recycled fibre filling.

Available in red or navy.  Price: £21.98

8: Fair Trade Clock

Brighten up any nursery and give a Christmas gift for baby that will last, with one of these colourful Fair Trade Clocks by Lanka Kade, a fair trade and ethical toy company based in Sri Lanka.

Choose from several designs, including Price: £19.99

9. Knitted Snake Rattles by Pebble

These gorgeous knitted snakes by Pebble are Fair Trade and would make a wonderful stocking filler for babies and toddlers too, they're light enough for babies to grab them by the tail and shake them about to hear the gentle rattle inside!  We love the beautiful colours and stripes. Price £8.99

10: Frugi Knotted Baby Hat

Little heads needs cosy hats to keep them toasty, and of course looking cute! The adorable Knotted Hat by Frugi will melt any cold winter heart. Choose from a brilliant green dinosaurs with blue stars print or a cute mouse print with pink stripes and spots print.

All of Frugi’s baby clothes are made from organic and fair trade cotton and no harsh chemicals or dyes are used, so it’s a perfect little Christmas gift for babies.  Price: £6.99

Frugi also make a matching playsuit, so baby can be top-to-toe gorgeous!

All the above items can be bought online at Babi Pur, Click HERE to shop now!

We’ve got loads of brilliant ideas for fun and ethical Christmas gifts that kids will love!

It’s that time of year again; the count-down to Christmas has started! Here at Babi Pur towers, we’ve been so busy ordering and unpacking, that our heads are already in a Christmas spin! But it’s all worth it because we’ve hand-picked the very best selection of fun, fabulous and ethical Christmas stocking fillers for kids.

The origins of hanging out a stocking at Christmas aren’t really known, but it is now so firmly associated with Christmas Eve and the magical legend of Santa Claus that there will be countless little (and large) stockings strewn across beds, fireplaces and arm chairs this year, eagerly awaiting their precious presents.

So, look no further for Christmas stocking filler gift ideas; here’s our wish list – a selection of ten of the best brilliant, and ethical stocking fillers from Babi Pur.

1: Cosy Hats

Every little head needs a hat to keep out the winter chills, and our gorgeous Flapper Hats by Picalilly will do just that!

The Piccalilly Organic Cotton Cornflower Flapper Hat is pretty and pink or the Piccalilly Organic Cotton Tomato Flapper Hat is a bright and bold blue.

Priced at £13.99, they are made of the softest Fairtrade and organic cotton without the use of nasty chemicals.

2: Anamalz Wooden Animal Figure Toy

Kids will go ape for these adorable wooden animal figures from Anamalz Toy Company. They are all hand painted and have bendable limbs for hours of happy play.

The range includes the seriously stripy Anamalz Zebra, the friendly Anamalz Rhyno, the smiley Anamalz Moose, a cuddly Anamalz Lion,

a bouncing Anamalz Kangaroo, a great Anamalz Grizzly Bear and a cracking Anamalz Croc.

Priced at just £4.99 and made from sustainable maple wood, these brilliant Anamalz make a great addition to any zoo!

3: Wooden Jigsaws

Kids will never tire of puzzles, and these little jigsaws help toddlers to learn puzzle solving, counting and colours too.

The Lanka Kade Fair Trade Wooden Butterfly Jigsaw is made of pretty pinks and purples and the Lanka Kade Fair Trade Baby Snail Jigsaw stands out from the crowd in fabulous primary colours.

Priced just £4.99 and made from sustainable rubber wood by a Sri Lankan Fair Trade organisation.

4: Penguin Ecotronic Eco Torch

Your little eco-warriors will love this cute Penguin Ecotronic Eco Torch to show them the way in the dark! Powered by a gentle squeeze instead of batteries, there’ll be no end to the power.

As well as being a playful design, this torch is great to start teaching kids the basics of green energy!

Price £6.25. Packed in 100% recycled biodegradable packaging

5: Wind-Up Bouncy Bunny

Kids will love this cute little bunny that doesn’t stop bouncing. Just wind him up and watch him go!

From Plan Toys, the Wind-Up Bouncy Bunny is a lovely wooden toy made without harsh chemicals or toxic paints.

It’s the perfect ethical stocking filler, priced at £2.99

6: Haba Ball Marble Tin

Even if you lose your marbles, make sure the kids have plenty to keep them amused with this brilliant value Haba Ball Marble Tin.

