Waste and Recycling

Reusable nappies

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Reusable nappies

Some shocking statistics about disposable nappies:

On average each child will go through 3,796 nappies in their lifetime
It is estimated to take 300-500 years for a single used nappy to decompose in a landfill site. Bearing in mind that single-use nappies have only been about for about 75 years, not one single one has decomposed yet – if Henry VIII had worn disposable nappies, they would still be in a landfill site!
By swapping out one single-use nappy for a reusable you could remove 912 nappies from the waste stream
Seven million trees are cut down every year just to make disposable nappies for the UK

Source: The Nappy Lady

Image of the lower half of a baby, wearing a green animal print reusable nappy

What is the problem with disposable nappies?

The vast majority of babies born in the UK each year use disposable nappies. A staggering 3 billion nappies are thrown away annually and they make up about 3% of the rubbish collected by councils. In Wychavon this equates to over 500 tonnes of nappy waste which cost taxpayers over £60,000 in disposal costs.

Disposable nappies also make up about 4% of the contamination experienced in Worcestershire’s recycling bins. Research by Keep Britain Tidy showed that it is a combination of confusion over the wrappers saying “recyclable”, which only applies to the packaging plus lack of capacity in bins, particularly when councils only empty rubbish bins every 2 weeks.

Parents choose disposable as they are convenient to use and get hold of and there is still a perception that reusable nappies are the Terry towelling ones used by previous generations and left to soak in buckets by the washing machine. Modern reusable nappies are easy to use, wash and dry quickly and come in a variety of materials, styles and designs to make your baby’s bottom a fashion statement!

Why choose reusable nappies?

There are lots of benefits of using reusable nappies:

Kinder to baby

Babies in reusable nappies, which are made of less processed materials and plastics, generally experience less nappy rash.

Money saving

By the time your baby is using the potty, you will have changed as many as 4500 nappies. At an average cost of 11p per disposable, this can add up to a lot of money. Recent research has shown that parents can save anything up to £1000 over the lifetime of using nappies, depending on their choice of nappies. Savings stack up further when used on subsequent children.

Good for the environment

Reports have shown that a 40% carbon saving can be made through using reusable nappies compared to using disposables and yes, that includes all the washing! There is no hard evidence of how long disposable nappies take to degrade in a landfill site (some people have said 500 years) due to all the plastic contained in them. If nappies go to an Energy from Waste plant, like they do in Worcestershire, the burning of the nappies generates carbon which is emitted into the atmosphere.

Colourful image of a stack of a reusable nappies resting in a wicker basket, outside

Materials

Reusable nappies come in a wide variety of fabrics including:

Cotton – soft and very absorbent
Bamboo or hemp – very absorbent and great for night nappies
Microfibre – dries quickly so you need fewer of them
Fleece – used for lining the nappies as wick away moisture

Washing

New babies create a lot of washing whether you use reusable nappies or not! The good news is that reusable nappies are more bombproof than disposables once you get the fit right and are really easy to wash. Just store nappies that need washing in a waterproof nappy bag or lidded bucket, no need to soak them anymore.

Pop them into the machine every two to three days on a 60° wash or 40° with sanitiser. Fabric conditioner reduces absorbency and your usual non-Bio detergent is fine. Line dry where possible or on an airer. Some nappies can be tumble dried but check first!

Check out our how to wash reusable nappies section for more information on washing and drying reusable nappies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use reusable nappies on a newborn?

Yes. Reusable nappies can be used from birth and are also available in premature baby size. You can start using reusable nappies at any stage, but the earlier you start, the more money you will save.

Do reusable nappies leak more than disposables?

If your nappy leaks it may mean you need a different size, in the same way as a disposable, but the first thing to check is if it has been fitted right. Check whether the wrap is covering all of the cloth or if it is too loose around the leg holes. See our Problem Solving section. As your baby gets older or at night you may need to use a booster for additional absorption.

How many nappies will I need?

We estimate that fifteen to twenty nappies should allow you to wash every other day and still be able to maintain a routine that does not see you running out of clean nappies. If you put other items in the machine with the nappies, washing every day works well. If you intend air drying, then you will need extra nappies whilst they are drying. If you have limited space to dry, you might want to consider nappies made of synthetic fabrics that dry in a few hours.

Do babies who wear reusable nappies get nappy rash?

Washable nappies come with your choice of liner to make disposal of poo easier. With a fleece liner, the skin stays dry and incidents of nappy rash are rare. You can alternatively choose disposable liners or even silk liners depending on your baby’s needs.

Do I need to use reusable nappies all the time?

No. It might not be convenient to use them all the time. Mix and match according to your activities. The advantage of reusable nappies is they can fit into your life as little or as much as you need and each time you use one you are saving money and the environment.

Can I get help in choosing the nappies I need?

The Nappy Lady website has loads of information and guides and can even do 1:1 demonstrations via Zoom. Visit the Nappy Lady website for help and advice.

What if I am unsure whether I want to swap to reusable nappies – can I try before I buy

Worcestershire Nappy Library have kits that you can borrow free of charge to see whether you like reusables and includes examples of the different types of nappies available so you can see what suits your lifestyle and your baby.

The Nappy Lady also has kits you can hire or rent.

Cashback scheme

Once you have decided to take the plunge and swap to reusable nappies you can receive £50 from Wychavon towards the purchase of your nappies via The Nappy Lady website,

How to apply:

Fill out the application form for the Wychavon Real Nappy Cashback Scheme
Send us either a copy of your MAT-B1 form if you haven’t yet had your baby or a copy of the baby’s birth certificate plus proof of residence in Wychavon
We will then send your details to The Nappy Lady, and they will be in touch with a code that you can redeem on their website

Cashback scheme APPLICATION FORM

Terms and conditions of application:

This offer is open to residents of Wychavon only
Cashbacks must be claimed by the end of the financial year in which you apply (i.e. 31^st March)
Only open to children up to two years old
Applications must have the MAT-B1/birth certificate attached – applications without these documents will be delayed/not processed
Cashback can only be redeemed on the Nappy Lady website towards the purchase of reusable nappy products and cannot be used to purchase swim nappies, wipes, buckets/storage, detergents.

For information about how your data will be used, read our Privacy Notice

Starting out: https://www.thenappylady.co.uk/news/just-getting-started.html

Problem solving: https://www.thenappylady.co.uk/news/problem-solving.html

How to wash reusable nappies: https://www.thenappylady.co.uk/news/how-to-wash-reusable-nappies.html

Do reusable nappies really save you money? https://www.thenappylady.co.uk/news/do-reusable-nappies-really-save-you-money.html