Did you know that if Henry VIII had worn disposable nappies, they would still be rotting in landfill today?!
Around three billion disposable nappies are thrown away every year in the UK alone. A single baby can get through up to 6,000 nappies before being potty trained.
That’s a lot of landfill, and a lot of money to be throwing in the bin; it is estimated that disposables cost around £1,000 per child.
Fortunately, real nappies, also called cloth, reusable or washable nappies, have come a very long way since the first disposable was invented in 1947. There is a wealth of options out there for you to find the right fit for your baby and your budget. From the ‘all-in-one’ to Terry Squares, there is something for everyone.
If you make the switch, you could help make a dent in the estimated seven million nappies that are thrown away every year in Dorset alone! Even better, real nappies can be used on more than one baby, meaning the more children you have, the more money you save.
Incentive Scheme
Dorset Waste Partnership run an incentive scheme whereby parents/carers can apply for a £30 voucher to spend on real nappies – details and a scheme application can be found at www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk. To cloth nappy full time you will need anything from 15–30 nappies per child. The number of nappies you have will affect how frequently you have to wash them, but using even one reusable a day will stop 365 single-use nappies from ending up in landfill per year.
Loving by Nature – online and in-store
Loving by Nature recently opened at the De Dannan Centre in London Road, Dorchester; Loving by Nature is a baby shop that stocks a fabulous range of cloth nappies, nappy pants, liners and more – you’ll find a great online range at www.lbndorset.com/cloth-nappies
Aside from the financial savings – a full Real Nappy kit can cost as little as £180 – you will be doing your bit for the natural world, too. It’s not just about waste, the manufacture of single-use nappies puts a strain on natural resources, not to mention the chemicals that are used in the process.
Another thing to consider is reusable wipes, too. These can save a lot of money, as well as being better for the job than their single-use counterparts.
Make the switch!
Making the switch to real nappies can seem daunting, and confusing, but with the right advice, it really is easy. It’s not an all-or-nothing decision, if you want to give it a go just start with a few nappies and go from there – you will soon see that they are well worth the effort. The idea of extra laundry puts off many people – but it need only be a couple of extra loads a week – hardly a massive difference with a baby in the house!
If you are interested in reducing your landfill waste by taking up real nappies, get in touch with Charlotte at Loving by Nature to find out more:
