Once a product reserved for hardcore eco-mums, cloth nappies (diapers) are now growing in popularity. In fact, they’ve become something of a fashion statement for your baby’s bottom. Michelle Williams, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow are all celebrity fans of cloth nappies. There are lots of reasons why people opt for reusable nappies over disposables, here we look at some of the main ones:
Better for the planet:
- During his first year of life, your baby will need 3000 nappy changes. That’s a lot of nappies! If you’re using disposables, that’s a lot of rubbish.
- Each disposable nappy takes at least 200 years to decompose. In the UK, eight million disposable nappies end up in landfill each year.
- Once in landfill, the disposable nappies release methane. Methane is widely considered to be the worst greenhouse gas because it reaches the atmosphere so much quicker than other greenhouse gases.
Better for your purse:
- If you’re looking at the price per nappy, you might think cloth nappies are crazily expensive. Remember though, each nappy will be used countless times, unlike a disposable nappy which will just be used once.
- It is estimated that disposable nappies will cost you around £1000 / $1,500 USD from birth to potty training. Cloth nappies, on the other hand, will set you back around £300 / $450 USD for a kit. Of course you then have to factor in washing and drying, but even then it will be less than using disposables.
- See it as an investment. Once a disposable nappy has been used, it needs to be chucked out, but a cloth nappy can be used time and time again. You will be able to use them on more than one child, and will even be able to sell them on second hand when you’re finished with them.
Better for baby:
- Lots of chemicals are used during the production of disposable nappies. You can buy organic cloth nappies that contain no chemicals.
- Cloth nappies look great. Gone are the days of simple terry squares with giant safety pins. Now cloth nappies are available in a whole array of bright colours and fun designs. You can even get them personally embroidered with your baby’s name.
If you aren’t sure whether cloth nappies are for you, you can borrow some for free from your local cloth nappy library. There are cloth nappy libraries across the country offering a selection of brands and styles for you to try for free. This will give you the chance to try out the nappies, without spending lots of money. It will also help you to choose the right brand and style for your baby.
Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.
