A disposable nappy is disclosed comprising a re-usable, waterproof containment 5 adapted to contain an absorbent pad 12 and to be fittable around a baby or very young child. The absorbent pad 12 is formed of highly absorbable cellulose fluff pulp and A highly absorbent, hydrophilic, polymer material. The absorbent pad 12 is removably locatable in the waterproof containment 5 and the whole is fittable around / dressable on to the lower part of the baby's / young child's abdomen so that the containment forms an essentially waterproof enclosure around the legs and waist of the baby / young child so that, when the baby I young child urinates, the urine is absorbed and distributed in the pad by capillary action but the pad essentially retains its is integrity within the containment and when the baby / young child defecates, the excreta is retained in, or adjacent to, an appropriate part of the absorbent pad and further characterised in that, when the nappy is to be changed, the waterproof containment 5 is removable / undressabie from the baby / young child, the absorbent pad 12 is removed from the containment 5 and the whole pad 12 and its waste contents disposed of either by flushing down a toilet where the pad completely disintegrates or by placing in a suitable disposal bag and thereafter in a disposal bin and that the waterproof containment 5 is retained for further use. The waterproof containment is reusable, with a new absorbent pad, whenever the baby's, or young child's, nappy needs changing.
