Eight million disposable nappies are thrown away every day in the UK and mostly go to landfill.
Every parent is faced with the question "What nappies do I choose?". There are basically two choices
It is hard to know what is best for your child, the environment and finally your pocket. Yes it is true that most people
view disposable nappies as the obvious choice as they are easy to use and involve no washing. On an environmental note disposable
nappies add massive bulk to your domestic rubbish, overburdening landfill sites and take up to 300 hundred years to biodegrade.
On the flip side bleaching, washing and drying towelling nappies takes a toll on the environment too. It's just less obvious.
We aim to give you the low down on each type and then leave the decision to you.
On a cost basis, by the time your baby is potty trained you could use up to 8,000 disposable nappies. This will cost a
minimum of £700. By comparison you only need 25-30 real nappies, costing as little as £185 including the washing! In addition
many local authorities offer incentives including cash back. Using the same nappies on your second or third child saves you
even more than on the first!
Clearly if your concern is cost then the reusable nappies win, however there are other considerations that may change your
decision
Towelling
Cotton towelling nappies don't contain any of the chemicals used to create the super-absorbency of disposables. They're
more natural. These nappies have come a long way from the days of folding kites and stabbing yourself with nappy pins. You
can get shaped nappies with Velcro fastenings and they come in many different designs not only the white sheets our mothers
used to use. You will need to dispose of the content of the nappy in the toilet if you choose to wash them your self. These
days you don't need to wash them yourself, laundry services collect the dirties and deliver clean ones on a weekly basis,
but at a price. On an environmental basis, using a laundry service my not be very environmentally friendly as laundry services
may drive towelling nappies for miles to be washed in machines with biological detergents. It is suggested that if you
wish to use real nappies and you wish to reduce their environmental impact you could do the following:
- Choose more environmentally friendly fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp and bamboo.
- Use ‘A’ rated appliances
- Wash at 40, or 60c. Do not boil wash
- Do not use fabric conditioner
- Use eco-friendly washing powders
- Minimise tumble drying – line dry, or use an airer
- Do not iron nappies
Disposables
The main plus of disposable nappies is that they are quick and easy to use. Once used, binned and forgotten, there
is no scraping them clean over a toilet. They don't leak as much as cloth nappies which saves on changing and washing clothes
and bedding. But they are expensive, and do have an impact on landfill sites. There are eco - friendly alternatives to normal
disposables which are generally slightly more expensive but some parents feel that the expense is justified by the reduction
in environmental damage. Try Moltox OKO they seem to be very good and are widely available. Search for the Real Nappy campaign
in your area to find out more
At the end of the day, it's your baby and it's up to you. Don't feel pressured or worry about what other people will say.
Our advice, for what it is worth, is that it seems like a good idea to use both reusable at home and disposable when you are
out and about and don’t want to carry a dirty nappy around with you.
