Real Nappies

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If you are expecting a baby or have children of nappy wearing age why not consider using 'real nappies' as opposed to disposable alternatives? This will help reduce some of the 6000 tonnes of disposable nappies that end up in landfill sites around Shropshire each year. The days of terry towelling and safety pins are long gone and the new designs available now are very stylish, fun and better for the environment than conventional disposable nappies.

Every baby uses about 6,000 nappies before potty training....

That is equivalent to:

• 4-5 trees
• 325kg of plastic waste
• 1 tonne of landfill

The production of disposable nappies uses chlorine gas to make them fluffy and white, and by-products include harmful chemicals as dioxins and furans.

Disposable nappies are not biodegradable take up to 500 years to decompose in landfill sites and can harbour up to 100 different types of virus, including live polio virus from vaccines. These viruses survive for over 2 weeks. Equivalent waste from hospitals is treated as clinical waste and is not deemed safe to be dumped in landfill sites.

Parts of the disposable nappy do rot (along with the urine and faeces) and this gives off gases including methane (which adds to global warming) and releases acids which can help move chemical wastes into groundwater supplies

Using modern real nappies (also known as washable, reusable or cotton nappies) as often as possible will significantly reduce the rubbish your family produces and also save you hundreds of pounds when you need it most. Did you know that you can wash a cotton nappy 200 times with the amount of water needed to manufacture just one disposable nappy?

Shropshire Real Nappy Network

Shropshire real nappy network was formed by a group of parents who have practical experience of choosing and using cotton nappies for our children. They aim to give impartial advice and information about real cotton nappies to all parents, health and childcare professionals, and waste management professionals in Shropshire who are interested in their important aspect of baby care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to fold them?

No!! Like most things, nappies have changed a lot in the last 30 years! Modern real nappies are shaped to fit the baby and fasten easily with Velcro or poppers, so no need for folding, or pins. In fact they can be as easy to put on as a disposable.

Isn't washing real nappies hard work and messy?

Not at all. You use a paper liner to catch solids which is simply flushed away down the toilet. Rather than putting a disposable in a bin, you put your real nappy in a lidded bucket until you are ready to wash, and modern washing machines mean that there is no need to soak your nappies. Ideally, you will have enough nappies so that you can wash every two days. Washing nappies is no more complicated than washing anything else, just put them in with non-biological detergent and choose a 60 degree cycle. Real nappies are durable enough to withstand tumble drying, but by no means do you need a tumble drier to use them. The latest developments in fabric technology means that you can choose nappies that are made from super quick drying materials. If you really don't want to wash nappies, you could use a nappy laundry service who will wash them for you.

How much do real nappies cost?

Initially they may cost you a few hundred pounds to buy, but in the long run real nappies will save you hundreds of pounds. It costs around £1000 for all the disposable nappies one baby will get through. Real nappies can be used again on subsequent children, and washing costs less than £1 per week. If you find the initial outlay a problem, you don't have to buy them all in one go; buy a few at a time to help spread the cost.

Do real nappies leak and cause nappy rash?

You are always going to get some leaks with any nappy, whether a real nappy or a disposable, especially with newborn babies, but a good quality, well fitted real nappy should leak no more than a disposable. All babies get nappy rash at some time. It is more common when they are teething or have a tummy upset, and is caused by a reaction between urine and faeces, and not by wetness. Most parents who have actually used real nappies find that real nappies are much better on containment of newborn poo, and that their babies experience less nappy rash.

The Shropshire Real Nappy Network offer free, impartial information and advice on all aspects of real nappies, including local stockist lists and information on using real nappies. We also offer free trail kits where you can give real nappies a go for free before you buy them.

Telephone: 0870 777 1137

Email: info@shropshirenappy.org.uk

Website: http://www.shropshirenappy.org.uk/

Andy & Jo Berry - Schmuggles Independent Real Nappy Retailers

Based in the heart of Shrewsbury Town Centre.  Experienced parents can advise on all aspects of green child care, from breast feeding to real nappies and more. 

Telephone: 0800 019 8764

Email: contact@ecoretailonline.com

Website: www.ecoretailonline.com