Choose Reusable Nappies

Each year we throw away up to 500,000 tonnes of disposable nappies, accounting for 2-3% of all domestic waste. This costs Councils up to £40 million every year to dispose of and is the equivalent in weight to 70,000 double decker buses.

By choosing re-usable nappies, you can help to reduce the impact made by disposable nappies and can potentially make significant cost savings. There are many different types of reusable nappies to choose from and there are nappy laundry services available for those who would prefer not to wash them at home.

For more detailed information about all aspects of re-usable nappies please visit the Real Nappy Campaign website.  They can advise on everything from the environmental benefits to nappy types and local suppliers.

How practical are re-usable nappies?

Modern re-usable nappies are practical and easy to use.  There's no longer the need for lots of soaking and boiling and instead of safety pins there are now velcro fastenings, poppers and plastic grips.

There are lots of different types available so there's something to suit everyone.  For those who don't want to wash nappies at home, there are nappy laundry services and it's always worth remembering that re-usable nappies are not an 'all or nothing' choice.  Some parents use a mixture, with disposable nappies as a back up, for example when travelling.

What are the options with real nappies?

There are three main types of nappies available - flat nappies (eg the traditional Terry square), shaped nappies designed to fit a baby snuggly and all in one nappies.

The Real Nappy Campaign has details of local suppliers of real nappies and further information about the different types.

Getting Started

The Real Nappy Campaign recommends that you will need about 20 - 30 nappies.  In addition you will need liners to catch the solids and keep the moisture away from the baby.  You can get biodegradable, flushable versions or washable ones.

Finally you will need an outer wrap and these come in lots of bright colours and styles.  Initially you will need about three and will need to buy larger ones as the baby grows.

Washing and Drying Re-usable Nappies

Re-usable nappies can be washed at 60 degrees centigrade without the need to be sterilised.  They can be dried just as you would dry your normal laundry.

Biodegradable nappy liners can be flushed down the loo along with any solid waste and washable liners can go in the wash with your nappies.

Alternatively you can use a nappy laundry service to do the washing and drying for you.  The Real Nappy Campaign can provide details of local services.

What is the environmental impact of nappies?

Re-usable nappies significantly reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill.  It is estimated that 2-3% of all household waste going to landfill is from disposable nappies.

Re-usable nappies also save on the energy and resources needed to produce disposable nappies.

The environmental benefits of using real nappies can be maximised by using an A rated washing machine, washing at 60 degrees centigrade rather than 95, avoiding fabric conditioner (which also reduces absorbency) and drying naturally rather than in a tumble drier.

A Report by Defra (2008) provides further details on the environmental impact of real and disposable nappies.  For more information please go to Defra Real Nappy Report.

What is the cost of using re-usable nappies?

When buying re-usable nappies, there is an initial outlay, but then there are significant savings to be made by not having to buy more disposable nappies every week. If you re-use these nappies for your second child you can make even greater savings.

Basic re-usable nappies cost from £2 each with more sophisticated ones costing from £3 - £10 each. The cost of purchasing and laundering these for 2.5 years would come to between £185 and £352.

In contrast, disposable nappies cost on average 12.2p each (including in-store offers).  The cost of using these for 2.5 years ranges from £463.11 to £732.

Laundry services range from on average £6 - £9 per week.

How do nappy laundry services work?

Local nappy laundries offer weekly services that collect used nappies and provide a fresh supply, laundered to the highest standards, for the next seven days.  They also provide a special bin to store your used nappies in.  The Real Nappy Campaign can provide details of local nappy laundering services.

Do re-usable nappies cause nappy rash?

Frequency of nappy changing is the important factor to reduce nappy rash.  Your baby is no more or less likely to get nappy rash from using re-usable nappies than from disposables.

Do re-usable nappies leak?

It's important to select the right size for your baby's shape to avoid leakages and there is a wide choice of products available.  You can also use booster pads to increase absorbency if needed.

Where can I get re-usable nappies from?

Well known supermarkets and retailers now stock various brands of re-usable nappies. The Real Nappy Campaign can also produce details of local outlets and agents supplying re-usable nappies.

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