Containing 36 glass marbles of different patterns and designs, these are perfect for use with marble run for some good old-fashioned Christmas fun, or encourage kids to stretch their imagination and design their own marble game. Price £6.49

7: Fish Castanet

Get an early start on the Christmas concert with these cute and crazy Plan Toys Fish Castanets. They’re a perfect size for small children to get their hands on, and they’ll love the simple clapping noise they make.

From Plan Toys, these little fishies are made from sustainable rubber-wood without the use of toxic paints or glues. Price £4

8: Mini Rag Dolls

Little children will love these adorable Imajo Fair Trade Rag Dolls that are the perfect size to pick up and take along everywhere; they’ll soon be the best of friends.

They are all made by a Fairtrade organisation in Sri Lanka, the dolls come in five cute characters – all with different clothes and hair. Price £8.99

9: Plan Toys Wooden Cars

All budding  drivers will love to zoom around with the cute and colourful Plan Toys Cars.

Beautifully painted without toxic chemicals, paint or glue, these three little cars make a great addition to the Plan Toys Parking Garages.

Price £7.99 or only £4.oo when bought with the Parking Garage!

10: Skipping Rope

Get bums off the couch with these colourful and fun skipping ropes. These Fair Trade Eco Friendly Skipping Ropes by Lanka Kade come in several different designs, from footballers to fairies and frogs to flowers, so boys and girls will love them.

They are handmade in Sri Lanka by fair-trade organisation Lanka Kade. Priced at £5.50 and packaged in a lovely gift box, these make the perfect ethical stocking gift for kids.

The handmade and ethical toys that are at the top of every child’s Christmas Wish list

We all remember an extra special Christmas present we received as a child; our first dolls house, train set, or shiny new bike all hold great memories of fun, excitement and a magical time.

In an age where computers or cheap foreign imports are filling the toy shops, at Babi Pur, we believe in a revival of great quality and traditional Christmas toys and gifts. We think they’re not only better for kids, who will be able to enjoy their beautiful and hard wearing designs for many years, but that the planet will also thank us for them.

We’ve been working hard to hand-pick some stunning traditional and ethical Christmas toys that kids, and grown-ups, will adore; and here’s our list of the best traditional Christmas toys. We give you…..

