New Year, New Project - Happy 2013!

At Real Nappies for London we are very excited about our new pilot that will be happening in Camden in 2013. In partnership with Triple P (Positive Parenting Programme) we will be running local real nappy groups and supporting parents in using real nappies and sharing knowledge and experience of helping children gain toileting independence. But why is this necessary?

Several years ago there was a survey amongst mothers to ask which modern invention had most improved their lives. The disposable nappy came top. (When I told this to a midwife she was astonished “What about the washing machine?” she exclaimed).

The irony though is that although the modern ‘disposable’ (packed with superabsorbent gel) made less frequent changing possible and reduced laundering it also delayed the age at which children potty-trained. Nowadays parents continue to change nappies until the child is around three and a half meaning we actually spend more time now changing nappies (and money) than we did before this marvellous invention that supposedly liberated us! Parents are also having to change wet beds in the middle of the night for longer and washing lots more sheets and duvets since children are also night training much later.

At RNfL our advice may seem surprising as we want to reduce waste, but it is this; you should change your baby every 3-4 hours (except of course at nights) and immediately if soiled. This means at least 5 nappy changes per day (4 during waking hours plus one for 8 -9 hours while sleeping). It tends to be babies who have had infrequent nappy changes who find it difficult to make the transition to toileting independence. This fits in with recent research into the brain development of the 0-2 year old, a period of rapid brain development showing that if areas of the brain are not stimulated (eg the area for bladder and bowel control through feeling the difference between a clean and dirty nappy or a wet and dry one) that part of the brain shuts down.

Is this happening? Before these ‘miracle’ nappies toddlers tended to have bowel control by one year and bladder control by 18 months. Now children are turning up to school in nappies. Children used to be dry at night by 4. Nowadays night nappies for 7-18 year olds are on sale in supermarkets.

Sadly it’s families on lowest incomes that are stretching out the time a child spends in a nappy – because they can, because the marketing says “stays dry for up to 12 hours” and they take that literally to mean “leave on for 12 hours”. We know this because people tell us. When we suggest real nappies will save them money they tell us they only change their baby 3 times a day. We have even heard of parents restricting fruit and vegetables intake to reduce soiled nappies.

Let us be clear. We’re not blaming parents. It’s not that they can’t be bothered to change nappies and to toilet and night train. It’s that knowledge and strategies that were once circulated by health professionals and amongst parents have disappeared. Parents are struggling with poor information and when they don’t succeed they simply turn back to the products available – disposable nappy pants and night nappies.

We believe nappy changing and toddler-led toileting leads to happier babies, happier children, happier families and less waste that will lead to a healthier planet. If you live in Camden and want to join a local real nappy support group please contact alice@lcrn.org.uk or tel: 020 7324 4709 to find out more.

Why do we want people to use real nappies?

Changing a baby is great contact time with your baby. Using real nappies makes it a positive experience. Love changing your baby's nappy and have fun with your little one, looking into her/his eyes, smile, sing and release those love hormones that make you both feel good.

If that's not happening for you, don't feel ashamed, don't hesitate, tell someone - it's not your fault - you can get help. This time is brief and wonderful and to be enjoyed to the full.

Keep talking about how good real nappies are

Politicians - both local and national - say the reason why more people don't use real nappies is because they don't want to. It's not. They don't know about them. And if they do, they think of disposables as 'normal nappies' and real ones as hippy nappies. Once people try real nappies they can't believe that more people don't use them.

Let's face it, what with the marketing of disposables to new parents in the hospitals via Bounty and the sponsorship of the NCT by Pampers plus the easy availability of disposables at the supermarket and now the idea that they can be recycled (even if the process uses ridiculous amounts of water and energy) it's actually a miracle that so many people do use real nappies. Or it it? We still have the power of word-of-mouth. So please, keep talking about how good real nappies are and you will make a difference.

The Women's Environmental Network (WEN) initiated the Waste Minimisation Act which became law back in 1998. It allows authorities to ‘do or arrange for the doing of, anything which in its opinion is necessary or expedient for the purpose of minimising the quantities of controlled waste, or controlled waste of any description, generated in its area’. Before this law councils had a legal obligation to get rid of waste but they weren't allowed to spend money on preventing it. Seems nuts now, right?

It must be time to take the next step. I propose that local authorities should be spending at least 3% of what they spend on the collection and disposal of a single waste item, such as nappies (of course) on informing residents about the zero waste alternative (where there is one, as in the case of disposable nappies).

For example if a local authority has approximately 3,000 babies born in their borough each per year that means they have 7,500 babies wearing nappies (usually babies wear nappies up to two and a half). If those babies wear an average 5 nappies a day producing about 1kg of nappy waste per day, that's almost 3,000 tonnes per year. That's costing its residents about £450 k per year. So surely, seeing as using real nappies costs nothing in terms of disposal the local authority should be spending at least £13,500 per year on promoting the zero waste alternative? With a little encouragement getting 3% of babies into real nappies is not hard to achieve so the cost is recovered.

Tell us what your council is doing? Is it doing enough?

Get involved in European Week for Waste Reduction(17-25 Nov)

Visit us on Facebook next week. We’ve got prizes to give away that help you reduce waste: Cheeky Wipes, Eco-Egg, Mooncup, Tummy Tub (winner must collect) and a Mio Solo nappy.

