The average baby will use 6,000 disposable nappies in its nappy wearing life. Disposable nappies contain plastic and gels which take hundreds of years to decompose. Over a third of a million nappies are buried in Essex landfill sites every day costing Essex tax payers a whopping £1.4 million a year. Because they take many years to decompose the first ever disposable is still lurking in the ground somewhere. But there is an alternative.

Reusable nappies are not only better for the environment but are kinder to your baby’s bottom as they don’t contain plastic or chemicals. Although there haven’t been any specific trials, parents and health professionals have recognised that children in cloth nappies become potty trained far quicker than those in disposables, simply because they can feel themselves getting wet. Washing cloth nappies at home can save up to £500 compared to using disposables and even more if you use them on subsequent children. Modern reusable nappies resemble the look and style of disposable nappies in their size and shape and can save you hundreds of pounds.

Gone are the days of complicated folding, safety pins or soaking. Many are fastened using poppers,Velcro or nippers. With literally hundreds of shapes, designs and sizes to choose from you
really are spoilt for choice; snug fitting styles in bright and funky designs from Day-Glo to leopard skin, retro tie dye to classic white. And it’s not simply cotton; there is also fluffy fleece, silky soft bamboo or organic hemp fabrics to choose from. You can put them in the washing machine on a 40 degree wash or you can join a laundry service where clean nappies are delivered to your door every week and the old ones are taken away.

You can help to reduce your impact on the environment even more by washing nappies at a lower temperature and allowing them to dry naturally instead of putting them in the tumble dryer, and there is certainly no need to iron them!

To find out about more visit www.essexcc.gov.uk/nappies