I’ve been obsessed with the gNappies brand for some time. I first discovered them two years ago when I was pregnant with Dexter and fell in love with the quirky designs. But I didn’t take the plunge. There was something holding me back. Like all cloth-nappy ditherers, I was a little put off about popping poop stained clothes into the washing machine - I realise it’s incredibly wasteful but if Dexter has a major explosion, I throw his clothes out!

But there’s no getting away from it - cloth nappies (gNappies in particular) are cute. I also find the opportunity to cut down on the cost of disposables very attractive. As Dexter is in a brand name nappy, we currently spend £10 a week on them. I have tried supermarket alternatives but find they cause what Craig and I (not-so-delicately) refer to as Baboon-Bum.

I’m sure there are also fully paid up members of the cloth-nappy gang now willing me to mention they’re also far more environmentally-friendly than their disposable cousins - but to be honest (and I’m not going to win any friends here) my green credentials only stretch as far as popping empty loo rolls into the recycling bin. I’m not saying being green isn’t a good thing, I just don’t think you’re ever likely to see me on streets protesting about HS2 - sorry guys. But to make sure I represent gNappies fairly, here’s what they say…

gNappies are colourful nappy covers called gPants that you use with biodegradable disposable inserts. gPants are adorable, breathable and collectable. You only need 6- 8 gPants for full time use.

gNappies is out to eradicate conventional disposable nappies from the planet. Over 20 billion are thrown away annually, making them one of the largest contributors to landfills. There is no evidence that conventional disposable nappies ever biodegrade. gNappies disposable inserts break down in a home compost (wet ones only) within 3 months and produce good compost.

Good for babies and Good for the Planet and easy on everybody

Well lucky for Dexter and I, gNappies recently gave us a few pairs to try on for size (Dexter that is, not me - I know, I know, this is disappointing right?). We plumped for a Large (26-36 lbs) to fit Dexter’s ever-expanding bum and we were sent 2 pairs of the most adorable gPants and a big wodge of inserts. We’re now on week 2 of the trial, and here are my observations…

Ease of putting on

I know this might seem like a strange place to start, but at 18 months Dexter is now very used to laying back and having his disposable nappies whipped on and off. I’m making this sound easy but, in fact, Dexter is a utter nightmare during bum changes - so much so that it was me who coined the phrase nappy change rage. I must admit I was apprehensive about throwing a new concept into the mix when a regular change has me ready to hit the drinks cabinet straight afterwards.

I needn’t have worried. I won’t go so far as to say he enjoys it, but he’s certainly no worse than usual. You actually prep a new nappy away from the baby then slip them on as you would a normal nappy. They fasten at the sides with velcro too, so nothing new for baby to contend with. Whip the old gPant away from baby and sort out the mess in the kitchen.

Disposable inserts come out and are disposed of, the pouch gets a wipe clean, and a new insert is slipped in in preparation for the next change. I’d say the recommendation that you’ll need 6-8 gPants for full time use is fair, you have to bear in mind that the gPant will need a good wash like your own knickers so you’ll need a good few to use whilst the others are getting the Ariel Non Bio treatment.

Cost comparison

They’re definitely an investment. The initial outlay - say 6 gPants, and a pack of inserts is available in a bundle price for £109.95*. This is the equivalent of 10 weeks worth of disposable nappies so it will take you at least that time to see a return on investment. Don’t forget you’ll also need to upgrade your gPants and get the next size up as baby grows.

The disposable inserts cost £8.95 for a pack of 40 so you’ll be saving £1 per week on conventional nappies. I do find a pack of inserts lasts you a little longer than disposable nappies however, as you become more conscious of what you’re throwing away. There are also cloth inserts and liners available if you wanted to go extra green - obviously these would need replacing far less often.

Are they value for money? Yes.

Will they save you money? Sadly, not really. I don’t think you’ll be saving hundreds of pounds converting to cloth nappies, but you won’t be out of pocket either. For me, the cost comparison is much of a muchness… but remember how cute I said they were?

*There are other bundles available, 2gNappies and a pack of inserts cost just £31.95 if you wanted to try them out first.

Washing

Washing them isn’t nearly as much of a faff as I thought. When you become a mum you’re used to being arm deep in bodily fluids anyway so I shouldn’t have been such a big baby about it. They wash at 30˚ along with our usual white or colour loads and come out looking fabulous. Tough stains can be treated with a squirt of Vanish as you would with any normal stain.

Overall

I LOVE them. Aesthetically they look scrummy and are surprisingly easy to use and wash. Inserts are available from the website or Ocado so it’s easy to make the switch. We haven’t had any leaks or bunching and Dexter’s bum is peachy soft so the inserts aren’t causing him any irritation. The legs are also well elasticated so no chaffing around the thigh area either. I’m already considering making the change permanently and buying a newborn bundle for baby 2.

If you’re considering making the switch, or are currently pregnant, there’s no better time to get into gNappies. Today marks the official launch of their super cute Limited Edition Christmas design called the gJingle. Not only are these absolutely adorable, you might also be able to swing it so baby’s grandparents invest in a couple for you for Christmas.

The gNappies autumn collection is available on gNappies.com , Ocado.com and selected retailers across Europe and North America. They range in price from £14.95 for solid gPants.

Disclaimer: I was sent the aforementioned products free of charge in return for an honest review. Thanks gNappies!