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Nappy days are here again!
They cost less, are much gentler on the environment, better for your baby and give off less of a pong. SOPHIE HAZAN gives parents the bottom line in time for Real Nappy Week.
ECO warriors have gone to war on plastic, with disposable nappies and their toxic chemicals high on their hit list.
Throw-away nappies make up four per cent of household waste with the average baby able to fill 12 wheelie bins in one year alone, says the council.
With more than 8,000 births per year in Leeds, the authority has estimated that babies collectively produce more than 5,000 tonnes of nappy waste, most of which ends up in landfill.
And that is why this week – Real Nappy Week – Leeds City Council has relaunched an initiative aimed at persuading parents that cloth nappies are better. Advocates say they are cute, colourful, easy to wash and are even endorsed by celebrity parents such as Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay's Chris Martin.
Critics fear stereotypes such as boil-washing dozens of cloth nappies each week and hurting fingers on giant safety pins. But modern natural nappies are cut to size, have Velcro fastenings and can be washed at 40 degrees, say campaigners.
Furthermore, using cloth saves the average consumer at least 600 per baby from the birth to potty stage, according to Women's Environmental Network (WEN).
And if the funky, green and money-saving advantages are not enough to sway you there are two added bonuses – supporters say the breathable cloth is better for the baby's skin, while being able to instantly flush the mucky contents of a used nappy down the loo means less smell.
The change in room aroma has been a breath of fresh air down at Bramley Children's Centre, since staff banned disposable nappies.
Alex O'Brien, assistant centre manager, said: "We wash our cloth nappies in tea tree and lavender. Disposable nappies would be binned – waste and all – and then just left until they were collected days later. Disposables have chemicals that react with urine so they really pong."
She added: "When you work with children you think about what the world's going to be like for them in the future. We give them the skills to be successful later in life, but there would be no point if the world they lived in wasn't going to be safe."
And indeed the tide is certainly turning with around 15 per cent of parents now favouring the natural nappy, claim the national Real Nappy Campaign.
But not everyone has been taken by the cloth crusade.
Alison Atkinson, 36 , of Dewsbury, and husband Neil, 37, a plumber opted to use bio-degradable disposable nappies for four-week-old daughter Florence, after weighing up which was the greenest and most fuss-free option available.
She said: "We looked at using real nappies but did not fancy having a smelly nappy bucket hanging around in the kitchen. Then I heard about a laundry service which collects and washes the nappies each week, but they wash the dirty nappies at a really hot 100 degrees, and I didn't think it was good for the environment.
"Everyone is encouraging us to wash at 30 degrees to save the planet, so environmentally, the bio-degrable nappies were better for us.
"Some nappies available on the high street can take up to 50 years to degrade down, but I buy some called Moltex by mail order from a green firm called Spirit of Nature and when they go to the tip, they take just six months to decay."
Volunteers
Such reservations are what drive volunteers at Bramley-based group Terrapins Nappies, who have been educating mums about the benefits of cloth nappies since 2002.
Terrapins is a not-for-profit group that loans out (free) real nappy trial kits, so people can try out different nappies and wraps to see which suit their baby, budget and lifestyle and gives them a chance to have a go at a washing routine.
Founder Tamsin Constable, 40, said: "When my first son was born I found there was no information for natural nappies locally.
"I trawled the internet and found you could buy in bulk online but there was no-one around to help you trial them, or help you make the right decisions.
"It was an expensive lesson learning about them, and so I decided to at least help other mums and stop them from making the same mistakes by telling them everything I'd learned.
"I dragged a bag about everywhere I went to show people all the gear."
Today Terrapins has four mum volunteers, who dedicate spare time to spreading the gospel about real nappies that they used with their children.
For top tips including full washing instructions go to www.terrapinsnappies.co.uk
To celebrate Real Nappy Week (April 21 to 27) the council is TODAY re-launching its incentive scheme, organised in partnership with
Leeds-based Nappies-Direct. All week parents have the chance to pick up a free trial pack worth 31 per child, or get 20 cash back on purchases of real nappies when they spend over 50. One trial pack or cash back is available per child. The child must be a Leeds resident and aged under 12 months.
To apply for a free trial pack or 20 cash back contact Leeds City Council on 0113 3951520, or email info.recycling@leeds.gov.uk or visit www.leeds.gov.uk/nappy
HELP is at hand this week with real nappy experts at the ready to meet parents and parents-to-be, who also get the chance to win a free trial pack of real nappies.
The pros will be at the following locations:
Today
Two Willows Children's Centre in Beeston from 9.30am to 10.30am; Ireland
Wood Children's Centre from 9.30am to 10.30am
Tomorrow
Holly Bush Children's Centre in Bramley from 10am to 10.30am; Otley Health Clinic in Otley from 11.30am to 12pm
Wednesday
Nestfield Family Resource Centre at Belle Isle from 9.30am to 10.30am; Holt Park Health Centre at 1pm to 2pm.
Thursday
St Augustine's Catholic Church, Harehills Lane from 9.30am to 11.30am; Swarcliffe Children's Centre from 1pm to 2.30pm
Friday
Nestfield Family Resource Centre at Belle Isle from 9.30am to 10.30am.
Other planned events include:
Free real nappy trial packs being handed over the counter at Blue, Pink and Green, 101 Swinnow Lane, LS13 4RH. Telephone: 0113 257 5758. Just bring proof of Leeds residency – for example a gas bill showing proof of residency and your child's birth certificate. There will also be 10 per cent discount on items throughout the week.
There is also 10 per cent off purchases at Baby Direct at 96 to 98 New Road Side, Horsforth, LS18 4QB. Staff will demonstrate just how much waste one week's worth of baby's disposable nappies creates with a bin outside the shop.
A 'Nappuccino' afternoon is being held by Terrapins Nappies at Chapel Lane Annexe on Chapel Lane, Armley on Friday between 10am and 12pm.
This is a coffee morning where people can see some real nappies and talk to parents who use them.
Real Nappy Benefits
No more stinky soaking;
A bucket and mesh are all you need;
Just 'dry-pail' with lavender oil;
No more boil washes;
Shove in the washing machine at 40 or 60 degrees;
No more sweaty plastic pants;
Hi-tech, breathable waterproof fabrics and funky designs;
No more fiddly terry squares or pins;
Modern nappies are cut to shape, with poppers or Velcro-like fastenings;
No more landfill, no more heavy bins;
Many experts say cloth is much greener;
No more expensive disposables.
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
