I'm so excited about this: check it out
www.yummybums.co.uk
Friday, 1 July 2011
Thursday, 30 June 2011
The true cost of disposables
Nocturnal Enuresis – ever heard of that? Well, I hadn’t until yesterday – although I probably should have. In my role as London’s real nappy ambassador an email popped into my inbox from ERIC – the charity for childhood incontinence. By the end of the morning I had read a 473 report published in October 2010 on bed wetting by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) and had found out the enormous social and medical cost of this problem.
The NICE report advises how to treat sufferers – with drugs and alarms. Not one mention of cotton nappies did I find, or any indication that this problem is growing and perhaps we should try to understand why.
Then I looked at who had sat on the advisory board for this report. AHPMA’s name appeared close to the top of the list – as it would, as the list is in alphabetical order. For those of you with better things to think about AHPMA stands for Absorbent Hygiene Product Manufacturers Association ie the disposable nappy industry’s trade association.
So the people who are involved in this industry, that is estimated to be worth US $29 Billion by 2015, that could be causing the epidemic growth of this problem sit on a board, funded by me and other tax payers to analyse the problem and suggest treatments.
Now where I come from that’s called a conflict of interest. AHPMA is funded by experts at selling nappies and running a profitable industry, they are not objective health professionals.
Don’t get me wrong, I applaud what the industry is doing to raise awareness of this problem, making products such as pyjama nappies for 7-14 year olds available at the supermarkets and its contribution towards taking away the stigma from children and teenagers who suffer from nocturnal enuresis. But I can't help thinking that making bed-wetting a 'norm' brings them benefits; it helps them sell more products. All that money spent on websites that tell you how to potty and night train your child are clearly not purely altruistic - they are sophisticated marketing tools.
We need to get rid of this new myth - with some urgency - that has developed over the last 14 years, that children potty train themselves when they are ready and as parents we shouldn’t interfere. I’m not saying some children won’t. Some do; some children learn to read by themselves, but most need stimulation and intervention and the more expert the better.
I learnt how to potty train my second child from a friend. I turned to her for advice when I found out her child was out of nappies – both day and night – by 23 months, disposables I should add. She was a communications lecturer and the dad was a child psychologist. You probably can’t be more expert than that and what she told me worked!
We have to recognise there are instances where the free market doesn’t work in the interests of consumers ie when companies make money out of our ignorance. It is possible your child will not develop night-time bladder control until 14, but highly unlikely. It's more likely though, if that is what you are led to expect.
The NICE report advises how to treat sufferers – with drugs and alarms. Not one mention of cotton nappies did I find, or any indication that this problem is growing and perhaps we should try to understand why.
Then I looked at who had sat on the advisory board for this report. AHPMA’s name appeared close to the top of the list – as it would, as the list is in alphabetical order. For those of you with better things to think about AHPMA stands for Absorbent Hygiene Product Manufacturers Association ie the disposable nappy industry’s trade association.
So the people who are involved in this industry, that is estimated to be worth US $29 Billion by 2015, that could be causing the epidemic growth of this problem sit on a board, funded by me and other tax payers to analyse the problem and suggest treatments.
Now where I come from that’s called a conflict of interest. AHPMA is funded by experts at selling nappies and running a profitable industry, they are not objective health professionals.
Don’t get me wrong, I applaud what the industry is doing to raise awareness of this problem, making products such as pyjama nappies for 7-14 year olds available at the supermarkets and its contribution towards taking away the stigma from children and teenagers who suffer from nocturnal enuresis. But I can't help thinking that making bed-wetting a 'norm' brings them benefits; it helps them sell more products. All that money spent on websites that tell you how to potty and night train your child are clearly not purely altruistic - they are sophisticated marketing tools.
We need to get rid of this new myth - with some urgency - that has developed over the last 14 years, that children potty train themselves when they are ready and as parents we shouldn’t interfere. I’m not saying some children won’t. Some do; some children learn to read by themselves, but most need stimulation and intervention and the more expert the better.
I learnt how to potty train my second child from a friend. I turned to her for advice when I found out her child was out of nappies – both day and night – by 23 months, disposables I should add. She was a communications lecturer and the dad was a child psychologist. You probably can’t be more expert than that and what she told me worked!
We have to recognise there are instances where the free market doesn’t work in the interests of consumers ie when companies make money out of our ignorance. It is possible your child will not develop night-time bladder control until 14, but highly unlikely. It's more likely though, if that is what you are led to expect.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Soap nuts
Has anyone used soap nuts for washing nappies? I bought some at UK Aware and I've been using them for clothes and I love them but my babies are out of nappies now. Please let us know.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
That this house notes ...