 Babi Pur’s Top 10 Ultimate Christmas Toys

	1. The Bike Being given their first bike is an important milestone for any child, and these brilliant Early Rider Classic Wooden Bikes will ensure it’s an extra special Christmas gift. These cool balance bikes with chunky tyres and flame design are guaranteed to have any early rider brimming with confidence, without the need for clunky stabilisers. Made and designed by a British engineering company, these bikes are timeless classics that all kids will love as their first bike.
	2. The Wooden Play Garage Both little and big kids will love this fabulous old fashioned Christmas toy with a bright and modern twist. In 2008 the Wooden Parking Garage by Plan Toys, won the Platinum Award at the Oppenheim fair, and was awarded an A+ rating from learning website education.com. This brightly painted garage is simply designed but beautifully made. It has three floors with a ramp to connect each one, a helipad at the top and a working lift to get the cars up and down. One car is included with a parking attendant figure, but why not check out our brilliant Parking Garage Saver packs? You can add matching accessories such as additional cars, roads, helicopters and rescue centres.
	3. Dolls House For years to come, kids will adore this beautifully made First Doll’s House, so it’s the ideal traditional Christmas present. The open plan design means that children can access it from all sides and easily reach all the rooms; and the beautiful but simple finish means that kids can easily let their creativity shine across the house. Dolls houses are great for imaginative play and help kids with role playing and socialising. They are made by the eco-friendly Plan Toys from sustainable rubber wood and without the use of toxic chemicals, paints or glues. Price: £79.99 Furniture and dolls are not included, but available to buy separately. You can find our range of accessories here and at the moment you can get 20% off all Dolls House furniture and accessories when you buy My First Dolls House. Just enter discount code "doll" at the checkout
	4. Fair Trade Wooden London Bus Lanka Kade is a Sri Lankan fair-trade organisation that uses traditional production methods and we think their toys are some of the most beautiful and well crafted traditional and ethical Christmas toys around. The rubber wood used to make these toys comes from old rubber plantations that would otherwise have been set alight. This adorable brightly coloured London bus will become a firm family favourite. The top and first floor even come apart so that kids can reach all the little people inside. It is beautifully crafted and brightly painted and will last for years to come.
	5. Wooden Play Kitchen & Market Stall This colourful Wooden Kitchen & Market Stall by British traditional toy manufacturers Millhouse is sure to inspire children in the creative art of healthy living. It has loads of interactive features that kids will get stuck into. On one side it’s a brilliant play kitchen and on the other it’s a colourful market stall, complete with baskets of fruit and veg. It even comes with some seed packets and compost so your budding gardeners can have a go at “grow-your-own”. This great addition to a play room is made in Britain from sustainable wood with a durable and high quality finish.
	6. Fire Engine, Station & Firefighters This fantastic Fire Engine, Station & Firefighter set will provide children with hours of fun.  The Fire Engine itself is a large toy with two ladders and fire hoses, there are four firefighters armed with walkie talkies, a megaphone and axes.  The Fire Station comes with its own furniture and a sliding pole means the Fire fighters can slide straight into action, into the Fire Engine and off the scene of the fire (or to rescue Mrs Jones’ cat) The Fire Engine, Fire Station & Firefighters are also available to buy separately.
	7. Alder Wood Toy Kitchen Set This stunning Alder Play Kitchen Set is handcrafted for us in Germany, and we think it’ll be top of any child’s wish list! It’s made from a beautifully coloured solid wood from local Alder trees and the quality is evident in the careful finish and quirky design. It’s a very special toy that will be handed down and loved for generations to come.
	8. Daisy Dollie Pram The Daisy Dollie Pram by Millhouse is designed and manufactured in the UK.  It’ll make a lovely and cosy bed for a lucky dolly, and there’s also enough room to cart around blocks and toys too! A long lasting toy, we think it’s sure to be popular with little children and also babies taking their first steps
	9: Marble Run The marble run is one of the oldest traditional Christmas toys, and one that provides hours of entertainment for kids of all ages as they work out new ways to send little glass marbles flying across the room. Our Haba Marble Run Master Building Set is the absolute ultimate in marble run building. Kids will need all of their imagination, creativity and building skills to piece together this clever set. There are loads of great features like a zig-zag track and a musical tunnel. We’re hard pressed to decide whether it’ll be kids, or their parents, who will love it the most! This marble run is beautifully designed and made in Germany using sustainable methods and materials.
	10. The Ultimate Davos Wooden Sledge If weather predictions for this year are true, then kids will get a lot of use out of this Classic Wooden Sledge/Toboggan. Sturdy, tough and a beautiful and simple design these sledges will hold up to 150kg, which is approx 2 average adults or three children. Made in Germany, these beautiful sledges are one of the finest traditional Christmas toys that families will treasure for years.

This time Daddy McCann has written an update about life with Fizz. We hope you enjoy reading about Fizz from a dads view....

It was Halloween recently, which doesn’t normally trouble me beyond an urge to play ‘The Monster Mash’ and wheel out various scary films – but this year was different for some reason. It was around this time that strange forces seemed to take over my delightful little daughter, aged little more than 22 months. Her behaviour started to become… odd … aggressive… unstoppable. Read more...

A few weeks ago we sent out some FuzziBunz Elite one size nappies for testing.  Here's 3 great FuzziBunz nappy reviews from real mums who've tried it out for us.  Thanks to all our testers and thanks again to Claire H  for sharing her cloth bottomed baby with us in the above photo  FuzziBunz Nappies are available to buy here at Babi Pur

Angela's FuzziBunz review

A lovely surprise arrived from Babi Pur - a new Fuzzi Bunz One size Elite nappy in Tootie Frootie to test. On opening the parcel I was a little surprised at the size of the nappy – it looked very small. The nappy is suitable from 8-35lbs and I did wonder if it would fit my 23lb one year old.

The Fuzzi Bunz Elite has a very clever elastic adjustment system a bit like the elastic waist adjusters in children’s trousers, so following the instruction I adjusted the nappy to the correct size (and to be honest still thought it would not fit) chased Benjamin around they front room and eventually got the nappy on him. It is an AMAZING FIT.  Much slimmer than his Bumgenius Birth to Potty V3 and his Flips. It fits beautifully under slim normal trousers. The elastic give much more flexibility of adjustment than traditional snaps on the rise of the nappy. The smallest setting looks suitable for newborn, being a similar size to my BG newborn nappy and I still have plenty of adjustment to allow for Benjamin’s growth.

