When it comes to baby products, marrying ethics, value and effectiveness can be a difficult task, especially when it comes to disposable nappies. I tested the Pura range and this is what I found.
Let me begin by saying that we are a reusable nappy household, but at night, or when out for long days on our bicycles, we use disposables. We have always sought to use the most environmental varieties possible, with Eco by Naty being our usual brand of choice, but when I saw an advert for Pura nappies, I decided to give something new a try and review it.
Here are my thoughts on Pura’s vegan and eco-friendly nappies.
Appearance
To me, a relatively unimportant element, but with plenty of rival brands trying to corner the market in adorable nappy designs, Pura has given thought to aesthetics. Simple white nappies with cute patterns inspired by nature keep things simple and not too twee. No silly mantras or affirmations here (trust me, they get very patronising during a 3am nappy change), just a nice looking nappy.
I will say that I gasped at how thin the nappies are. Having been used to the far thicker Naty options, these felt flimsy, to say the least. That made me worry about lasting through the night and preventing leaks. I believe I even warned my husband that we were “in for a night of it”, judging by the feel of them.
Eco-credentials
A very important issue for me, I looked into the environmental claims of Pura carefully before committing to a purchase. Made with organic cotton and containing no chlorine, perfumes or allergens, the composition seemed good and they are made with 100% green energy and are vegan-friendly.
Sustainability runs through the core of these nappies and the wider company, and although no nappy can ever be described as totally biodegradable, these come closer than others I’ve tried. It’s worth noting here that there are fully compostable baby wipes available, with 0% plastic. That’s impressive, and I bought some of them as well.
All packaging is recyclable, even the ‘plastic’ bag containing the nappies, so no guilt there.
Don’t miss our Ultimate Guide to sustainable baby products.
The real test
I didn’t want to be unfair to Pura, so I decided to test the nappies throughout a day and night period for this review. This would give me a better understanding of how well they dealt with wet and dirty deposits, as well as during different times of the day.
The fit was great. That’s the first thing I really noticed as I popped a nappy on our 19-month-old daughter. She’s a little baby bean pole, all legs and no bottom, so she’s slim but tall, meaning that she often falls between sizes. Not here though, as the size 4 was perfect for her 10kg frame. The velcro-ish tabs were super tough and everything felt comfortable, not pinchy around her thighs at all. She was especially active during the day, so I can only assume she was more comfortable than usual. All messes were perfectly contained, with no sign of imminent leaking, but it would be the night test that was the real proof.
Our small person is an excellent sleeper but a wet or leaking nappy will wake her, usually at around 3am. We did not have to get out of bed with the Pura. 7:30am came and we all got up, with the little one sporting a super heavy, wet nappy that didn’t leak even one drop. We were both utterly confused how such a thin nappy contained so much urine, but it did. What’s more, no discomfort and no sign of an imminent nappy rash. We tested again the following night and the result was exactly the same.
The performance of the Pura nappy was a huge shock, given how slimline the design is, and we honestly couldn’t fault it at all. The added bonus was that the elastic didn’t seem to cause any lasting impressions on our daughter’s skin either, so we know she was as comfortable as possible.
Value for money
Committing to new baby products can be a costly risk, but Pura seems to know this. I took advantage of the free pack initiative — paying just £3.49 for shipping — to try before I decided to buy. Having been totally sold on the products, I went back to purchase more and decided to sign up to the cost-effective subscription service, which saves 10% on regular prices and comes with free delivery (including recyclable packing materials).
For 145 nappies in a size 4, I’m paying £26.68, making these the cheapest eco nappies I’ve ever tried at just under 0.19p each, as well as the most reliable. For comparison, the Naty alternatives we used to buy were 0.27p, also via a cheaper subscription offer.
Verdict
Unequivocally, yes. The best performing disposable eco nappy I have ever found, I am fully converted. I like the simplicity of the story behind the Cheshire-based company, with two people (now parents themselves) being shocked at the use of plastic in baby products and so deciding to make items without.
I also enjoy the transparent environmental objectives, amazing value for money and wow. It’s nice to not have to worry about running out at a bad moment, thanks to the subscription I’ve signed up for. Performance-wise, I give these a 5/5, purely because of zero leaks and no signs of baby discomfort.
If you are looking for eco nappy options, I highly recommend giving Pura a whirl.
Disclaimer: None of the products mentioned in this Pura nappy review were gifted or discounted. All items were bought at full price and no affiliate program is in place. The experiences documented above are no guarantee of similar, but are a faithful account of the writer’s findings.