Yesterday Zac Goldsmith MP signed Austin Mitchell MP's disposable nappy Early Day Motion 1169 that says:
That this House notes that approximately four per cent. of all waste to landfill is disposable nappies, which equates to three billion nappies weighing 690,000 tonnes; is concerned that disposable nappies are one of the biggest identifiable products in the domestic waste stream and that a zero waste economy cannot be achieved without tackling this waste stream; is shocked that local authorities spend up to 100 million every year disposing of nappies, whereas if a child uses a real nappy then 874kg is diverted from landfill and the local authority saves up to 130 per year, meaning savings of up to 9.2 million per year on just 10 per cent. conversion rates; adds that using real nappies can help parents reduce their carbon footprint by up to 40 per cent. compared to using disposables and bring about domestic savings of up to 500 per year, achieving 35.4 million savings across the UK for families on just 10 per cent. conversion rates, and if the same nappies were used on a second child, a further 85 million would be saved; urges the Government, in these times of austerity and environmental concern, to acknowledge the impact of disposable nappies and to support the promotion of real nappies as a viable alternative; and further urges the Government to provide a clear message to parents to introduce real nappies into public service infrastructure and to provide financial support to enable existing networks to adopt a Big Society approach to providing a more balanced market with increased parental choice.
Zac Goldsmith MP, elected in May 2010 as MP for Richmond Park was editor of the Ecologist 1997-2007. At Real Nappies for London we are politically agnostic - what we want is happy, healthy babies and a healthy happy planet for babies to enjoy.
Has YOUR MP signed?
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=42181
If not, please take the time to write to your MP. There's a downloadable template letter on the RNfL web site:
http://www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/index.php
That this House notes that approximately four per cent. of all waste to landfill is disposable nappies, which equates to three billion nappies weighing 690,000 tonnes; is concerned that disposable nappies are one of the biggest identifiable products in the domestic waste stream and that a zero waste economy cannot be achieved without tackling this waste stream; is shocked that local authorities spend up to 100 million every year disposing of nappies, whereas if a child uses a real nappy then 874kg is diverted from landfill and the local authority saves up to 130 per year, meaning savings of up to 9.2 million per year on just 10 per cent. conversion rates; adds that using real nappies can help parents reduce their carbon footprint by up to 40 per cent. compared to using disposables and bring about domestic savings of up to 500 per year, achieving 35.4 million savings across the UK for families on just 10 per cent. conversion rates, and if the same nappies were used on a second child, a further 85 million would be saved; urges the Government, in these times of austerity and environmental concern, to acknowledge the impact of disposable nappies and to support the promotion of real nappies as a viable alternative; and further urges the Government to provide a clear message to parents to introduce real nappies into public service infrastructure and to provide financial support to enable existing networks to adopt a Big Society approach to providing a more balanced market with increased parental choice.
Zac Goldsmith MP, elected in May 2010 as MP for Richmond Park was editor of the Ecologist 1997-2007. At Real Nappies for London we are politically agnostic - what we want is happy, healthy babies and a healthy happy planet for babies to enjoy.
Has YOUR MP signed?
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=42181
If not, please take the time to write to your MP. There's a downloadable template letter on the RNfL web site:
http://www.realnappiesforlondon.org.uk/index.php
Monday, 28 February 2011
Is this current interest in thrift and frugality just a fashion?
A response to a reduced household income? Nostalgia? Or is it touching a deeper anxiety about us losing our self-reliance and becoming more and more dependent on so-called 'convenience' products? For example, I only recently found out about detergent residues. Evidently the whiteners and optical brighteners in most washing detergents are not rinsed out but stay on the clothes/nappies/wraps. They are then supposed to make your whites look whiter and your coloured clothes look brighter.
However, I am told that actually what happens is these residues build up and start to absorb dirt and bad odours turning whites grey and making the washing smelly. We put in more and more detergent to get the clothes clean but actually a heavier detergent residue build-ups up on the surface of the clothes that makes the problem worse - and can cause eczema. (The solution is to do a wash every so often with no detergent at all and that gets rid of excess detergent residue. If this doesn't solve the problem you should add some bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar and that should get rid of it!)
Similarly conventional household cleaning products tell us 'no need to rinse off' but then leave a sticky layer on the surface. Our floors and surfaces look wonderfully clean immediately after we've cleaned - but not for long - the sticky surface picks up the dirt and we have to clean more frequently. This only became clear to me when I started to use micro-fibre cloths for cleaning. I can't help wondering if someone isn't taking us for a ride.
Which brings me to stay-dry nappies that mean our children often end up night-training later and later, making parents sleep deprived, thus making our lives even more chaotic than they inevitably are when you have children. In this case the solution is to use cotton nappies at night so your child has the stimulation necessary to help him/her night train.
