Scamps Boutique is proud to announce the arrival of The Couture Nappy Collection. A beautiful new range of high fashion cloth nappies made from designer fabrics for a stylish and comfortable tushy.

Incorporating a hidden layer of ‘pul’ panels to prevent leaking and ensure reliability, these latest trendsetting nappies demonstrate outstanding performance while helping you to help the environment and buy New Zealand-made.

Scamps Boutique also stocks the required inserts for The Couture Collection pocket cloth nappies.

Funky, eyecatching and totally reliable.

For more info:
Website: www.scamps.co.nz

Today marks the beginning of International Real Nappy Week 2009. The message across the globe confirms many times over just much money parents can save by using cloth nappies.

The New Zealand Nappy Alliance (www.nzna.org.nz) has calculated that parents using reusable nappies can save up to $5000.

“Families who invest in modern cloth nappies could have an extra $30 - $50 per week to spend on groceries, pay off debt or spend time doing things with their family” says Kate Meads Spokesperson for the NZNA. “Disposable nappies are generally purchased alongside household groceries, so many parents may not realize exactly how much nappies are costing them long term.”

Nappy Alliance members encourage kiwi mums to lay-by their nappies while they are pregnant. Over nine months (40 weeks on average) the cost of paying off a full time cloth nappy pack may cost around $22 per week which is far less than leading disposable nappy brands which could be up to $50 per week for approximately 130 weeks after the baby is born.

“I started using cloth nappies on my second child because we simply could not afford to buy disposables every week. My cloth nappies are so easy to use; I only wish these had been around when I had my first……I cringe at the amount of money I could have saved!” Says Rebecca, mum to two girls Ella (5yrs) and Maddison (6 months), “I don’t need to soak, use pins or fold my nappies like most people assume. Best of all I will sell them on Trade me when I am finished and get money back for them, what a bargain”

Real Nappy Week provides kiwi parents with the opportunity to find out all about washable nappies and their numerous benefits. Along with all of the obvious financial benefits, parents are attracted to the environmental benefits as well. A recent government study in the UK compared cloth nappies to disposables, and found that if used correctly, cloth nappies can be up to 40% better for the environment.

“It makes far more sense for parents to deposit cloth nappies into their washing machine and their money into the bank instead of a landfill”, suggests Kate.

For further information about Real Nappy Week, images, samples or interviews, contact NZNA Spokesperson Kate Meads (027) 22 11 242 or kate@nappydays.co.nz.

Nappy Facts:

• The New Zealand Nappy Alliance provides support and advice to parents, manufacturers, and health and childcare professionals on choosing and using washable nappies. The Alliance campaign aims to educate people on the cost savings of cloth nappies and the environmental benefits that cloth nappies bring.
• Parents can save over $5000 by using real nappies over leading disposable brands, more if they are used on subsequent children.
• Three billion nappies a year, eight million a day - are thrown away in the UK. They are estimated to weigh 690,000 tonnes and 90% end up in landfill. In New Zealand it has been estimated that there are approximately one million disposables going to landfill every day
• A recent Government report stated that real nappies are 40% better for the environment than disposables when simple washing guidelines are followed

Credits: NZNA Press Release, Monday 27 April 2009

Time Magazine ran an article featuring a bubs wearing a Happy Heiny’s cloth nappy. You can currently view this article online here or read up about it on Happy Heiny’s website here.

I got an email from Lisa at Vital Spark headed up “nappy goodies”.  Believe you me, I was drooling at the end of her email.  She hit the nail on the head, her items are true goodness. {click on the photos to view larger images - you won’t be disappointed}

Lisa’s designed a range of recycled wool goodness for babies, and in particular 100% wool nappy wraps. She couldn’t find any funky loooking, natural fibre wool wraps, with no synthetic fabrics,  that were New Zealand made.  So she designed her own.

All wraps are made from RECYCLED 100%WOOL!

• naturally breathable
• regulates temperature
• warm in winter, cool in summer
• naturally antibacterial – self cleansing
• naturally water resistant and fire resistant
• no plastic over wrap required, use flat or pre-fold diapers and nappies

Lisa’s designed these wraps so they are one-size-fits-all.  They are sold in sets of two with their own calico carry bag.  Therefore you only require one to two sets to see you through the entire nappy stage!
[$80 per set of two]

Other goodness: wool breast pads, baby sleeping bags (lined with cotton),  wool backed dribble bibs, funky clothing, slings and baby carry wraps.

Lisa’s Aim:  to keep it simple and easy on mum’s, while looking after the planet and our beautiful babes.

