As a first time mum, it didn't take me long to notice the massive amounts of used disposable nappies heading for landfill each week from our place. And while disposables are an amazingly useful (and absorbent) invention when it comes to changing a wriggly baby's bum, especially when out and about, substituting for reusable cloth poo-catchers for at least part of the time, seemed to me to be an ecologically sound alternative.

And so I braved the notorious white terry towelling squares, pins and pilchers, and what can I say..... with all their bulk, bagginess and leaking, there had to be a better way! After all, this is the 21st Century...

After hours of internet research my mind boggled with the various options for latest in modern cloth nappies, nappy 'systems', PUL covers, bamboo inserts, fitted cotton nappies, all-in-ones, pre-folds etc etc. So i'm going to leave the nappy low down to the experts (click here for a comprehensive review) and in the meantime show you a modern cloth alternative that I am so far pleased with.

Here is my PUL (polyurethane laminate) nappy cover by Baby BeeHinds. I bought it for AU$11.50 from Darlings Downunder internet store. These stretchy covers are made from a 'breathable' waterproof Polyurethane Laminate sandwiched between 2 layers of polyester knit fabric. A 21st Century upgrade from the old 'el cheapo' plastic pants of generations past. PUL is a popular choice for a cover as it allows moisture from within the nappy to evaporate, helping to keep bub cooler and drier.

I have found it to be soft and stretchy, and it forms a snug fit around baby's legs. They are a smidge bulkier than disposables but fit comfortably under modern baby clothes and still allow full movement without leaking. In terms of wear and tear this product seems quite durable with quality velcro tabs and is suitable for machine washing (just remember to fasten the 'laundry tabs' to prevent snagging in the wash).

For the nappy I bought a dozen unbleached cotton prefold nappies from Darlings Downunder for AU$3 each (they posted them to me). They are cotton fabric squares divided into 3 equal portion's. The middle portion has an extra layer sewn in for absorbency. You can fold them in the traditional manner or simply fold them into thirds and use as a 'pad' inside a nappy cover (which is what I do). I have found this method to be so much easier than folding and pins. 

You have to change baby one or two more times per day as the cotton pads are not as absorbent as the disposable nappies, but they are chemical free, reusable and don't cost the Earth!

I use two PUL covers at a time, alternating during the day and letting one air out while using the other. They air out really well and do not smell at all. I also chuck in a biodegradable nappy liner (when I remember) to make for easy disposable of solid food poo's, but even if you do forget, fling the poo into the loo, then the pooey nappies go into a nappy bucket with water & bi-carb soda until ready for washing. I hang them out on the line to dry and get bleached by the sun (removes any marks). The cotton pre-folds actually become softer after each wash which is great.

I use my cloth nappies when I am home with bub, and save disposables for outings. There is an increasing number of biodegradable disposable nappies entering the market which are worth keeping an eye out for. I recently read an ECO nappy review in the September Issue of G Magazine and some brands to look out for include Nature Babycare (Woolies), Babylove Ecobots (www.neco.com.au), Moltex (www.ecodirect.com.au), and Bamboo Nature by Nordic (www.nordicnappies.com.au).

Here is another one of my cloth nappies - Zappy Nappy made locally in Australia. Beautiful and soft this fitted nappy is great for nights as it is quite absorbent and you can add extra pads. It comes with a PUL cover also. This is a 'one size fits all' nappy and super adjustable. My covers come in various sizes but I have made do so far with just 2 small's and then 2 mediums. Baby Bel is 9kilo's now and the medium still fits well, and I plan to re-use my nappies and covers for the next baby or babies! It pays to keep this in mind when choosing colours and patterns - unisex is probably preferable if you intend to share between siblings of opposite sex.

I found these in the cleaning aisle at the supermarket - biodegradable cleaning wipes - Ive found that they can double as nappy liners or 'make your own' baby wipes. Just cut them up to the desired size and away you go.

To make your own baby wipes try making up a solution of chamomile tea and olive or sweet almond oil, soak the wipes, drain off the excess then store in a lunch box style container ready for use (you could also add a few drops of Lavender or tea-tree oil). A solution of bath wash and moisturing cream also works well, or you could try using a roll of recycled paper towel dipped in the solution. Ive found that even just plain old H20 in a spray bottle and a face washer works fine (or any soft fabric remnants), then throw the washer into the nappy bucket with the nappies. Even the biodegradable wipes can be washed and reused (I usually throw the pooey ones!).

And so there you have it - one mothers guide to a cloth nappy alternative. So get creative - reduce waste - every little bit helps!

It is now many months post-launch of Small Footprints and I finally made it a priority to sit down and write my first ever blog post!  

And so I begin with a bit about me. My life as a mountain kat, (aka KittyKat), is abundant and full....... I am greeted each morning by a loving husband and a smiling baby (yes, that's us!) and there is absolutely no better way to start my days! I am relishing every moment of early motherhood and I am truly in awe of our sparkly little creation. Go Bella!!

I am aspiring towards a simple life, the idea being to slow down the pace, make life choices based on sustainable values, take a step back from the rat race and basically to rethink our modern existence from a holistic perspective. Is there an alternative, better way to do things? The answer is always, 'of course there is!'. My dream is to create a space and time on this Earth that is special, one that my budding family and I can call our own, and at the same time, take responsibility for our own ecological footprint.

My husband and I created Small Footprints as a place for us to share our thoughts, experiences and ideologies with like minded souls in an attempt to subvert the dominant paradigm and to learn, grow and improve our lives. We want to make a difference and we want our kids to inherit a cleaner, brighter future than we did. We want them to be aware of more than just the pursuit of money at any cost... that a healthy environment does matter.... that the Earth is our living, breathing, home.

Our eco journey starts at home. We chose to buy in a hinterland village on the East Coast, Queensland, surrounded by rural area's and expansive state forest, but close enough to the nearby coastal cities and business centres to be convenient for work, shopping, family and friends. We live in a north facing pole home made from wood and glass situated on a quarter acre sloping suburban block. Some of the more obvious systems we have inplace to bring our living in line with sustainable values include two water tanks (totaling about 65,000 litres) that supply all of our water needs, a 1 kilowat grid connect solar system (see Small Footprints ECO-blog for more info), a Rinnai continous flow gas hot water system (only heats water as you use it), an on-site self draining septic system, a self-intalled grey water diverter, vegetable & herb garden, fruit tree's, compost & chickens, and recently we upgraded our Toyota hatchback to a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan.

In terms of appliances we rely on naturally occurring breezes and a couple of ceiling fans for cooling in summer rather than air-conditioning, we use a 4 star water saving front loader washing machine, a water saving shower  head, power saving light bulbs and lcd monitors & tv (these use less power than the old crt monitors). We have an internal wood heater for heating our home in the cooler months (we support Landcare Australia and there efforts in continuing to produce sustainable forests).

In light of peak oil and global warming these carbon reducing systems are all essential components of our grand ECO plan, but as the homemaker of the family I will be 'blogging' about the smaller pieces of the puzzle that, in my mind, will altogether result in a change towards a simple life....... the day to day choices we are presented with as consumers regarding food, baby needs, cleaning & beauty products, clothing, homewares and investments...... as well as sharing ideas and experiences with nutrition, wholefoods, natural therapy, spirituality, enjoying nature, community, environmentalism (the new religion?), parenting and the human psyche..... and practical ideas for around the home on saving money, gardening, cooking, op-shopping, recycling, reducing waste, avoiding the throw-away culture, music, craft and..... well, it's an unplanned journey and so I guess whatever topics & events spark interest along the way!