Do you have other examples of 'convenience' products that hurt our wallet and our quality of life?
However, I am told that actually what happens is these residues build up and start to absorb dirt and bad odours turning whites grey and making the washing smelly. We put in more and more detergent to get the clothes clean but actually a heavier detergent residue build-ups up on the surface of the clothes that makes the problem worse - and can cause eczema. (The solution is to do a wash every so often with no detergent at all and that gets rid of excess detergent residue. If this doesn't solve the problem you should add some bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar and that should get rid of it!)
Similarly conventional household cleaning products tell us 'no need to rinse off' but then leave a sticky layer on the surface. Our floors and surfaces look wonderfully clean immediately after we've cleaned - but not for long - the sticky surface picks up the dirt and we have to clean more frequently. This only became clear to me when I started to use micro-fibre cloths for cleaning. I can't help wondering if someone isn't taking us for a ride.
Which brings me to stay-dry nappies that mean our children often end up night-training later and later, making parents sleep deprived, thus making our lives even more chaotic than they inevitably are when you have children. In this case the solution is to use cotton nappies at night so your child has the stimulation necessary to help him/her night train.
Do you have other examples of 'convenience' products that hurt our wallet and our quality of life?
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Do we need an eco NCT?
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) does an amazing job bringing expectant parents together and fostering new friendships. It reaches us at a crucial stage of our lives. The birth of a new child makes most of us look at our lives in a new way. We think about the world that our children will live in and our grandchildren too.
But we are also very vulnerable, fearful, not knowing what the future holds and how we will cope. Big business knows this too. That is why, as expectant parents we are bombarded by advertising.
The NCT is a charity and we trust it. Many new parents volunteer for the NCT, helping to run 'Nearly New Sales' to raise money for the charity. It is hugely influential. So is it right that the NCT is sponsored by the producers of Pampers and Comfort?
And does the NCT do enough to inform parents about green and healthy lifestyles and the risks of exposure to some mainstream products? According to the Ecologist Comfort is a cocktail of dangerous chemicals that can lead to asthma, eczema and glue ear in babies. Does this kind of sponsorship compromise the values of the NCT and its members? And if so, how does the NCT need to change?
Other posts that may be of interest The True Cost of Disposables
But we are also very vulnerable, fearful, not knowing what the future holds and how we will cope. Big business knows this too. That is why, as expectant parents we are bombarded by advertising.
The NCT is a charity and we trust it. Many new parents volunteer for the NCT, helping to run 'Nearly New Sales' to raise money for the charity. It is hugely influential. So is it right that the NCT is sponsored by the producers of Pampers and Comfort?
And does the NCT do enough to inform parents about green and healthy lifestyles and the risks of exposure to some mainstream products? According to the Ecologist Comfort is a cocktail of dangerous chemicals that can lead to asthma, eczema and glue ear in babies. Does this kind of sponsorship compromise the values of the NCT and its members? And if so, how does the NCT need to change?
Other posts that may be of interest The True Cost of Disposables
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Would you pay for real nappy advice?
At Real Nappies for London we don't just want you to buy real nappies and we don't just want you to use them: we want you to LOVE real nappies and the whole experience of changing your baby through to potty training. That's why we want you to choose the right nappies for you. We encourage you to buy your first set of nappies or a trial kit face-to-face so you can see, touch and talk about real nappies with an experienced user and make the right choice for you and your baby.
What we ask is that you think about the person who is 'giving' you their time. If they give you good advice please also buy from them. Sure, you may be able to get a special deal from an on-line seller who doesn't have so many costs, but please do think about the people lining up behind you who need advice and guidance too. If the face-to-face nappy sellers do not sell enough they will have no option but to start charging for their time.
What we ask is that you think about the person who is 'giving' you their time. If they give you good advice please also buy from them. Sure, you may be able to get a special deal from an on-line seller who doesn't have so many costs, but please do think about the people lining up behind you who need advice and guidance too. If the face-to-face nappy sellers do not sell enough they will have no option but to start charging for their time.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
What's your top tip for real nappy users?
My top tip is to smother your baby's bottom with sweet almond oil. It makes the skin lovely and soft and is so much better than mineral oil. The latter stops the skin breathing, whereas vegetable oils - olive oil is good too - feed and strengthen the skin helping it perform as a protective barrier to the outside world.
And here are more tips on starting out with real nappies on this short You Tube clip
And here are more tips on starting out with real nappies on this short You Tube clip
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Is the up-front cost putting you off?
At Real Nappies for London we have always been a source of impartial information. However we’ve been concerned for some time now that the upfront cost of starting to use real nappies has risen and may be putting some people off trying them. If you think you need to buy 20 nappies at £15 each then £300 is a lot to spend when you’re also not sure whether they will work for you.