Most of my nappies are pockets with microfiber inserts so I was intrigued with the minky inserts. They are very good, have great absorbency lasted 3-4 hours washed well, no staining and dried even quicker than the microfiber inserts. The only slight problem I had was stuffing the nappy – there is a knack to it. The gusset of the nappy is narrower than most pockets but about 2cms and it was a little tight stuffing in the inserts. I could fit in both inserts and a cotton booster. I don’t use night nappies but I don’t think this would be suitable for night use by any child other than newborn.

Benjamin was ill during the trail and had some horrible nappies as he was on antibiotics. The Fuzzi Bunz coped with everything really well, no leaks and no staining when washed.

This nappy has become my new favourite nappy. It has been admired by several friends who use cloth nappies. Am really tempted to get the Mac cheese one for some strange reason yellow appeals to me. Everyone should give them a try – as good as Bumgenius but a slimmer and I think more adjustable.

Claire A's FuzziBunz Review

We were sent one of these nappies by the kind people at Babi pur to test. We received the nappy a few days ago, and so far it’s been on my little one twice. This nappy is a Birth to potty nappy, and comes with a shell, two minky inserts and spare elastic. The nappy is adjusted by moving the elastic inside the nappy onto different buttonholes (these are marked with numbers).

When I first received this nappy I was a bit put off, it looks rather small in comparison to some of my other nappies and I was concerned that it wouldn’t fit my little one. But I dutifully set the nappy to the appropriate sizing on the elastic. I found this rather easy and the instructions were fairly simple to follow.

Washing, washing wise this nappy is fantastic. Once off the baby you pull out the inserts and stick it in the machine (obviously after being in a bucket or wet bag) and wash in the normal way in which you wash your nappies. For those with limited drying space, this nappy is a Godsend. Seriously, the inserts came out of my machine almost dry. In fact the shell took longer than the inserts. If you want a quick drying nappy then this is it!

Performance, now the vast majority of my nappies have microfibre inserts, and, for my baby these work fine most of the time. I’d say that this nappy performs as well as the next nappy. I had it on my little one twice for about two to three hours both times and it was fine. This is about the average for a cloth nappy.

Wear, now I said earlier that I was concerned about the rise on this nappy. I needn’t have worried. This nappy fit my little one brilliantly; we’re currently using the vast majority of our nappies on the second to last snap setting (our totsbots are on the last). The rise isn’t as generous as a bumgenius, but to be honest I didn’t find that a problem. These nappies seem to fit like an itti bitti, in that they’re very trim and seem to function on a ‘low rider’ philosophy.

The feel of this nappy is very nice, the minky inserts are lovely to handle and don’t catch on my skin as microfibre tends to do. The outer of the nappy is lovely and soft and the fleece inner is just as nice. It doesn’t seem to as finely milled as other nappies I’ve come across, and I would be concerned about bobbling. But this is something that I’m sure will be tested in time.

In conclusion, this is a fabulous nappy that I’ve been very impressed with. I’ve tried pretty much tried everything under the sun and I would happily get more of these nappies. The fit is fabulous and it performs well (on both areas of containment, my little one really put it through its paces). The choice of colours is lush and there is something to please every palette. When some or my current stash comes up for replacement, I’ll be getting some more of these.

Claire H's FuzziBunz Review

I was really pleased to be asked to review The Fuzzibunz Elite for Babi Pur.  We don’t have a Fuzzi in our collection and the style of adjustment makes this a new type of nappy for us.

The Fuzzibunz Elite has a lovely bright PUL outer, fleece lining and the most gorgeous, soft, minkie inserts.  At first, I thought adjusting the elastic was a bit fiddly, and the numbering system very slightly confusing (how the leg holes are numbered is different to how the waist holes are numbered), but once you’ve got it right, it does provide a really, really, good fit.  In terms of how it works, I would say I definitely prefer this method of changing the size of your nappy over any other BtP adjustments.  You get more size choices, a better fit and I also liked not having the poppers across the front which you get on most other BtP nappies; it looks so much nicer (like a sized nappy).

