Real Nappies, Baby Health and Saving Money

Washable Nappies

Modern cloth nappies are easy to use, save you a fortune and are better for your baby and the environment. A modern washable nappy system consists of an absorbent part (the nappy) and a waterproof part (the nappy wrap or cover). There are lots of types of nappies and you can find out more about the different styles at www.naturalnursery.co.uk

My Baby’s Health

Disposable nappies contain over 200 chemicals, some of which are believed to cause cancers or hormonal changes. Cloth nappies are made from soft or natural fabrics to feel lovely on the skin and have the following health benefits: They have better air circulation than disposables, meaning your baby is kept cooler and fresher and latest research shows lowered sperm counts may be due to raised scrotal temperatures in disposables Many parents report a reduction in nappy rash and eczema when they make the switch to cloth Babies in cloth nappies adopt the “frog” position which offers better posture support and can help hips develop properly

The Money

A full set of cloth nappies, including home laundry, will cost from £200 to £500, against a total bill of around £1500 to £2000 for disposable nappies. This could give you a saving of around £12 PER WEEK if you use cloth nappies and reusable wipes. You may also qualify for a nappy incentive from your local council; you can find out more on our website at www.naturalnursery.co.uk/real-nappy-incentives.html Plus you can keep your gorgeous nappies and use them for your next baby.    

Choosing your Real Nappies

With so many brands, styles and types of nappies around, it can be a little hard to work out which one is right for you and your baby. There are a number of factors that you might like to consider: Your budget Flat nappies or simple one size nappies are more economical than all-in-one nappies. There might be a real nappy incentive scheme in your area which could give you cash back or offer a free trial. Speed of drying Pocket and flat nappies will dry quickest, followed by slim one-sized nappies with all-in-ones taking the longest to dry Fabric Natural fabrics such as organic cotton or bamboo are lovely on a baby’s skin but new fabrics are hard-wearing and absorbent Ethics You could try to buy nappies that are made in the UK or Europe or ensure that they come to the UK by boat, not aeroplane to reduce “nappy miles” Fit If you want a slim fitting nappy, then look for trim nappies such as the Flip or the Mother-ease one size Breastfed new baby poo Generally a 2-part nappy system is better at containment but we have had good reviews of the Flip and the Wonderoo too Ease of use All-in-one nappies are the simplest to use, but they do take longer to dry and are more expensive If you want more help and advice in choosing the perfect nappy for your family please visit www.naturalnursery.co.uk/reusable-nappies-advice.html    

See a disposable nappy mountain!

UK parents throw away around 3 billion disposable nappies every year - that is a lot of landfill and this is what one babies nappy mountain looks like -    

 It is believed that it will take up to 500 years for these nappies to decompose (all the while producing dangerous methane gas), which could be a big headache for our grandchildren. A Women’s Environmental Network study shows that disposable nappies use: 3.5 times as much energy 8 times as much non-renewable raw materials 2.3 times as much waste water as reusable nappies.