But there is a way to enjoy the benefits of these new, well-designed birth-to-potty nappies without spending that much. You could consider buying 6 flat nappies @ about £3 each – muslin, towelling or pre-folds - and 1-3 of the birth-to-potty nappies, such as the Bum Genius. Once you've tried these out you can buy more according to what works best for you and your baby.
In North America the humble pre-fold has remained popular and is seen as an essential part of the nappy wardrobe. A pre-fold nappy is a flat nappy, usually made of layers of muslin. It has layers sewn into the centre that build in extra absorbency. Visit You Tube and Google ‘pre-fold’. Follow the link at the end of the blog to see an example. And look at how many times these videos have been viewed!
You can use the modern pocket nappy in the normal way (with the micro-fibre pad stuffed into the pocket.) But you can also wrap your baby in the cotton nappy, as shown in the You Tube example and then use your birth-to-potty nappy as a waterproof wrap or you can just lay the cotton pre-fold inside. Using a flat nappy next to your baby's skins mean you don't have to wash the whole nappy at every change.
There are lots of benefits to having a stash of pre-folds. Most of us prefer cotton next to our skin, so surely that’s more comfy for baby. They can also be used on the changing mat for bare bottom time. Another advantage is that a cotton nappy gets wet so your baby learns the difference between wet and dry, which helps your baby develop bladder control.
As well as these benefits 100% cotton pre-folds can be put through a very hot wash when necessary. They are also durable so last for more than one baby. Another advantage is that they dry quickly and in winter you can dry a cotton pre-fold on the radiator without any danger of ruining it. (Never dry a waterproof wrap on the radiator – it makes them leak.)
Another advantage is that the organic, unbleached version is affordable – so the ethical choice. And at the end of their working life they can go in the compost or be sold on for recycling - so the zero waste option.
See how to use a pre-fold on You Tube
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
An Inconvenient Nappy
Many convenience products turn out to have a cost – we now know too many ready meals can cause strokes and heart attacks. And as Jamie Oliver says, cooking is fun and fresh home-made food tastes better. Not only that, if your children see you do it that’s what they learn and before long you will be coming home and finding healthy home-made dinners waiting for you.
Disposable nappies also have hidden costs; time and money. Thirty years ago, when Terry towelling and muslin nappies were the norm rather than disposables, toddlers stopped wearing nappies around the age of two. Nowadays it’s usually three.
The benefit of disposable nappies – they lock away moisture so you can change your baby less often – has turned out to be the curse. Modern disposables don’t give the child any sense of the difference between a wet and dry nappy and therefore no stimulation to experiment with controlling their bladder and develop the specific muscles needed to get them out of nappies.
Disposable nappy pants are a clever product. They give us the illusion that we are potty training our toddlers because our child can pull them up and down. However because they stay dry they don’t teach the child the skill they really need to develop - bladder control.
Cotton nappies by contrast, do get wet. Your baby feels the difference between a wet and dry nappy at every change. It’s not that the wet nappy is uncomfortable it’s just that the difference stimulates your baby’s curiosity to experiment with bladder control. Before you even get round to thinking about potty training, your child has been working those bladder muscles – and you didn’t even notice.
If your toddler has up to now been wearing disposables and you are thinking about potty training please don’t endure the ‘boot camp’ method of potty training everyone talks about on Twitter. Your child can wear cotton nappies as a precursor to pants. It’s better than buying 20 pairs of cotton pants, changing clothes several times a day and mopping up puddles.
At some point in the future you will go to change a nappy and find it bone dry. The next one will probably be absolutely soaking within 30 minutes. Then it will happen again – for a few days in a row. This means your child is experimenting with bladder control.
This is the time to help your child to start using the toilet or potty. Some people are shocked to find out this can be as early as 18 months. However, if you miss it your child will pass out of this developmental phase – and move on to some other developmental phase – and you must wait for it to happen again. Remember the pincer phase? Picking tiny things off the floor didn’t just go on and on. Stopping suddenly to attend to the sound of a bird or plane? How that came and went? This is what I’m talking about.
Poo is a different thing all together. To be honest cloth nappies don’t really help. However if the parent is washing the nappy s/he is more motivated to get the child to use a potty. In countries where cloth nappies are the norm most children tend to be clean by about one year.
Changing your baby’s nappy can be a fun for you and your baby; a time to coo, babble, sing, laugh and blow raspberries on your baby’s bottom. But when the struggle to catch your toddler and heave them on to the changing mat becomes more of a chore than a pleasure – a strain on your back as well as your wallet - it’s a great relief when your child decides to take him/herself to the toilet.
You may find this interesting too: The true cost of disposables
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