Getting to bottom of cloth

Kate Mead is passionate about cloth nappies.
"When I had my son, Daniel, six years ago there were no options, I had to use disposable nappies, but I changed to cloth because they worked better and of course they were much cheaper," she said.
Back then Kate had to source good cloth nappies overseas. There just were not the options there are today.
Last week was International Cloth Nappy Week. Kate was part of a group of women promoting cloth nappies throughout New Zealand. She organised Nappuccino Coffee Groups in Auckland, Wellington and Tauranga.
"It was crazy but good," she said.
"In Tauranga we had 26 mums. There were so many mums we couldn't fit them all in the cafe. It was fantastic," said Kate.
They got the chance to see the range of different brands of cloth nappies which are available now. They could see how they work, feel the quality of the cloth and to ask all the questions. A chance to try them, to see if they suited.
"I don't make any money out of this, none at all. It's just something I'm passionate about."
"We have all the brands on show, so there is no bias, no sales pitch."
Kate said she is pro-choice and she wants other new mums to have informed choice options as well.
"The big disposable brands (of nappies) sponsor Parents' Centre, which shuts us out, and any other choices as well. It means when parents want information they are only see one option - that's not informed parenting."
When Kate swapped from disposable nappies to cloth with her child, she saved $30 per week. She believes nappies are even more expensive today.
"At our Nappuccino group a mum of twins said disposables were costing her $120 per week. How can anyone afford that?"
Then there is the mountain of rubbish disposable nappies is making in New Zealand landfills.
Someone has to make a stand. Disposable nappies cost dollars, cost with pollution to our environment, and there is an easy answer.
Interest in cloth nappies is growing with parents concerned about their family's impact on the ecosystem becoming keen to find ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.
The next Nappuccino Coffee Group - held at Grindz - is Wednesday 22 June at 11am and a two-day workshop will be held July 8 and 9 with Friday night at Plunket, Welcome Bay and Saturday morning at Grindz Cafe.
Kate recommends phone to book on 027 221 1242.