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| ints:real_nappies [2025/11/29 13:07] – asimong | ints:real_nappies [2025/12/17 04:30] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| No contest. The [Women's Environmental Network](http://www.wen.org.uk/) found in 2006 that using disposables over 2.5 years costs between £600-£900, and washables (including washing) £200-£350; and [this detailed comparison](http://www.clothnappytree.com/info.php?article=6) in 2008 came up with figures of around £1600 for disposables and £400 for washables. And of course the cost benefits are greater if you use the same nappies for a subsequent child. They're designed to be used for at least 2 babies. | No contest. The [Women's Environmental Network](http://www.wen.org.uk/) found in 2006 that using disposables over 2.5 years costs between £600-£900, and washables (including washing) £200-£350; and [this detailed comparison](http://www.clothnappytree.com/info.php?article=6) in 2008 came up with figures of around £1600 for disposables and £400 for washables. And of course the cost benefits are greater if you use the same nappies for a subsequent child. They're designed to be used for at least 2 babies. |
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| What about nappy rash? [Here's](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1313078/) a study published in the _British Journal of General Practice_ that concludes that disposable nappies give little protection. There is no evidence at all that disposable nappies reduce nappy rash. It just means changing your baby more often, or you can use fleece washable nappy liners. They permit the urine to flow through and be absorbed but as they are not absorbent in themselves they keep it away from the baby's skin, reducing the occurrence and severity of nappy rash. | What about nappy rash? [Here's](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1313078/) a study published in the _British Journal of General Practice_ that concludes that disposable nappies give little protection. There is no evidence at all that disposable nappies reduce nappy rash. It just means changing your baby more often, or you can use fleece washable nappy liners. They permit the urine to flow through and be absorbed but as they are not absorbent in themselves they keep it away from the baby's skin, reducing the occurrence and severity of nappy rash. |
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| ### Convenience | |
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| | ### Convenience |
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| | _Find out why your nappies smell and how to stop it!_ |
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| Well, disposable nappies are easier - but I'm assuming that you wouldn't even be on this website if you didn't care about what was happening to the environment. So you're probably not the type to put ease above ecology. And people who've done it say it's not that hard once you get into a routine. Another point about convenience - if you save time using disposables, how are you going to spend that time? Using real nappies means spending time with your baby, which you're going to be doing anyway, but you'll be doing something that is good for your baby, for the world it's going to grow up in, and it will save you money - that you can spend on your baby. A no-brainer, surely? Using disposables is like throwing away your underwear at the end of every day instead of washing them - that's convenient too. | Well, disposable nappies are easier - but I'm assuming that you wouldn't even be on this website if you didn't care about what was happening to the environment. So you're probably not the type to put ease above ecology. And people who've done it say it's not that hard once you get into a routine. Another point about convenience - if you save time using disposables, how are you going to spend that time? Using real nappies means spending time with your baby, which you're going to be doing anyway, but you'll be doing something that is good for your baby, for the world it's going to grow up in, and it will save you money - that you can spend on your baby. A no-brainer, surely? Using disposables is like throwing away your underwear at the end of every day instead of washing them - that's convenient too. |
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| However, an Environment Agency report in 2005 found very little difference in the environmental impact of real nappies v disposables. The report was immediately criticised - it claimed that people use double the number of nappies they actually do; they based energy consumption on old, low-efficiency washing machines; they assumed a wash temperature of 90°C rather than 60°C; plus they included the energy required to iron and tumble-dry nappies. But are people environmentally-aware enough to use washable nappies really going to iron or tumble-dry them? | However, an Environment Agency report in 2005 found very little difference in the environmental impact of real nappies v disposables. The report was immediately criticised - it claimed that people use double the number of nappies they actually do; they based energy consumption on old, low-efficiency washing machines; they assumed a wash temperature of 90°C rather than 60°C; plus they included the energy required to iron and tumble-dry nappies. But are people environmentally-aware enough to use washable nappies really going to iron or tumble-dry them? |
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| Why the EA did this is open to debate - but in response to criticism, they produced [another report in 2008](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-updated-lifecycle-assessment-for-disposable-and-reusable-nappies) that concluded that the average carbon emissions for disposables until a child is potty trained came out at about the same – around 560 kg over two-and-a-half years - but with scope to reduce this figure by 200 kg with reusables, via behaviour change - i.e. not ironing, using reusables for more than one child (which they accepted is the norm), having an energy-efficient washing machine, washing with fuller loads, not washing above 60°C and not using tumble-driers. We think people who use reusables are much more likely to do all of these things. But still they only looked at shaped nappies, which are heavier than terries. And finally, the toxicity of the chemicals used in disposables wasn't touched upon, and neither was the removal of habitat for the factories, car parks, roads etc for the perpetual manufacture and distribution of disposables. It's not all about carbon emissions. | Why the EA did this is open to debate - but in response to criticism, they produced [another report in 2008](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-updated-lifecycle-assessment-for-disposable-and-reusable-nappies) that concluded that the average carbon emissions for disposables until a child is potty trained came out at about the same – around 560 kg over two-and-a-half years - but with scope to reduce this figure by 200 kg with reusables, via behaviour change - i.e. not ironing, using reusables for more than one child (which they accepted is the norm), having an energy-efficient washing machine, washing with fuller loads, not washing above 60°C and not using tumble-driers. We think people who use reusables are much more likely to do all of these things. But still they only looked at shaped nappies, which are heavier than terries. And finally, the toxicity of the chemicals used in disposables wasn't touched upon, and neither was the removal of habitat for the factories, car parks, roads etc for the perpetual manufacture and distribution of disposables. It's not all about carbon emissions. |
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| ## What can I do? | ## What can I do? |
| You might be able to get a demo and some trial kit locally. Contact your local authority to ask what they provide. All babies are different so it might take you a while to see which nappy works best for you and your baby. Most real nappy providers offer tester kits and samples which are really useful for first time users. | You might be able to get a demo and some trial kit locally. Contact your local authority to ask what they provide. All babies are different so it might take you a while to see which nappy works best for you and your baby. Most real nappy providers offer tester kits and samples which are really useful for first time users. |
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| They don't need soaking - just rinse the nappies immediately after use, wring them out, then chuck them in a bin with a tightly-fitting lid, with a few drops of tea tree oil. Wait until you have about 10 nappies, then wash at 60°C, and dry on a clothes horse or a line outside. Availability of drying space is crucial. If you don't have it, then using a tumble dryer negates any environmental benefits. And of course, please don't do what the Environment Agency assumed you're going to do and iron nappies! | They don't need soaking - just rinse the nappies immediately after use, wring them out, then chuck them in a bin with a tightly-fitting lid, with a few drops of tea tree oil. Wait until you have about 10 nappies, then wash at 60°C, and dry on a clothes horse or a line outside. Availability of drying space is crucial. If you don't have it, then using a tumble dryer negates any environmental benefits. And of course, please don't do what the Environment Agency assumed you're going to do and iron nappies! |
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