What I really did notice with this nappy, is how slim it is between the legs, a good inch or two narrower than some other pockets.  This does have one small disadvantage; I found putting the inserts into the pocket a little tricky. The width of the nappy is exactly the same width of the insert, so I found it a bit of a fiddle to make sure the insert wasn’t bunching up/folding over.  This was even trickier when I was trying to put both inserts in – I found you simply have to try and put them in at the same time as it’s nearly impossible to but the booster in after you’ve put the main insert in.  This is definitely one of those nappies where you have to put it all together before a nappy change rather than doing it all on the go.  I did find that when using just the main insert we had some wicking after an hour or so, but when I used both inserts it works really well, we haven’t had one leak.  What’s more, I found that the fleece liner felt pretty dry after use, so something is good at keeping any liquid away from the skin.

One huge bonus of this nappy is the drying time.  It says you can tumble dry them on a low heat, but they feel halfway dry when coming out of the washer, that I simply pop them on an airer (no heating on yet!) and they really are dry in a few hours.  I reckon with a little bit of heat (airing cupboard/nice day on the washing line) you could wash this nappy in the morning and be wearing it again in the afternoon.  The blurb says that these are stain and odour resistant too, so that’s always a bonus.

Pros – Lots of adjustment options so you can ensure it fits lovely – and it does fit lovely when it’s on.  Washes well, really quick drying.

Cons – Adjusting size and putting inserts can take a bit of getting used to.

Flip's

Thank you to all of you who recommended I try flips after my last post. Nearly two years ago that’s exactly what I did, and boy do I love this nappy!

Slim enough for a newborn and roomy enough to see a very chunky toddler through potty training, the flip re-kindled my passion for cloth which had sadly waned after repeated nappy rash problems with my original stash of (mainly) terry two part nappies.

The idea of the flip is simple, a PUL wrap into which you place a rectangular organic cotton or microfibre ‘stay dry’ insert. When the nappy is wet, you just change the insert and re-use the wrap making the flip very economical.

As they were on buy one get one free when I first tried them I tried both the organic and stay dry insert assuming I’d prefer the latter. However, with the organic cotton insert the wee is held close to the skin leading to a bit of nappy rash for us again (DW does have exzema though and is therefore very sensitive) so I actually ended up preferring the ‘stay dry’ because, well, it does exactly what it says it should.

As the organic cotton is more absorbent, it’s strength comes overnight. I’d previously struggled to find a nappy that saw DW all the way through, but a flip with an organic insert and a stay dry insert on top  did the trick beautifully.

Yup, I love the Flip, but there are pro’s and con’s though, and here they are:

Pro’s
1. Economical - As the flip is birth to potty, and you only change the insert, each wrap goes a long way.  From personal experience I would say 10-12 wraps would see you through full time cloth use with one child, with probably two to three times as many inserts.
2. Versatile - The flip is quite roomy and saw chunky DW through potty training (and he was in size 3-4 clothes). But it is easily adaptable and the slim stay-dry insert is perfect for a newborn too. This makes the flip a great nappy for anyone with two kids in cloth.
3. No bulk - The stay-dry insert in particular is very small, taking up very little space either under clothes, or in the wet bag while out and about.
4. Easy to use - Just laying the insert in the wrap is so much easier than stuffing, and adjusting is straightforward too.
5. Very little leakage - With DW I found the flip to be nearly bombproof.
6. I love Ribbit! - Ribbit is a fab colour, and the reason why my wraps drawer is pretty much all green!

Con’s
1. Insert not very secure - The flip has a fold in both the front and back to hold the insert in place, and the rear one is very loose. This can present a problem, especially when putting the nappy on a toddler who just doesn’t want to stay still.
2. Not great overnight on small baby - As you need two inserts to see you through the night, it can get a bit bulky for a little baby. This can lead to a bit of gaping around the leg and hence a little leakage.
3. Lacking in cute factor - Although I love Ribbit the flip range doesn’t have the most exciting colours, and is nowhere near as cute as some nappies, minkies particularly.

BumGenius V4

Having loved the Flip, when I knew NW was on the way and needed to increase my stash, I thought I’d give the classic BG a whirl. I’d heard lots of good things about it on forums, and as the best selling cloth nappy in the US, I though it must have something going for it.

