Cloth nappies

As every mum knows, nappies are a major part of life with small children. And a major cost, a major chore and a major hassle when they don't work well. They are also a major environmental issue and during Real Nappy Week, babyworld has turned the spotlight onto cloth nappies to give you the low-down on the issues, the options and the day-to-day practicalities of choosing not to use disposables.

• Reasons for change
• What to look for - cloth nappy styles
• Getting started
• On test: six mums give real nappies a go
• Useful contacts

Find it fast >> Talk to other mums about nappies here Get the lowdown on changing your baby's nappy Today's headlines

Reasons for change

Real Nappy Week is a promotional event run by The Women's Environmental Network and The Real Nappy Association to promote the use of cloth nappies and increase public awareness of the environmental and health problems associated with disposable nappies. Real Nappy Week also celebrates the launch of a new service - Nappy Line (01983 401959), which gives callers details of their local cloth nappy suppliers and laundry services. The key reasons they believe cloth nappies are best include:

Waste reduction

Most disposable nappies are dumped in landfill sites. We don't know exactly how long it takes for the plastics in disposable nappies to decompose, but it could be hundreds of years. In addition, landfill space is running out and there is pressure to use incineration to dispose of them. But, incineration is not a trouble free solution - emissions from the incinerators cause pollution and environmental damage wherever they are sited.

Cost

Local authorities spend hundreds of thousands of pounds each year on nappy disposal which could be saved if more people used cloth nappies - but there is also a cost saving of around £500 to the individual of using cloth nappies. A cloth nappy system can cost under £70 (Boots own brand terry nappies), including all the nappies and waterproof covers you will need for the whole of your baby's nappy-wearing life. The same amount of money buys you a couple of months worth of disposable nappies. Even taking into account the total cost of laundering nappies at home, there are huge savings to be made.

Health

Cotton nappies are a natural product and use none of the super-absorbent chemicals, paper pulp and plastics needed to make disposables. Why put your baby's bottom in a synthetic chemical environment when a natural, organic option is available.

Did you know?

• In the UK we discard eight million soiled nappies every day - that's three billion nappies a year.
• Disposable nappies form four per cent of household waste in Britain and cost the tax payer £40 million each year to dispose of.
• Nappies make up 50% of the waste from a household with just one baby.
• Using disposable nappies for a two year period will cost you around £1,200.

What to look for - cloth nappy styles

There is no single ideal nappy. Different people have different needs, budgets, likes and expectations - and babies are all different shapes and sizes! There is a huge variety of modern cloth nappies but they fall into three key categories:

These include the very traditional square Terry nappies which may first come to mind when you think of cloth nappies. These days, they also come in many different sizes to suit different ages and may be pre-folded to offer extra absorbance down the centre of the nappy and less bulk around the body. There are also wraparound nappies held with ties and organic knitted or cotton jersey nappies in this category.

They are folded and fastened with a safety pin or nippas (special nappy fastener alternative to pins) and/or covered with waterproof wrap. The waterproof pants may be made of modern breathable fabrics or even wool with natural lanoline water resistance.

These may be made of cotton flannel fabric or the same Terry towelling fabric as a traditional flat square nappy, but are shaped and elasticated at the waist and leg to fit more snuggly. They do not need to be folded each time and are secured with Velcro or popper fastenings. They are then covered with separate waterproof pants.

These are a shaped nappy as above but do not require a separate waterproof cover as they have an integral waterproof layer built in.

Getting started

Whichever system you favour, it is recommended that you start with a trial pack. You will need a total of around 18 nappies and three pairs of waterproof covers. Some mums stick with a single system, others mix and match different systems for different times of the day or through different ages. By taking trial packs you can get to know which systems work best for you and your baby. If you find you do not get on at all with one system, most companies will allow you to return those you have left unused and unwashed. Some companies offer a birth to potty pack which gives you a discount on the individual nappy price.

If it is the nappy washing that puts you off cloth nappies, it is worth investigating nappy laundering services. These come and collect all your dirty nappies once a week and deliver you a week's worth of clean nappies. To find details of your nearest laundering service, visit the Real Nappy website.

• Plushpants www.plushpants.comoffer a unique cloth nappy trial scheme (t: 01865 408040)
• Chat about your nappy choices on our Nappy forum
• Visit www.cottonbottoms.co.uk, (08707 778899)
• For Kushies from Perfectly Happy People, visit www.thebabycatalogue.com, (0870 1202 018)
• Visit Bambino Mio at www.bambino.co.uk, (01604 883777)
• For Schmidt Natural Clothing, visit www.naturalclothing.co.uk, (01342 822169)
• Visit Twinkle Twinkle at www.twinkleontheweb.co.uk, (0118 934 2120)
• Contact the Women's Environmental Network, (020 7481 9004)
• Association of Nappy Services www.changeanappy.co.uk, (0121 693 4949)
• Call the Nappy Line on 01983 401959

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April 2003