We also have Eenee Earth Friendly Disposable Pads which can be thrown onto the compost heap (if not soiled) & completely biodegrade within a few weeks; these can even be flushed down the toilet for totally hygenice disposal -see below for instructions.
The Weenees are non-absorbent and are ‘breathable’ minimizing bulk, smell and drying time and there are no overheated bottoms as can be experienced with some plastic pants.
Also because you don't have to change the whole Weenee each time you only need 3 or 4 outers with 3 or 4 extra inner pouches saving money.
The pouch, which clips into the outer pant has been designed to improve the holding capacity of the pad and has cut down on leakage dramatically. They are the most efficient design yet for containing messy nappies and they also make changing much easier.
The pouch is easy to wash and dry quickly which means you save on washing, water, energy, and work. Just put the pad in and Velcro them on for a convenient leak proof system.
Weenees Disposable Pads are the perfect alternative for families who want to use an environmentally friendly nappy that won't confine them to the laundry. Weenees have the convenience of a standard disposable nappy while being 100% compostable. They are easy to use and easy to dispose of. Weenees are a bit different to a normal disposable, in that they work as a two part system (pads and pants), so we've provided some tips to help you optimise their use.
Switching from cloth nappies will give you many immediate benefits:
Significantly less laundry.
No rubbish bins full of dirty nappies (some States prohibit dirty nappies in bins) .
If previously using pilchers; less leaks, less nappy rash, less fiddling at change time, no need
forsafety pins or fasteners.
The economical option of continuing to use your cloth nappies with the outer pant, or swapping
to disposable pads. Some people prefer to use Weenees Disposable Pads for going out, and
use cloth nappies at home.
Switching from "plastic disposables" will mean several differences:
A more hygienic and greener way of disposing of dirty nappies. Soiled Weenees Disposable
Pads can be torn and flushed down the toilet; wet pads may be flushed, or composted into
valuable mulch.
A two-part system: the plastic and pulp of standard "plastic disposables" are completely bound together as a baffle system. This has the advantage of being very efficient at absorbing and containing babies' wastes, however it has a significant disadvantage: "plastic disposables" take decades or even centuries to breakdown! Weenees Disposable Pads contain no plastic, enabling the pulp to be 'recycled' and the outer pants to be reused. With practice you can achieve disposable effectiveness without the environmental devastation.
Starting from fresh ... If you are in the process of deciding which type of nappy to use, or are
looking to change your nappy choice, rest assured you are not compromising by choosing
Weenees. Weenees will afford you the quality of life of a disposable, while being a sustainable
choice for your child's future environment.
Fitting Weenees
Place a fresh pad in the pant's waterproof pouch: ensuring it is tucked completely inside. Snap fasten the inner pouch to the outer pants. Place baby's bottom in the centre of the pad. Fasten to the back by pulling up and securing the Velcro type waist tabs to the Velocro type fastener at the back of the Weenees Pants. Nappy can also be fastened with toddlers standing.
To minimise leaks it is important to get a snug fit by using the correct size. The new Weenees Pouch Pants have a stretchy waistband which does not need to be as firmly fitted as the Deluxe Weenees Baby Pants design. Check the inner waterproof pouch is snug next to the leg to help prevent leackage. If you are getting marks on babies skin from snap fasteners or the waistband, then release the tension on the waist a little. It is important to have a snug fit with the pad in skin contact to ensure good absorbency.
- For boys: make sure the penis is pointing down towards the bulky part of the pad.
- When changing, the wet pad or cloth nappy can be taken out and replaced with a fresh one with out the need to change the outer pant or inner waterproof pouch. If the inner pouch is soiled, then a fresh pouch and pad can be snap fastened in with out having to change the outer pant.
- If using cloth nappies, place a stay dry flushable Eenee Nappy Liner over the nappy to help keep baby dry and comfortable, and clean up of soiled nappies will be much easier.
Newborns
During the first few weeks of life, a baby's legs can be quite underdeveloped. Even the newborn
size Weenees pant may still be too large. We suggest starting with an Eenee Snibb and Small Weenees pads for convenience. An Eenee Snibb works as a tie on pilcher, and can be very helpful in these early weeks. If you want an almost fool proof way of preventing leaks, apply a small (newborn size) Weenees pant over the Snibb. This will hold it in place, give your baby's bottom a snug attractive look and prevent almost all leaks.
Leaks
Despite all your efforts, all types of nappies will leak sometimes. To minimise leaks:
- Check that you have the best size outer pant and pad for your baby.
- Ensure a boy's penis is not to one side, apply the pad snug next to the skin, pull front of the pants up firmly and fasten the Velcro type fastener firmly at the waist.
- Check all of the pad is within the pouch.
- Change pads regularly.
- Be prepared to use 2 pads overnight: 2 small pads inside the newborn pant, 1 small and 1 medium pad inside the larger pant. For boys, a small pad may be folded in half, placed in the front section of the nappy and used in combination with a larger pad to absorb more of the urine overnight.
- If using a cloth nappy over night, place a Weenees pad on (or in) for extra absorbency.
Washing
To prevent the Velcro type tabs attaching to other garments in the wash, join the entire length of the Velcro type tabs to the back of the pants. If you accidentally wash a disposable pad, put an empty rinse load through the machine and shake clothes out over the garden.
Traditional Triangle Fold Cloth nappy option
For those dedicated to cloth and pin nappy systems, try Eenee Soft Waterproof Baby Pants. They do not crack and split like the plastic variety, and are breathable and long lasting.
Flushing Pads
As Weenees pads contain no plastic, they can be flushed down most standard toilets. A few
helpful tips:
- Don't try to flush down tree infested or faulty plumbing.
- Use the full flush rather than the half flush button.
- Tear the pad into at least two lengthwise strips. If you rip down both long edges of
the pad and shake a little, most of the pulp will fall out of the body of the pad into the toilet.
- Use the toilet brush to stir and separate the pad, even while the toilet is flushing.
- If a lot of pulp is left inside the casing it may be too bulky to flush properly, especially when saturated with water. If a bulky pad clogs the toilet, generate suction by plunging the toilet brush in and out of the water several times. This should shift most clogs.
Septic Systems
Some systems may not deal with all of your child's nappies over a 24-hour period. Wet pads are better composted (don't waste them), and just hygienically flush soiled pads to reduce the over all load on septic systems.
Composting
Weenees can make your child's wastes a positive contribution to the environment. The pads
break down quickly in standard compost systems and are worm safe. It is not recommended
that soiled pads be composted as fecal matter can sometimes contain infectious bacteria.
Generally the best ratio for composting is two-thirds 'browns' carbon matter, in this case
Weenees pads, newspaper, paper products, shredded leaves, bark or straw, and one-thirds
'greens' nitrogen matter, for instance grass and soft food wastes. When composting Weenees
remember that they are usually wet, and your compost may need less water than normal.
Pads should be ripped up prior to composting. The inner pulp composts faster than the outer
shell . If you want to rapidly compost, it may be better to bury the outer shell separately where it
will degrade in about 150 days.
Suggestions or further problems?
If you have a helpful tip to offer, or you need further help with our products, please feel free to
contact us at bohnybabies@paradise.net.nz
Happy Greener Parenting