It is similar to the flip but is a pocket nappy, meaning it needs stuffing. This is marginally more work than laying an insert in the flip, but it does mean the insert stays in place better. It also makes the nappy significantly more expensive as you need to change the whole lot every time.

It’s easy to use though, and does give you a good fit, especially on a smaller baby.

Pro’s
1. Easy to use/fit. - More like a disposable than a flip.
2. No loose insert - easier to get on a wriggly baby.
3. Versatile - It can be stuffed with as many inserts as you like to cope with different situations e.g. overnight.
4. Easy to take out and about - Can be pre-stuffed and then used just like a disposable while out of the house.
5. Sturdy - Good build quality.

Con’s
1. Velcro is a little flimsy on the Aplix.
2. Not as big as the flip so may not see a larger child through potty training.
3. Velcro gets a bit used looking quickly.
4. Overstuffing can lead to leg leakage.
5. Could work out pricier than the Flip.  I would say you’d need about 20-25 nappies for full time use.

Overall I really like both these nappies, and my stash now consists of mainly these two types. The complement each other well, and the few faults there are with one are remedied by the other.

Next time - The rest! I’ll go through the other types I have tried, before asking you guys what I should invest in next.

Introducing the new generation Pop-in nappy by Close (formerly Close Parent).  Soon to be hitting UK shelves, available in +minkee +bamboo and a range of prints and colours.  So what's new we hear you ask?  New bright colours, fabulous prints which is a first for the Pop-in nappy, no more version 2's or version 3's which was a little confusing, new cover materials, new anti leak protection, improved sizing and less poppers.

The new Pop-in colours

The new Pop-in Nappy will be available in the same popular unisex pastels as the previous version of the nappy but also new funky bright colours too.

The new Pop-in Prints

Turtles, monkeys and owls.  These fab prints look really stunning in real life!  Bright colours with funky friendly animal prints, we can't wait to get our hands on these ones.  Which is your favourite?

The new Pop-in Nappy

The new Pop-in nappy itself is a one size birth to potty nappy available in +bamboo or +minkee, +bamboo for natural and more absorbent fibres or +minkee for super fast drying.  The sizing has been improved compared to the old bamboo version which could get a little tight on bigger babies.  Each nappy comes with 1 outer shell, 1 soaker pad and and 1 booster pad and all the parts are held in place with poppers.  The Pop-in nappy has long been a favourite of ours and many of the features remain unchanged however there are some clever and significant improvements.  The outer shell has a plethora of new fabrics inside with hydrophobic material around the leg gusset to prevent leaks, anti-wicking material around the edges and a small absorbent panel in the middle to keep moisture in the centre.  Stretchy Velcro fastenings, double leg gusset and simple poppers on the front to adjust the size.

+Bamboo

Why choose Pop-in nappies with bamboo inside?  Bamboo is a natural fabric which has lots of useful properties.  Bamboo is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, hypoallergenic, naturally breathable and very very absorbent, up to 3-4 times more so than cotton.  Bamboo cloth next to your baby's bottom keeps baby feeling nice and comfortable, cool in summer and warm in winter.  Bamboo is the perfect for choice for babies who suffer from skin allergies, eczema or rashes.  All these wonderful properties make bamboo an ideal fabric for a reusable nappy, however there is a price to be paid, bamboo does take longer to dry than synthetic fabrics.

+Minkee

Why choose Pop-in nappies with minkee inside?  The big advantage that the Pop-in +minkee has is the incredibly fast drying time, just a few hours and it can be air dried.  For parents with limited drying facilities this is big help.  The first thing you notice about minkee fabric is how lovely and soft it is and it stays soft even after washing.  The minkee fabric wicks moisture away from baby's skin quickly keeping their bottoms feeling dry.  Minkee nappies aren't as absorbent as bamboo nappies so they will need to be changed more frequently. (+minkee replaces the previous Dream Dri nappy)

So in conclusion the new generation Pop-in nappy sees some improvements to a nappy that already has a great track record as a favourite "stash" nappy.  Close have made the choice for parents easier by doing away with the different "versions" of the nappy and making the benefits of +bamboo or +minkee clearer.  There's a nicer choice of colours and some great limited edition prints for those who want to show off their fluff!

We don't have an exact release date but as soon as we do we'll let you know!  In the mean time there are some ridiculous prices on the soon the be discontinued Pop-in Bamboo V2 and Pop-in Dream Dr V3