Week of events to encourage Real Nappy use in East Devon
New and soon-to-be parents in East Devon are being invited to a series of events promoting Real Nappy use around the district next week.
Free real nappy trial kits and expert advice are on offer at a series of drop-in events in many of the district’s towns. It’s all part of celebrating the national Real Nappy Week (15–19 April).
East Devon District Council’s Waste and Recycling Team will be hosting the events, which include community centre drop-ins and ‘Nappuccinos’, which are informal coffee morning chats about nappies. At all the events the team will be on hand to talk about reusable nappies, how to use them and their benefits.
Parents and those who are expecting babies are invited to visit the team at Boston Tea Party in Honiton and The Book Rest in Exmouth for a cuppa and some nappy talk, ask any questions they may have or just come and have a look at what’s on offer. The team will also be visiting Children’s Centres in Axminster, Honiton, Ottery, Seaton and Sidmouth during the week.
As an added bonus they’ll have some Mama Pack goodies and washable wipes for anyone who comes to see them.
Gone are the days of just the terry towel square. EDDC offers free reusable nappy trial kits so parents can try a range of modern day reusable nappies. The kit includes shaped nappies, flat nappies, pocket nappies, birth to potty nappies as well as waterproof wraps and accessories, with different brands represented. Most of the nappies in the trial packs are made from organic cotton and bamboo fabric and are made in the UK.
Parents can borrow the trial kit free for a month to see which ones suit their baby and themselves. If the parents go on to buy reusable nappies the council has a discount scheme running to help, subject to conditions.
Studies have shown that using real nappies in cheaper and far more environmentally friendly than using their disposable counterparts, even after to costs of washing and drying are taken in to account. With eight million disposable nappies going to landfill in the UK every day, councils are keen to encourage alternatives. In Devon alone, 28 milion disposable nappies are thrown away each year. Not only do disposable nappies mean extra landfill costs, but each and every nappy takes 1 cup of crude oil to make and takes up to 500 years to decompose.
Real Nappy Week highlights the alternatives, challenging a few myths and giving parent’s the opportunity to discuss the issues with experts and other parents.
Helen Hughes, 32, from Budleigh Salterton is one of many local parents who have taken up East Devon’s free month-long real nappy trial. Since borrowing the kit in December she has made the full time switch to real nappies for her son Hugo, aged 6 months.
She said: “I was using disposable nappies and found that the bin was filling up really quickly. I came across the real nappy trial kit on the council’s website when I was actually looking for an extra bin. I thought I’d give it a go and emailed for a trial pack.
“I was fairly open minded about it but my husband was a bit sceptical because he thought there’d be more work involved. Once we got going with it we were both really pleased, it’s no more work and we stuck with it completely. Now it’s just maybe two more loads of washing each week.
“Before we took the trial I pictured the old style terry cloth nappies, and from talking to my Mum and other older parents you think there’ll be hours of soaking and washing, but there really isn’t.
“It’s nice using real nappies because you know you’ll never run out, and it’s made a big difference to our bin. Gone is the constant filling of the bin and the bad smells, and it’s just easy.
“My advice to others is to make use of the free trial, so you can try out the different types of real nappy and see what works for you. Otherwise you could waste money on types that don’t suit you. We found by using it for a good length of time we could try things out.
"I thought an all-in-one nappy would be best with my little boy, but actually the two-layer ones were much more absorbent and reliable. You also need to think about things like drying time, because if like me you don’t have a tumble dryer that needs a little bit of thought.”
Throughout the week the council will be visiting:
• Stowford Community Centre, Sidmouth - Baby Clinic - Monday 15 April, 9.30am-11.15am.
• Axminster Hospital, Scott Rowe Room – Bumps to Baby Buddies - Monday 15 April, 1.30pm-3pm.
• Boston Tea Party, High Street, Honiton – Nappucino - Tuesday 16 April, 9.45am-11.45am.
• Honiton Children’s Centre, Clapper Lane – Breastfeeding Café - Wednesday 17 April, 10am-11.30am.
• Honiton Children’s Centre, Honiton Bottom Road – Child Health Clinic - Wednesday 17 April – 1pm – 2:30pm.
• Axe Valley Children’s Centre, Fore Street, Seaton - Breastfeeding Café - Thursday 18 April,10am-11am. 10am – 11am.
• Ottery St Mary Hospital – Baby Clinic - Thursday 18 April, 2pm-4pm.
• The Book Rest, The Parade, Exmouth – Nappucino - Friday 19 April, 9.30am-11.30am.
Cllr Iain Chubb, East Devon’s Cabinet Member for the Environment said: “We’re really pleased to be getting out and about in East Devon to support Real Nappy Week. Real nappies have come an awfully long way and offer a realistic, cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative to disposables.
"Whether you’re a sceptic, curious or already a real-nappy convert we’d love to see you and talk about real nappies.”
To find out more about Real Nappies or register for a trial kit, visit www.eastdevon.gov.uk/real_nappies, email nfirth@eastdevon.gov.uk or phone Naomi on 01395 571623.