For more info.
Email: lisa AT vital spark DOT co DO nz
Website: www.VitalSpark.co.nz
Download Handout: Vital Spark Flyer [pdf file]

Modern cloth nappies have been featured in the media leading up to, and during, Real Nappy Week.  Click on the orange links below to check them out …

NZ nappy alliance sing praises of the cloth nappy
Stuff.co.nz, National Environment News
8 April 2008
Visit www.nzna.org.nz for more info on the New Zealand Nappy Alliance

Cloth nappy keeps mum happy
Auckland City Harbour News
16 April 2008

Help to Change to Real Nappies
The Timaru Herald
17 April

Baby steps towards greener world
NZ Herald
21 April

Real Nappy Week Demonstration, Dunedin
Channel 9
21 April

Good Morning Show
TVNZ
Competition running for real nappy week with prizes valued at over $6,000.

I am in awe of the media coverage I’ve seen the last few days for Real Nappy Week.

Here’s a link to watch Channel 9 coverage.  They visited a Real Nappy Week demonstration, and managed to get some lovely closeups of the modern cloth nappies on display.

And for those who’ve never seen a snap press before, look closely at the photo below.  Do you see that green thing-a-me-bob with the lever?  Yep, that’s it. They can be purchased from Green Beans who stock New Zealand largest range of specialty fabrics for making modern cloth nappies.  Just perfect for our DIY culture here in New Zealand.

Photo courtesy of Channel 9 Online, Dunedin Television.

Scamps NZ Ltd has reached their 1st milestone - their 1st birthday!

To celebrate they’ve launched a new shop front and forum, and have a huge sale happening for the month of April. Receive free postage on all nappy packs! Go into the draw to win a $50 voucher by creating a new customer account.

Scamps, specialising in eco friendly products.

Aquabub is introducing to the New Zealand modern cloth nappy market three new ranges of nappies. All three ranges are manufactured from 100% natural fibres to help fill a gap in the market.

An increasing number of parents who use modern cloth nappies prefer to use natural fibres. Natural fibres are especially desired by families whose children suffer from eczema or who react to nappies lined with man-made fibres, like store owner Helen MacMillan’s son Ethan. That was a big reason for sourcing the new ranges as modern cloth nappies made from 100% natural fibres are not readily available on the market in New Zealand. The new ranges are Baby Greens Diaper Co. (made from options of a hemp and cotton blend or 100% organic cotton) Little Beetle (made from fair trade organic cotton velour); and Bubba J Bamboo (made from a blend of bamboo and cotton). The product launch is set to take place on Friday 18th March at a Nappicino (an informal coffee group for cloth nappy-ing parents and those interested in using modern cloth nappies) in Greenhithe just in time for Real Nappy Week. The ranges may be viewed online at www.aquabub.co.nz and also at the Auckland Real Nappy Week Expo on Saturday 19th April at the Western Springs Garden Community Hall, 956 Great North Road from 10am - 3pm.

Frugi is a small company that started out in life 4 years ago as Cut4Cloth, specialising in organic cotton baby clothes that fit over cloth nappies and diapers. The company has grown a bit since then and now offer organic cotton clothes for kids up to 4 years and a small range of breastfeeding tops for mothers as well. But most importantly, their baby collection includes the Cut4Cloth range - all the Cut4Cloth items are cut a little bit bigger to fit over bulkier cloth nappy bottoms! While they deliver pretty much anywhere in the world, New Zealand stockists are:

• Little Cloth Kiwis
• MCN Babywear in Auckland

And Australian stockists include:

• Down To Earth Baby in Victoria
• Organic Trading Company in NSW
• Rose Quartz in NSW

Their website is www.welovefrugi.com, or click here to go directly to their Cut4Cloth clothing range.

And a little something else I love about Frugi - they give 1% of its sales to the protection of the environment and are a member of the 1% For The Planet Club. For more info: www.onepercentfortheplanet.org.

Babies born at Waitakere Hospital over the new few months will be provided with cloth nappies, according to an article in the NZ Herald. Here’s a few snippets:

….. All babies born at Waitakere Hospital for the next three months will go home wearing a cloth nappy, and will have a further two nappies given to them in a take-home pack. Waitakere City Council and the West Auckland Health Services Foundation have each given $10,000 to the scheme which could result in some 18,000 less nappies in landfills over the next three months…

and

…..cloth nappies also had a health benefit….. It was important to check a baby’s urine during its first 24 hours, to make sure its kidneys were functioning properly. Cloth nappies allowed that to be seen far easier than throw-aways…..

Click here for the full article.