Also see the Real Nappies for London Events Page for waste prevention events – such as a maternity and baby clothes swap, placenta encapsulation talk and elimination communication workshop and of course real nappy events.

Are Potty Training Methods in the West ....

At the Joint Congress of ICCS (International Chilidren's Continence Society) ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) and BAPU (British Association of Paediatric Urology) at the Royal College of Physicians, London earlier this month (October 2012) I attended a session “Are potty training methods in the West contributing to bladder dysfunction”. Anna-Lena Hellstrom presented a research study carried out in Vietnam of what we call Elimination Communication (EC) or Natural Infant Hygiene (NIH). Babies were releasing the bladder 'on demand' at 9 months, starting independence at 12 months and in control of the bladder by 18 months.

I know that doubters will say that fitted carpets and the lifestyles of modern parents are not compatible with Elimination Communication, sometimes misleadingly termed ‘diaper-free’. However at Real Nappies for London we know that an increasing number of modern parents are giving their babies the opportunity to pee and poop on the pot at changing time because it has so many advantages: fewer dirty nappies, fewer changes, less nappy rash, less washing if they are using washable nappies and, most importantly their babies like it. All we are saying is that parents should have the knowledge so they can choose what's best for them and their babies.

Please, if you have experience of this let us know. We want to share this knowledge with other expectant and new parents. We also want to raise awareness of this issue amongt child health professionals.

For more info on EC visit www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/elimination

Other posts that may be of interest: the true cost of disposables

Why we do what we do

I just heard from someone who used a Real Nappies for London voucher and just had to share it with you all:

(My baby) just turned 2 on 18th August and I think she has been out of nappies for about 3 months. It's brilliant. She made the transition totally herself. We always had the potty out and I held her over it or the toilet since she was born whenever I took off her nappy and made noises (like it suggests in EC).

She loves dressing up in girlie clothes so was delighted with knickers! She was complaining that her nappies were 'big mappies', so we switched to knickers.

Happy days. Cloth and EC all the way!


If you're interested in finding out more about EC (Elimination Communication) also known as Natural Infant Hygiene click here.

Do you want to help spread the word about real nappies?

Real Nappies for London celebrated its 5th birthday in July having issued over 10,000 vouchers. But we think more people would apply for vouchers if they knew about them so we're looking for help.

Would you like to meet other real nappy users and help design and implement a new marketing strategy to raise the profile of the Real Nappies for London scheme? If your borough is not already signed up to the scheme you could help make that happen.

We will hold sessions once every 6 weeks/two months. At these meetings we will create and update a marketing and outreach strategy and share and develop skills and experience. In addition you would probably spend about an hour a week on average either out and about or at the computer - depending which you prefer. We suspect most people won't be able to continue helping us for more than a few months, but it would be a great help.

Our first ever volunteer PR team meeting/workshop is happening on Thursday 20th September 2-4pm at our office in Hoxton. If you're interested in joining please email alice@lcrn.org.uk or phone 020 7324 4709 for more information. Babies and toddlers are welcome.

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to someone who’s expecting their first baby?

Of course at Real Nappies for London we would say find out about real nappies before the birth and get at least a trial kit to try them out. But next, because you matter - greatly - we would suggest you invite someone to bring you a meal to your home after baby is born. Arrange it in advance for a friend, neighbour or relative to pop by with a large pot of soup or a big bowl of pasta salad or similar. It might sound like a big ask but if someone asked you to do it wouldn’t you be happy to help? It can be difficult to find the time to look after yourself in the first days back home with a new baby and having a healthy, home-cooked meal in the fridge ready for when you need it can be a real life-saver.

What do you think is the main thing to set up during pregnancy to help new parents have a healthy, happy time when they arrive home with their new baby?

Nappy vouchers for all

Why can't you receive a real nappy voucher with your prescription exemption card? At least people would know there's an alternative to disposables and then it's up to them whether or not they bother to use the voucher.

What do you think?

Another post that may be of interest: The True Cost of Disposables

You don’t have to waste up to £1,200 on disposable nappies

Real Nappies for London is 5 years old this July and since we started in 2007 we have given out over 10,000 nappy vouchers. We’re proud that more and more parents are using real nappies on their babies especially as it helps stretch the family budget during the recession.

The voucher helps expectant and new parents find out about alternatives to disposable nappies and helps towards the cost of a set of nappies or a nappy laundry service trial. We also direct them to small businesses that also sell reusable wipes – another big money saver.

The idea of washing nappies frightens some parents so we also ensure there is good information about how to wash nappies on the web site and help spread crowd wisdom. Real nappies have become more and more sophisticated with easy-care fabrics that make washing and drying nappies a doddle.

We also love to promote the activity of changing your baby as an important and enjoyable way of connecting with your baby. Babies change and develop so fast you want to treasure this special time. Do look at this video to see just how important the changing routine is to bonding with your baby.

These days expectant parents are bombarded with advertising from corporations that sell the promise of ‘convenience’ when actually their main driver is profit. Real Nappies for London and real nappy businesses are spreading good information about potty training so parents can spend less, stress less and help the environment.

Please visit our web site at www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk to sign up for a voucher and give real nappies a go. If you are a real nappy fan please tell your friends and family about the voucher.











http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHqOn8R0iaY