Washable nappies

Nappies - the facts

• Every baby has between 4,000 and 6,000 nappy changes during his or her nappy-wearing lifetime
• Nearly 3 billion disposable nappies are thrown away in the UK every year, at a cost of £40 million
• Disposable nappies make up 4.6% of all dustbin rubbish in Tower Hamlets – costing around £250,000 to dispose of
• Disposable nappies can make up half the rubbish of families with one baby
• It could take hundreds of years for plastics in disposable nappies to decompose which means that nappies you throw away could still be around when your great, great, great grandchildren are born.

In Tower Hamlets thousands of pounds is spent each year disposing of nappy waste - money which comes from the Council Tax payer.

Time for a change

There are plenty of reasons to change from disposables to modern washable nappies. Here are just some of the benefits:

• Savings from real nappies for the first child alone can amount up to £500
• Real nappies can be used again and again and will last for more than one child – saving even more money
• Modern, washable nappies are made from soft, natural materials such as cotton, hemp, wool and bamboo fibres. They use Velcro and poppers so are quick and easy to fit.

Easy to wash

• Wash at home - a 60oC wash is hot enough to sanitise nappies
• Nappy laundering services are available – they deliver stacks of clinically laundered nappies to your door and whisk away the dirty ones to be laundered.

Real Nappies for London

Tower Hamlets is one of 14 London Boroughs that have signed up to this new Pan-London initiative. If you are expecting a baby or have a child up to 18 months old you can apply to receive an information pack and a £50 voucher to spend on nappies at participating retailers – or to cover half the cost of a 12 week trial with local laundry service – Number One for Nappies. You will be required to pay the remaining £50.

You can either apply online at the real nappies for London website, or by completing an application form on the Real Nappies for London leaflet. Please call: 020 7324 4709 to request a copy of the leaflet.

Like to know more about modern, washable nappies?

If you would like to find out more about modern washable nappies there are lots of useful websites that compare different nappies and provide advice, for example:

The Nappy Lady - www.thenappylady.co.uk
Kittykins - www.kittykins.co.uk

For personal advice and to see different nappies you can contact Marion Hope, an independent nappy consultant, on: 020 7473 1142 or via email at: marion.hope@thenappylady.co.uk

Number One for Nappies is the laundry service covering Tower Hamlets. You can contact them on: 07951 687730.

Where to buy real nappies in your local area

Local Stockists:

• Potty People, 316-318 Bethnal Green Road (Bambini cotton nappies)
• Waitrose, Canada Place and St. Katherine Docks (Mother-ease cotton nappies)
• Green Baby Co. Ltd., 52 Greenwich Church St., Greenwich (wide range of modern, washable nappies)
• Nappy Finder is a search tool launched by The Real Nappy Campaign where you can simply enter your postcode or region and find any of the above services local to you. Tel: 0845 850 0606
  Visit: The Nappy finder
  Visit: www.realnappycampaign.com

Useful contacts

Real Nappies for London

LCRN-RNfL, The Grayson Centre, 28 Charles Square, London, N1 6HT
Tel: 020 7324 4709
Visit: www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk

Women's Environmental Network

Women's Environmental Network
PO Box 30626
London E1 1TZ
Tel: 020 7481 9004

E-mail: nappies@wen.org.uk
Visit: www.wen.org.uk

The Real Nappy Campaign

Tel: 0845 850 0606

E-mail: realnappies@wrap.org.uk
Visit: www.realnappycampaign.com

The Used Nappy Company

This company is a family run business offering a service to parents to buy and sell used real nappies. It was established to provide auctioning services at a reasonable cost, uniquely specialising in the sale and purchase of used real nappies

Tel: 01926 734 274

Email: sarah@usednappies.co.uk
Visit: www.usednappies.co.uk